'All Friday is gone': Tiger's hazy recollection of prelim AFL.com.au
Sarah Black
Sep 27, 2019 1:12PMNATHAN Broad has needed to review the preliminary final win over Geelong a little more closely than his teammates, revealing he can't remember the match after being concussed.
The key defender appeared stunned in the third term after colliding with teammate Jayden Short and then an opponent's leg as he fell, sitting out the remainder of the match.
He has been cleared to play in Saturday's Grand Final against Greater Western Sydney after training strongly all week.
"My memory was a bit all over the place, so you question if you're going to get up and train and play," Broad told afl.com.au.
"Once I got into the club and saw the doctor, I was pretty confident that I'd be right.
"Pretty much of all Friday is gone. But from Saturday onwards, waking up, I've had no headaches, I'm feeling great, I've passed the tests, so I'm good to go."
Nathan Broad came off worse for wear after a third-quarter clash last Friday. Picture: AFL Photos
Coach Damien Hardwick and his teammates have been quick to seize the opportunity to "fill in the gaps" in Broad's memory, much to their own amusement.
"Apparently, I owe 'Dimma' a hundred bucks, which I think is a bit of a lie, Dan Butler reckons I owe him a hundred bucks too. There's been a few gags thrown around to try and get me, but it's all good," Broad said.
Saturday's match will be Broad's second Grand Final after playing in the 2017 triumph, but young teammates Jayden Short and Liam Baker will be running out in their first.
Short played up until round 18 in 2017 but was forced out of the side by the returning Bachar Houli, while Baker only joined the club at the end of that year.
"I've had little tips here and there, but really it's just embrace the week and play your normal game and just enjoy it as much as you can," Short said.
"It's been an awesome week, and this is where you want to play football. I'm looking forward to today (the Grand Final Parade) as well."
The 21-year-old Baker started the year as a forward but will be lining up at the other end of the ground on Saturday after a mid-season switch.
"It's actually been all right. I was a bit scratchy early, but I've got better as the year's gone on. I'm loving it down there at the moment, playing my role for the team, and the back seven's pretty settled now," Baker said.
"The nerves aren't too bad yet, just excited, looking forward to doing the parade and all that comes with it.
"It actually has been a normal week, [but] with the extra excitement, the parade, the extra messages and media. Hopefully from now until the game, everything's the same."
https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-09-27/all-friday-is-gone-tigers-hazy-recollection-of-prelim
