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Finals flashback
by PAUL DAFFEYAS Geelong big man John Mossop walked from the Cats' huddle after quarter-time in the 1981 qualifying final, he had a distinct sense that it would be up to him if the Cats were to overcome Collingwood and win the match. Mossop, speaking from his property near Penola, in South Australia, said it was a rare premonition to feel that the game's fate rested in his hands. But the feeling was certainly strong on this day. "I thought to myself, 'I'm going to have the make the difference here'," Mossop said. His inkling proved correct. Geelong began the second quarter three goals in arrears. At half-time, it was two goals in front. The main reason for the turnaround was Mossop, who played one of the best quarters in finals history. At the end of his career, which consisted of 134 games with Geelong and 37 with North Melbourne, it was certainly this performance that most fans would remember him by. In one of the strongest-marking displays imaginable, the then 22-year-old kicked five goals in the second quarter. Having seen off several opponents, he finished the term with Collingwood captain Peter Moore trying to stop him. Mossop responded to Moore's arrival by launching himself at a pack to take the strongest mark of the lot. "I took it from three or four deep," he said. "It was an example of the confidence I had at that stage." Mossop took aim for his sixth goal for the quarter, but missed. In the third quarter, he kicked another two goals and finished with seven for the match. Geelong won by 14 points. "It was like one of those days when you have a good game of golf," Mossop said. "You wonder why it's happened. And you can't repeat it." Other good players for Geelong that day included ruckman Rod Blake and centre half-forward Stephen Reynoldson, who played arguably his best game for the Cats. Mossop said he received quick delivery from teammates upfield. The next week, he was in the centre square to take the opening bounce against Carlton in the second semi-final. The following week, he did the same against Collingwood in the preliminary final. Mossop said he agreed with coach Bill Goggin's ploy to try to confuse opposition defenders who might have expected him to line up in the goalsquare. As it happened, the big red-head spent a good part of both games at full-forward, and kicked three goals in each game, but his impact was less than he would have liked. Geelong lost to the Blues and the Magpies to go tumbling out of the finals. Mossop said the reversal of fortunes against Collingwood, which won the preliminary final by seven points, was just one of those things. From The Age. 28 September 2006 |
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