Here at Two Good Sports, we would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we record this podcast.

The were innerie people.

This land was never seated, always was, always will be.

Dear listeners, I would like to.

Begin this episode of Two Good Sports with a PSA.

That's a public service announcement.

You may have got to know Jelmy and I on this podcast for our brilliant intellect, our stunning analysis.

And just general great vibes.

What you're about to hear is I can't speak for Gelmy, but I will speak for myself Georgie Tunney.

I talk about myself in the third person now as her most unbearable self.

The Brisbane Broncos.

If you did not know us through to the Grand Final, which means that I m through to the Grand Final.

We will get there.

But just so you know, unhingedness.

Oh wait, this is existing in the vortex of Taylor Swift bringing out an album this week, the Lions coming off a premiership even in the NRLW, the Broncos are a chance and the fact that there's a twenty year drought of your beloved Broncos that may potentially happen this week and a deal, Listeners, I am concerned for Georgie's well being if you can max out on happiness.

Also, dear listeners, I should point out that Jelmy is currently speaking wearing a Broncos beanie that I have.

Merch that I've physically seen I technically, by the way, could I everyone, everyone welcome?

Welcome.

I was really glad that you gave that PSA, because I don't even know where to start, Georgie.

There is so much sport happening at the moment that my tidy brain can't handle it all.

We've got an NBA team in town.

Oh yeah, we've got the Dalla happening last night.

Yeah, we've got to talk about mad Monday because, as we mentioned, Brisbane, my goodness just run away witness of the Grand Final.

No one saw them coming except for you.

But what a week?

What a time?

What a week?

What a time?

And I think we should begin then before I get too crazy.

I wish this was a visual medium, because the crazy has already left the building, Babe, or at more the point it's in the building.

With this, I'm currently adorned in a Broncos jersey of Broncos hat, and I've got my Lions scuff that.

I'm looking into.

McCluggage and Oscar mcameronny the badges, those are my choices of badges.

I think I've nailed it.

You have very I've nailed it.

This is a scaff that is a premiership winning scuff.

I wore this to the g at the Grand Final for the Lions Cats game.

And I tell you what, it's real enjoyable to know that you're going to win a Grand final with a.

Quarter left at somewhere you don't happen in rubby.

Can we oh my god, can we talk about the preliminary final very quickly?

Oh my god?

Oh no, we'll get there.

We'll get there, We'll get the l We'll get it's all over.

It's been a lot.

It's been a lot.

It's been having a format to this.

It's been three seasons.

We believe that there's a format.

She was part of a good sport of basketball before I'm like, oh oh this, oh oh oh oh no.

Let's continue on good sports theme because it has to go to the Brisbane Lions.

They were unbelievable.

Chris Fagan, what a man has to be in the discussion now is one of the greatest coaches.

Having gone to three back to back to back Grand Finals and now being back to back finals is so hard to do in a modern era.

It may have been missed a little bit.

I know we were talking about, you know, the lines going back to back.

Imagine if they could do that, incredible, But the fact that they did make three straight Grannies, yes, I think that was the line that was sort of like, oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever.

But when that's huge, absolutely huge, and it has been off the back of Chris Fagan, who is such a man manager.

I'm going to put him up there with Malmoninger.

Wow, because he I think on the Grand Final though, players want to play for him, right, and so people will go to that club because they want to be coached by him, they want the culture that he breeds.

It's also this idea that he keeps being likened to a dad figure and I'm like, yeah, that's because they played eight players under twenty two.

Yeah they did.

That's because they're children by Like, I know that he's the oldest coach that we have in the league, but good god, if that's how good they are, if that's how good Will Ashcroft is at twenty one in his third season, getting back to back Norm Smith's and looking like he did it for fun.

Yeah.

I don't even think he's played sixty AFL games in his career yet he's a two time what yeah, two time Norm Smith medallist.

Ty Gallup must think that AFL football is the easiest thing ever done.

It was his sixth game and he's won a flag and.

They only just like plucked him from nowhere because Hipwood was injured.

Yeah, and he's not even twenty yet.

Maybe I think he's still a teenager.

I mean, Levi Ashcroft is still a teenager.

Like these kids are actually kids.

What I would like to point out though with Chris Fagan is that I thought tactically he was brilliant, Yes or the locky.

Neil the lock sub.

And he said himself postmatch in one of the most gleeful post matches, he was like, oh, I was up at three am last night being like, is this a good idea?

Because they chose to keep him not only as the sub and the sub brawl by the way rest in peace.

Oh yeah, the sub brule's gone, the bounce is gone.

It's there's so much that we could be discussing at the moment it's actually wild, but that's the last we're ever going to see off a sub and how perfect that it was used as the super sub.

And I love Locky Neil, who does his own podcast.

You don't have to listen to it.

This is the only sporting podcast that you need to listen to.

For the record, Yes says that before he plays, he looks at himself in the mirror.

I love he prefaces this by going, I don't want to sound, you know, a little bit up myself, but I look at myself in the mirror and go, if you're on today, you're the best player in the AFL, is what he says to himself.

