I first heard the term in an article by (I think) Peter Fitzsimons. A 'White Moment' is when a sportsperson does something extraordinary, some stupendous feat that single-handedly wins a match. Nic Davis did that last night when, after the Swans were beaten for most of the match, he kicked four goals in the final quarter to win the match by three points.
Attending the game with my daughters, I'd resigned myself that the Swan's year was over. They were being comprehensively beaten around the ground. I've subsequently watched a lot of game replayed on TV, and can say that it looked a lot better for the Swans on the small screen. In real life they were woeful. Terrible handling, poor decision making, unable to get any run due to the tight marking of the opposition. It reminded me of this season's low point game against the Saints.
When Geelong scored early in the fourth, it seemed it was over. One of my kids thought we should go home early. Although that wasn't an option, it seemed that the home team's season was done. Then Davis scored a couple, and the Cats went into defencive mode. Rather than attacking, they tried to chip it round the ground and maintain possession. Davis scored his third.
With time running out, both teams were competing in the Swans attacking zone. Everyone was forward of half way. From where we were sitting at the other end of the ground, we could only make out a mad scramble, then someone getting boot to ball. It was impossible to compute the angles, but it was another Davis goal. Swans by three.
Not since Tony Locket kicked a point after the final siren to get the Swans into the 1996 Grand Final have I experienced such crowd euphoria. Most had resigned themselves to a loss, and to witness such an unlikely victory produced amazing scenes of crowd jubilation.
Next week the Swans travel to Melbourne to play St Kilda, the competition favourites, for the right to play in the Grand Final. Hopefully, this week's win will restore some confidence in the team and allow them to play to the high standard demonstrated against West Coast a week ago.
Against the Saints, they'll need everything they can muster.
I was just amazed by how badly they were playing even in those final moments, though. Adam Goodes dropped that mark, then Barry Hall--thank God for Davis, because there were at least two or three missed opportunities in the last five minutes alone.
As you say, hopefully they'll be able to pull themselves together for next week's match against the Saints.
There was a lot of luvin to be had when the siren went, I reckon I hugged 100 people. I have watched the last minute of the game 10 times today and credit should go to Jason Ball for the tap to Davis, it happened right in front of where we were sitting, it was so fast that we were in shock. ONWARD TO VICTORY, Can't wait till Friday night at the G, we'll be there.
Do some yellin' for me Ann!
We'll be hitting the Hume the next week if the dice rolls the right way.