The mighty Lions, Cazaly and young Mikko

Just when I needed a break from depressing politics dominating the air waves and print media, the see-sawing battle of the titans in the AFL Grand final provided the antidote, with the Brisbane Lions pulling off a dramatic three-peat Premiership over the Fremantle Dockers.

When it had seemed the Dockers held a winning lead over the Lions, the fans were dancing and cheering in the street over in West Australia, and the celebratory tune Wharfies Time started booming over the huge crowd at the MCG.

With only 4 minutes and 18 seconds remaining in the final quarter, Patrick Voss had just kicked a goal to put the Fremantle Dockers up by 17 points.

Fremantle triggered their signature celebration featuring the slow tolling introduction to AC/DC’s Hells Bells and visuals on the big screen. Anyone who had backed the Dockers on a sports betting app probably would have been counting the payout in their heads.

Big mistake.  Instead of sealing the win for Fremantle, that moment backed by some inspirational words from coach Chris Fagan fired up the Lions. Fagan had laid down a direct challenge to his players: "When you hear that, go and win the game."

So they managed to kick the last four goals of the match in four minutes and snatch their dramatic come-from-behind victory with the final scores 14.12 (96) over the Dockers’ 12.17 (89).

I know that Aussie Rules is a fast-moving game, earning the derogatory nickname "aerial ping pong” from fans of other footy codes such as Rugby League or Rugby Union, which can get bogged down in endless scrums.  But I didn’t see that sudden reversal coming.

As a Queenslander I was elated for the Lions but sorry for the Dockers who had seemed more in control throughout most of the final quarter.

Them’s the breaks and no doubt the Dockers will lick their wounds, recover and come back fighting for their first ever Premiership some time in the future.

All that said, I must admit I’m not a dyed in the wool fan of any footy code but in this case I do have some skin in the game. Watching the Lions and the Dockers battle it out and hearing the final siren was like a trip back in my mind’s own version of Dr Who’s Tardis.

The parochial crowd in the grandstand roared encouragement as I took a mark and looked around for a teammate who could swing the schoolboys’ representative Aussie Rules match our way. Or should I just go for the goal… too far …

How the hell did this happen and what was I doing here - a kid from a small bush school playing in a North Queensland rep match against a rival team from Cairns?