In the fourth and final instalment of You’ve Been Infarmed for 2010 – the Dragons 20th year – we take you to the MCG for Farmer’s personal account of the drawn 2010 grand final between St Kilda and Collingwood.
The 2010 grand final promised something special before I had even left Hong Kong for a holiday in Perth on Thursday. Ex-Dragons vice captain and fellow keen Saints fan Jarran Niel called me from Melbourne to inquire as to whether I would fly to Melbourne if he could get me a MCC members pass. That was like asking Fev if he was keen for another beer, and flights were rearranged for an arrival in Melbourne on Friday night.
After 3 hours sleep, it was down to the MCG at 5am on Saturday to que up to get the best seats in the MCC members reserve. With two Melbourne based clubs playing, the line was as long as most had ever seen, curling around the MCG and down to Punt Road. Gates opened at 8am and the rush for seats began. As Jarran had reserved a seat, I got one nearby on the wing on the lower deck. Excellent spot. Tickets were handed out for the seats and by 9am it was off for breakfast and boozing before the bounce.
I was back in time for the pre-game entertainment and to see JD Fortune and INXS rock the MCG. It was dry and warm which was a far cry from the 2009 debacle.
Before I knew it, the game was on. 25 seconds into the game Darren Jolly had scored a goal. Then a couple more. Oh no. The Saints then steadied to make it 6 points down at quarter time.
Second quarter was all Collingwood. If not for the fact Travis Cloke supported St Kilda as a kid, it would have been all over. Fortunately it was only a 24 point margin. Comeback unlikely but possible. The odds on the big screen had us at $5.50 to win.
After the world class half time entertainment of Auskick, the third quarter started with hope that we would get the first goal. Done. Then the next and the next while Collingwood sprayed points. The intensity had lifted. 8 points at three quarter time. The Collingwood bogan on one side of me did not say a word for the quarter after calling every move in the first half.
The nerves of 2009 had returned. At least this time it was warm. I could sense something special as the PA system played 30 seconds or so of the Foo Fighters “My Hero”. Would there be a hero? Who was it going to be? Barry Breen was warming up on the Saints bench. Travis Cloke was sh*tting himself.
A few minutes of early grind in the last before Neon Leon (who we now know got that nickname from boozing in Wan Chai the night before grand finals) kicked a goal with his first kick in a grand final. An outstanding effort considering it was his third big dance. It looked like a big enough gap given the intensity and low scoring game.
However, that is when the fun started. Lenny Hayes kicked a long goal, Milne out positioned Harry for a mark and goal and the Saints were suddenly level. Goddard and Hayes everywhere. Then Lenny won a crucial clearance and kicked it to the hot spot. Goddard streaming down the right flank was in perfect position and flew for a screamer. He went back and converted to put the Saints up for the first time all day. He looked to be the hero. The clock on the silo said 19 minutes in, so plenty of time but the cards seemed to have fallen our way.
Then another point from big Trav made it a 5 point margin. Collingwood now suddenly seemed to be doing the attacking. A long kick into their forward line came off hands to Chris Dawes (rumor has it he is the son of Marjorie Dawes from Fat Fighters on Little Britain) who got it to Trav who ran into an open goal. Saints now 1 point down and the ticker was going flat out. Collingwood again went forward. A Dawes shot was touched 5 metres out but knocked out of bounds. Then Sidebottom had a ping only for Gwilt to mark on the line. About 2 minutes to go. The Saints then finally went forward when Riewoldt took a big mark on the wing, then Hayes had a rushed kick forward under pressure. The ball was kicked from almost the identical spot to Barry Breen in 1966 and went though for a point. Scores level. The clock on the silo said 30 minutes gone. I knew then it would be a draw. Lots of congestion followed before the siren and the realisation it was indeed a draw. What a game! The crowd was stunned. In something I had never seen before, opposition supporters were all mates – shaking hands and hugging. We had witnessed something special.
I asked the old bloke next to me if he was here in 1977, to which he replied “and 1948”. How many people can say that?!
What a day and what a game. History will show we got belted in the replay but I will never forget being at the drawn grand final in a brilliant game. I am and will continue to be a very proud St Kilda fan and thank Jarran for making the experience possible.