How good was that! Kite saved the game with that unbelievably determined run through 4 good defenders. And yes, Matty kicked the winning field goal to top off a great game. But the killer for me was the unnoticed parallel between the 1976 grand final and the 2006 grand final. Neither of them showed on the scoresheet, but both determined the result. 1976 Neville Glover, line wide open only has to catch a pass and walk over to effectively win the match - and he drops it. Twice. 2006 Peterson only has to handle an Orford kick - and he tries to make a miracle catch, drops it. To compound the error, he then doesn't have the faith in himself to pick it up and instead bats it over the deadball. From the dropout Manly takes it up and kicks a field goal to win the game. Two Parra right wingers. Two simple jobs made to look hard. Two fumbling losers. Two lost games. Poetic.
