West Coast 12.13 (85) d Sydney 12.12 (84)

Well, what a Grand Final. In-bloomin'-credible. I watched it at home with the family this year, and everyone was very good about letting me just sit in front of the TV for three hours. Sydney were terrible for most of the first half, and were lucky that West Coast didn't take more of their chances. Sydney could have been dead and buried by half time. As it was they came out in the 3rd quarter and showed incredible belief in themselves, to creep within 11 points at the last change.

Last year's grannie was one of the all time greats, and just about everyone tipped that this would come close to matching it. Few thought this match would actually would surpass it. When Kirk grabbed the ball out of the centre, found McVeigh, who hooked it out to Hall, who handpassed to Goodes charging by, who slammed it through for a goal only 14 seconds into the quarter, it was obvious this was going to be a heart-stopper. Sydney five points down. It stayed this way for another ten fraught minutes, then a few rushed behinds pushed it out to 7 points, but the momentum had swung to Sydney and it seemed just a matter of time until their nose was in front. Several times they clawed within one point, but they were never able to go one better.

The siren sounded and West Coast were premiers, after losing to the Swans by four points last year, beating them by 2 points during the season then losing the qualifying final by 1 point a few weeks ago. The exact score that day was replicated yesterday, but with a different winner.

I was barracking for Sydney but I thought West Coast were deserving winners. Sydney coach Paul Roos was almost unbelievably generous in defeat. ""It would have been devastating for them to go down today, considering the amount of effort they've put in." They are just two terrific footy teams, and if they could go on providing grand finals like the last two, I think most footy followers would be happy to see them there again next year, and the year after that.