AFL Finals - Discussions and results - Page 5

Cobra · 22-09-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SB076

If the dog's could have kicked straight it could have been a real close contest. I thought the dogs did well, but just missed too many opportunities.

Dogs did well, played a good hard contest and were unlucky with some of the opportunities that they didn't capitalise on, but I guess Footy isn't about "if..but..whens", it's about what actually happens. In this case it's the Cats who have prevailed in unconvincing circumstatces, much to the similarity of last year. If that trend can continue, and we play like we did last year against a lacklustre Port, look out Hawks! But somehow I don't see that happening, the Hawks are going to come out hard and Geelong need to be on top of their game for 4 quarters if they are to ensure back to back premierships.

irlewy86 · 22-09-2008, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prydey

but he's not alone. buckley, harvey, richo, kouta etc etc. arguably not all 'great' players but just good players stuck in ordinary sides.

Buckley left Brisbane to play for a "premiership side" Got everything he deserved.

Lots of Cats fans will have vivid flashbacks to the 80's if the Hawks upset on the weekend.

uranium_death · 22-09-2008, 05:32 PM

Different circumstances...

In 1989, Geelong finished third (end of H+A), got caned by 76 points in the first week of the finals (V Essendon) and recovered to make the GF.

Hawthorn lost three games for the year and finished on top, and were heading for back to back premiership flags.

This time, the roles are reversed somewhat. I do not believe they will be flashbacks.

I am hoping Hawthorn supporters have flashbacks to 1985...the margin anyway

uranium_death · 23-09-2008, 12:04 AM

Well done to Adam Cooney in winning the 2008 Brownlow Medal.
Mike Fitzpatrick...you work for the AFL. Get your facts right.
Scott Wynd won the Brownlow for Footscray in 1992, NOT 1993 (Wanganeen).

I felt for Ablett (I'm biased there though), Black and Richardson who are three great and fair players. Richo especially, because his entire career he has been maligned continuously and I think it's an absolute credit to him to put in two great years in the latter stages of his career, and all those people who wanted him traded will now shut up. If he had been in a better team, he would have kicked far more goals. Richmond's game plan for a long time has been chaotic, and he has still performed very well despite that.

Black...while not a standout year, he is a proven vote winner and a very fair player.

Ablett...well, his year was spectacular. I believe he would have won had he not been injured for a few weeks, but given he only finished two votes behind the winner (who I think played them all), that's a bloody fine effort. So well done Ablett.

But the main prize is this weekend.

Go you Cats.

drew`SEVNT5 · 23-09-2008, 12:30 AM

Nice one Cooney....

And my boy Medhurst came in 1st for the Pies...

Hence

uranium_death · 23-09-2008, 12:38 AM

I put 20 bucks on Port to win last year.

Hawthorn is a real chance this year. I think I'll put 50 bucks on them so even if Geelong lose, there's a financial consolation prize there to soften the blow for at least 3 minutes.

Cobra · 23-09-2008, 11:04 AM

Does that mean you tip against Geelong every game of the year? So even if they lose, you get the tip right and it softens the blow for 3 minutes.

On another note, if there's any Cats fans in Adelaide who are reading this, get down to The Lion Hotel - 161 Melbourne St North Adelaide, the owner is a mad Cats fan and is putting on a big night with some Huge screens for the Adelaide Cats supporter group.

GO CATS!!!

gtxb67 · 23-09-2008, 11:06 AM

my tip is the same as last year almost. last year i tipped geelong by 62 points (9 goals, 8 behinds), this year 62 (10 goals, 2 behinds)

Cobra · 23-09-2008, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtxb67

my tip is the same as last year almost. last year i tipped geelong by 62 points (9 goals, 8 behinds), this year 62 (10 goals, 2 behinds)

I'd like to think you're right fella, but I don't think it will happen. The Hawks won't be as soft as Port last year. If Geelong play their absolute best, the Hawks won't win. Depending on how both teams play, I think if they're both at their absolute best for 4 quarters, Geelong will win by 5 goals max. Geelong won't need to drop off much for the Hawks to pounce! My tip is the Cats by 16 points.

uranium_death · 23-09-2008, 12:08 PM

I actually am very confident Geelong will win...not easily, but we will hold on.

But if we do lose, having a bit of extra cash in the pocket will certainly make things a little more bearable.

Cobra · 23-09-2008, 01:10 PM

They may well win, I think they will, but on paper it's very even I think. Hawthorn have a lot of hard nuts, and ball winners. I know it's been said that Geelong are #1 and Hawthorn are number #16 in contested posessions, but that has not been the case from what I've seen from the Hawks as of late. It certainy won't be the case this weekend either.

