The lead-up to Saturday’s grand final replay against Collingwood was certainly a different week compared to the previous.
While we analysed a number of things from the previous grand final, it was a slightly more low-key week overall and we approached it much like any other game of football.
Straight away Collingwood jumped us at the start.
All season their attacking pressure has been second-to-none in the competition.
They really bottle the ball up inside their attacking 50m and make it extremely difficult for a defensive unit to move it out.
This set the tone for much of the day and I’ve no doubt it went a long way to winning them that premiership.
Obviously Collingwood has been the better team for the first quarter.
They used strong pressure all over the ground and we were unable to move it inside our forward 50m.
We were able to do this more in the second quarter however we missed our opportunities in front of goal while the Magpies took theirs.
Collingwood took a lot of momentum into half time and in that third quarter they really blew us out of the water.
At the same time, they were still playing one-on-one football and giving our players nothing.
The most heartbreaking thing was our simple errors – missed shots in front of goal and occasionally, failure to hit targets.
In the third quarter the flood gates opened and they extended their lead even more.
We were still unable to capitalise and they executed better than we did.
As much as we carried our ‘never give up’ attitude throughout every stage of the game, the Pies had a eight-goal break on us early in the fourth and we knew it was going to be tough to come back from there.
Collingwood were just too good on the day. It was as simple as that.
I don’t have to tell you that I am – as with all of the St Kilda Football Club – devastated and heartbroken at the loss.
A lot of hard work goes into a premiership campaign and, putting the last two weeks in perspective, we went very close once again to the ultimate prize.
It was a bizarre feeling seeing our old team mate Luke Ball up on the podium receiving his premiership medal.
Twelve months ago he was sitting alongside us on the turf, pondering what might have been.
We had an enjoyable function last night attended by our adoring supporters.
Coach Ross Lyon repeated a similar message to them as he did to us immediately after the game.
He said that as a playing group we are capable of coming back from this disappointment, after what has otherwise been another strong season.
Our premiership window is still open and Ross urged all of the players to recapture that belief going into next season.
The talent and ability this team has, coupled with that positive attitude will hold us in good stead as we move forward once again.
It’s been a tumultuous season, plenty of ups and downs and full of challenges, to come through like this and again get so close is a credit to the club and everybody involved with it.
Once again, we love our supporters and we look forward to repaying their loyalty in 2011.