Friday 28 September 2012

'Twas the Night Before the Granny ...

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I just watched the Rioli v Jetta video that’s up on AFL.com, and nerves finally gave way to excitement. So on Grand Final eve, I’m breaking my silence. Somehow I thought an uncharacteristic reserve would keep all things at bay, the expectation and the doubt in equal measure. But watching those two – Rioli and Jetta – at work, I suspect that this one last sleep might be easier to bear if some burst of steam is let off. 

I got a text from fellow Blood James this morning: ‘Has this week been the longest in living memory?’ Pathologically equanimous, he was the least likely candidate among us for such sentiment. But it’s how we’ve all been feeling. 2005, we were innocent. 2006, we were lulled into thinking that Grand Finals come around every year – no big deal. But 2012? This week has been interminable and unbearable. No matter what I have tried this week to combat the nerves, I haven’t found the right state to rest in. Confidence feels presumptuous but underdog’s not right. Media doesn’t assuage but silence doesn’t sate.

It’s a kind of madness when your team’s in the Grand Final. A week of internal distractions and surreptitious footy shamanism. Was it just a messy change room that had Goodesy wearing the # 13 at training on Tuesday? Since last Friday night, I’ve been quietly wearing my Swans earrings, pegging out the washing in rigorous red and white, curating meals in the same hues. The menu for the GF breakfast so far: sausages with tomato sauce on white rolls; bocconcini and tomato; strawberries and cream; croissants with ricotta and raspberry jam. I go to bed thinking of Kennedy. Has he got two more hours of battering ram in him? I dream at night of an empty forward 50 and Jetta running into it. I wake up thinking of Burgoyne.


The O’Reilly boys are experiencing similar difficulties. Max has the misfortune (or fortune) of being tied into a Saturday afternoon birthday party for his daughter, a screening of Madagascar 3 with a posse of 9 year old girls! He’s imposed a full media embargo until after dark. James is in far northern NSW, sweating about the Swans getting too much press, trying to decide whether Morton or Parker should be the sub, imagining worst case scenarios – a goalless first term, a first clearance concussion to Kennedy – relying on the fact that because life is invariably unpredictable, these things are unlikely to happen. Under the same rule, he refuses to conjure the great. Toby is glad that his line of work means he has a 46 inch screen to watch it on. The Cygnet’s choosing red and white roses for his mum and red and white straws for his smoothies. Even Lyndon, the one-eyed Cats supporter, sent word this morning: ‘I feel more tense that I did last year – I’m on the band wagon!’


I’d love to embody the philosophical position that as long as it’s a good game, footy will be the winner on the day, no matter which shoulders are wearing the medals. I’d love to live with the spirit that as long as the boys do the jumper proud, we’ll all have no regrets. I don’t want to believe in the sports science talk that we can only control the things we can control. Profound partiality means that I hope like hell we win.

The altar of Swans is assembled. For Burgoyne I prescribe Bird. For Kennedy’s concussion I advise the Kirk/Bolton helmet and a strong mint. I’ve asked the Cygnet and Dad to vote Jetta on facebook. The Moët is in the fridge.


Thursday 27 September 2012

GF Preview


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Now here's a lovely assessment of the match ahead of us. Robert Murphy, the Backpocket salutes you.


Tuesday 25 September 2012

Grand Final Build Up

Down at the Swans Open Training session this afternoon, and I have to say, preparations look really good for the big day on Saturday.


It took spectators a while to adjust to the new look team which took to the park. Sydneysiders aren't necessary familiar with the pointy end of the season and the lengths grand final contenders must go to in order to throw open the gates but still train effectively 'unwatched'. The duplication of Jude Bolton was a display of the deftest anti spy manoeuvring.


And Goodes' disguise - look at Johnny Longmire; even he was trying to work out why Andrejs Everitt was with the main group ... and why he was dangling a miniature Craig Bird from his fingertips.


However, once he'd taken control of the session, it was particularly reassuring for fans to see that Horse has the complete trust, confidence and command of his players.

 

And as for the avalanche of concern for our All Australian defender - completely misplaced. Teddy is so confident in his ankle, his place in the team and any role he may be given on Saturday that his only preoccupation was standing aside in space and kicking the ball to our other All Australian Josh Kennedy. They seemed happy to take themselves aside for a game of elite kick to kick. Don't tell me this game has to be all about 'team'.


Coaches then decided that the genetically Hawthorn Kennedy would be best confined to publicity in an effort to keep him away from any group secrets ...


Back at South Street, the anticipation is building. The altar is in place, the poppies are blooming red in the garden, the song is being repeatedly hummed around the house.



The Backpocket Champion's Honour Roll

Our 2012 Champion Peter has requested that we revisit the past Champions who have found themselves on top in the Backpocket at season's end. The Mistress has therefore put together a list of all past winners and runners up, from the competition's inaugural year in 2006 to the present season.

From 2006 to 2009, we explored various forms of tipping and winning, usually incorporating the four weeks of finals. Tipping was entered and calculated within the extraordinary Excel spreadsheets of Tony from J@TS, known back then as the Statswally. Some years we had Minor Premier, Runner Up and a Finals Prize; some years we crowned the winner at the end of the finals with a small token for the Minor Premiers.

2006
WINNER Mark Swivel
RUNNERS UP Miro and Anna (Mum was in the team back then) tied with Gai and David

2007
WINNER Miro and Anna
RUNNER UP Gai and David

2008
WINNER Peter
RUNNER UP Miro and Anna
MINOR PREMIERS Gai and David

2009
WINNER Sharolyn (on percentage only!)
RUNNER UP Catherine Taylor (not a footy fan, never before a tipster and very much a one year wonder)

From 2010, we moved to the AFL.com site, crowning only Minor Premiers and Runners Up.

2010
WINNERS Mark Swivel and Paul Lum (tied on points and margin!!)
RUNNER UP Omar (by 1 point, he'd like it to be known)

2011
WINNER Lyndon
RUNNER UP Tony and Joseph J@TS

2012
WINNER Peter
RUNNER UP Shaar