Every childโs dream is to play on that one day in September.
The bubbling desire for glory is the petrol that fuels all teams and players.
Players like 426-game Hawthorn star Michael Tuck have been fortunate enough to win seven premierships, while other players like St Kilda Legend Trevor Barker, didnโt even get to run out in a final across his 230-game career.
*Editor's note: This article was originally written the week before the 2021 AFL Grand Final.
The Nathan Jones story is a particularly heart-breaking one. Captain for six-years, three-time Keith โBlueyโ Truscott Medallist, 302 games, 198 losses and one admirable decision to fly home back to Melbourne and be with his wife for the birth of twins. A choice that is likely to leave a lump in the throat of any footy lover.
As a man who did so much for a club when they needed a leader, Jones now wonโt be able to join in the potential success of breaking the 57-year drought he worked his backside to topple.
Sport is unquestionably hard, and that is why we love it.
Only a matter of days before one club tastes September glory, we are looking at some of the unluckiest grand final stories in history, and the players behind them.
10. David Clarke - Geelong/Carlton (1971-1981)
David Clarke was a tremendous half-forward flanker for Geelong across 202-games throughout the 1970s.
He won their club champion award in his first season in 1971 and made his debut for Victoria before his 21st birthday, but contract negotiations forced Clarke to switch sides to the reigning premiers Carlton ahead of 1981.
Clarke, who struggled to break into the strong Carlton side, still averaged two goals a game and was the spark they needed in the preliminary final against Hawthorn, kicking another pair.
Still, the next week against Collingwood in the Grand Final, Clarke was dropped by coach David Parkin for fear the conditions were going to be wet. The Blues won by 18-points and Clarke retired at the season's end.