And I might well two time Brownlow you probably get away with saying that.

I believe he looked at himself at halftime and was like, you are the best player in the AFL, and ye're the only one with fresh legs.

They are all run off their feet.

You are ready to go and you're about to run through them.

He was on seventeen touches, seven clearances.

He was unbelievable.

And what everyone forgets now because the final score line was so massive forty seven point victory to the Lions.

Huge risk.

It was thirty six all at half time, wasn't it.

It was macular.

Scores were locked.

Yeah, So the difference is locking Neil.

He was incredible.

Which if the old man rolls out there and does a calf, yes, I am referring to locking Neil, everyone goes, oh what Or if they don't get there and he comes out and has a blistering second half, they're like, you're wasted the two time Brown Law medalist for half a game on the bench.

Instead, it just was poetic and how it all played out, it just worked.

It just worked, and by the end of it, like you could see that the kids were just having the most fun, the most fun.

When Will Ashcroft can I just say, I was like, well, when Will Ashcroft had the share in and just like lifted it above his head on the I was just like, yeah, guys.

I am that good?

And then the Cats immediately scored afterwards.

I was like, Okay, that's a lesson.

There's a lesson there, norm But when you have that greater hair, I don't know.

I don't know.

Erect the statue is so much to be said though about it does bring into question potentially the father son rule because if you love the son.

But when they've got Fletcher as well, so they've got three players that have come to this a gun.

And can I just say one of the most most of the baby so at all of the of the baby babies, one of the most popular all the babies.

Yes, because they love it.

They do.

Fans are obsessed with Jasper Fletcher.

So I have watched all of the camera tapes because I had to work the next day in the newsroom coming in from all the celebrations of the lines of it's the fan events that Runswick over in Melbourne and then up at their facility.

Is when I tell you what if you want to responsor players for sunglasses, you want to do it on that day.

I want to do it on that day.

Coming off, shout out to Camraino who didn't just go with a straight black ray ban.

Yes I noticed these things, well done sir.

But everyone in those fan events, I think it was like Ashcroft's there signing stuff and they just go.

Well can you get Jasper or Jazeer.

They love him, love him Jasper jasp A.

You just need to know that, I mean.

You're back in your kid in to play good football when you give him.

But it is that sort of question of there's no way that the Lions would have got given how well they were going the likes of will Ashcroft.

H no, and what they give what they gave up for him was like pick forty or something ridiculous.

So then then they get lever.

There is a bit of a discussion that you shouldn't need to pay market value rather in the short term of the long term for these father sons.

But let's not let sense get into this conversation.

So well at being unhint, but that does I would like to say good sport for the Lions because do you know what they did exceptionally well play football but also celebrate and not offend anyone.

Oh, you're so right, because they showed how mad Monday can be done well.

They rocked up in pretty neutral kit with a bag under their arm of what they were planning to wear that day, gave very respectful interviews to the media that were out the front and went, oh, you know, we went to an op shop, it's going to be a bit funny to see and then disappeared.

Is it that I some say.

You think it would be quite easy, and because of the time that it was that easy.

You are so aware of if any season has shown you that you are in a lens where what you do is going to be studied, this is it.

If you are going to do dress ups, especially hypothetically, if you're in a rural town where everyone has a fun, put them all on a bus in neutral outfits and go to a farm.

And do whatever you want.

Can I whatever you want?

Can I bring some context here for potentially people who don't know.

We are talking about the Geelong Football Club and their decision to wear some questionable attire and costumes at their Mad Monday celebrations.

We will get to that, but first, Jellmy, what I just need from you is that Geelong is famous for this, right like they are the Kings of Mad Monday.

They are brilliant at it.

Yes, usually just so.

My favorite has been after they won the flag and everyone told them it was too old.

They all went like they were in a retirement village.

Great, yes, everyone dressed like there were one hundred and five and it was chef's kiss.

But they are known for harmless, good fun, going above and beyond.

We're talking shaving heads like really leaning into the costume and the dress up right, never been problematic before.

All I know is that when these photos first surfaced on Monday morning, of course it was mad Monday me.

I'm like, class, it wasn't Monday, it was Monday morning.

And I started screenshotting and sending them to Jelmy because if they disappear.

I was like, I need to get this, I need to get this.

This was a literal running commentary that was going through my head.

Oh, Bailey Smith has posted a story.

Let's see what he's up to.

Oh my god, he's gone as Brad Pitt from Legends of the Fall.

If I know anything about Jelmy, I know she loves Brad Pitt and especially Legends of the Fall Brad Pitt.

I will send this immediately to Jelmy.

Let's click through to the next photo.

Hold on a second.

Is that Max Holmes dressed up.

As a woman?

Why?

Okay, Oh it's caro interesting.

Okay, don't quite know how to process that, but I'm going to click to the next photo.

Hold on a second.

Now I've got Bailey Smith and I've also got Patrick Dangerfield.

Why is Patrick Dangerfield standing behind Bailey Smith?

They're looking quite familiar.

What is this?

Oh?

