Early on I was very worried. We didn’t apply enough pressure and we trailed the much bigger Saints 4-34 at half-time! Then what we would come to expect turned up, and we doubled their score in the second half but couldn’t catch up (29-47)
Round #2
Casey won comfortably in round one, and we were off to their hell hole (it actually was quite a pleasant day weather wise!)
We didn’t have a ruck, we lost the hit-outs 52-4, and it didn’t matter. A hard fought 31-22 win was the blueprint for the year.
Round #3
Just a casual 55-27 win.
A detour to watch the Calder Cannons
It was after this stage I started saying BRING THEM IN.
Round #4
70-3!
Round #5
At this stage Port was THE team of the league. We lost 27-38, but it was the first time I really thought we would be finals-worthy.
Round #6
The draw was rigged so that non-AFLW teams played each other a lot early.
We kicked one goal in the first three very wet quarters at Box Hill… and then we finished rope-a-doping, and ran all over them 29-16. They kicked 1.10!
Round #7
We squeezed the life out of Willy to win 45-15.
Round #8
Collingwood were now top of the ladder. We led for more than half the game, but lost 28-38.
Round #9
Fark Carlton rocked up with AFLW top-ups, and we destroyed them 72-19. Had to watch on the stream because Mum was rude enough to turn 70.
Round #10
This was when it became clear to me that Geelong were the best team in the league. Their midfield was epic, and we lost 16-39 when they put on a late spurt of goals after we lost numerous players to injury (CBomb, Gardner, Finning).
Round #11
We were much more competitive against the next quasi-AFLW team in the middle, but our forward line was a huge worry at this time. We lose 10-27.
Round #12
North presented an AFLW and Tassie player stacked team, and we should have murdered them. But instead we tried clever things like bombing high and long to Yassir versus two talls, and lost 3.7.25 to 4.5.29
Round #13
After yet another COVID break, no crowds are allowed but you are allowed to leave home and I join a very few people looking over the fence. We spiflicate Willy and win 4.11.35 to 2.2.14
Round #14
In a mudpit we win 7.10.52 to 0.2.2. Convert one more chance and we would have had a final at Windy Hill.
Elimination Final
We controlled the first quarter, as Prespakis is sent into the midfield for all of a game foe the first time. Casey come back in a rush in a wind-assisted third quarter and continue their momentum to get in front in the last. We steady and win 35-32. Oh what a bloody relief! The next day the Saints beat Port and we are catapulted into a double-chance semi-final.
Semi-Final
The Pies may be undefeated since 2019 but they barely fall over the line versus us 18-11. The awful thing about this is that somehow Collingwood have beaten Geelong three times this year, and if we’d got through here we might have been favourite for the premiership!
Preliminary Final
This is a no-entry game and unlike Willy there is no good spot to watch from outside. At half time it is 14-14 due to The Georgie and Georgia Show. We had lots of opportunities to lead at half-time. In the second half the best team in the league gets the sway in the middle and end up winning 45-17.