No one is keener for the finals to begin than Andrew Gaff.
After missing last year’s successful September campaign due to suspension, the 27-year-old cannot wait for tomorrow night’s elimination final clash with Essendon at Optus Stadium.
In fact, Gaff admits the pointy end of the season has been weighing on his mind for a very long time – probably since he returned to action for the club’s round three grand final replay against Collingwood at the MCG.
“The first few weeks I rode the waves of having a few wins and losses,” a candid Gaff acknowledged.
“It sounds a bit dramatic, but every loss makes you feel like you’re a bit further away from having another chance at winning a premiership.
“But I’ve really enjoyed this last half of the year. There are no guarantees that we are going to achieve what we did last year, but we’re on a similar track and in a good headspace.
“I’ve found a good way to switch off after games, especially that night and the 24 hours after you play. It’s natural to think about how you went and ways that you can get better, but I think I’ve found a really good way during the week to switch off and just enjoy football.”
Fortunately, Gaff’s early season concerns did not impact the way he performed on the paddock.
He hit the ground running against the Pies – turning in a best-on-ground, 35-disposal performance that helped the Eagles register their fourth-straight win over Nathan Buckley’s men – and hasn’t looked back.
Andrew Gaff was simply superb in his comeback match against Collingwood
Gaff racked up eye-boggling numbers throughout the home and away campaign.
He averaged a career-best 31.9 disposals, 9.4 contested possessions, 6.2 marks, 4.5 clearances per outing in season 2019.
“I always have really high expectations and standards for myself,” Gaff said.
“I had a really great year in 2018; it was probably my career-best season so far.
“I haven’t been too far off this year. I think I’ve been consistent without setting the absolute world on fire.
“In saying that, aspects of my game have improved. We’ve had six or seven games in the wet; we didn’t have any of those last year. I think I have improved my ability to play solid games in the wet. To be clean is a challenge.
“In finals, you hardly get free flowing games, so if it’s wet or slippery at night time, the practice that myself and the team has had in those conditions should help us out.”
West Coast will have to walk a different path if it is to climb the game’s highest peak this year after they slipped out of the top four following a costly round 23 loss to Hawthorn.
The road might be tougher and longer, but Gaff reckoned the team possessed a hard edge forged by several gutsy performances throughout the qualifying rounds.
“Last year we were winning a lot of games by big margins, but that hasn’t happened this year,” Gaff said.
“We’ve had a lot of games this year where at three quarter time we’ve been level or the game has well and truly been on the line and we have come out on top. That’s been a strength of ours – that we’ve fought out some really close games and won.
“In finals there are never really any blowouts, so I think those experiences are going to hold us in good stead.
“We went on a really good run last year and there’s no guarantees that because we did it last year we are going to do it again, but we’re well and truly in the hunt and we have that confidence from last year that our best footy is good enough.”
