Tweet
Welcome to the final instalment of the Premiership edition Troy Luff Medal for 2005! Tonight, we will all finally learn whether Brett Kirk, Craig Bolton will be the first ever Premiership year Troy Luff Medallist. Of course, with only two votes separating the two players, we could well be about to see our first Troy Luff Medal tie.
Today's game, of course, is one that we will never forget. On the 24th of September 2005, the Sydney Swans defeated the West Coast Eagles in the Grand Final to win our first Premiership in 72 years.
Before we get into the game itself, let's take one final look at the progressive vote tally:
54. Brett Kirk
52. Craig Bolton
41. Barry Hall
36. Jude Bolton
35. Adam Goodes
25. Nick Davis
22. Ryan O?Keefe
18. Amon Buchanan
17. Luke Ablett
14. Leo Barry
13. Paul Williams
12. Tadhg Kennelly
9. Darren Jolly, Michael O?Loughlin
8. Jared Crouch
6. Lewis Roberts-Thomson
4. Nic Fosdike, Adam Schneider
2. David Spriggs, Luke Vogels
1. Jarrad McVeigh, Jason Ball
Grand Final week. It's an exciting time that always starts with the sheer joy of knowing your team will be there on that last day. After that initial euphoria, however, the long wait begins. The second preliminary final, Grand Final ticket sales, Barry Hall being charged for the love-tap on Maguire, the Brownlow, Barry Hall getting off at the tribunal, team selections, the Grand Final parade gave us our little milestones along the way. Each meant that we were that little bit closer to our chance at Premiership glory.
After beating the Saints the week before, the media, bookmakers and much of the rest of the football world had thrown in their lot with the Swans. We were the sentimental favourites, the team that, in the view of many, had suffered enough. It was time for the longest drought in VFL/AFL history to end. The media explored the links between today's Sydney Swans and the South Melbourne Bloods of yesteryear. The bookies, once they knew that Barry Hall would play, installed us as slight favourites.
None of that mattered, however, once the two teams were out on the MCG. The Swans started the game reasonably well in a close first quarter. The Swans made better use of their opportunities, kicking three straight to 2.4, to take a two-point lead into quarter time. In the second quarter, the Swans got well and truly on top, adding 3.3 to three behinds to lead by 20 points.
The Swans were on their way to a Premiership, with Lewis Roberts-Thomson playing the game of his life in defence, Adam Goodes threatening to break the game open and the unheralded trio of Nic Fosdike, Amon Buchanan and Jared Crouch playing well. But things started to go wrong after half-time. It was a tougher, more desperate West Coast line-up that returned from the rooms, and it quickly began to show on the score-board. By 3/4 time, the Swans once again led by only two points. The Eagles had the momentum. It was going to be an agonising last quarter.
The agony was magnified many times when Luke Ablett kicked across the face of the opposition goal... and straight into the arms of Ben Cousins, who was unmarked in the goal square. As Swans teammates rushed to a devastated Ablett, Cousins kicked truly, and the Eagles were in front for the first time since the opening quarter. Adam Hunter then kicked West Coast's fifth straight goal. The Swans were 10 points down in the last quarter of a Grand Final.
We began to prepare ourselves for the unthinkable. The Swans team that had found ways to make the impossible happen all through the year was staring at Grand Final defeat. They couldn't find another miracle... could they? Of course they could! This was the Sydney Swans, 2005 was their Premiership and with less than 20 minutes to play, they set about taking it back from the Eagles.
Barry Hall brought us back within a kick with a true 'Captain's goal' from outside 50m. It revived the spirits of the Swans, and for the rest of the quarter they were - albeit only slightly - the better side. However, the Swans have never offered us glory without drama. It could only be won the Swans way, with victory snatched from the jaws of defeat.
The Swans wasted several chances to take the lead, with Michael O'Loughlin the main culprit. Finally, however, Amon Buchanan snapped a goal to put us back in front. It had come from the exact same set play that won the Geelong game two weeks before, with Jason Ball once again on hand with the perfect tap. The Swans had one hand on the cup, and now they had to hold on to it.
In those last few minutes, it seemed that the Swans were determined to tell the story of 2005 all over again. There was missed shots on goal that could have given us that precious breathing space. There were turnovers, each of which seemed destined to break our hearts. Yet the defence held firm, with Leo Barry, Craig Bolton and Lewis Roberts-Thomson repelling any West Coast attack. The midfielders, led by Jude Bolton and Brett Kirk and inspired by perhaps the most important smother ever by Amon Buchanan, risked life and limb to hold on.
