Joe Spagnolo: What can we learn from the ‘what ifs’ in footy or politics?

Ah, what our politicians wouldn’t give for some of the love we Aussies famously reserve for our sporting heroes.

The outpouring of admiration for recently-retired footy greats Jeremy McGovern, Dom Sheed and Michael Walters has been phenomenal.

And rightly so. These are exceptional men, each with a wonderful life story to tell and sporting careers that most would kill for.

The 2018 AFL grand final, in which West Coast beat Collingwood, made Sheed a WA sporting immortal.

That kick from the boundary to win the premiership for the Eagles will be spoken about forever.

And that mark in the backline from McGovern that started a chain of events that led to the Sheed mark, kick and goal, will go down in footy folklore as one of the great moments in AFL history.

I have always been fascinated by that 2018 grand final, because among wonderful stories where men became sporting legends, there were also stories of despair and what ifs — a lot like life, I suppose.

What if the suspended Andrew Gaff had played that day instead of Sheed?

What if the injured Nic Naitanui had played instead of Nathan Vardy, who was involved in that famous McGovern to Sheed exchange?

What if the injured Brad Sheppard had played instead of Will Schofield?

Would the result have been the same? Would the Eagles have won that grand final?

But life is about opportunities, isn’t it?

It’s about taking your chances when they present themselves: making the most of that one opportunity that comes your way.

And Sheed, and the likes of Vardy and Schofield, did that.

That’s why I think that 2018 premiership was so special for West Coast.

On that day a group of young men were presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and took it.

And that’s a great example for anyone trying to make their mark on life.

If any young person wanted an example of seizing the moment when it arises, then that Dom Sheed mark is well worth a replay — or two.

Which brings me back to WA politics.

Just like that grand final, there have been many sliding-door moments in WA politics during the 20 years I’ve been covering the WA Parliament: moments that have shaped the present and the political careers of many.

What if Troy Buswell had taken the WA Libs to that famous 2008 State election instead of Colin Barnett? Would Alan Carpenter’s Labor Party still have lost power?

What if Ben Wyatt had been successful in replacing Eric Ripper as Labor opposition leader in 2011? Would Wyatt have been the Labor premier instead of Mark McGowan?

I am positive that just like Gaff, Sheppard and Naitanui, Ben Wyatt occasionally asks himself, what if?

And would Roger Cook still be in WA politics, let alone be Premier, if McGowan hadn’t retired from politics in 2023 to chase the big bucks in the corporate world?

Sliding-door moments — just like events that led to that 2018 West Coast premiership.

But to their credit, Barnett and McGowan — and now Cook — seized the moment, and the rest is political history.

Moving forwards, I am positive there will be more political “what ifs” coming up between now and the next State poll in 2029.

If I’m correct, Cook will not contest the next election, leaving the door open for either Rita Saffioti or Amber-Jade Sanderson to lead the party.

Both Saffioti and Sanderson want the premiership, though neither will admit it.

Will Sanderson reflect on a “what if” moment should Saffioti become the Labor Party’s next premier.

Or will Saffioti retire from politics in 2029, reflecting on a wonderful career and wondering “what if” as Sanderson takes up the State’s top job?

Sheed had a chance at footy immortality and took it.

It will be interesting to see whether Saffioti or Sanderson also manage to nail that kick from the boundary when the moment arises.