Geelong needs to work on players emotions and motivation prior to the game.

When you have a record of slow starts in finals, blind Freddy can see you need to  work on motivation.  “Keep the skeletons out”

One of my many great moments prior to our 1st final at Melbourne FC in 23 years

On the day I felt we needed to keep the players calm for the event. After our warm up I took the players into the back room, lay them down in a circle and had John Williamson song  in the background “True Blue”. I spoke to the players quietly casting their mind back to their younger days when Mum would call them in for dinner while kicking the footy, however they had to kick the goal to win the game while dreaming of the MCG, kicking the goal, the crowd going crazy then in for lunch. Having dreams of the future. This is now “reality”

Spoke of, the many generous volunteers at the club and the roles they all had, our staff, then the great and loyal supporters who have stuck through the thin times over the last 23 years.  The honour board at the “G”, members of the club who have made the ‘Supreme Sacrifice” servicing their country which enabled us the privilege to play on the MGC. I felt I was now getting deep in their soul, I could tell they were focused and would give their all. In the background the music was just finishing and I said get up when you are ready, no rush. Last up was the great Robert Flower (a few minutes and down the race we go) looking at Robbie I saw a few tears dropping and the eyes welled up (no wonder, battled the club for a chance to play for Melbourne,15 years at the club over 274 games and this being his 1st finals game in that period), Come on “Swooper”, think I need to use this moment without embarrassing Robbie. We are ready to go, I told the players to circle up look each one in the eye just to see the commitment coming through, they all looked at Flower and the bond grew even stronger, they knew what this meant to Robert Flower. I felt my job was done in preparing our side for this most  important game. A moment and a time I will never forget. Then onto the ground.

A very even 1st quarter (I think) then we belted Nth Melbourne in the first final, what a wonderful result for the club and in particular Robert Flower.