To get an appreciation of The Dimma Effect at Gold Coast, wind the clock back a few minutes from David Swallow’s historic golden point.
Streaming through the middle of Optus Stadium with scores tied, the foundation Sun had missed Bailey Humphrey with a 25-metre pass, which, if made, would likely have set up a scoring shot to break the deadlock. From the resultant turnover at half-back, Fremantle rushed the ball to the other end for Luke Jackson to mark and goal.
Damien Hardwick addresses his players in Gold Coast’s historica finals victory over Fremantle.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Historically, such a moment has crushed many a player and team wearing the red, gold and blue at a club that has seen more than its share of false dawns.
But, under Damien Hardwick, these Suns are not living in the shadows of the past. Swallow could have wallowed in self-pity and accepted his lot. Instead, on the biggest stage the club has seen, their longest-serving player – who has lived through all the coach sackings, the wooden spoon seasons and all but two of their nine triple-figure losses – lived and breathed the Hardwick way.