Yes, it really is giving Jack Twist and Ennis from Brokeback Mountain.

Oh I love that movie, saw it twice in the cinemas.

Oh maybe they're just giving a nice little ode.

Oh hang on, what.

Does the caption say?

This is what losing a Grand final does to you?

Hang on a second.

That's not sounding very good.

Screenshot immediately sent to Jelmy and ask what the actual fuck?

Can we not have nice things?

Have so many layers to that.

I will say that supposedly Max Holmes had contacted Carrow and asked if it was okay that one address.

Has also dressed as prominent AFL figures.

And who we loved and all the point.

Mitch is obsessed with Max Holmes, so I think he just loved it so that one was over.

What wasn't necessarily great?

Is Bailey posting saying this is the best that Carow has ever looked.

Oh yes, yes, Bailey's he's launching grenades.

And Mitch Brown has rightly so come out and responded to this being like last time I check, losing an AFL Grand Final doesn't make you gay.

I do think that being homophobic makes you a loser though, Yeah, bang yeah, say it again.

And I understand and we understand that the world looks at this, and especially a footy club.

World looks at this ru a lens of you can't say anything anymore, you can't do anything.

What they're dressing up.

It's harmless fun.

Let them go if you're ostracizing and upsetting a large percentage of the population, but also a large community that have involved in AFL now Allah, the AFLW and the community.

But also just if people are telling you something's offensive, they're not the problem.

You are.

And no matter what you do in today's society, you are going to upset a small minority.

But if you are punching down for humor and in this they didn't wake up and become public figures that day.

No, they've got experience.

Yeah, yeah, just the mind boggles.

And also tell me we were almost to the day a year ago sitting here talking about the GWS Mad Monday scandal, right, which was a whole love thing.

And just to think that once again we can't have another season without just just something going wrong, like just be better?

How many times do we have to say it?

Use a brain cell and be batter.

And the thing is, we I understand as much as when I get invited to a dress up party and you go and everyone's dressed up, it's fun.

Their lives are really heavy being an AFL.

Yes, they're numerated well, but it's stressful.

You are critiqued left, fright, and center.

There is a lot of pressure that comes with it.

Mad Monday is an opportunity to relieve that spress and look back on the year that was.

The clubs that do it well.

Put them all on a bus in neutral clothing, get them far away out of the city as possible, ideally not swan street play its passed out as we've seen in previous years from other clubs, and just let them have the time of their life.

But do it in a way where they're not going to be watched by everyone.

I know, and take their phones off them.

But even the idea that as an adult, it's like, whoops, they're going to take my phone off me now?

Oh yeah, embarrassing.

Honestly, it's just so embarrassing.

And the Cat as a result of this, the Cats have said we're pulling Mad Monday.

Oh.

This is the official statement coming from the Geelong Cats, Geelong Football Clubs and Stilly apologizes for the offense caused following our end of season gathering on Monday.

It's called Mad Monday.

So certain costumes and associated social media posts were inappropriate and a significant error of judgment and do not reflect our team of all commitment.

The club has decided future post season events will not continue in this current form and we will take this moment to further educate our people on expectations and club and community standards.

Oh Geelong, what of what?

End of the year?

There was a wonderful article written by Kyle Pollard of the ABC where essentially says Geelong is known for its accessibility on Mad Monday, but Bailey Smith's post have unraveled years of goodwill, is what the headline is, and it goes on to explain and goes through the different eras of how it's been done well, different costumes that have been fantastic, But it does feel like one person that couldn't play the game right has literally ruined everyone's fun.

I'm going to make a random prediction about Bailey Smith for next season, which it doesn't actually have anything to do with this.

It's stunning, No one in my unhingedness right now, I think after what we saw in the Grand Final, the performance, him getting slink tackled at the end and losing the headband, I think the headband.

Might be done.

I think the head band's gone.

I think the headband's gone.

I think the hair is gone.

I think he comes out in twenty twenty six with a buzz cut.

Not a buzz cut.

No, he'll still look he needs to still look pretty, so he'll have.

If we're gone the Brad Pitt, he could come out mister missus Smith.

Oh no, I'm thinking Mighty Joe Young.

No, no, no, no, black sorry black, Mighty Joe Young is the Gorilla movie.

Because I haven't seen that, but I knew where you what's Mighty Joe Young?

I show you.

I don't know is Brad Pitt in it?

No?

Okay no, and said that.

Before I said that, I was like, I was like, now, you always get confused between.

And No.

I don't now, but this bat hair.

I I do think.

Geelong are usually known for being very palatable, very straight, one eighty almost the poster Boys, the Golden Retrievers of the a F l If you will, And I think that this image, this needing to flip the bird in every photo, saying and doing the wrong thing on social media is really different then, Like when you think of Geelong, you think of like Joel Sellwood, like Tom Hawkins, people that you think would shake your hand and have a chat in public.

Right.

I think there's going to be a real introspection for that club over the off season about how they're going to deal with this going forward, because they must be tired and we are talking about it, right I do I feel sad we've lost the Bounce and we've lost Mad Monday.

What's left?

