Rhonda Bracey: At Random

After a stellar last half of the season and breaking many club records, the Freo Dockers were defeated in their semi-final against Sydney on Friday night. Sydney just played better and stopped the Dockers’ running game. While it was a disappointing end to their fantastic season, some good came out of it. Members and supporters got a lot of joy from the way the boys played after the mid-season break – and of course, that raises our expectations for next year!

The dream of a Western Derby Grand Final wasn’t to be (how good would that have been?!), but at least one of the West Australian teams will be there again this year – the West Coast Eagles play the Sydney Swans in the BIG ONE at the MCG on Saturday afternoon. Go the Eagles!

I heard last night that Hoyts Cinemas at Carousel were going to use some of their movie theatres to show the game against Sydney at 6pm on Friday night – sorry, looks as though my source was wrong – they’re showing the Grand Final next week! No idea how much for a seat $10 for standard seats; $30 for La Premiere seats. Watching the game on a screen that size would be awesome!

The boys fly to Sydney today, to play on a ground they have never played on in their 12 years in the AFL competition. That doesn’t seem fair.

Just got home from the unbelievable Freo Dockers win at Subiaco Oval tonight! Adrenalin rush. Endorphin high. Euphoria. Screaming with delight.

My voice is gone!!! I’m sure that the chant that rose from the 42,500 strong crowd was heard all over Perth, it was that loud.

In case you haven’t figured it out, the Dockers won! Another record in a year of records. This time their first ever Finals win, and their first ever foray into the second round of the Finals competition. Belly’s 250th game.

Next week they play Sydney – and if they win, then it’s the Grand Final in Melbourne at the MCG in front of 100,000 people!

Oh, what a feeling!!! Can’t wait. Well done guys – you’ve put us on an unbelievable high!

Sorry – forgot the score… 102 points to 74, Freo over Melbourne. Nothing else matters.

Woohoo! I’ve got a ticket for Friday night’s Finals game between Freo and Melbourne!! As a member, we get first priority on tickets; there was never going to be an issue this year as the ground holds 42,000 and there are about 36,000 members (rising rapidly!). Tickets go on sale to the general public on Wednesday.

The best bit – we are in the same block where we sit for the games during the season; probably not the same seats, but the same block (thanks Michelle and Genevieve!). Which means we know where to go, where the toilets and food and drink outlets are, and we know that we’ll be under cover. One of the things that really p***es me off about the AFL powers-that-be is that members who have sat in the same seats all year, CANNOT get priority on those seats for a home final. All seats go back into the pool and it’s a lucky dip as to where you get – you could be outside in the rain, on the very narrow seats in the old stand, up really high in the 3-tier stand etc. I don’t think that’s right – if your team has won the right to a home final and you are a member with season seats at that ground, then you should get preference on keeping those seats for the Finals. The other thing about keeping your same seats is that you do get to know (on a nodding basis at least) the people who sit near you all year. It’s nice to share victories with those you have at least a passing acquaintance with, instead of complete strangers.

The unbelievable winning streak (9 games in a row) of the Freo Dockers came to a thudding halt yesterday afternoon, when they were beaten by Adelaide in the qualifying final. The Dockers led the entire game until the final quarter when Adelaide’s superior running power and kicking put them in front, then Adelaide sealed the game with a few more goals to put the game out of reach.

On Friday the Dockers get their final chance to remain in contention for the flag when they play Melbourne at Subiaco Oval in front of their home crowd. Yesterday’ s crowd in Adelaide was very vocal and it must have affected the psyche of our boys. I hope 42,000 Dockers supporters can return the favour and pysch out Melbourne this Friday night!