Blokes like Lewis, Sewell, Mitchell are going to need some serious attention. The hawks froward line in Franklin, Roughhead and to a lesser extent Osborne also pose a serious threat to the Geelong defence too. With the experience of Croad down back and Hodge sweeping at half back, as well as Murphy having had a binder on Johnson in round 17, our one area which I beleive we can expose the Hawks the most, will still need to be on top of their game if we are to get over the line.

RG · 23-09-2008, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobra

They may well win, I think they will, but on paper it's very even I think. Hawthorn have a lot of hard nuts, and ball winners. I know it's been said that Geelong are #1 and Hawthorn are number #16 in contested posessions, but that has not been the case from what I've seen from the Hawks as of late. It certainy won't be the case this weekend either.

Blokes like Lewis, Sewell, Mitchell are going to need some serious attention. The hawks froward line in Franklin, Roughhead and to a lesser extent Osborne also pose a serious threat to the Geelong defence too. With the experience of Croad down back and Hodge sweeping at half back, as well as Murphy having had a binder on Johnson in round 17, our one area which I beleive we can expose the Hawks the most, will still need to be on top of their game if we are to get over the line.

You forgot Mark Williams, another bloke that can kick a bag.

It looks to be a great game but I reckon the Hawks will win....just.

Stealth00 · 23-09-2008, 01:55 PM

Hope your right Russell, will be a cracker of a game

Cobra · 23-09-2008, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell

You forgot Mark Williams, another bloke that can kick a bag.

It looks to be a great game but I reckon the Hawks will win....just.

Yeah I did forget him! He kicked a bag on the weekend, 5 I think it was. He will be dangerous, and will make the Geelong defence work even harder. It's up to Geelongs mid field to put pressure on the Hawks and help out the defence.

klone · 23-09-2008, 03:04 PM

I think Geelong will blow the Hawks out of the park. I'm a Roos supporter so there's no bias there, and I'll probably be behind the Hawks on the day anyway.

BTW: Congrats to Adam Cooney winning the Brownlow medal. Another Croweater takes gold!

Focussed · 25-09-2008, 11:00 AM

I'm going to the game. Fly out today & cant wait!
As a port supporter, I will be hoping for a hawks win in a close one!
I hope the weather stays away!!!

bindaz · 25-09-2008, 12:46 PM

COME ON THE CATS!!!!!!

Were goin to kick some serious butt!!

Cobra · 25-09-2008, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Focussed

I'm going to the game. Fly out today & cant wait!
As a port supporter, I will be hoping for a hawks win in a close one!
I hope the weather stays away!!!

My old man in law is a Port fan. Based on the ribbing I gave him last year about the grand final and being a cat supporter I would have thought that he would hope the Cats get smashed. But looking at it from another perspective, he thinks Geelong were the best team all year and deserve to win it. He remembers back to the days of 02 and 03 when Port finished on top and choked in the finals, so he's always been dirty about that. I told him if you want the minor premier to be the premier you've got to watch the English Premier League. Pity he doesnt like Soccer ("Football").

**Bluepower** · 25-09-2008, 01:00 PM

game will be over midway through the 2nd quarter. Geelong will once again make a mockery of the competition.

Hawthorn had an easy game against saints - the lack of on-ball competition has robbed clarkson of knowing how they will match up on a fast running side.

Expect a lot of goals kicked on the run, and some low Hawks faces. My wife and friends are all Hawks, so i would rather the hawks get up, but i dont think so.

my 2 c.

BZINGA · 26-09-2008, 12:59 AM

Hard to pick a team when you don't want any to win but atleast a Vic team will win i guess. I think the cats will win but i'm not counting out the hawks, i think they will make a game of it.