Can I just say, what are your actual thoughts?

We will get to the main discussion soon deal with no promise, but what will we don't know?

What are your thoughts on the Bounce?

So, as someone who came to Ossie Rules late, I love the bounce because I love the way that it's such a performative art piece for the umpire, Like it's so hard to do.

That there and they go who there are many layers to it.

Okay, it's very hard to get afl umpires.

Yes, it's a very difficult skill and you need to get a certain percentage of them, right, in order to umpire.

So firstly, it's accessibility for us because some people are great adjudicators of the game, they just can't bounce very well.

Yeah, fair, Okay.

And then it also came down to safety because as we saw that, they brought in rules about players not being able to make contact for the umpires with the incidental or otherwise because you've got your head down.

Yeah, and you've got and you're trying to run back out two of the tallest humans as opposed to and being able to run back.

There's two different outcomes there.

Ok.

Can you imagine you get to AFL Grand Final Day, there's a big the roar of the crowd, everyone's excited, and you've got the Sharon and all you're thinking is Mother of God, goes straight, go straight, go straight, go straight.

Like it's no one ever remembers a good bounce.

No true, everyone remembers when it's woeful, very true, very very try.

It does sounding like this is a good call, then I it does make me a little bit sad because I do think when you have, like for instance, we have the New Orleans Pelicans in town, and when you have people from all around the world come in and look at our game and the first thing they see is an unhinged yeah, followed by umpires running backwards in Flora yellow and throwing it back in over their heads.

They go, what is this game?

And you're like, valid points, valid, But I don't know what does it mean then for the common vernacular, because if we're like, oh yeah, bet boucet.

Timers this time, first bounce.

First ball, first ball, ball ups at, I guess we've solved that that's not too hard.

Yeah, but it doesn't sound.

It doesn't have the same reason show is called the bounce, I know, ball up.

Unfortunately, they should have gone for sports.

It's a lot less dry.

You can't get rid of us, at least to sports somewhere.

No, but I do.

We don't want to be the fun police.

We don't want to be the people that take things too far.

When it comes to Mad Monday, I feel sad that it's gone, but I also think, like, this is why we can't have nice things.

Yeah, one hundred percent, this is why we can't have nice things.

And guys, just remember we are the pride of Chris.

Be sad we ever rude, Blue we go.

I have heard that song so many times, and you know what, it actually just gets better.

Guys?

Is it just better?

Is it just you singing it?

It is?

It is?

It is just me in quiet rooms.

All right, speak, We're gonna move, We're gonna hop codes.

Because I also would like to nominate another topic for us discussed today.

Oh but I'm gonna go with bad sport sport.

The Dallim medal.

Oh yes, okay, yes, here we go.

James sid Esco wins.

Yeah, stunning no one like he won at a canter Also because he was able to be fit on the park and didn't play origin, so it's really helpful that you get the extra.

I can't still can't make it into the Astralian squad, but whatever, whatever, whatever.

Best play of it ish.

The way that the Daly m has both the men's and the women's competition in the one night, I think it's sensational.

Yes, cele League do that so well, so good.

The integration of the women's game in to the wider NL community is amazing because so often that you will have fans that are just as excited about the NRL Men's Grand Final on Sunday as the women's Grand Final, which will be taking place a couple of hours earlier between the Broncos Roosters.

Like, I've had so many people be like, well, we have to get there for the girls, so making plans and everything is integrated.

Yes, two juggles.

The roosters have been massive.

They literally haven't lost a game this year.

But the Broncos have arguably the best players in the league, which is where my point comes in.

At the DALM, they have all the players up on stage when they announce who wins the major award, and for the men's it was obviously so obvious that it was going to be teddy that it really wasn't a thing.

Yes, I'm reading a news dot com dot Au article here.

Broncostar Julia Robinson had to fight back tears on Wednesday night as she was robbed of the ultimate individual honor, a Dahalim Medal.

Robinson was heavily favored to take out the NLWDALM, but a coach's decision to rest her in the second last round of the season proved to be the difference in the end.

Her teammate, Brisbane fullback Tamika Upton, who's a star absolutely stir took out the nrolw WM by just three points.

I don't think the coach resting her is what I want to discuss here.

I want to discuss that poor Julia is up there on the stage yeah okay, yep with Tamika, shoulder to shoulder with her, watching her step forward and receive her dream and having to process that up while everyone is looking at you.

Yes, and I just think, you know what, the AFL doesn't do that to Nick Dacos, he gets to say sitting down the process it.

They did because Richard Goyda said Nick bought an incredible season around him.

But can you imagine being up there and everyone's and you're literally the favorite, everyone's expecting you to win it.

Yes, you're there and that energy, and then you have to watch someone physically step forward in front of you and receive it.

Yeah, I'm okay with it.

I'm okay with it, but I'm okay with it.

Like I feel for her, Don't get me wrong, I feel her.

She is an absolute gun, so is to meet.

Broncos, which is something to be highlighted.

Tamika is a one in a generation player though, like.

