Who needs Olympics when AFL is this good

OLYMPICS, Sh-olympics. Our British friends may be thinking the keg of golden glory tastes pretty good about now. But let them have their brief moment of sunshine, because Friday night proved again why AFL is the greatest show on earth.

Seriously, there are not enough adjectives or expletives that can truly convey just how incredible Hawthorn v Geelong actually was. All you could do was sit back, take a few deep breaths and think ‘wow’.

Now, bearing in mind that the Hawks haven’t beaten the Cats since the 2008 GF, there was never going to be a better opportunity to stamp yourselves as a genuine flag favourite whilst burying some old demons in the process. Unfortunately, the Hawks missed the first quarter due the fact that the injured Buddy had organised a Foosball tournament. All it did was allow the Cats to kick a nine goal head start.

In a rage of saliva and Gyprock, Alistair Clarkson politely instructed his players to step away from Buddy and start playing footy. What followed was three of the most engrossing quarters of footy possibly ever, right up until the Hawks were somehow in front, with a few minutes left. Hawthorn needed a goal to seal it and the ball was deep inside attack. Paul Puopolo was about 30m in the clear and inexplicably decided now was a good time to attempt goal of the year. Wrong. He missed and with seconds left, the ball went coast to coast, and into the hulking man-child arms of Tom Hawkins. The siren went and he calmly slotted a monster from about 80m. Cats win by 2 two, MCG erupts.

What does this mean? Well the ‘Kennett Curse’ continues on, the Hawks aren’t so sure anymore and no one in their right minds will want to be facing Geelong come September. There were other games of footy too. Sydney quietly still go about their business, this time dismantling Carlton’s hopes of finals and consolidating top spot on the ladder.

Freo totally destroyed a decimated West Coast and are marching towards a top eight berth, if only one of the teams currently in there would drop out. Looks like it will be the Bombers, after Adelaide just pipped them. Pies also scraped over the line against the Saints. Finally, Richmond had an actual real win over Brisbane that must of felt like pure gold for the Tigers. Oh – and the Giants! Well, they just went and beat Port! Amazing (and farewell Port’s Matthew Primus because of it).