As we have gotten used to with the Swans, they didn't do it easy. They could win the Premiership only with absolute dedication to the cause. As we have also gotten used to, it came down to the last moments. As we have long been used to, Leo Barry was there to save the day. Like Nick Davis two weeks earlier, Leo was there with something special. The siren went with the ball in his hands. Sydney had won the Premiership.
Here's the votes. Remember that Craig Bolton needs two votes to tie with Brett Kirk, and three to win outright:
5. Amon Buchanan
4. Lewis Roberts-Thomson
3. Nic Fosdike
2. Leo Barry
1. Craig Bolton
Congratulations Brett Kirk on winning the 2005 Troy Luff Medal! After twice finishing second, this is a richly deserved recognition of Kirk's efforts for the Swans. Let's not forget Craig Bolton's performance - for an unheralded player to poll in 21 of 26 matches, and fall just a single vote short is a fine effort, and he would have been a worthy winner.
Congratulations to Barry Hall, who has finished in the top four every year. To Jude Bolton, whose early run was cut short by injury. To Adam Goodes, who regained the matchwinning brilliance that we remember from 2003. Congratulations to Amon Buchanan, Luke Ablett and Lewis Roberts-Thomson, whose improvements during the year were crucial to our Premiership.
Congratulations to them all. Brett Kirk was the stand-out, Craig Bolton was the challenger, but they have all given us something to remember in 2005. Thankyou, Bloods.
The final vote tally for 2005:
54. Brett Kirk
53. Craig Bolton
41. Barry Hall
36. Jude Bolton
35. Adam Goodes
25. Nick Davis
23. Amon Buchanan
22. Ryan O?Keefe
17. Luke Ablett
16. Leo Barry
13. Paul Williams
12. Tadhg Kennelly
10. Lewis Roberts-Thomson
9. Darren Jolly, Michael O'Loughlin
8. Jared Crouch
7. Nic Fosdike
4. Adam Schneider
2. David Spriggs Luke Vogels
1. Jarrad McVeigh, Jason Ball
I hope you enjoyed the 2005 Troy Luff Medal. Please post your messages to Brett Kirk in this thread. These will be collected and included in a specially-made book that will be presented to Brett later in the year, as RWO's gesture of thanks to the Troy Luff Medallist.
Charlie
Today's game, of course, is one that we will never forget. On the 24th of September 2005, the Sydney Swans defeated the West Coast Eagles in the Grand Final to win our first Premiership in 72 years.
Before we get into the game itself, let's take one final look at the progressive vote tally:
54. Brett Kirk
52. Craig Bolton
41. Barry Hall
36. Jude Bolton
35. Adam Goodes
25. Nick Davis
22. Ryan O?Keefe
18. Amon Buchanan
17. Luke Ablett
14. Leo Barry
13. Paul Williams
12. Tadhg Kennelly
9. Darren Jolly, Michael O?Loughlin
8. Jared Crouch
6. Lewis Roberts-Thomson
4. Nic Fosdike, Adam Schneider
2. David Spriggs, Luke Vogels
1. Jarrad McVeigh, Jason Ball
Grand Final week. It's an exciting time that always starts with the sheer joy of knowing your team will be there on that last day. After that initial euphoria, however, the long wait begins. The second preliminary final, Grand Final ticket sales, Barry Hall being charged for the love-tap on Maguire, the Brownlow, Barry Hall getting off at the tribunal, team selections, the Grand Final parade gave us our little milestones along the way. Each meant that we were that little bit closer to our chance at Premiership glory.
After beating the Saints the week before, the media, bookmakers and much of the rest of the football world had thrown in their lot with the Swans. We were the sentimental favourites, the team that, in the view of many, had suffered enough. It was time for the longest drought in VFL/AFL history to end. The media explored the links between today's Sydney Swans and the South Melbourne Bloods of yesteryear. The bookies, once they knew that Barry Hall would play, installed us as slight favourites.
None of that mattered, however, once the two teams were out on the MCG. The Swans started the game reasonably well in a close first quarter. The Swans made better use of their opportunities, kicking three straight to 2.4, to take a two-point lead into quarter time. In the second quarter, the Swans got well and truly on top, adding 3.3 to three behinds to lead by 20 points.
