“I love finals. I live for this. It’s something special I don’t take for granted; you don’t know when you are going to play again.” Those were the emotions of Melbourne Victory striker Besart Berisha, still on a cloud following his spectacular 88th-minute bicycle kick that eliminated Adelaide United from the 2017-18 A-League finals. Not only was it a goal to remember, but it was also a perfect encapsulation of what finals football is about.
The premiership that is awarded to the top-placed side at the end of the regular season rewards consistency and sustained excellence, but the fight for the championship is all about being the best side on the day. A ubiquitous part of the Australian sporting calendar in any code, finals provide scope for twists and drama that cannot be matched outside of the framework of knockout competition.
