Back and forth. Highs then lows. This,but that.
Such was the storyline of the epic 2023 AFL grand final,yes,but also what basically became a single match referendum on the Collingwood Football Club,and whether we – the neutrals – still hate them.
We’ve heard the opposite for some time now,you see,told time and again by members of the commentariat how likeable these new Magpies have become. How their organisation is filled with great people,and inclusivity. How they play with verve and desire. How they’re exciting to watch. Becoming likeable was,they told us,the dirtiest trick the dirty rotten mudlarks ever pulled.
There’s their coach,Craig McRae,with his Ted Lasso puffer jacket and guileless charm. Their captain,Darcy Moore,who reads books and dyes his hair and speaks with eloquence and empathy. Their veteran champion,too,Scott Pendelbury,maybe headed humbly towards the AFL games record.
But is that enough to really turn the other cheek? I think not.