Bossxr8 · 26-09-2008, 12:05 PM

Go the Catters.

prydey · 26-09-2008, 12:47 PM

hard to go past the cats, as much as i dislike them but i so hope the hawks can get up.

forecast is for rain apparently and i have no idea who that will favour the most. normally sides that possess the ball a lot struggle in the wet but not sure with geelong. haven't seen much of either side in the wet this year.

port, although largely unchanged from their grandfinal appearance of 07, really struggled in the early rounds to get a win and from there they just failed to get any momentum and belief. a lot of football is played between the ears and port have never been known for mental toughness. how much of their 2008 season can be attributed to the 119point smacking in the GF. maybe none but the question must be asked.

the point i am getting to is hawthorn are a side on the rise with a lot of young players. what effect will a belting have on these younger players. could it possibly affect their 2009 season if they get smashed by geelong?

hopefully it lives up to the hype better than rnd 17.

gtxb67 · 26-09-2008, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prydey

port, although largely unchanged from their grandfinal appearance of 07, really struggled in the early rounds to get a win and from there they just failed to get any momentum and belief.

port were up by 30-40 on geelong in round 1 - but were over ran, weren't they
a flogging in a grand final (or any final) can go both ways. essendon were flogged by hawthorn in 83, were virtually beaten in 84 by hawthron, but stormed home to win and then flogged hawthorn in 85. a lot of times a team can be flogged early in the finals and then extract revenge later in the series. i think if the team is mentally tough, then they would bounce back

as far as the wet, i believe geelong play it probably better than anyone. since round 6 last year, geelong have been the best at everything. they do not need outside influences to fall in their direction to be skillful. they seem to have all bases covered. they are good, because they are good, not because any conditions have favoured them. that is why i was not wishing for rain last week - it could have been much worse for us

uranium_death · 26-09-2008, 04:00 PM

Round 17 I thought met expectations quite well. While the match wasn't high scoring, the 11 point margin was extremely tight, given the margin was only five points with 2-3 minutes remaining, and that Geelong goal only came through a Luke Hodge shank (which is a rarity!).

I put 50 bucks on Hawthorn to win (return of 137), but I am hoping it is a fifty dollar note that I will outright lose, and will be happy to.

I will add on to my original post that Hawthorn will be dominant next year I believe. Should they lose, there is greater motivation. Should they win, their belief will also increase significantly.

Cobra · 26-09-2008, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtxb67

port were up by 30-40 on geelong in round 1 - but were over ran, weren't they
a flogging in a grand final (or any final) can go both ways. essendon were flogged by hawthorn in 83, were virtually beaten in 84 by hawthron, but stormed home to win and then flogged hawthorn in 85. a lot of times a team can be flogged early in the finals and then extract revenge later in the series. i think if the team is mentally tough, then they would bounce back

as far as the wet, i believe geelong play it probably better than anyone. since round 6 last year, geelong have been the best at everything. they do not need outside influences to fall in their direction to be skillful. they seem to have all bases covered. they are good, because they are good, not because any conditions have favoured them. that is why i was not wishing for rain last week - it could have been much worse for us

I think against the Dogs last week it could have been uglier if there was no rain. Geelong struggled in the greasy condistions, as has been said above, higher posessing teams do not favour wet weather as it will increase the chances of turn over. Geelong play Footy on the edge, the "play on at all cost" works only because they've made it work. They've mastered that game play, and the only way to stop them is ruthless tackling, and beating them at the contested Footy when the balls in dispute.

Lets look at Collingwood, they demonstrated that when under pressure, in not so ideal conditions, Geelong can be beaten, and easily in the end. It's for this reason that I really hope it does not rain. Hawthorn are going to be TOUGH in both tackling and when the balls in dispute, if the conditions are greasy or wet, Geelongs game plan will suffer because of it IMO. The boys will just have to adjust if it's raining and they can't do the things they would normally do with a dry Footy.

**DJM83** · 26-09-2008, 05:38 PM

Ill be glad whens its over, the grand final was only good to sit around the TV and have afew beers (well maybe afew to many).

Spanrz · 26-09-2008, 09:23 PM

Not picking a team, but betting on 5-6 major injuries by the end of the first quarter.

Ok, now I'll pick a Team.

Geelong by 29.

JG66ME · 26-09-2008, 10:31 PM

Blue is the colour of Ford.
Cat is the top of the food chain.
Geelong is the City of the worshipfull Ford.
Geelong is Blue and White and worships the cat.
Ford lends its name to Geelong.

Hawthorn has the colour of a brown and 'orrible terd.(fooled you censorship man) Just like my septic tank.

Go the Cats.

DoreSlamR · 26-09-2008, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BA Waggn

Not picking a team, but betting on 5-6 major injuries by the end of the first quarter.

Ok, now I'll pick a Team.

Geelong by 29.

This aint 1989....

I know we all wish this game will be as good as that grand final but it won't be.....far from it.

Not saying it won't be a good game but the times, they have a changed

TZENU · 27-09-2008, 09:42 AM

Geelong's winning margin: 39

J. Selwood for the Norm

But i'll put money on both Ablett and Selwood