Grand Night For Football As The Afl Gets It Right
The Age
Wednesday May 8, 1996
100 Seasons - 1897-1996.
This was a celebration of football and its history. It was a tingling night. From the horse-drawn carriages, from the bands playing outside the ground, from the penny farthings.
From the legends, from Rex Hunt roaming the wing and calling the game dressed like the burbler from Snowy River. ``They should rub these mongrels out for life," he screamed as the legends joined in a melee of mirth.
Peter Daicos kicked one of his specials; Wayne Johnston stabbed his passes; Jezza put on weight. Then came the fireworks.
The AFL takes every chance to flog night football to win us over for a night grand final. Every night is more spectacular than the last.
Even Bruce McAvaney was dressed up in a turn-of-the-century suit to call the match for Channel Seven.
The ``Same Old" Bombers ran out in their period costumes and promptly sat down for a team photo. The coaches have made great concessions in their preparations for these re-enactment games. It must have muddled the players' focus.
During the national anthem, sung sweetly by boy soprano Joel Harvey, the players clasped their caps to their hearts.
All this could have looked silly and over-done. In fact, it was quite touching.
The pre-game proceedings seemed to overwhelm the players for the start of the game was tepid and the fans hushed. In front of a huge crowd you could clearly hear the players' calls. But Geelong warmed up the quickest and had four goals in nine minutes. At this rate Essendon would not get the chance to choke.
Mark Harvey was dragged for two turnovers; James Hird was flung back into defence; Grant Tanner was running off Che Cockatoo-Collins and Mark Mercuri had kicked two points from simple shots. For all these mishaps, Essendon had the lead 16 minutes later.
And when Darren Bewick kicked two goals in the first two minutes of the second - he was all but hugged to death after his first as his teammates welcomed him back - Essendon was in control. Paul Couch was off the ground because he was being smothered by Chris Daniher, who then was forced to stop Garry Hocking.
The pivotal moment of the match soon followed. Michael Long lined up for goal, ran in for goal and kicked it. Sadly, as he did his right knee collapsed and he fell to the ground.
Just for a second, it appeared he lay there in embarrassment more than pain. Some people laughed.
But his teammates showed immediate concern and the stretcher was summoned. Long's knee, wrecked in 1994, had blown up again.
More than the pivotal moment in the match, it may be the defining moment of Essendon's season. Long is the Bombers' soul. When he runs, the Bombers dash.
Worse, Bewick, who had three goals by half-time and given just as many away, was hurt in the second quarter and limping.
One comeback star down and another on one leg.
By half-time Essendon was 11 points up. Recent history said this pointed to a Geelong win because Essendon has been unable to defend a lead even if you gave it a nuclear submarine.
The turnaround for the quarter was 20 points. Curiously, Daniher returned for the last quarter. Surely he must have been injured or Kevin Sheedy daft. Whatever, he was brilliant off the backline in the last quarter. So was Bewick up forward, where he kicked three quick goals which put Essendon into the lead.
After his eighth goal, Scott Cummings grabbed him and Bewick punched the air in frenzied delight.
There would be no choking this night by Essendon.
© 1996 The Age