For three quarters, it was all Essendon.
They were harder, faster, slicker, and used the footy much better than a Sydney team that just didn’t seem to show up.
It was all set up to see the Bombers run away with a comfortable win. Based on the previous 90 minutes of footy, it should have played out that way.
However, nobody read Sydney the script, and as the Swans emerged from their slumber, the game suddenly changed.
At that point, it was Sydney with all the run, all the dare, and all the momentum. The Bombers flailed away, but there was a genuine sense the Swans were about to overrun them. Shots went wide and dropped short, but Sydney peppered the goal.
If not for the efforts of Nic Martin, Mason Redman, and Zac Reid, Sydney may have rolled over the top of the Bombers, but something else occurred to cause footy fans to throw their collective heads back in disgust.
An umpire happened.
A decision happened.
A “dangerous” tackle happened, and it sucked the life out of what should have been a pulsating final few minutes.
Nic Martin leapt to take the footy deep inside his defensive fifty. He was immediately tackled by Joel Hamling, help upright for a moment, before both men fell to the ground. The whistle sounded. I expected a stoppage, and another chance for the Swans to get closer.
We got a dangerous tackle free kick to Martin.
It was pathetic.
As a neutral watching this game, I was disgusted. It was obvious the tackle was fine. If there was any danger to the action, Nic Martin probably added to it.
Chances are, the Bombers rally and hold the Swans off irrespective of the decision. Chances are they emerge victorious even if the correct, non-panicky call was made.
But we’ll never know.
We’re left with a big “what if…” and that tends to take on a life of its own.
What we do know is that those who said “it’ll decide a final one day” would be sitting there, nodding sagely.
You know it’ll happen.
I know it’ll happen.
The only ones who think it won’t happen are the AFL, because their heads are firmly planted in their arses.
On with the Big Questions from the Bombers’ win over the Swans. And only a little bit more about that tackle in the members’ section.. I swear.
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