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DAVID THURLING'S FINALS REVIEW
The 2002 Finals Series
For many Essendon fans, the tears and anguish will remain for some time yet. A season that promised so much should not have to end in this gut wrenching manner. The weeks spent analysing form and win loss ratios has all come to this devastating conclusion. How could it happen, Collingwood is in the Preliminary final.
Yes Collingwood. And to think that some parties are calling on all Victorians to support the despised Black and White. Fat chance of that happening. Essendon fans would rather dine out on razor blades than see Collingwood win another flag.
And we can also thank Collingwood for ruining the Bomber's dream finals draw as well. One minute its home finals all the way, the next minute, Mission Impossible. It was a bit like winning Tattslotto only to lose the winning ticket on the way to collect the cash. Collingwood's unlikely win over Port Adelaide turned the Don's final's aspirations on its head.
The Finals - Game One vs West Coast
With Scott Lucas putting on a one man show down back then up forward, Essendon powered to another finals victory over their bunnies the West Coast Eagles. The Eagles have yet to beat the Bombers in a finals game and despite looking threatening this time around, was eventually blown away. The game however will be remembered for two crucial incidents. Firstly it was Lloyd being KO'd in the first quarter then secondly Fletcher being reported. Lloydy was crunched in a nasty clash of heads and was not seen again. Club doctors put Lloyd through a standard memory test to determine the severity of his concussion, the results however were inconclusive. Whilst Lloydy was able to remember his name and guernsey number, his claim that Fox Footy's 'Living With' program was his favourite TV show convinced the medico's that Matty would miss the next week's game. Fletch on the other hand was clearly the victim of some quality acting by West Coast's Chris Judd. It is quite clear from the replay that it was Judd's knee that attempted to trip Fletcher's leg. As was the case when Fletcher was wrongly charged for striking against Melbourne earlier in the season, it was obvious on that occasion that the Melbourne player deliberately head butted Fletcher's clenched fist. Is there no justice in the world.
Game Two vs Port Adelaide
Thanks to our dear friends at Victoria Park, the Bombers were consigned to a cut throat Semi-Final against Port Adelaide at AAMI (Animals Are Massing Inside) Stadium. Without Lloyd ( who by the end of the week was seen wondering around Windy Hill humming the Teletubbies theme) and full back Dustin Fletcher (who was last seen surrounded by lawyers as he took his case to the High Court in Canberra), the Bombers were going to need some real inspiration to win the unwinnable match. The chances for success were further diminished when Mercuri and Henneman were unable to take the field.
With Port fielding a team consisting of three former Bomber favourites in Wanganeen, Hardwick and Cockatoo-Collins, as well as being coached by a former Essendon assistant coach in Mark Williams, this was always going to be a game of mixed emotions. Thus it was such a pleasure to see Dimma welcoming his former skipper onto the playing field with a friendly headlock and half nelson. And then later in the game he spent some quality time catching up with old team mate Gary Moorcroft during which he showed Gary that it was possible to pile drive a human body into the ground head first without causing serious injury. And how about much loved former Essendon Brownlow Medallist Gavin Wanganeen. Having seen opponent and ex-team mate James Hird clearly struggling with fitness, Wanga was nothing but courteous in offering to go and get the ball every time it entered the Bomber's forward 50.
The Wrap
So the Don's finished the year in unfamiliar territory and wondered where it all went wrong. For this proud club the end came too quickly and whilst their efforts to overcome terrible injuries, salary cap inequities, a terrible draw and plain bad luck were remarkable, fifth place is not acceptable. Nevertheless there are many positives to be taken from what was ultimately very tough year.
And for this columnist, sitting in the outer or in front of the TV watching his beloved Dons will remain one of life's great pleasures.
Read David's previous columns:
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In 2002 we welcome the newest reporter to BomberLand - David Thurling.
David was selected from hundreds of entrants in our competition to find the most passionate Bomber fan sitting in the outer, who could bring us a fresh perspective on the coming 2002 season.
Each week David will write a report on the previous match, and events surrounding the club.
We hope that you enjoy reading a true red and black fan's point of view on the issues affecting the Bomber faithful.
