AFL Grand Final 2010

Editorial

It's been 20 years since the Collingwood Football Club won a premiership flag, and a long and heartbreaking 44 years for the boys from St Kilda since they last held a premiership cup aloft. Now the ultimate football dream is tantalisingly close for one of these two clubs.

The rivalry between the two traditional Melbourne teams stretches back to 1966, when they last met in a Grand Final. Then, it was St Kilda who snatched victory, beating Collingwood by just one point in one of the most famous Grand Finals of all time. Last Saturday they drew at 68 a piece. How different will things be this Saturday, when the two teams clash for the second week in a row on the hallowed turf of Melbourne's sporting temple, the MCG?

Collingwood have played competitive, hard-tackling football all year, pressing hard on the opposing team at every opportunity. Their only major flaw has been inconsistency when kicking for goal.

St Kilda have had the strongest across-ground defence of any AFL team this year, and a not-so-secret weapon in the magnificent Nick Riewoldt, however there are some injury concerns over some key players. As a team, they have a remarkable ability to shut the opposition down. It's a skill they're going to have to use to the maximum possible effect. Additionally, the Saints will be spurred on by the painful loss of last year's Grand Final.

However you look at it, Saturday's re-match is guaranteed to be an epic, magnificent, and evenly matched game of football at its peerless best, and the culmination of a two weeks of football-related activity in Melbourne. May the best team win!

***Hello, is it me you’re looking for? Lionel Ritchie is going to have crowds partying all afternoon (and night) long as the headline entertainment act for Saturday’s AFL Grand Final Replay.

Find the best bars to watch the game live here!

Richard Watts, Citysearch