2003 Grand Finals

After such a promising season, unfortunately grand final day didn’t produce the desired result for the Wildcats. We were beaten by a more determined and more accountable team on the day and we probably didn’t pay them the respect they deserved early enough in the game. Luckily we didn’t walk away from Clapham Common empty handed though, with the Raiders taking out their third successive Conference title. This time was more impressive than the previous two, and the undefeated season has certainly earned the Raiders the champions title.

Click here for photos of the day

The Raiders, coming off a scare in the second semi started determined for there not to be a repeat. Gus started in attack this week and gave us an early target kicking into a two to three goal breeze. A much more switched on and focused attack ensured we set up a 5 goal to 3 opening term. The backline also held firm, Duggs and Geoffo leading the way back there with the London Eye and Blacky providing us with some drive. The second term we again continued to attack but probably let ourselves down by allowing Clapham a couple of easy goals. At half time we held a 27 point break.

The third quarter commenced and along came our customary break in concentration. Clapham started to exert their influence in the middle and constantly sent the ball forward. On the odd occasion we attacked, the ball was simply rebounded far too easily. Clapham piled on a few goals and it looked like it was going to be a torrid last quarter similar to the second semi final. At the last change it was a straight kick in it. The final quarter again saw the Raiders up their work rate. Dan Morrison, Gerry and Jase Hughey were getting plenty of the ball in the middle and Gus continued to stand tall up forward. Fortunately the backline didn’t have a lot of work to do but when they were needed they were rarely beaten. When the final siren sounded Gus had finished with 5 goals, the Raiders had won by 28 points and Dan Morrison was awarded the best on ground medal. It was three in a row for the Raiders and we still remain the only winners of the competition since its inception, this time as undefeated champions! It was one down for the day and one to go… or so we thought.

Looking to continue on from the Raiders and also become champions, the Wildcats found themselves kicking into the breeze early on. Wandsworth kicked a couple of early ones before the Wildcats found the big sticks. We drew level at 3 goals a piece before the Demons kicked the last one of the term, at quarter time we were 7 points adrift. Expecting to kick away with the breeze in the second quarter, for the first time all year we began to find goals hard to come by. We were struggling for a target in attack, and the ball was coming out a lot easier then it was going in. Our backline was holding strong, Slates and Ty doing well back there but Rosco’s constant message to man up and play a lot tighter all over the ground and especially in the midfield seemed to go unheeded. At half time Wandsworth had extended their break to two goals.

A couple of positional changes were made at half time and a plea to play a lot tighter. However unfortunately the game was lost in the third quarter. Rory, our best EU by far in our eyes was playing well in defence, but couldn’t stop the constant flow of the ball from coming down. We held within striking distance for the majority of the quarter, but three late goals effectively put us out of the contest facing a 5 goal margin. We banged on the first one in the last quarter to give ourselves a glimmer of hope, only to see Wandsworth reply immediately. From that point on we continued to play attacking football, throwing everything we had at them. Three goals got us back with a hope but our day was probably best summed up when Ruggy, after evading a couple of opponents, ran into an open goal only to miss from 15m out. We then got another goal through Bakes with about 3 minutes left to reduce the margin to 9 points, but fittingly for them, Wandsworth kicked the last goal to leave us with our eighth grand final loss from nine appearances and an extremely bitter taste in our mouth.

Full credit to Wandsworth, they gave it everything and were worthy winners on the day. We didn’t play the type of football that had got us through to the biggest stage of the year and despite still firmly believing that we were the best team in the competition, we weren’t on the day and that is what football is all about. It was a disappointing end to the year and is still a pretty hard pill to swallow, but the club will certainly continue to grow and move on from there. Congratulations to Belly on being named the best EU on the day. We are the biggest and best club outside of Australia, and though in the end we didn’t prove that on the field with the Wildcats, continued success is only around the corner and I have no doubt we will dominate the competition for years to come. Congratulations to the Raiders again, it’s going to take something special from one of the other clubs to overtake them in the next few years.

For the blokes that are still going to be around next year, stick with it, learn from this loss and transform it into something special.

All the best,

Dogga