She is, I'm all a freaky to Miki y freaky Miky sounds like a dip freaky, meeky, freaky Meki.

And yeah, she is insane.

She played with the night she was incredible.

She moved to the Broncos incredible, Like she is deserving of this award, though her teammate is ultimately was her biggest competition.

I'm fine with it.

It's you know, that's that's sport.

That would have me let her cry in a corner on her own.

No, she can do that after.

I love it.

Bit of drama, bit of drama.

They obviously love each other, their teammates.

They'll figure it out.

If you get, you lose it.

Of course it's gonna be said.

You know, let's just let's let's bring that Honestea, that's okay.

If you google Delian, the first article that comes up isn't about the winner.

It's about her fighting back tears.

Yes, but that in that that's the that's the media's choice then not to like keep myself with a stick, my own self with a stick.

But that's that's the choice.

That's what I'm talking.

God, damn, it got me again.

No, but but but but and that's where you know those kind of masked heads Ideally what you would see is Daly and winner Men's game, Daly and winner Women's game.

But I know for a fact that it would be But I know that it would be Daly and Winners, and it would be three quarters about James Tedesco.

And there's one quarter there about to meet Upton.

Yeah, you know, And.

So we're still we're still We've still got a long way to go.

We've still got a long way to go.

But I'm I'm okay, I'm okay with it.

I'm okay with it.

A bit of drama, a bit of drama.

If she starts, you know, throwing a clutch at her, maybe that's not not good.

That's you know, maybe we rethink things.

As clutch as a weapon.

Blogs could never.

Do not skip ahead, dear listeners, It's my favorite type of ASMR.

What do I have in my hand?

Have we gone FM radio?

Is this the secret sound?

No one's gonna get it, I can promise you.

So I'll just tell you.

I'll just tell you guys that I'm actually currently now looking for smoke alarms in the studio because I have come in today with an absolute treasure trove of merch.

I've made jell me wear a Broncos beanie.

I'm wearing all of the Broncos paraphernalia.

But guys, my memory is really good.

It's not that short.

The last time the Brisbane Broncos were in a Grand Final, I too wore all of the merch and you know what happened.

We lost.

So I've learned from my mistakes and instead, what I'm proposing is the shirt that I wore that says twenty twenty three Grand Final, that I was wearing when we lost the twenty twenty three Grand Final, that I went on national television in the twenty twenty three Grand Final, that I may need to ceremonially burn her just to recover from that and move on into our new era, which is the twenty twenty five Grand Final.

Where we are going to win.

We're going to win, We're going to beat the storm.

Guys, you're welcome.

You're not going to actually set far at the studio.

Just to clarify, because I feel like this at.

Producer Aaron's looking at me weirdly, but might can't see a smoker.

We don't have a fast point.

I am genuinely concerned for your workmare because you have the matches.

It's firstly the weapon, it's the fast.

Everything you've brought in is synthetic and flammable, and you're throwing around some redheads like that's normal.

I just I watched.

I've never screamed at the TV quite like I did for the prelim.

Oh, because I knew how much it meant to you.

That's right, and to what Adam Reynolds go back and slaught it.

When everyone was expecting Reese Walsh to take it, I can't.

And you had no right.

The Panthers looked like they were panthering.

We had absolutely no right, No ladies and gentlemen.

So on this podcast just a mere weeks ago, I said, I witnessed the greatest game of all between the Broncos and Canberra to get us through to the prelim, and that remains the greatest game we've ever seen.

It was what we did, though against Penrith, arguably more impressive, more impressive.

And the context of a prelim try line defense.

I didn't think we had it in us in that second half to hold the Panthers out.

I was like, absolutely not.

I'm taking bets of two to one.

We're not doing it like it.

I was so stunned how much we rallied, and we rallied without having Patrick Carrigan there, who is our co captain.

But also and he's back for the finals.

He's back for the final.

He was out due to suspension, but he's the one that rallies the forwards in the first half against the Panthers.

In the prelim our forwards, where were they?

Where are you?

That we didn't know what we were doing?

Our halves were terrible.

I was like Georgia message Maguire, handing your resignation, What is the plan?

We don't even have a put.

No pa no pah, we only have one per and it's paying haas he was the only one doing anything.

And I was like, oh my god.

And the Panthers rightfully so belted at us.

They put on fourteen points fourteen nil at halftime.

But there was still a spark within me that thought, we cannot play worse than this.

And the Panthers are only fourteen points ahead.

That's not telling me.

There's a chair telling me there's a chance.

And it really did just it was set up as a fairy tale for anyone who's seen the twenty twenty three Grand five or the Broncos were in an unlosable position and somehow lost the game.

It was the greatest comeback in NRL history in a final.

And that's not using that term flippidly, that's facts.

Yes, So no team has ever been up by that much in a Grand Final and lost.

So you weathered that, Oh, we weathered that.

And just adding layers to this, what makes that one of my favorite stats ever is because we were able to out panther the Panthers, and now I think we are on our way to potentially winning the whole thing.

This is what makes it particularly so I'm just going to let this is what makes it particularly incredible what we were able to do, and I'm going to let love of my life, sorry, Robert Darren Lockyer explain.

