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.
7. Derek Kickett - North Melbourne/Essendon/Sydney (1989-1996)
Without doubt the most infamous omission in Grand Final history, Derek Kickett played 45 out of the last 45 games leading into the 1993 Grand Final and was unceremoniously dropped by coach Kevin Sheedy.
A month prior, Kickett tormented Footscray at the MCG in Round 20, kicking 8.3 out of Essendonโs 14.14-98 in their 15-point win.
Although he was an integral part of the Bombers line-up, Kickett had only kicked one goal from the first three finals and averaged only five disposals. He was subsequently dropped and missed out on premiership success.
Sheedy, who was wary of the master tactician David Parkin, wasnโt happy with Kickettโs form at training and didnโt believe he had the tank to run with the Blues. Kickett believes Sheedy had a โpersonal vendettaโ against him after the two had words, four weeks prior.
They eventually buried the hatched 25-years later after Kickett moved to Sydney and played in the Swans 43-point 1996 Grand Final loss.
