savouring every moment at home for the last time;
Tanner for St George
A salary cap Dynasty
I remember some time in the late 1980s walking into Jubilee Oval. That day it was raining, cold and miserable. I went through the good old turnstile, with a little help from my dad. My eyes were fixated on the ground. I wasn't watching where I was going, I just wanted to see the ground. The reserves were playing, I didn’t care I just wanted to see the Red V.
“Tanner, watch where you're going!” Dad yelled.
But it was too late, as a young whipper snapper I found those flags on the left of the “grand” stand far too mesmerizing. I landed in one of the bigger puddles.
Finally we found a wet seat. Dad unloads the chips he bought for me on the way in and he proceeded to knock off his amber liquid.
“Now listen.” Dad starts. “It’s the Broncos today.”
“We need to …”
“...and if we…”
“...then we should win!”
I couldn’t remember what my father was talking about, all I could think about was how good those Broncos were. They were the world-beaters, them and the Tigers. They seemed unbeatable; both teams were lined with internationals, both played great football. But here one of them were about to play my team in my back yard! I couldn't be more excited, as a kid you want your team to win every time, but I knew deep down how hard it would be.
I can't remember much from that day. We weren’t allowed on the ground after fulltime. I also recall Wally Lewis scoring late in the game to put the match beyond doubt. He slid in from what seemed the 22 metre line because there was so much mud on the ground. The Bronco dynasty got us that day.
Dynasty, a word that seems extinct in the current environment. The idea that a club could build strength and compete at the top level for successive years, or demolish itself and struggle for successive years. Either way they have a dynasty.
When your team is in a successful dynasty you enjoy every moment, because it ebbs and flows, so you make sure that you grab the memorabilia and put the pictures up on the wall behind the bar.
When your team is in an unsuccessful dynasty you go to games with more hope than expectation. You look through the reserves hoping to see a glimmer of hope for the future. More importantly, you hang onto that day when players begin to start to sign contracts. You pray that your club could land a big name player, someone that could start to lead the team in the right direction.
Dynasty produced styles, attacking teams, defensive teams and aggressive teams. Dynasties don’t move with the trends, they set the trends. That is why people were able to talk about different styles of football, which players could fit well into certain teams and which couldn't. Even though my dad knew more about soccer then football, he still had an opinion about our strengths and their weaknesses.
For better or worse, dynasties have been killed by the salary cap. Every team plays the same style these days, hit ups, cross field kicks and the occasional bit of brilliance from an individual.
Unfortunately today, the only dynasties that we have are ones built on cheating, greco roman wrestling and good negotiation skills when it comes to player contracts. There is a pattern for success no matter who you are, Melbourne have found it, they are able to achieve success no matter what players line up for them.
The Bulldogs only two years ago had the makings of a bad dynasty. This year however they are premiership favorites by a long shot. Games have become less about two different teams competing against each other and more about who can hold the ball for longer.
So all that in mind, going to the modern game presents a different scenario.
Nowadays, Tanner comes through an electric gate with his kids.
The feeling of being at Jubilee is the same. But as I down my amber liquid, all I have to offer my kids is, “we need to hold the ball and if we tackle, we will win this.”
Sure, the salary cap has evened out the comp. But is that what we really want? Because I tell you now, one of the more satisfying things as a fan is beating a team that you have no right to beat.
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