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GLORY DAYS It's that time of the year where there's a buzz of anticipation and excitement in the air. It's footy finals time ith hubs and state-based Covid lockdowns behind us, AFL and NRL teams this year return to playing in front of their adoring fans on the biggest stage of all it's something that excites reigning AFL premiership coach Simon Goodwin and star midfielder Christian Petracca from the Melbourne Demons and their NRL counterparts Penrith Panthers coach Ivan Cleary and fullback Dylan Edwards. The Demons broke a 57-year drought when they raised the cup in Perth against the Western Bulldogs last year. while the Panthers prevailed over South Sydney Rabbitohs in Queensland where their season was relocated to, “It's certainly a driving force for the playing group and something we touched on right at the start of the pre-season, that we brought a lot of joy to a lot of supporters with what we were able to achieve last year. but we'd love to do it in front of them and have them experience what it's like at the MCG; Simon says. “Not only for our supporters, but our families who weren't able to get to Perth for the Grand Final last year* Christian agrees that playing finals at the MCG has been a big part of their motivation this year. WORDS MEGAN HUSTWAITE. “Im super excited. Melbourne is the home ‘of sport, especially the AFL, and we havent had it here the last couple of years with finals, so think i's going to be absolutely amazing, the 2021 Norm Smith medallist says. ‘I think people feed off the energy, people feed off the crowd I's why you play footy, to provide entertainment and have fun" Reaching footy's greatest heights at the MCG on the last Saturday in September is something Simon knows about. as a player he was part of the Adelaide Crows’ back-to- back titles in 1997-98. “The buzz of Melbourne, the city comes alive Grand Final week with the Grand Final parade and there is nothing better than playing at the MCG in front of 100,000 people. It's an incredible stadium,’ Simon says. ‘It brings back a lot of fond memories For Ivan. his first taste of premiership success, after playing 186 games and coaching more than 370, was a family affair. His son, Panthers superstar, Nathan, won the Clive Churchill Medal for man of the match. ‘Its really hard to explain how special that was. I came back to coach the club four years ago and a big part of that was to coach Nathan but there was a lot of pressure on the both of us. Ivan explains, “The first year together wasn't very good, Nathan wasn't playing well and | felt Quilty so for it to turn around and win the premiership was very special “An incredible moment memories that will ast forever? “YOU JUST HAVE TO GIVE IT YOUR ALL T0 ACHIEVE SUCCESS.” — DYLAN EDWARDS 2022 TOYOTA AFL GRAND FINAL AVA Sea ES MM TT NAL Le 0) ag “PEOPLE FEED OFF THE ENERGY IT'S WHY YOU PLAY FOOTY.” — CHRISTIAN PETRACCA Dylan says it’s a tight team at the Panthers, with many of them having grown up playing footy together. "itis really something special” He says a lot of players were battling injuries in the Grand Final. including himself, but they all supported each other in their quest for glory. “Iwas definitely not the only one’ he says of having to nurse a broken foot in the Grand Final “That is what we had to do to get through it as a team and as a club — that is the mentality that we take in. That you just have to give it your all to achieve success’ Ivan says playing in front of a vocal home crowd will help the Panthers in their quest for back-to-back titles. “Last year we saw videos of the streets of Penrith, outside our club and it was mayhem so you do imagine playing in front of the fans; he says “Its something we'd all lke to experience. itd be totally different to last year where in the sheds after the game it was just us and family that was with us, very intimate but amazing. “in Sydney the sheds ‘would be just jam- packed .. so you ‘wouldn't mind winning itwhere its the opposite to last year and just mayhem. Hopefully we can find ‘out what that's like”
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