It was always Brisbane

by LES EVERETT

THE grand final is done. It's time for hindsight to kick in and for us to admit we always knew Brisbane was the superior team and three in a row was never in doubt.

In pre-grand final discussions most people had a similar response to the big question.

"Whaddareckon?" you'd ask.

"Well," would come the considered reply. "Brisbane's got better players. But Collingwood looks in better shape so they might just do it. But I'm still hoping the Lions can win."

Of course the response would be different if you were speaking to a Collingwood fan but that's another story.

Throughout the nation neutral footy fans were hoping upon hope that wounded Lions Voss, Lappin, Johnson, Akermanis, Ashcroft, White and Leppitsch would survive long enough to spare us a Magpie triumph. There was a collective catching of breath when Jonathan Brown went down in the opening seconds but as Neil Balme was the say later the Pies didn't fire a shot.

We learned again that even a lame Voss could be influential; Simon Black is majestic; Clark Keating's unscientific ruck play works; Chris Johnson Justin Leppitsch and Darryl White are unconventional and unique defenders; Mal Michael is a conventional dour back man who comes from New Guinea; Alistair Lynch and Jonathan Brown are powerhouses; Jason Akermanis is a football genius and so is Martin Pike. And so is Nigel Lappin. And...

2003 AFL grand final

Brisbane Lions 20.14 (134) defeated Collingwood 12.12 (84)

Goals Brisbane: Akermanis 5; Lynch 4; Caracella, Brown 2; McRae, Pike, Black, Hadley, Leppitsch, Hart, Bradshaw 1.

Collingwood: Didak 3; Burns 2; Davis, Woewodin, Buckley, Licuria, Tarrant, Fraser, Scotland.

Norm Smith Medal: Simon Black (Brisbane)

Michael Voss.

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