Channel 7 is claiming tomorrows AFL match between Geelong and St Kilda as the 'biggest home-and-away game in history'. It is rhetoric like this that has led to this game being over hyped in the media. Yes, it is a big game. There is no doubting that. It is an unprecedented occurrence for two undefeated teams to meet so far into the season. But, at the same time the end result will only lead to one outcome: one team will be on top of the ladder as a result of winning the four points.
As a Geelong supporter, a loss tomorrow is far from the end of the world. We won a similarly over hyped match against Hawthorn last year, but subsequently lost the Grand Final against them. Teams of this calibre can beat any opponent with the right mixture of effort, commitment and luck. Last year is a reminder that winning games during the regularly season does not indicate that the results will be the same during the finals.
A win from a Geelong perspective will prove a few things. Firstly, that the Cats are still the best team in the competition. Secondly, that Geelong has developed the mental toughness to cope with the build-up to big games like this. Perhaps it will also reinforce a psychological edge that Geelong has held against the Saints in recent match-ups.
A loss for the Saints could be the spark to get them over the line come finals. Like Hawthorn last year, they may learn enough and gain some valuable experience that could turn the results come finals. As I said earlier, winning tomorrow afternoon does not guarantee finals glory.
If Geelong is too lose, it is not the end of the world. It could be the wake-up call to make them focus harder at winning another premiership. Geelong fans should see a loss as a potential catalyst that pushes this team back to their peak. It may be the loss the club needs, much like the loss to Port Adelaide in Round 21 in 2007. The bitter taste of defeat against a rival can later lead to the sweet taste of success.
A win for the Saints could be a double edged sword. It will swing the media and fans expectations entirely onto their shoulders. The media will begin to anoint the premiership as theirs to lose. Simultaneously, the players and coaches will have further confidence that they can in fact win it all. It may also trigger the reinvigoration of the psychological edge held by the Saints over the Cats leading up to the 2007 season
Regardless of the outcome, for the sake of the fans I am hoping that is a quality game of football. While it will be hard to live up to the expectations brandished by various media outlets this week, hopefully it is a high-quality match-up by the leagues two front-runners.
Oh. Before I forget. Go Cats!