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By finishing on 99, Bendan Fevola has become football's Don Bradman and a part of football folklore forever. Send us your tribute to 'our Don Bradman'.
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The Football Gods – they do exist and Hawthorn and Hayden Kennedy will find out more about them in the coming weeks. Both played a part in ensuring AFL football history was not made at The Dome in round 22, 2008.

While Hawthorn was able to celebrate Buddy kicking his 100 goals for the season and a big win to go into the finals, they also showed a side of their character that many would question. Some would be pleased to see the ruthless manner in which they finished the home and away season, not giving an inch and in doing so ensuring Fev became football’s Don Bradman, on 99.

Others would take a different view, suggesting they Hawks showed true arrogance and a lack of sportsmanship by putting numbers back in the final ten minutes to stop Fev getting to three figures. Indeed Hawthorn missed the chance to be a part of history and make Buddy’s 100 an even greater moment in AFL history with two players kicking their 100th season goal in the same game.

Of course the Hawks don’t care, they are only worried about the finals and good luck to them, we all want to be a part of finals action and they are in with a real show. It is just a pity that a sense of history, that would not impact on their finals campaign, was not recognised by the players or the coaching staff.

Hayden Kennedy is one of the very best umpires to officiate in the AFL, over 400 games, 31 finals and five Grand Finals is testament to his outstanding career with the whistle. On Saturday night in the dying minutes his lack of romance was evident when he couldn’t find the whistle to award a slightly dubious free kick to Fev. Sure it was a little ‘iffy’ but for goodness sake seize the moment Hayden and get with the program. Sure Jeff Gieschen will come out and say the usual “By the rules Hayden was correct in his interpretation…blah blah.”

Giesh, we don’t want to know about the blinkered thoughts of the AFL Director of Umpiring, our game is bigger and better than that. We want to know that the game still has a heart and soul, that is what helps to set this game apart. With a heart and soul comes romance and that is what was missing as the Hawks belted Carlton on Saturday night.

Just imagine Fev kicking his eighth for the game, his 100th for the year, in the last couple of minutes of the game. Another piece of history would have been made because there is every chance the game would have been called off. Why would you wait another ten minutes for the crowd to clear the ground before restarting the final couple of minutes? Come to think of it was the AFL involved in this plot?

So Hawthorn as you enter your finals campaign in 2008 you will need plenty of luck if you are to be successful. Football Karma will not be in your favour and with the Football Gods not in your favour it will be a tougher campaign than what it was going to be just a few days ago. As for Hayden, maybe you will be given a reprieve because of your outstanding record, but Football Karma may not take that into account. If you miss out on another Grand Final remember that ‘iffy’ kick you didn’t give. Jeff may like it but who knows how the Football Gods will react.

I guess you can always say you were part of football folklore in making Fev our very own Don Bradman.

Please Note: the views expressed in the above article are solely the opinion of the author and do not reflect the opinions of the Carlton Football Club or those employees of the Club. The Carlton Football Club would like to acknowledge the tireless work of those supporters who contribute to carltonfc.com.au.