I cannot begrudge people for being caught up in the moment, and celebrating the wonderful clutch efforts of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera down the stretch in the Round 20 clash against the Demons.
Just this morning, I have had seven people come up to me when I was dropping the kids off, or when I was down the street pretending to buy milk and bread, when really I was looking for snack foods. They all wanted to talk to me about the game. This was one of those moments where footy fans remembered why they loved the sport.
Hell, it’s why I love it, despite its many flaws.
St Kilda fans, supporters of opposition clubs… hell, anyone other than Melbourne supporters were drawn in by the closing stages of the final game of Round 20. And we were reminded that when this game is played well, there is nothing else like it.
However, outside of the Big Wang fest on social media (please… please do NOT search that term) there are a couple of things that have been lost.
Like you, I loved the vision that came to light with Nashian and Rowan Marshall plotting the downfall of the Dees at that final centre bounce. I loved the way Wanganeen-Milera was so calm in the clutch – twice – to ice the game. And I loved seeing Ross Lyon – a grizzled veteran of both playing and coaching top-level footy – genuinely enjoying himself and getting caught up in the moment.
He was like you and I – watching, laughing, enjoying every moment.
But I also loved something else, too.
I loved the emergence of the next group of St Kilda stars.
We saw the changing of the guard at St Kilda in that final quarter, and the new guard comprises perhaps the most unlikely of courses.
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