September 19, 2014: Footy focus.

What do you write about at the end of a week like this? In reverse order, we've seen: Essendon comprehensively banished from the Federal Court, with only ASADA's legal costs as a reminder that they were ever there; Guy McKenna's future as Gold Coast coach under the microscope; Patrick Dangerfield apparently looking for a trade, then not; Brenton Sanderson sacked and the coaching merry-go-round in full swing. The list could go on.

But let's not.

Instead, we should remind ourselves that this is all at the periphery. It sells papers, yes, but it doesn't win Premierships. What matters, at least insofar as we're going to write about, is that in a few hours time an Umpire will hold aloft a red piece of leather and slam it into the turf. For 3 hours, we can forget about court rooms and reviews, about external judgement. All that will matter is the two teams and the ball. And that's wonderful.

By Monday we will know, finally, just who will feature in the Grand Final. We will be in the midst of the best week of the year in the best city in the World.

That's what we want to focus on.