To share with me earlier in the week.

Gives you an indication of how much the Broncos had to dig deep for this.

Since twenty twenty, when the Panthers have been twelve or more points in front in a.

Game then and.

I have almost one hundred percent.

Yeah they are yeah.

Yep, thank you maths from twenty twenty every single game beyond that, the Penrith Panthers.

When they have a lead of twelve points or more, they have won ninety eight and oh ninety eight out of ninety eight.

So this is the time, this is what we were up against, and somehow, somehow we did it.

We did it.

I mean, Darren, that's an unbelievable state.

It's also an unbelievable voice.

I didn't think we'd have a deeper voice on two Good Sports this season, but you pulled it out, like I know that he's your favorite person, but also when you're like the love of my life.

Pause, sorry, Robert, do you know how many people go through my mind who you could be about to talk about any given week?

I was like, all right, let's re said this week, let's have a listen.

Oh, no worries, let's just see.

I sit here adorned in cos merch, mostly because I really appreciate our friendship, but I'd like to keep it that way.

Yep.

The Storm are in their eleventh Grand Final under Craig Bellamy in his twenty three seasons.

Yep.

Yeah, unbelievable.

Yeah, that's pretty good.

That's pretty I mean, mats off the top of my head, it's almost a fifty percent.

Yeah, just sounds great to just it's like every year and one in two, I'm gonna take.

You to the ground.

We're getting to the finals.

We're talking to the Grand Final.

Yeah, yeah, So they believe they have been here before and they're looking at it going, oh, thank god, it's not the Panthers.

And I think on behalf of the NRL everyone goes, oh, thank god.

So whatever happens, it's not the Panthers.

So when Adam Reynolds was lighting up for the winning conversion in the prelim.

The entire NRL community except for Penrith.

Except for Penrith fans, I think I spoke for all of them.

I was on my knees in the newsroom and I said.

Do it for them, Al and he did, and he dan Well did, he dann Well did?

So where are we just going to gloss over the fact that Jerome Hughes is back and looks like he's in great form, that the Stormer really primed.

And they also had an additional two days to recover heading into this Grand Final, which is one of the more bizarre scheduling choices.

The NFL has had a lot of criticism by the fact they played their prelims, one on the Friday, one on the Sunday, so no matter what the outcome, which everyone knew Storm was going to win their way through, they had two extra days to recover heading into a Grand Final, which is significant.

I think for my mental health, it's best if we gloss over all of those things.

Ah No, Look, I was also at the Storm prelimb, so I saw them defeat Crinulla and it was a really fast game.

It was a really fun game.

There were so many mistakes to the point that I turned to Robert when we're in the stands and I said, whoever wins on Sunday could be either of these teams.

Right then we played that badly in the first half against the Panthers, and I thought, oh no.

The Storm can beat either of these teams.

The thing with the Melbourne Storm is they're just so impressive and they can smother you and suffocate you from any position.

And it's also been played in neutral ground.

Right You've got a Brisbane team and a Melbourne team playing in Sydney again in one of the nuances that is leak.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Can I just say though, it felt like it was a home game to try and get bloody tickets.

To I was back in eras to a hell.

I still don't know anyone who's managed to get a ticket in the public sale.

I was like, what is this?

It's a hoax?

How can there be this many people in front of me in the queue?

And then I don't even get in the queue.

What are you talking about?

Do you want to declare how much you're not the average man by how you got tickets?

So you're gonna let it go?

Okay?

So so, dear listeners, my dear friend Brendan Pavola, who also adores the Melbourne Storm, he can't be there because he's working with the AFLW team Richmond, who are adores Champion of the people.

Yeah, champion of the people.

And he said he sent me a message when I was in the throes of hell, in that line fighting for my life, and he goes, have you got a ticket yet to see your Bronx lose number one?

I was like, that's not necessarily hurtful, Okay, no worries.

And I was like, Brendan, I don't have time.

That's when I messaged and then he said, bro I've got you tickets and I was like I do have time.

I have all of the time.

I have all of the time Breton, So unfortunately if it's herd but here we are.

Huge shout out to Fev because it's just the type of man he is.

He knew that I would absolutely die.

So we will be there on Grand Final evening to see hopefully the Broncos when it has been a really long time since two thousand and six, Yes, which can I just say is a fun fact.

For Christmas in two thousand and six, I was gifted a DVD now children, that is like what we call YouTube today, but it lived on a disc and you had to put it in a machine anyway.

Sidebar, I was gifted a DVD which was the NRL Grand Final because the Broncos, Melbourne Broncos won and it was Darren Lockey at one of his ultimately last games and it was just incredible.

When I met Georgie in twenty fifteen, Darren Lockier was still her screensaver love no word of a lie, Love the man, and he's joined us on this podcast.

I mean what technically tell me Look if if.

If you were you there, tell me where we were two thousand and six.

No, I was in my I was in my family lound room watching it with my dad.

Oh yeah, like we watched Origin this year, like it's that was that was where we were were so excited, very funny.

