Before Noah Anderson's fairytale finish for the Suns over the Tigers in the comeback at Carrara, there was Karmichael Hunt and the comeback at Cazaly's — 10 years ago today. Andrew McGarry looks back at a day of footy drama in Cairns.
Before Noah Anderson's fairytale finish to the comeback at Carrara there was Karmichael Hunt and the comeback at Cazaly's — and it happened exactly 10 years ago today.
By the time they came to Cazaly's Stadium in Cairns in round 16, 2012, their stretch of losses had extended to 21 games. "Winning was an expectation every week. If we didn't win, one week it would be 'all right, what do we do, what do we want to fix?'. "It was a really tough slog, and not a fun experience to be involved in as a player — but zooming the lens out and now having to reflect on it, it was a really valuable lesson and [enabled] a good understanding of what it takes to compete as a team at the elite level."
"This was the second game in a three-year deal with the Tigers to play in Cairns — the first one was the previous year when the Suns had beaten the Tigers. He would eventually play four seasons for the Western Bulldogs before returning to Queensland for the Suns. "We got up there a couple of days before the game, you get to go out to schools and the community and you have your final training run the day before and people are allowed to come along and watch.Tigers in race for top eightThe Suns may have been under the pump coming to Cairns, but they were not the only ones facing pressure to win.
Gary Ablett was one of three second quarter goalkickers for the Suns, who stunned the Tigers with a six-goal lead in Cairns. For Hunt, it was a familiar situation for a player used to playing the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville. "For me personally, the game was hard enough running around in Brisbane in balmy weather [without] trying to add the extra humidity to it!"Richmond was under pressure in the middle. It seemed like Trent Cotchin and Brett Deledio were everywhere, leading with desperation for the Tigers, but the rest of their teammates were trailing behind.
Jack Riewoldt put them ahead with his third of the game and when Robin Nahas kicked one at the 17-minute mark, they led by eight points.The Suns badly needed a circuit-breaker and 90 seconds later they got one. They rebounded off half-back and Harbrow went long down the wing to Ablett, who took a mark and slid to a stop.
Brandon Ellis played for the Tigers in Cairns — 10 years on, he would play his part in the Suns' win after the siren at Carrara. Soon afterwards, Trent McKenzie kicked it straight to a Tiger and it looked like the game was up, but the Richmond player didn't kick it 15m and the Suns spoiled and went the other way.
"I just happened to be up high around the midfield at the time — I remember it just opened up, I timed it well, and received that handball off Liam," Harbrow remembers. At the final bounce, the Tigers were flooding back, but Harbrow and David Swallow were inexplicably free on the grandstand side of the centre square.
Waiting there was Hunt, who jumped to grab it with four seconds left. As commentators lost it, and the crowd went wild, the siren sounded."If you even kick it a bit to the right [of the posts], the south-easterly breeze there at that time of day will have it come back right to left.
"The game was… the jerseys were all sweaty, the ball was just wet, and obviously fatigue was a factor as well."But knowing Brandon Matera and just how crafty he is… I wasn't sure that he was actually trying to find me until he chipped it over and I ended up catching it on my chest and quite cleanly considering how bloody sweaty the ball was!
Bennell and Danny Stanley were the first to arrive, followed by the goal assister Matera, Swallow, Dion Prestia, Matt Shaw, and others. Liam Patrick's aerial celebration after the siren became the defining image of the Suns' win at Cazaly's Stadium."Liam Patrick jumped on top of the pack, which was pretty high, and then I just thought I've got to go one better," says Harbrow.
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