Liam Durkin and David Braithwaite
GIPPSLAND will be well represented on AFL Grand Final day.
Sydney and Brisbane are set to lock horns, both eager to make up for shortcomings in recent years.
The Swans were wiped off the park by Geelong in the 2022 decider, while the Lions narrowly went down to Collingwood last year.
This will be the first non-Victorian grand final since 2006, while remarkably, it will be the first time Sydney (as South Melbourne) and Brisbane (as Fitzroy) have played in a decider since 1899.
Yarram’s Josh Dunkley is preparing to play in his fourth AFL grand final, and second as a Lion. Dunkley previously played in two grand finals for the Western Bulldogs, winning a premiership in his first year in 2016.
Dunkley this week said there were some comparisons between the Bulldogs’ run to the 2016 premiership from seventh place on the ladder and the Lions’ finals campaign this year. Having ended the home-and-away season in fifth place, the Lions have also had to go the long way to the grand final.
“There’s a lot of similarities, but we all know you’ve got to go out and do the job still,” he said.
“For us, it’s all about the preparation and looking forward to what’s to come.
“I feel like we’re on a bit of a wave at the moment and hopefully we can ride it all the way home.”
Dunkley said the memory of the Lions’ four-point loss to Collingwood in last year’s grand final would be driving him and his teammates ahead of tomorrow’s game.
Fellow Yarram local Jed Lamb began his AFL career with Sydney, playing 12 games between 2011-13, before moving to GWS and finally Carlton.
That this year’s grand final is against Sydney will add some extra poignancy for Dunkley, as his dad Andrew played more than 200 games for the Swans.
Similar sentiments could be relevant for current Sale Football-Netball Club reserves coach Peter Morrison.
Morrison played close to 100 games for South Melbourne, and his son Shane played a handful for the Brisbane Lions.
The late, great Gippsland Times journalist and photographer Kevin Hogan played 63 games for the Bloods between 1954 and 1960.
Sale pair Dylan McLaren and Jason Gram played for Brisbane, the latter getting two games in before making his mark with St Kilda.
Maffra’s Ben Robbins played 52 games for the Lions. He is the son of Graeme ‘Juga’ Robbins, who coached the Eagles to two senior flags, and cousin of current Maffra senior coach Anthony Robbins.
Former Maffra player Campbell Heath also played a couple of games for Sydney in 2010.
