Melbourne Under Siege. Heathen Storm the Temple Gates!

After nine long years, the Swans have qualified to play in the AFL Grand Final. They gained their place by defeating the premiership favourites, St Kilda; a result that went against the opinion of the Melbourne football punditry. The Saints were disadvanted by injury to key players and the pressure of high expectations from their fans and, being the only remaining Victorian team, the wider Victorian public.

The Swans play the West Coast Eagles next Saturday, the second non Victorian Grand Final in a row.

Unlike their previous final, the Swans won convincingly. The Saints caved in during the last quarter after the Swans kicked three quick goals.

In my opinion, the Saints will attain a premiership within the next couple of years. They have the most talented line up in the league, but lack luck with injuries, and perhaps experience. I wouldn't be surprised if they win back to back flags provided they can consistently field their best team.

But the Saints fortunes are of no further consequence this year. The question is now whether Sydney can break a success drought that's lasted since 1933. A lot depends on what happens with regard to Barry Hall's rather foolish punch aimed at Matt Maguire's stomach.

As a Swans supporter I want Bazza to play, and I'd say it's 50/50 that he will. The one thing I hope the Swans won't do is go down the 1996 Grand Final path of using the courts to get him off. Andrew Dunkley, the Swans fullback at the time, was cited of the video for striking Essendon's James Hird. The Swans circumvented the tribunal by legal action which disrupted the team's preparation, Dunkley played, they lost the Grand Final anyway, and Dunkley was subsequently suspended at the start of the following season.

The AFL judicial system would be unworkable if, at every instance a decision was handed down that didn't suit the player's club, they took legal action to circumvent it. The clubs know this, and take unpalatable decisions on the chin, (evidenced by Collingwood's acceptance of Anthony Rocca's suspension for the 2003 Grand Final), even though court action would have a good chance of succeeding.

If Hall gets suspended, the Swans need to persue their options within the AFL tribunal system to get him off. If unsuccessful, they need to accept the decision, and concentrate on preparing for the final without him. Halls absence will make the job of winning harder, but he's only one of 18 players on the field, and the quicker the Swans accept his absence, and plan around it, the better.

Update: With Bazza cleared, notions of taking court action are thankfully gone. Time for everyone to concentrate on Saturday afternoon.