They had a definite game plan and for the old fashioned pundits of the game, it was 'bomb it long!'

Having said that, experience and big bodies count for so much. I know it's bleeding obvious, but watching all the physicality of their players made me lose sight of just how young and underdone our team is. I'd love to see the current team stay together for another 3-5 years, find a protein shake sponsor and go nuts on those weights.

Moloney, Tapscott, Sylv and Chippa need to set that path....hopefully the rest will follow.

BTW, I LOVED watching Hawthorn being crunched and intimidated - yes, I have a long memory..

Great game. Both teams showed how the game should be played.

And wasn't it good to see a forward line contesting when they did bomb it long. Geelong seemed to always have forwards at the fall of the ball, contesting marks and the small forwards contesting the crumbs, very disciplined, unlike our non-existant forward line (literally). I got so tired of this year watching our midfield look up to find no-one in the forward 50.

No argument from me

No argument from me

Nor me, or anyone else around here I suspect.

When it's not going to come straight back, it works.

We can't play like that, because with us at the moment, it is.

We don't currently have the big forwards to bring it to ground, and the medium and small forwards are having to fly for marks themselves instead of crumbing and creating forward pressure.

Exactly sooo what we need is ?

Exactly sooo what we need is ?

Fevola.

Did you guys see Hawkins, Pods, Ottens and even West running around like they were Wayne Carey.

When your midfield breaks even and your coming up against key defenders of Gibson (good but undersized), Murphy and Shoenmakers it's hardly a surprise that your game plan is get it in quick, especially on a wet night.

Did you notice it took Port 3 quarters to isolate McDonald on Westhoff, which eventually won them the game.

If we had one proper big forward and could then let Watts, Howe and Jurrah do likewise we'd get the same result. But we'd need the midfield, the backline and all the right structures first.

Did you guys see Hawkins, Pods, Ottens and even West running around like they were Wayne Carey.

When your midfield breaks even and your coming up against key defenders of Gibson (good but undersized), Murphy and Shoenmakers it's hardly a surprise that your game plan is get it in quick, especially on a wet night.

Clarkson was ruing the fact that the Hawks midfield was absolutely smashed in the centre clearances particularly after 1/4 time. Maybe he was watching a different game. Hmmmm.

Last night was a tactical win for the Cats. They had the premier big man on the ground in Ottens and they had taller forwards on a height tested backline. They won the centre and the outcome was obvious.

Exactly sooo what we need is ?

do a team trade with Geelong?

And wasn't it good to see a forward line contesting when they did bomb it long. Geelong seemed to always have forwards at the fall of the ball, contesting marks and the small forwards contesting the crumbs, very disciplined, unlike our non-existant forward line (literally). I got so tired of this year watching our midfield look up to find no-one in the forward 50.

+1.

Watching all these finals matches from the sideline has confirmed one thing in my mind; the step up in intensity from home and away to finals is huge. We are miles away from being tough enough to even compete in a final.

Watching all these finals matches from the sideline has confirmed one thing in my mind; the step up in intensity from home and away to finals is huge. We are miles away from being tough enough to even compete in a final.

Agreed - but I'm also watching stronger bodies and 5-9 year players working with a game plan.

Agreed - but I'm also watching stronger bodies and 5-9 year players working with a game plan.

That's part of the problem too- a very young side.

If we made finals next year (big if) the best we could hope for is a respectable show in the first elimination final. We will be smashed around. Kind of like Essendon of tody

Watching all these finals matches from the sideline has confirmed one thing in my mind; the step up in intensity from home and away to finals is huge. We are miles away from being tough enough to even compete in a final.

Hundreds of miles, maybe even thousands. The West Coast story is inspiring but I think having a dozen premiership players roll into top form really does help.

I really enjoyed seeing Hawthorn smacked around. Just couldn't help it. I hope they do the same to Collingwood.

That's part of the problem too- a very young side.

If we made finals next year (big if) the best we could hope for is a respectable show in the first elimination final. We will be smashed around. Kind of like Essendon of tody

Yeah - wasn't that great?

I have long memory. I hate Essendon and I hate Hawthorn. Hope the Swannies slap them big time.