We may’ve said it in 2020 as well, but it’s been some sort of year in the AFL world.
Covid-19 once again threw a myriad of curveballs at the competition, but there was plenty unfolding beyond just the roster.
So, in no particular order, here are the 21 biggest storylines in the AFL world in 2021, as voted by the foxfooty.com.au team.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but surely no one outside Melbourne’s four walls saw the Dees storming to a drought-breaking premiership - and, even if they did, there’s no way they saw them doing it in as comprehensive a fashion.
Simon Goodwin entered the season unproven as a senior coach and with the weight of the world on his shoulders after a couple of lacklustre campaigns.
An unbelievable season saw them clinch top spot after the final siren against Geelong in Geelong and then it was an awe-inspiring three-game run to the flag, with finals wins by 33 points (Brisbane Lions), 83 and then, despite trailing by three goals midway through the third quarter, 74 against the Bulldogs in the decider.
It was a cruel reality the MCG couldn’t be stacked with the long-suffering Dees faithful, but a flag is a flag and the emotion on display from so many of the supporter base was evidence enough of how much their side’s lack of recent success had hung as a millstone around their necks.
With a primed list and virtually no holes, there’s no reason why this year’s premiership couldn’t be the start of a dynasty.
GAWNY’S GIANT MOMENTS
With the benefit of hindsight, no kick had as much riding on it as Max Gawn’s set shot against Geelong after the siren at GMHBA Stadium in Round 23.
Trailing by 44 points at one stage in the second half after conceding 10 unanswered goals, Melbourne sensationally launched a comeback that led to the skipper with the ball in his hands and the Dees down by two points as the final siren sounded.
Gawn’s set shots in the lead-up were far from sure conversions - a match against this very side back at the MCG in 2018 saw Gawn hook his attempt at stealing victory from the jaws of defeat.
This time, at a foreign venue with the club’s first minor premiership in 57 years for the taking, Gawn drilled the set shot, sending Melbourne fans into meltdown and giving the team an astounding amount of momentum, which was ultimately realised a few weeks later with another drought-breaking moment: The premiership.
It was the most dramatic and perhaps most consequential game of the regular season.
Gawn spearheaded the Dees’ flag assault as a leader, but also as a pure ruck superstar - his preliminary final performance is already the stuff of legend.
Five goals (four in seven minutes) put Geelong to the sword, while his game as a whole was almost laughable given the sheer level he played at for virtually the entire match.
In a year full of games where the club embraced the moment, Gawn was at the front and centre of it all.
