From the Archives, 2005: Barry on mark as Swans grab glory

First published in The Age on September 25, 2005

Barry on mark as Swans grab glory

2005 Grand final – THE MATCH

THE essence of this Sydney team was what carried it into history yesterday – the inspiration of its leader, the heart of its warriors, the daring of its defenders, the sum of its many parts.

Sydney Swans celebrate after winning the grand final.Credit:Wayne Taylor

West Coast caught the mood, refusing to be bowed by its forward line shortcomings, and banishing the apparent onset of defeat in the game’s middle stages. It made for a contest that was undecided until the season’s final kick had ended its journey – in the hands of Leo Barry, who marked it in a manner to honour all who have donned the red and white.

The script said it would be close, that Sydney would win the hard balls and West Coast the clearances. By quarter-time the advantage in each area was double as Chris Judd exploded from the blocks as if part of the traditional daytime fireworks display, and the Swans′ commitment gave them a lead they would not have had if only the Norm Smith Medallist had someone to kick to.

Luke Ablett could not keep up with Judd, but few can.

Fifteen minutes into the match, he had spirited the ball away from stoppages six times, taken five bounces deep in his team’s defence, and earned the attention of Jared Crouch as Ablett retreated to the bench.

Adam Goodes keeps his eye on the ball.Credit:Vince Caliguiri

But the Eagles had lost his on-ball partner Daniel Kerr to a leg injury after six minutes, and Dean Cox’s long run and goal down the members’ wing hinted at a lack of options in attack that demanded scores come from further afield.

In this Michael Gardiner was most culpable, failing to make a contest despite his height advantage over Barry. Gardiner’s only contribution came courtesy of a soft free-kick, his only shot on goal hit the post.

Lewis Roberts-Thomson began with a bang across half-back for the Swans and was in everything, but David Wirrpanda did likewise at the other end. Darren Jolly and Barry Hall’s goals, also from frees, were not in keeping with the intensity of the opening.

By half-time, West Coast had taken one mark in its forward 50, and a blanket of red and white bodies shielded the ball from danger every time it hit the ground.

Chris Judd is tackled by Paul Williams and Brett Kirk in the 2005 decider.Credit:Vince Caligiuri

Michael O’Loughlin, the busy Adam Goodes and the rebounding Tadhg Kennelly all goaled for Sydney in the second term; the Eagles managed only three points.

Kerr had hobbled off a second time, and even with Ben Cousins doing his part on Sean Dempster, Judd’s actions summed up the situation – starting his team’s attacks, then charging forward and trying to finish them as well. An apparent mark on the goal line was denied; he could not do it all.

Even with a half-time lead of only 20 points, the sense that Sydney would kill the contest with the next goal was palpable. But Andrew Embley threaded the needle from the pocket, O’Loughlin and Hall spilled chest marks, then Hall and Buchanan missed what they might have got.

The winds of change billowed the Eagles′ wings, and suddenly it was the Swans who seemed deflated. Gardiner finally took a mark, and the body contact that went with it, Ashley Sampi swooped on everything that fell to ground, and Adam Hunter, moved forward as John Worsfold moved to save the day, trumped Embley’s effort from beyond the boundary.

Sydney’s lead at the last change was just two points.

Leo Barry takes the match saving mark on the siren.Credit:Ray Kennedy

O’Loughlin’s kicking yips caught on at the other end when Ablett passed across goal in search of Barry, but found only Cousins 10 metres out. Hunter marked between the posts and ran around to screw a second – the Eagles were 10 points to the good. “Lazarus” Kerr was back and getting kicks; the momentum shift appeared final.

What happened next defines the Swans. Hall, with nerves of steel, goaled from beyond 50, then burst through a pack to find O’Loughlin. He missed again as Daniel Chick flipped a handstand on the mark, but the subdued Kirk and Jude Bolton, helmet covering his cut head, dived on boots, ball and opponents in a breathtaking finish.

Buchanan was inspired, burrowing through traffic, tackling ferociously and finally mimicking Nick Davis’s winner from a fortnight earlier when he roved Jason Ball’s reverse tap, slithered past Wirrpanda and wobbled through the winner.

The 13 minutes that followed were as dramatic as any played.

Brent Staker ran over the ball with the goals before him, O’Loughlin turned possession over rather than take a shot, and Kirk and Cousins connected with frightening force, yet both were back on their feet by the time Drew Banfield’s kick from the spillage hit the post.

Bolton missed everything from the top of the goal square as Judd clung to his tail like cans trailing a wedding car, Kennelly hared out of defence toe-poking the ball in front of him, Wirrpanda kicked out over Mark Nicoski’s head, but Paul Williams added another of the four points after Buchanan’s goal.

With the clock on 32 minutes, Dean Cox drove the ball forward for the last time in 2005. Players scrambled to meet it and Barry took what in any week might have been mark of the day. On this day, it was the greatest mark in 72 years.

TIME ON

SYDNEY

3.0 6.3 6.5 8.10 (58)

WEST COAST

2.4 2.7 5.9 7.12 (54)

GOALS

Hall 2, Schneider, Jolly, Kennelly, O’Loughlin, Buchanan, Goodes.

Hunter 2, Cousins, Cox, Hansen, Nicoski, Embley.

BEST

Barry, Hall, Buchanan, Fosdike, Roberts-Thomson, Kennelly, Goodes.

Judd, Wirrpanda, Cousins, Embley, Cox, Hunter, Stenglein.

INJURIES

Matera replaced by Green.

UMPIRES

Allen, Goldspink, McLaren

CROWD

91,898 at the MCG

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