Season’s end just the start

FORMER Geelong Falcon Amon Buchanan says this year’s TAC Cup group must make the most of Sunday’s grand final.

Buchanan needs no introduction when it comes to the big stage.

As a late 17-year-old, the lively half-forward made the MCG his own, kicking seven first-half goals before finishing with 10 in the Falcons’ semi-final against Sandringham.

The Colac product kicked three goals in the preliminary final against Dandenong, again at the MCG, to help his side win by 44 points and storm into the decider.

And then in the decider against Eastern Ranges, which doubled as an AFL Grand Final curtain raiser to Essendon and Melbourne, Buchanan scored best-afield honours with five majors.

The 178cm forward finished with 60 goals in the season, 18 of those across his three games at the MCG, helping the Falcons to just their second premiership.

Nearly two months later, the “oddly-shaped forward” (as reported by The Advertiser) was drafted at pick 52 by the Sydney Swans.

Buchanan, reflecting 17 years later, said that finals campaign helped him find a way on to an AFL list.

“I was really lucky we had a really good team and we were able to play finals,” he told the Geelong Advertiser. “That gave me an opportunity to play some more football and I probably hadn’t played to the level during the year that I would have liked.

“Looking back, it was pivotal to me getting drafted, so I’m really thankful to that team and the coaches,” he said.

The memories of any premiership year are fond, not least of all that season in which Buchanan, Luke Hodge and Jimmy Bartel would kick off stunning football careers of their own.

Buchanan still keeps an eye on the Falcons, and even bumped into young David Handley, who will line up in a similar position to where he did 17 years earlier.

“I ran into David Handley through a mutual friend three or four weeks ago when we played Geelong down there, and it was great to catch up and think back to my time there,” he said.

“But I definitely keep an eye on it.

“One thing about the Falcons, they’re always there abouts.

“They’ve always got good young kids coming through and it’s always exciting to see a bunch of kids come though and get drafted.”