This is certainly the hardest report I have had to do and that is why it has taken a couple of days to finish off the Brisbane diary. What happened is the only question everyone wants to know and to be honest so do we!
Game day in Brisbane started with breakfast at the hotel. It isn’t a team breakfast as everyone has it at a time that suits them between 8 and 10.30am. I am usually one of the first at breakfast as that is what suits me best while others are much later. The team had a walk and a stretch around 11.30am near the hotel and then lunch was available between noon and 1.30pm. The meals at the hotel were great and obviously the menu was organised by our dietician to ensure we were having the right foods.
After lunch it was time for a rest or a walk with some even having a ‘walk’ in the pool at the hotel. There was a real positive feeling within the group as a few guys had an extra massage or some minor treatment before being strapped prior to our team meeting at the hotel later in the afternoon. The bus left for the Gabba at 5pm and it was a quick trip and it was certainly a very good feeling as we entered the change room at the Gabba.
We had over two hours before the game so it gave us plenty of time to release some nervous energy at the ground. We all went out onto the ground and had a kick or handball before heading inside to get changed and ready for the game. The pre-game routine was business as usual with a warm up inside – in the indoor practice wicket area because our change rooms are the cricket change rooms. Then it was outside for the pre-game warm up on the ground and then back in for a quick chat and ready to run out for the game.
Being a final the AFL have a schedule for teams to enter the arena so we waited in the ‘tunnel’ before entering the arena. We were out before Brisbane and had our usual last minute on-field session. The big difference was being called over to the wing near our change rooms to line up for the singing of the national anthem. That is when you know it is not a normal home and away game.
Then of course it was game on. There is no need for me to go through the game as there has been plenty written about it. One thing I can confirm is that while we worked hard for a good lead early in the final quarter at no stage was there any thought that we had the game won or we just had to hang on. We always knew the Lions would come home strong and they would throw caution to the wind to overcome us. And that is pretty much what they did, took chances, always hit the ball forward and played in front of the ball which can be risky but when it comes off it works. Unfortunately for us it worked in the last 15 to 20 minutes on Saturday night.
When the siren went it was unbelievable, so disappointing knowing how close we had been but unable to get the victory. We all wanted to play a final in Melbourne to play in front of our home crowd and reward the members but it was not to be. It was terrible coming off the ground and then just sitting in the warm up area, no-one was saying a thing as there was nothing to say.
Ratts spoke to us after the game for about 15-minutes before he had media commitments. This was an important time as it gave us the chance to come to terms with the loss and what had happened. As disappointed and gutted as Ratts was, just like all the players, and how difficult it was to have missed a wonderful opportunity, he was really positive in his thoughts on the season. No doubt we will discuss this more in the coming weeks, as a team and individually.
The bus trip back to the hotel was very quiet and the planned swim session as part of our recovery was optional, although quite a few still went for a ‘walk’ in the water. Then it was the post match meal for the players and staff before we all went to the hotel bar to catch up with officials, family and supporters who were in Brisbane for the game. While it wasn’t a late night it was great to be able to talk about the game and the season with the people close to you before trying to get some sleep.
After night games it is hard enough to sleep and after Saturday night’s loss it was obviously even harder so there were a lot of tired boys getting on the bus at 8.15 on Sunday morning to head to the airport. The bus ride and flight home were very quiet with a number of us getting some sleep on the plane.
At Melbourne airport the media greeted us and Juddy had a chat to them. The one thing that stood out to me about what he said was the loss may be good for us in the long term. Hard as it is to take it should make us hungry in 2010 and the finals experience will be really important for everyone. As Juddy said had we been fortunate enough to make a preliminary final we may have been satisfied with our season and than may have had a negative impact on next year. Saturday night’s loss will hopefully help spur us on next year, one thing is for sure it will not have a negative impact on our season.
2009 is over for most of us but it was great to see the Northern Bullants have a big win over Williamstown to go straight into the Preliminary Final in the VFL. Now we can all get behind them and hopefully enjoy a Grand Final victory in the VFL in a couple of weeks time.
Nick Stevens
# 24
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