Adam versus Aker (Replay versus Extra Time) | Thebigtip

 20 seconds to go. A mate of mine is delirious - jumping up and down, screaming, carrying on.

No, he wasn't having a fit or an episode of any sort - as hard as that is to believe for those of you who know who I am talking about. He had unbelievably backed the draw. So as the final siren went he was one of the few who were genuinely happy about the result on Saturday between Collingwood and St Kilda - besides the AFL, of course.

Initially I was personally excited and amazed that this once-in-a-blue-moon event had unfolded so spectacularly. Then, almost immediately it was smashed to bits. Thank you, Nick Maxwell. Apparently the idea of a draw and a replay was "an absolute joke."

And why is thatNick?

Something along the lines of 44 men going to "war" and the need for a result. Clearly someone's end of season footy trip was in tatters as this argument made about as much sense as trying to nail jelly to a tree - none whatsoever.

For those who want a hard-hitting analysis of why we should have extra time in a drawn Grand Final, refer to Jason Akemanis' column in the Herald Sun following the game. Well, "hard-hitting" isn't quite right. Something like "his usual nonsensical drivel" would be closer to the mark.

For those of you fortunate enough to miss this, it basically stated the idea of a replay was "bloody stupid" and that the AFL only have this rule to suck more money out of the game. The term "greed" came up at one stage in reference to the governing body.

He further went on to bemoan the inconvenience a replay - footy trips, best and fairest counts and the like would need to be postponed. Other nuggets of insight included sympathy for players who "get themselves up" for this one game and go home without a result. Also, he stated there should be "no more chances....no tomorrows" in our game.

We'll quickly gloss over the obvious: footy does include the concept of a second chance - the double chance for Top 4 finishers, the AFL are not greedy as any additional funds get pumped straight back into the game and a draw is a result, Jason. Although not scripted to such perfection as I'm sure it could have been, Aker's points were essentially the same as any of those I have heard.

It basically comes down to some innate concept in footy fans to have every game of sport ending with a winner and a loser. These people would have a game of sport scheduled on every day of the week, every day of the year so they get to herald winners and shame losers 24-7, 365 days of the year. It's all a little bit sad.

What most have failed to cover are the best reasons to have a replay. As with any draw in footy, when the final siren went on Saturday nobody could honestly say either team deserved to be crowned the winner - that is on their performance on that day. St Kilda were inept early on and were lucky not to be out of the game by half time. Collingwood again got undone with errant kicking and an inability to play a fourth quarter.

Moreover, every year supporters from competing teams in the Grand Final are undone by the corporate nature of the big game. Many thousands of loyal fans have to miss out on being at the 'G when it matters most. With a replay a lot of supporters who cruelly missed out on watching the first installment get to be there for Act 2.

I know what you're thinking - but what about the poor many who turned up on Day 1 only to see a draw and then miss out on the replay? Well, as Derek Zoolander once quipped: "how bout I answer your question with another question?" How many of us can attest to being in attendance at a drawn Grand Final?

Also, we all get another week of footy! Another week to yell at the umpires, watching Eddie and Molly Meldrum going berserk every few minutes and to have our tip for the first goalkicker come through without reaping any lavish rewards as you didn't put any money on it. Yes, it happened to me. Damn you, Darren Jolly!

Not only is this another week of footy, but an opportunity to be a part of an event that has never before occurred in AFL history, and only twice in VFL history.

But possibly most important of all - it is a fitting way to conclude our season. Our wonderful game deserves better than 5 minutes each way to determine a winner after 185 games and such a long and brutal season. We deserve better as supporters don't we? As do the players who deserve the opportunity to regroup, reassess and rejig themselves for a week and not 5 minutes prior to extra time.

Of course there are reasons to have extra time. But they are only for the impatient and those who have organised events for the day of the replay. For these people - you don't have to cancel you wedding/auction/overseas trip/other event you hold significance to - the footy isn't compulsory to watch. For those who cherish the principles of our game - that the best team gets to hold the cup at season's end and that every team gets a fair go, then the replay is for you.

It provides an opportunity to both teams who both could easily have lost on Grand Final day, the provision of more funds for the development of our game, an opportunity for more supporters get to see their team in a Grand Final and the Cats with the ability to be called premiers for another week.

Replay versus extra time?

Replay for me every day of the year, Jason.