Why I live football

by CAMERON PALMER

THIS season I haven't been my normal self when it comes to football. Yes I went out every week and cheered on my beloved Swan Districts, only for them to humour me with ideas of playing finals football and then tear out my heart by just missing out.

But when it came to the AFL really this season I didn't see much of it. The strain of university life, a teenage social life, a good woman and a demanding family meant little time was left for the AFL.

Though I didn't see much of the season I saw the game of the year between Brisbane and Port, I was online to witness the three way tie and later watch a Brownlow count that neared the excitement of the 2001 SFL Bowden Medal count, I was personally on hand to witness Fremantle get a drubbing and finals lesson against Essendon and most importantly I saw the best side in my time beat the most annoying team of my time in a grand final that made me realise why I love football.

Grand final day is generally a day a football fan gets intoxicated by alcohol, this yeah though I stayed sober, stayed home and cheered Brisbane to victory with my brother.

In the lead up I could not believe people even giving Collingwood a chance, now I wish I had spoken up more on my belief that Brisbane was always going to three-peat.

I never screamed so loudly as then when Burns cowardly attacked Brown, or when every time a Brisbane player looked like getting a free kick. It was the first time this season I got excited when someone touched the ball, the first time I felt inspired by one player, every time Jason Akermanis went near the ball all I could think was AKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, and you're only 75 metres out, go goals son. Akermanis may be greedy, hungry and arrogant but since he was doing it against Collingwood all was good.

Brisbane's team deserved the win. Players like Chris Johnson, Luke Power, Mal Michael and Martin Pike would be superstars in any other team. If this doesn't show that team success and a premiership medal beats individual honour what will?

The guy who really did not get the credit he was entitled was Rob Copeland. He did a sensational job on Nathan Buckley; anyone who thinks Buckley had a good game is kidding themselves. Each of his possessions was either in the defensive half; a wasteful kick up forward or an easy ball-get off the back of a pack. Buckley apart from a brief passage in the third term was simply useful and in my opinion Copeland was vital to Brisbane's success.

As much as I was cheering Brisbane I was criticising Mick Malthouse. I became the super coach again with all my hypothetical plays that Mick should have used. He didn't use any and hence Collingwood lost. The inclusion of Tristan Walker had to be the worst inclusion to any grand final side. Jason Cloke proved just how much his dad is influencing his career. If not for his dad Jason would be out of the AFL, he'd still be struggling to break into a VFL side.

Malthouse's failure to realise two men who would have a massive influence in the match would be the two fit men of Brisbane's fab four. Why he didn't tag, double team or do something to Akermanis and Black from the first bounce had me stumped.

But all in all the grand final restored my faith in the AFL. It showed me it is the premier competition and the premier team was the one who got the marbles. It got me cheering, screaming and wishing I were an AFL coach.

For just one day everything was right in the world. Now all the AFL has to do is have a grand final like build up and atmosphere every week and I'll be tuned in every week, otherwise it will be back to the banks of Bassendean hoping 2004 will be the year of the Swan.

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