Read what some of the players as they paraded through the streets of Melbourne in the 2013 Grand Final Parade.
Paul Puopolo: “It’s definitely not going to be easy, they’re a very contested ball side so we’ll have to win the ball and use the strengths in our forward line and use that to our advantage.”
Liam Shiels: “We’ve had a good week on the track so we’re pretty confident.”
Brian Lake: “It’s been a quiet week so far really, we had the day off on Wednesday and Monday and Tuesday were just like any other week. Yesterday was a bit different at our training session with a few extra people and then today – the weather has just turned it on. It has been fantastic. You just have to embrace today and I can’t wait until tomorrow.”
Jordan Lewis: “Every game is different let alone a Grand Final so you’ve got to approach it differently but at the end of the day you’ve got to kick a score to win and that remains the same.”
Josh Gibson: “Having been through it last year you just have a greater understanding on what it’s (the week) going to be like. It was my first Grand Final last year and you’re just a little bit on edge but this year you learn to try and treat it like any other week…you build yourself until game time.”
Shaun Burgoyne: “We just had to kick some goals because we were behind – we had to put some scoreboard pressure back onto them. I was just lucky enough to kick that goal.”
Max Bailey: “It’ll be good fun. I haven’t played against him (Aaron Sandlilands) since my very first game. He’s very experienced and a pretty formidable opponent so it’s going to be good fun.”
Brad Sewell: “I can’t wait, it’s the reason you play footy. The support here (at the parade is amazing). We are really lucky to be a part of this once again – you can’t not enjoy it.”
Cyril Rioli: “It’s much the same but the difference is there’s the feeling of losing a Grand Final, so the hunger is there so it’s exciting and I’m really looking forward to the game tomorrow.”
Bradley Hill: “I spoke to him (brother Stephen) on Monday night. We are both pretty pumped for the Grand Final. It’s going to be good, both of us being out there.”
Sam Mitchell: “Every week you potentially might get a tag or you might not and you prepare no differently for this one despite what the media might like to build up how important that match-up is.”
Jonathan Simpkin: “I’m really looking forward to getting out there on Saturday. It’s under bad circumstances for ‘Whitey’ but I’m lucky enough to get the call up and it’d be a great way to finish off the season on Saturday.”
Alastair Clarkson: “There are 22 roles to be played by both teams and they’ve got important contributions to make. The team that makes the most of those roles will win the game of footy. If we’ve got 12-15 guys winning their roles tomorrow, then we’re a great chance of winning.”
Luke Hodge: “(Last year’s loss) is always going to burn inside you because that’s what you play footy for, to win Grand Finals. We were pretty clear early in the year that our focus was on making it as far as we could and if we did get a chance to play on the last Saturday in September, that’s we’d take our opportunities. It’s all about what we can do tomorrow.”
