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September 9, 2005. Second semifinal, Sydney vs. Geelong.Most people remember Nick Davis incredible four-goal last quarter - brilliantly encapsulated by commentator Anthony Hudsons shout of: I see it, but I dont believe it! -- which broke the heart of the Cats.But many people wouldnt realise the significance of the result, which set off a chain of events that lead to the breaking of the longest drought in AFL/ VFL history, and played a key part in sparking an incredible run of premierships for Geelong in 2007, 2009 and 2011.With the two teams again set to lock horns in a cut-throat final, at the MCG on Friday night, it got me thinking again about the lead-up and aftermath of that magic moment.Daviss heroics are not only heritage listed by the Sydney Swans but are etched in my mind forever.Davis, a mercurial but frustrating forward, was banished to the wilderness of the Swans reserves indefinitely during a season and then dug himself an even deeper hole after speaking out in the media, saying he felt he was a scapegoat.While Swans players and fans will always laud Davis for helping us break the clubs long premiership drought, another Swan should share the platitudes, for it was he who helped drive the establishment of the Bloods culture.Former skipper Stuart Maxfield turned around the clubs culture soon after arriving from Richmond. He was a solid player without being a star, but his inner drive and values played a massive role in our eventual premiership win.Ill never forget the brutal player-driven 6am fitness sessions we used to have to perform. We would have to all assemble at the beach under the cover of darkness, with two house bricks in hand. Maxfield would bark at us not to let the bricks touch the sand in a 45-minute workout. Easy at first, but it doesnt take long until the burn begins. The sessions would finish either standing in a circle in crucifix position, staring at your mates holding bricks, or eye-to-eye doing knuckle push-ups on the concrete - trying not to relent, trying not to show weakness. You just couldnt let yourself be be the weak link or let them down.Because of the Bloods culture Maxfield helped instil, players such as Davis were forced to improve their attitude, buy into the team-first ethos and then change behaviour before returning to the fray in the senior side in some seasons.His pivotal moment came in-game during the finals series.We went to Perth for the qualifying final and fell agonisingly short against the Eagles. As a group we felt aggrieved by a late free kick which handed Tyson Stenglein a goal and West Coast the victory. The flight home was horrific. We were beaten, bruised and angry. But the double chance is a thing of beauty - after you get past that initial disappointment, you get to refocus, reset and have another crack.But initially against Geelong on our home deck, that didnt happen. We played flat, bogged-down footy. Probably the sort of footy then-AFL supremo Andrew Demetriou had publicly criticised us for at the start of the same year.No flair, nothing up forward. It was scrappy football in slippery conditions.Not many were performing anywhere near their best, and then Davis had a moment all footballers hate. He let his man run off him without any real chase or pressure and then watched as he kicked a running, team-lifting goal.I can remember vividly Brett Kirk just giving it to Davis, saying he owed us. He didnt hold back, but fortunately Davis didnt sulk - he used it as motivation. Hed become one of the Bloods.What transpired then was just out of this world.The final quarter was a lift in intensity and a generation of momentum from a near standstill. All on the back of Davis. He kicked four goals, each of them different. All of them incredibly skilful. Each of them just as clutch.So it came down to one final stoppage, in our forward pocket. Wed charged back into the game but were still short. Our season was hanging by a thread.The final goal was a set play we had practised many times. Jason Ball won the hitout, palmed it down to where there was clear space, Davis hit the stoppage at pace, and was skillful enough to thread it through the goals on his left foot.The sound was deafening. Having played many games at the SCG, I cant remember the emotion ever being that raw and unbridled as it was that night. Everyone was jumping around, screaming, hugging, then we realised - there still could be time for the Cats to win the next centre bounce! Get back.Thankfully, the siren was blown almost as soon as the ball was bounced in the centre, and it was over. We were still alive.We were so relieved, so happy, so satisfied, and it reinforced to us the value of everyone playing their role. Winning little moments, executing and coming up big as a team - there is nothing more satisfying. Yes, Davis was the hero, but we wouldnt have been in that position without doing all the little things right, lifting when wed previously been playing so poorly, finding a way to win in literally the final seconds of the match ... it was pure jubilation.History will show that - after a much less nerve-jangling prelim against St Kilda - we endured another heartstopper in the big one against West Coast two weeks later. Davis wasnt our hero that day but again, it was the team-first efforts that got us over the line against the star-studded Eagles.No doubt, Daviss goals and the celebrations afterwards will be replayed regularly in the lead-up to Friday nights preliminary final.Who knows who will win through to the grand final, but it may just be the team that does the little things the best. It also helps if you have a forward who can win it off their own boot!Cheap Heat Jerseys Authentic . 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Philadelphia was handed a 6-3 loss by the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday afternoon before dropping a 4-1 decision to the Rangers the following night in New York City.Thomas Kristensen scored a first-half brace as Brisbane Roar waltzed to an easy 4-0 A-League win over a flat Adelaide United on Sunday.Snapping a frustrating run of four straight 1-1 draws for the Roar, Kristensens two goals came within the space of just three minutes, and both were served on a platter by Socceroo hopeful Tommy Oar.Veteran Thomas Broich added the third in the 55th minute, steering a well-timed header past Adelaide captain Eugene Galekovic from a smart Dimitri Petratos free kick, while a late Jamie Maclaren penalty was the final dagger.We could feel it coming. They were very good goals we scored, Roar coach John Aloisi said.We knew we were going to create chances and we just said we need to be ruthless and it was good to get four goals.The Roar remain fourth on the ladder, equal on points with Melbourne Victory and one behind Melbourne City, but have closed the gap on runaway leaders Sydney FC to seven points.Theyve also opened up a handy five-point gap over fifth-placed Perth Glory.You dont want to get too far away from the leading pack. Were there or thereabouts, but we know theres still a long way to go, Aloisi said.For the Reds, it was a harsh reality check after breaking through for their first win of the season last week, and any hopes of a similar run to last seasons sensational march to the premiership-championship double looks unlikely.ddddddddddddHowever, coach Guillermo Amor felt the scoreline didnt properly reflect the game.Adelaide finished with a whopping 19 corners to Brisbanes three and had more shots on goal but rarely looked threatening.Their best chances came late on when the match was already settled, with Iacopo La Roccas crossbar-rattling header in the 64th minute the closest they got to finding the back of the net.The result we know is negative, but the team was good, in moments we controlled (the game) well, the attitude was not bad, Amor said.It was an unhappy return to Suncorp Stadium for former Roar fan favourite Henrique, who was received warmly by the 15,605 in attendance but was responsible for the handball that gave away Maclarens 85th-minute spot kick.Maclaren nearly opted out of the match because of the recent death of his UK-based grandmother but decided to play on and dedicated his goal to her memory.Broich and right-back Jack Hingert, who were both taken off in the second half with cramp, have been cleared of any injury concerns. 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