Whether the goal wins or not, Bradshaw has told sydneyswans.com.au it is the best goal he’s ever kicked - and he’s kicked 519 so far in his 228-game, 14-year AFL career.
“It is up the top. I can’t remember kicking a goal after the siren and that far out. I don’t practice torpedoes that often, so to actually get onto one and see it sail through, from that far out, that is easily the best goal I’ve kicked,'' he said.
"I honestly can’t remember the last time I even kicked a torpedo. You might stuff around at training, just having a kick, but because you don’t do it often, you don’t practice them much.
"The thing that surprised me is how straight it went. Normally when you kick a torpedo it will swing a little bit, where this one didn’t. I knew as soon as I kicked it, it went straight off the boot and it went really high and you just know when it comes off your boot that you’ve hit it pretty sweet. It was a good night!’’
The Swans fans have taken Bradshaw to heart, and even started a chant of his name last Saturday...not bad for someone who’s played six games for the Club after coming from Brisbane. Bradshaw loves the atmosphere at the SCG.
“It was amazing last Saturday night. When I took that mark at the end of the third quarter, I didn’t really hear too much when I was lining up, but once the ball sailed through the crowd’s reaction was unbelievable. And obviously the players’ reaction too when they ran to me...everyone was pretty excited.
"We were pretty close to the boundary line so the crowd were near, there were 30,000-plus people there but it sounded like a lot more, and it was amazing to hear the support. That helped us have momentum going into the last quarter, and the crowd helped us over the line.
"We had blokes getting knocked out and Seaby went down and Jesse White had to go into the ruck and he did a really good job, so the crowd really helps you get across the line in those games."
There has been debate over the years about whether the SCG, being shorter and wider than most other AFL grounds, is a good hunting ground for forwards. Bradshaw has no complaints.
“The way we are playing at the moment it is good for forwards, because we are moving the ball pretty quickly and it doesn’t give the other teams a chance to get back. It can work the other way. If the game slows down it is easy to get back and block up the forward 50, so if you want to score, the key on such a small ground is to move the ball as quick as you can
I’m getting on the end of some good work and good service from the boys up the field and we’re playing some really good footy at the moment.’’