It was very much like I did not think that we were going to win, like even when it was like seconds to go and I was like, we can learn that from here, which.

Was me and the prelim again, my friend was like, you've got it, and I was like, don't you did?

Dodge shut your mouth, shut.

It if the Broncos win, to get some analysis into this, like.

Are we talking tattoos?

Are you gonna what?

Oh?

No, well I haven't considered that yet.

No, I mean potentially potentially.

I don't know, but I'll be crying, yeah, I know.

I'll definitely be crying because in my mind it was easy to win a Grand Final because I started following rugby league in the year nineteen ninety nine, but technically two thousand.

The Broncos won in two thousand and we have not won since two thousand and six, which in my mind.

Was yesterday, but it wasn't.

No, it really wasn't.

And this will be our potential third Grand Final lost in a row and I can't have that.

And I know that Melbourne Storm lost the Grand Final last year and they will be doing everything so they don't become back to back losers.

But all I'm asking for Harry Grant, Friend of the show, maybe just don't have your best game, like I love you, but mate.

Like do you do you want to?

Georgie message Harry Grant, friend of the Show, been on earlier in this season, been like, hey, mate, would love to have you on this week And Harry, being the great sport that he has said, would love to, can't travel commitments Unfortunately.

Georgie replied and said no worries, no luck for this weekend with a Broncos sign.

Legit, Yeah, legit, I said, I'm no longer friend of the show.

You sent a wwesome ooji to a lightning we don't consent.

I now I'm like, I need to send you a WhatsApp with some lightning bolts to cancel out the bad pr that you paused for These relationships are important, George.

In all seriousness, the only way that the Broncos can win is if they shut down that man.

No, he is unbelievable.

Him in the prelimb Granger.

Oh good from you guys.

We go back and listen to our episode with Harry Grant.

He's grandful.

He was the difference in the prelim.

He was the one that you just knew when he had the ball was great.

But it's like it was it was Grant Grant game and he.

Takes cherry but the actual ice cream itself.

Yeah, oh Harry.

And now I was looking at Jerome Hughes's arm, which has more strapping on it than an actual horse, Like it's was just the biggest oh for arm guard you've ever seen.

Because his arm is broken.

There's no way that it is not that he's doing Jeremy Cameron, but it's still broken.

Yeah, they cannot meld back unless Hermione Grange has actually been a part of it.

It's broken.

God, I'm getting flash back.

So Harry that that quidish game and then it fixes it anyway.

Painful, very painful, very painful.

But he if I said on Friday, if he got through the game, like he'd be the one that was responsible for putting him through them through to the Grand Final.

He's so good, Like he's just so good and he's very likable, very liable, a very likable.

I know it is unfortunate.

It is unfortunate for me as a Broncos fan, because they're going to come in here and they're going to be well rested, They're going to have all their systems down, whereas the Broncos we're chaotic.

What's going on with us?

Oh Reynolds is barely back, like you've just got all this change anywhere?

And he never sprinted once in the because he has a hamstring hanging on with dental floss.

And I'm like, when he lined up for that kick, I was like, he doesn't have a hamstring, why is he kicking it?

And then he kicked it and I was like, brilliant, he's kicking it.

Because Reese Wold doubt and was like, I'm not being the reason we lose this.

It's bad.

Pr the game winner.

So if carry Grant is the match winner for the Storm, yes, the match winner for the Brison Broncos is Rees Welsh.

Has to be?

Has to be?

Can we?

Because I fear that this episode may go for four years, Yes, we may still be recording when Mister Final is being played.

I don't even want to look at you say this.

I think the Stormer a very strong chance.

I think the Stormer a very strong chance.

I really like the storm as an institution.

A good friend of mine is working where the matches, Dave Asbury, who's a friend of the pod.

No, he's not.

He's just a friend of mine who played for the Tigers.

He's doing a lot of their help in the mental space.

I've always been really good at this sort of stuff.

Storm Dare I say ahead of the pack?

Yes, in terms of working in that sort of mental space and mental game.

I wish I could be there with you.

I can't, but I just I need to know what tier of the stadium your tickets are in the general being, do you were?

I don't even know them yet.

I don't know.

I haven't got them.

Cor fev Yeah, yeah, can you.

That's a question that she's not at a height.

I just know that I am driving at four thirty am to drive from Melbourn so I can get there, ideally in time for the girls game too, because I want to see the end.

I just want to say, tickets from state to state on the airplane aren't sold outs a drive.

I mean there's a lot of sand they've not they have not shut down both made airlines prediction.

I have to go Broncos YEP.

I think Broncos win by.

Eight and Reese Walsh is no makes it happen.

I think Rees Walsh is the man who makes it happen.

I don't think he'll win the Clive Churchill Medal, which is for best on Ground.

I think that that will either go to Payne Hass like he played eighty minutes in that prelim.

He's unbelievable.

It will be Payn Hass or it could be Ben Hunt in the Ultimate Redemption arc.

He's back playing a Grand Final for the Brisbane Broncos after infamously dropping the ball and losing myself and himself a Grand Final in twenty fifteen against the Cowboys.