The Swans were on their way to a Premiership, with Lewis Roberts-Thomson playing the game of his life in defence, Adam Goodes threatening to break the game open and the unheralded trio of Nic Fosdike, Amon Buchanan and Jared Crouch playing well. But things started to go wrong after half-time. It was a tougher, more desperate West Coast line-up that returned from the rooms, and it quickly began to show on the score-board. By 3/4 time, the Swans once again led by only two points. The Eagles had the momentum. It was going to be an agonising last quarter.
The agony was magnified many times when Luke Ablett kicked across the face of the opposition goal... and straight into the arms of Ben Cousins, who was unmarked in the goal square. As Swans teammates rushed to a devastated Ablett, Cousins kicked truly, and the Eagles were in front for the first time since the opening quarter. Adam Hunter then kicked West Coast's fifth straight goal. The Swans were 10 points down in the last quarter of a Grand Final.
We began to prepare ourselves for the unthinkable. The Swans team that had found ways to make the impossible happen all through the year was staring at Grand Final defeat. They couldn't find another miracle... could they? Of course they could! This was the Sydney Swans, 2005 was their Premiership and with less than 20 minutes to play, they set about taking it back from the Eagles.
Barry Hall brought us back within a kick with a true 'Captain's goal' from outside 50m. It revived the spirits of the Swans, and for the rest of the quarter they were - albeit only slightly - the better side. However, the Swans have never offered us glory without drama. It could only be won the Swans way, with victory snatched from the jaws of defeat.
The Swans wasted several chances to take the lead, with Michael O'Loughlin the main culprit. Finally, however, Amon Buchanan snapped a goal to put us back in front. It had come from the exact same set play that won the Geelong game two weeks before, with Jason Ball once again on hand with the perfect tap. The Swans had one hand on the cup, and now they had to hold on to it.
In those last few minutes, it seemed that the Swans were determined to tell the story of 2005 all over again. There was missed shots on goal that could have given us that precious breathing space. There were turnovers, each of which seemed destined to break our hearts. Yet the defence held firm, with Leo Barry, Craig Bolton and Lewis Roberts-Thomson repelling any West Coast attack. The midfielders, led by Jude Bolton and Brett Kirk and inspired by perhaps the most important smother ever by Amon Buchanan, risked life and limb to hold on.
As we have gotten used to with the Swans, they didn't do it easy. They could win the Premiership only with absolute dedication to the cause. As we have also gotten used to, it came down to the last moments. As we have long been used to, Leo Barry was there to save the day. Like Nick Davis two weeks earlier, Leo was there with something special. The siren went with the ball in his hands. Sydney had won the Premiership.
Here's the votes. Remember that Craig Bolton needs two votes to tie with Brett Kirk, and three to win outright:
5. Amon Buchanan
4. Lewis Roberts-Thomson
3. Nic Fosdike
2. Leo Barry
1. Craig Bolton
Congratulations Brett Kirk on winning the 2005 Troy Luff Medal! After twice finishing second, this is a richly deserved recognition of Kirk's efforts for the Swans. Let's not forget Craig Bolton's performance - for an unheralded player to poll in 21 of 26 matches, and fall just a single vote short is a fine effort, and he would have been a worthy winner.
Congratulations to Barry Hall, who has finished in the top four every year. To Jude Bolton, whose early run was cut short by injury. To Adam Goodes, who regained the matchwinning brilliance that we remember from 2003. Congratulations to Amon Buchanan, Luke Ablett and Lewis Roberts-Thomson, whose improvements during the year were crucial to our Premiership.
Congratulations to them all. Brett Kirk was the stand-out, Craig Bolton was the challenger, but they have all given us something to remember in 2005. Thankyou, Bloods.
The final vote tally for 2005:
54. Brett Kirk
53. Craig Bolton
41. Barry Hall
36. Jude Bolton
35. Adam Goodes
25. Nick Davis
23. Amon Buchanan
22. Ryan O?Keefe
17. Luke Ablett
16. Leo Barry
13. Paul Williams
12. Tadhg Kennelly
10. Lewis Roberts-Thomson
9. Darren Jolly, Michael O'Loughlin
8. Jared Crouch
7. Nic Fosdike
4. Adam Schneider
2. David Spriggs Luke Vogels
1. Jarrad McVeigh, Jason Ball
I hope you enjoyed the 2005 Troy Luff Medal. Please post your messages to Brett Kirk in this thread. These will be collected and included in a specially-made book that will be presented to Brett later in the year, as RWO's gesture of thanks to the Troy Luff Medallist.
Charlie
Comment