Put your Superman capes on, Its Grand Final time!!!!

AFL....On Friday afternoon, Mathew Stokes made me tear up. I was sitting at joy reading an article about how Stokesey carried a groin injury into last years Grand final. It explains why he played so badly, and on top of it, we lost. The guilt he felt from playing last year when he clearly shouldn't have was too much for him to bare, and so he reported his groin problem this year, knowing it would mean missing out on playing in the Grand final. He took a bullet for the team and did the right thing by everyone.


He wasn't the only one feeling the guilt at Geelong, cause the team was expected to win in 2008. All the players wanted to make sure they didn't lose another Grand Final if they made it. They felt so ashamed after losing they could barely face the supporters cause the knew they had let them down. They needed to win this year for redemption.




But it wasn't only the Cats and Stokes that felt fuilty from last years loss, many fans were left with their own individual issues. Personally I have been feeling guilty too. My Dad has been to only Geelong losing Grand finals, several of them, and in 2007 , the year we won, and he gave me his ticket. I thought maybe last year he would get to see a winning Grand final and I wouldn't feel so bad anymore, but it all went horribly wrong. For 2 years I have been carring the guilt of robbing someone of the best experience you can imagine. And on Saturday afternoon, not only could I not believe my eyes that Geelong won, but I have never been so relieved. My Dad saw the Cats win a GF and get their medals, rather than colapse in a crying heap. The only experience he had.

Bald guys rule! :.................................................................................... This is how you do it Crawf:

On the other side of the coin, the Saints had not won a Premiership in 43 years. No doubt the club and the players were feeling the pressure, the same pressure the cats felt in 07 of 44 years. Unfortunately some stiff competition didn't help. The game was ridiculously even, with both teams out performing eachother in patches. The Saints missed some opportunites early. Then the Cats seemed to run off with it before some disgraceful umpiring handed the Saints three quick goals. Two from a touched kick, and one from the Cats complaining about the touched kick. Instead of going up 2 goals at half time, the Cats went in 1 goal down. And one of those goals from Hawkins under was scrutiny for touching the post. The good and bad luck seemed to go both ways.

According to umpire Mc idiot, this is not over the shoulder:
Because he missed these high tackles earlier in the game, he couldn't call the high tackles for the rest of the game. They had to be consistent, and considering they started so badly, they were forced to then umpire consistenly badly for the rest of the afternoon. There were about 4 coat hangers each from St Kilda and Geelong unsighted.



The Saints kicked a few points, and seemed to get on top in the third quarter, the Premiership quarter. But the Cats decided to re-write the Premiership quarter, and turn it into the last. And it took about 20 minutes into the last to get going. Nobody seemed to be able to score and with the Saints in front it was looking to be on their side. After much fumbling and points kicked, the Cats finally broke through with a goal. My memory is still a bit hazy, but I know a man with an injured Hamstring helped turn the game on its ear. It looked to be another shocking fumble from the Cats when Scarlet said 'stuff this' and toe poked it into Juniors arms.

Then the Cats were off, and no turning back. There were some match saving marks and goals, and with a few minutes left, the Cats were up by a goal and we all couldn't stand the tension! with a minute to go the Saints went forward, but Harry stood tall. Then to seal the deal Rooke marked with seconds to go. While already celebrating the siren went and it was official. The Cats were back in town, and Cam Mooney had a hand in it with two great marks and goals.

First there was the hand of God with Gary Senior, now a final mark to Max Chooky Rooke becomes the hands of Jesus:

Normy in full flight: .............................................................. An orgy of victory:

Are you serious? we won?.....................................................................Are you sure we won?

Had to check the scoreboard to make sure it was real. Big red looks tanked, and the game has only just ended!:

On the other side of the park. Bomber said sometimes footy sucks, and this was how the cats looked last year: Worse than a broken arm, but reaction is the same.

Still can't believe this is this years photo, feel like I pulled out a newspaper from 07.

This is the new money shot, or the new Mooney shot. I think he's trying to say they won 2 Premy's, but that is the universal sign for up yours :-s:
The end result is this:

A Premiership and a hot chick, you beauty!:

The man, and the son of the man, who is now the man!...and the chick of the man:

Just had to include this. Borris? whats happ'nen...and they say we're not taking this one seriously pfffftt:

Wheres Wally?:

A new man enters 'the man' status. Harry Taylor keeps the Saints captain quiet and becomes an instant legend:

Among all the excitment we almost forgot about lil Juniors break through Brownlow win. We can now celebrate the medal, and yes Gaz you can too:

Maybe we forgot about his win, because it was over- shadowed by Fev. His career is in jeopardy after his Brownlow piss up. Most couldn't believe his behaviour, which was apparently worse than Judd'ys pressure point work.

We'll call this, the before picture...we're not allowed to show you the after picture:

and so it's over for another year, a bloody good year, and an awesome Grand Final. We will keep an eye out for the big trades and draft moves in the off season. The Cats have been put down all year, and so it is with great pleasure I say 'You F#$*ing beauty! Cats are PREMIERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

F1....Oh Lewis, you're back! ...McLaren's Lewis Hamilton won the Singapore Grand Prix with Toyota's Timo Glock second and Renault's Fernando Alonso third. Now Brawn on the Podium or Red Bull. And WTF is Toyota doing on that podium??? scary how quikly things turn.

NRL....The Grand final is on!....more news to come!

Parramatta fullback Jarryd Hayne has been cleared to play against Melbourne Storm in next Sunday's NRL Grand Final after a knee to his opponents head.

Greatness awaits Melbourne Storm after a 40-10 demolition of Brisbane granted them passage to a fourth. Redemption is now firmly at the forefront of Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith's thoughts.

Cricket....SHOAIB Malik smashed a brisk century to set up Pakistan's 54-run victory over arch-rivals India in the Champions Trophy at Centurion on Saturday. More news again to come!

A brilliant all-round performance by Mitchell Johnson steered Australia to a successful start to its Champions Trophy defence.

Nathan Bracken's latest knee problem has captain Ricky Ponting worried about the fast bowler's future.

All that n more on the show that goes through more balls than Roger Federer.

Peace out*

.*Disclaimer: The Sports Lounge may contain 2/3 of your daily fibre intake. No this does not mean we will give you the shits. Warning this last paragraph may not be accurate. Conditions apply and portions of this blog have been edited for your discomfort. Spoken by Tan for the Sports Lounge Party Melbourne (say that last sentance really fast).All that n more on the show that goes through more balls than Roger Federer.