And I just think that sometimes sport works out, and it would be what a fairy tale that would be if it doesn't work fucked.

Fun fact.

Fun fact, I love to snoop.

Oh, I haven't even talked about it, and you're about to see Teddy swims.

Yes, ideally hopefully he's got vocal issues.

Is he called it?

I don't think he's called it yet.

Has he officially called it?

Oh?

Who are they?

Going to get LOLd because Peter Blandy's.

We'd love Peter Blandy's mostly because he loves being the antagonist.

He does not mind being the bad guy.

And when the AFL got Snoop, He's like, what have they got the poodle somemmer.

We've got Teddy Swims who actually sings, which is something my mother would like, because my mom sent me a message during the AFL pregame entertainment going this rap sucks.

I can't understand a word he's saying, and I was like, that is the Meanwhile, I'm going, this is the greatest pregame entertainment of all time.

I'm basically in a nightclub.

I have Now this is going to be a dumb question.

Why is it pregame entertainment and not halftime entertainment?

Like why isn't it a halftime show?

Because there's too much stuff they have to roll out.

I believe it was a.

Pretty and they do the sprint, Oh this, but put that before?

Did you see our other friends?

I thought he was going to kill it.

I was like, you watched this, Harry has been humbled, but he said, oh my god, it was what who won it?

That guy from he was very fast, and he was very fast.

I forget remember exactly unless he smoked.

Put that pre game.

Put that pre game.

Yeah, and the anthems and whatever and what they've done typically, like we had Baker Boy before Snoop, right, so you can put those local artists they're going to have another Internet, Yeah, put them at the start and then have Snoop Because and I say this as it was being in the ground, it didn't fall flat for me, but the crowd itself wasn't as fully engaged.

And I purely think it's because it was daytime.

But it's always daytime.

The game is too, Yeah, halftime is also time, but.

It's but it's but it's slightly darker, slightly darker, so you could see something more more of those that's fireworks, you know, those ones that aren't like a full fireworks, like yeah, they nearly killed Locky Neil.

Yeah, when he was final forad like that, you could it would have been more of a spectacle.

I actually thought the sound was great.

I thought Snoop was great.

I think he was clever in that any bridge he's ever been a part of that was popular.

He was like, oh that was me you didn't know that was me.

I want to make you sweat.

That's me.

Yeah, David, who what like?

Basically and your beautiful chef's kiss.

I was like, where's Pharrell?

But I also know that like Snoops, my wheelhouse absolutely loved it.

I know nothing about Teddy Swims, so I am very very intrigued as to what the NRL do now because they were wrapped.

Surely they just have to throw money at the problem.

I don't think he's officially gone.

However, if he's not there, I don't know what they do.

Burn Fanning, just get burn and Fanning there, get reform powder Finger?

Come on, now, it's that easy just to be like yo, powder Finger.

Yeah.

When I think powder Finger, I think Brisbane.

So yeah, get burned there he's fat.

I think it would be unbelievable, welcome everyone, God geez, how do how does she do it?

Just all these crazy theories.

I'm like, oh, there we go, got it.

But Teddy Swims is actually divine like his if his voice is believable, unbelievable, which is a problem vie.

If Snoop lost his voice and could only talk through it, we would in the same effect where needs to be able to see it.

He needs it, he needs it.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I forgot what the fun fact was, Oh that you like.

Snirts all, I've got our other fun fact is that's it.

That's it for us for season three.

Season three two good sports, most professionalism to the last episode, guys.

Some Joe movie reference.

I don't know what that even was.

I can't remember it because I've never seen it.

I love this.

I love you.

Also, welcome to everyone who's new here.

Yes, we understand Georgie being unhinged about some Geelong players looking the same brought some of you along.

Love, thank you, Hello, we you.

We love this space.

We love what it means to us.

We love the fact that we catch up every week and genuinely sit down and I don't know what's coming out of your mouth or vice versa, and we just go.

I think neither of us are expecting me to bring matches today, Like it's.

Just not highlight of the year.

Albow was fun.

Oh albow.

We couldn't get albow out of here.

No albow.

I was like, don't you have a defense meeting or something?

Look at this photo of me playing a Yeah, I loved it.

I think definitely a season highlight.

I think I think Albow having the PM like just one firstly approaching us on the show incredible.

So we'll definitely get him back in season for next year.

I think we're gonna We're definitely coming.

I mean, Harry Grant if he goes on to win it, We're like, well, there's the evidence that if you're a current player and you come on our show, it leads to great success.

Yeah, exactly.

My highlight is still to come of the year, which will be the Brisbane Broncos.

Do we what do we do?

Like we can't have a last step of not have you go full on hinge?

What do we do?

We do a live of some variety we could do.

We'll do something We'll do We'll do like a face I'll be crying in the stands so we can record a FaceTime before night.

What is happening that's you see the stands a day after that?

Will need to go get you from the bottom tier because I'm calling fair for making sure you're not at heights.

I love you, love you too until next year.

Until next year, be a good books points