Darcy Moore raises his arms in the air to celebrate Collingwood’s win,while his opponent Joe Daniher is dejected on the final siren.Credit:Getty
The key duels of the 2023 AFL grand final
By Marc McGowan
These were the match-ups that proved decisive in the grand final.
1. Joe Daniher v Darcy Moore:Smokin’ Joe comfortably took the honours on this occasion,but also didn’t rip the game apart,despite barely being out of the action from the outset. Missed the chance to kick his third goal from a gettable set shot in the final term,but made good with an around-the-body attempt in the final two minutes to cut the lead to four points. Moore finished with only seven touches and two marks,compared to Daniher’s 16 disposals and eight marks.
Collingwood veterans Steele Sidebottom and Scott Pendlebury became dual premiership players for their club.Credit:Getty
2. Scott Pendlebury v Lachie Neale:The Collingwood champion went head-to-head with Brisbane’s dual Brownlow medallist in the second half,and it was Pendlebury who emerged as a key factor in the Pies’ thrilling win. The 35-year-old legend won 10 of his 23 disposals in the fourth quarter,after slotting a critical goal a term earlier,and added six clearances (four from the centre). Neale never looked his dominant self,ending with 21 touches and five clearances.
3. Bobby Hill v Brandon Starcevich:Conor McKenna spent more time on Hill than Starcevich in the Pie’s four-goal first half,but Starcevich was the stepladder for the Norm Smith medallist’s skyscraping mark,then barely left the ex-Giant’s side after half-time. Hill missed two set shots in the second half but laced out Scott Pendlebury for a goal assist and caught Starcevich holding the ball on another occasion.
4. Charlie Cameron v Brayden Maynard:Maynard did a fabulous job for most of the day on Cameron,but lost his feet in a contest deep inside 50m in the fourth quarter – and the All-Australian small forward capitalised with his third goal to briefly put the Lions in front. Cameron didn’t touch the Sherrin in the first term but burst to life with two goals in the second quarter. Outside of those periods,Maynard was well on top and did a better job than the numbers suggest.
Harris Andrews flies in front of opponent Billy Frampton (rear) reels in a great pack mark for Brisbane.Credit:Getty
5. Billy Frampton v Harris Andrews:Frampton’s first touch of the game was a soccer at goal in the first minute of the third term that went for a behind. But Andrews had only five himself to half-time. The mission for the Magpie who replaced Dan McStay was obvious:don’t leave Andrews’ side and quell him at all costs. Frampton dropped a sitter on the lead in the third quarter,and Andrews took three telling intercept marks in the final term.
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