Most top votes in Best on Ground go to someone on the winning side. There are reasons for that custom, but certainly no logical imperative. 

The Age asked nine of its experts to nominate their best five players in the Grand Final.  All but one chose Will Ashcroft.  (The one who did not pick Ashcroft chose Zorko – whom only two others nominated – both last.) 

Only three of the nine mentioned Bolton – the highest ranking he achieved was third.

That is one hell of a spread in light of the award to Bolton. 

I did not watch most of the game live, but from what I have seen and now know, it looks to me that a crucial incident was the injury to the Freo captain, and the extent to which that contributed to the three last quarter goals of Morris.  (Although one reporter gave equal prominence to the tackle on Treacy that caused him to miss a crucial goal.)

But Freo came so close to winning.  Had they done so, is there any doubt that Bolton would have been B O G?

Against that, I have the clear impression that Brisbane would not have won except for Ashcroft.

So, as ever, chance rules.

I can recall saying to Michael Green that Royce Hart may be my best ever AFL player.  He did not just win games – he won Grand Finals.  Then Michael pointed out that Hart was my height, and Carey was Michael’s. 

Well, Ashcroft is certainly at that altitude  – and it is way up there.

And someone has just pointed out that the Lions have a history of winning games they have to win.

It may be just a game, but it is also one hell of a liturgy, and a part of our lives.  And I cannot recall two better games of footy of any kind than the last two finals won by the Lions.