AFL Grand Final / Paul Bugeja / 01 October 2011 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

After what will be remembered as one of the 'grandest' Finals of the modern game, at least for three of the quarters, Paul Bugeja sums up the 2011 AFL Grand Final.

Turning points in football games take many forms and lead teams down different paths.

Sometimes they might appear as a player going down, as in the bruising incident between Brad Sewell and Matthew Lloyd in Round 22, 2009.

At other times, there is a burst of intense, game-controlling footy, similar to that of a week ago in the Preliminary final when Collingwood seized the game from Hawthorn and won in the dying moments.

And then there are those that come about from a 'bad call', usually by a player or coach, but in the case of the 2011 Grand Final at the hands of a goal umpire.

Halfway through the third quarter, in a seesawing, lead-changing game, Sharrod Wellingham's attempted kick through the sticks skimmed the woodwork but was controversially awarded as a goal, putting the Pies in front.

Rather than demoralising the Cat's and being a potential turning of the tide in Collingwood's favour, what instead ensued was a Geelong landslide, so fierce that Collingwood was held goal-less in the final quarter.

Prior to this, however, supporters were treated to an evenly contested, brilliant game, the first quarter ending with Geelong up by just a point.

Collingwood went on to find it's mojo in the second, with Cloke and an inspired Krakouer kicking three unanswered goals to get the Pies out by 18 points, the momentum aided by an unfortunate game-ending injury to James Podsiadly.

But, to their credit, Geelong stood up to the challenge, managing to pare the lead back to just three points at the main break after goals by Joel Selwood and Jimmy Bartel.

The third quarter started out a tough tussle, but following the unfortunate umpiring decision halfway through the term, Geelong found a new lease of life (maybe they heard coach Chris Scott's outraged outburst from the box?), gaining the ascendancy, something they did not relinquish for the rest of the game.

In a stellar final term, after successive goals to Jimmy Bartel, Stevie Johnson and captain, Cameron Ling, whose six-points may have been his final career goal given the rumours after the game that he may announce his retirement as early as next week, the game had blown out to an unbeatable 38-point lead for the Cats.

With the clock ticking down, first-year coach Chris Scott headed for the sidelines, ebullient with joy as the siren sounded and he became only the 13th first-year coach to drink from the Grand Final Cup.

Jimmy Bartel was rightly anointed the Norm Smith medallist, although Tom Hawkins would have given him a run for his money in a career-best game for the Tomohawk were it not for his inaccuracy in front of goal. Stevie Johnson's selection after an injury last week that many assumed meant he would not in the FInal was clearly an inspired choice for the four goals he added to the tally, and first-year player Allen Christensen showed himself to be one of several players who will make up the core of a promising future Geelong side.

Collingwood's marquis players had surprisingly quiet games. Dane Swan, recent recipient of the Brownlow medal, only came away with 20 touches, and while Daisy Thomas and Scott Pendlebury had 31 and 33 apiece, their impact on the game was still muted. Travis Cloke bombed an amazing goal from over 60 metres out in the first quarter, and potted another two before half-time, but did not add to the scoreboard again.

Although he did not get the fairy-tale ending he hoped, before the medal presentation the AFL officially recognised Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse for his years of service to the game.

Wandering among the clearly distraught players after the game, shaking their hands and consoling them where he could, there was a strange pensiveness about Malthouse. Not long after he announced that he would not be taking up the Director of Coaching role at Collingwood as part of the Nathan Buckley succession, and would immediately leave the club.

Not too many surprises there.

All in all, Pie or Cat, the crowd of 99,537 at the 'G' were treated to a ripping game of football, in a game that Geelong, in the vein of their theme song, proved themselves to be 'The greatest team of all', at least in the new century.

Jimmy Bartel perhaps best summed up the day in a post-match interview when, clutching his medals, he said through a beaming smile, 'I'm so happy I could be sick'.

Something that no doubt his team mates, the Geelong coaching staff and a whole lot of fans in G-Town would wholeheartedly agree with.

(POST NOTE: Interestingly, even after the loss, Collingwood still remained favourite to be 2012 AFL Premiers.)