Greatest finals heroes: No.5 Gary Ayres
Fairfax experts have picked their greatest AFL finals heroes of the past 50 years. Gary Ayres was so good in finals they named an award after him.
Rohan Connolly, a senior football writer for The Age and radio broadcaster with sports radio station 1116 SEN, has been covering the game since 1983. A multi-AFL Media Association award-winner known for his passion and love of the game, he analyses the AFL for the newspaper and contributes a blog and weekly video, "Footy Fix", for The Age's football website, Real Footy.
Fairfax experts have picked their greatest AFL finals heroes of the past 50 years. Gary Ayres was so good in finals they named an award after him.
Geelong's preliminary final loss to Sydney was hugely disappointing, but shouldn’t be allowed to overshadow a season of positives.
While many Doggies fans who've been watching their team 50-odd years and never got to see them at the "big dance" miss out, there's still a spot for those with enough money and the lust to be seen at "an event".
Saturday's grand final will be Sydney's third in the past five seasons and their fifth in the past 12 seasons, surpassing Geelong's four grand finals over the same period, and equal with Hawthorn.
The Western Bulldogs have already made history of sorts. After the events of the last few weeks, what’s a little more?
Essendon was already heading into season 2017 in a better place than it had known for years. Now that skipper Jobe Watson has recommitted to the cause, the Bombers’ prospects are brighter still.
Daniel Menzel's injury heartbreak continues, with the cursed Cat forward out injured for Geelong's preliminary final against Sydney at the MCG on Friday night.
For all the Western Bulldogs’ achievements over the past couple of seasons, goalkicking accuracy is one area that still threatens to bring them undone.
Geelong need a lot more than just stellar performances from Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood in midfield if they are to win through to their first grand final in five years.
Despite a stink over Saturday's preliminary final venue, thrilling contests brought joy, and an end to Hawthorn ascendancy.
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