This preview from a WCE supporter is not unreasonable reading. I liked this bit For Melbourne, a team more used to playing in front of 22,000 Stockholm syndrome sufferers in the middle of a Melbourne winter, running out on a warm September afternoon to that reception will be as foreign as operating the Ticketmaster finals menu. But this isn’t the Melbourne of old- the Melbourne of old was the team that coughed up a certain finals spot to us last year. The Melbourne of old lost whenever the heat was really put on. The Melbourne of old was brittle, flashy but with a soft underbelly. If you haven’t watched Melbourne in the last month and think this is going to be a walk in the park because we’ve got a few players back…. You haven’t been paying attention.

Preamble

With no West Coast playing this weekend, there was room to sit back, relax and enjoy some good quality football. It’s all been on the up and up since the trapezoid goalsquare came in, so kudos to the Shape of the Game Committee. As I sat back and watched the blue and red army swarm, I realised what a remarkable comeback story this is. The club was down and out not too long ago, and now I was watching them power through for a huge finals win. Their opponents had beaten them handsomely in the previous matchup, so that just makes it even more special. You could feel some real energy and spirit in the team song, and as ‘The Grand Old Flag’ was belted out and the players started excitedly looking towards next weekend at the new stadium, a tear rolled down my cheek and one thought crossed my mind- isn’t it great to see West Perth in the Grand Final again?

 
A picture I took of Nathan Jones for my boudoir photography class (picture 45/714)

Amble

It is said that the effects of being an opposition player at Perth Stadium is like having your brains smashed out by a slice of lemon wrapped around a large gold brick- the cascading wall of noise, the cacophony of verbal barbs and the musical harmonies of the almighty boo. They all work together to create uncertainty, disharmony, and an uneasy sense that you may have left the gas on at home.

For Melbourne, a team more used to playing in front of 22,000 Stockholm syndrome sufferers in the middle of a Melbourne winter, running out on a warm September afternoon to that reception will be as foreign as operating the Ticketmaster finals menu. But this isn’t the Melbourne of old- the Melbourne of old was the team that coughed up a certain finals spot to us last year. The Melbourne of old lost whenever the heat was really put on. The Melbourne of old was brittle, flashy but with a soft underbelly. If you haven’t watched Melbourne in the last month and think this is going to be a walk in the park because we’ve got a few players back…. You haven’t been paying attention.

Melbourne was always meant to take the next step this year. They were meant to do it last year. But this time it feels real, there’s an energy and momentum about the team that you couldn’t quite believe in until they finally got back into the top 8. The fact that they’ve done it without Lever and without Hogan for a lot of the season is a huge credit to Paul Roos and pretty much no one else.

The Eagles have found themselves in the odd position of hosting a Preliminary final almost behind everyone’s back. After a season that included a 10-game winning streak, they stumbled after the bye when they had to play a cobbled together forward line of Cripps, Waterman, McInnes, Sumich, Ted Tyson and the statue of John Gerovich. While that was good enough to beat no-hopers like GWS, it couldn’t handle the injection of pace and pep of a side like Essendon, or the brilliant collective minds in the Adelaide coaches’ box. 

However, in a match that both cemented the Eagles top 2 credentials and simultaneously almost doomed their premiership ones, the victory over Collingwood at the MCG was the very definition of bittersweet. This was the victory that the doubters wanted to see, and promptly pretended didn’t happen. In the absence of a game-changing megastar, the Eagles had to resort to two game-continuing human jumping pads. The results were mixed but managed to lift the team to second thanks to wins over some poor sides, and an after the siren victory over Port in boring, foreseeable fashion. The most predictable and dull sequel since the direct to VHS movie The Return of Jafar. 

And then came the finals, after the week off filled with award ceremonies, trade talk and rule committee discussion. I never make brash statements, but if that interests you when we’re on the precipice of finals, your alternative lifestyle needs to be kept away from others. Collingwood had the 22 best players on the ground but were overcome by poor umpiring and an uncouth crowd that helped whoever they were playing into the prelims.

Can I make a brash statement? No team has ever been so clearly the second best in the competition, earned two home finals, played such good football under duress, and been spoken about as little as this team. Part of that is the loss of our best players. Part of that is the perception of our MCG form. Part of that is the fairy tale of Collingwood and Melbourne, while we play the Big Bad Wolf. But mostly I think it’s because we’re just too nice.

And so here we are. At the new stadium, in prelim final week, against Melbourne.

Up The Bloody Coasters 

 
Media perception of Melbourne vs West Coast

Quick Questions
 

1. What’s changed since the recent meeting in Round 22? Likely to be Ah Chee and Sheppard out for Schofield and Kennedy. Darling with a full game hopefully. Jack Viney in for Dean Kent for the Demons. Both teams will be stronger than last time
2. What are the critical matchups? Tons of potential good ones in this game. Melksham taking McGovern away from the play. Barrass v McDonald in the Battle of the Tommes, Gawn v Two Ruckmen that aren’t Nicnat, and the brilliant Neville Jetta v Willie Rioli. In the middle Viney, Brayshaw and Jones head to head with Redden, Shuey and Yeo. Cole and Schofield on the dangerous Weiderman and Petracca, the taggers in Hutchings and Harmes will have big jobs on probably Oliver and Yeo. Seriously, there’s great battles galore here in what should be an awesome game.
3. How will it be played? Like most finals, fierce and fast. Melbourne are chaotic with their movement going forward, but give you chances to score the other way. This could be a high scoring game if both teams forward lines get going. 91 to 108 in the last match.
4. Who has the X factor to turn the match? Jack Viney and Elliot Yeo are my go-to guys for consistent brilliance in this one, but for turning a game in a moment Christian Petracca and Liam Ryan. If those two show some magic we’re in for a special game.
5. What needs to go right for each team? Eagles need to draw the midfield battle like they did against the Pies and let the forward line go to work. They lifted at the crucial stage after being outworked for two quarters. The Demons need to capitalise on momentum because they’ve had periods of dominance in both finals that didn’t show on the scoreboard, and they will hurt away from home.
6. Who takes more out of Round 22? Probably the Demons. That game showed they could match it with the best teams, in a hostile environment. They’ve got the wood over the Eagles in recent matches.
7. What’s the feel-good storyline? Melbourne in their first finals series since 2006, chasing their first flag since 1964. West Coast defying pre-season doomsayers to compete for another flag, after losing several key players during the year.

 
They only had one logo on file to be fair

Expected Line-Ups

B: Jetta O.McDonald Lewis
F: Rioli Kennedy LeCras

HB: Salem Frost Hibberd
HF: Cripps Darling Ryan

? Jones Brayshaw Harmes
? Hutchings Yeo Masten

HF: Melksham T.McDonald Hannan
HB: Duggan McGovern Jetta

F: Weiderman VandenBerg Petracca
B: Hurn Barrass Schofield

R: Gawn Viney Oliver
R: Lycett Shuey Redden

IC: Spargo Fritsch Tyson Neal-Bullen
IC: Cole Sheed Venables Vardy

Headlines you Probably Won’t Read


-Brave Eagles overcome obstacles to book well-earned Grand Final berth

-Eddie McGuire complains that his team gets extra break for Grand Final over higher finishing side

-Andrew Gaff signs for the Baldivis Brumbies on 7-year, multi-million-dollar contract

-Channel 7 praised for even handed commentary amidst crowd barbarity

-Early finish allows losing Demons to get to bars before they shut in backwards hick town


Gil and journos combing for stories from 2006 to bring back up

Predictions

Nothing more to add really. We’re the underdogs in our own home final. How have we slipped so far? Sack Simpson.

Eagles by 199.

Make some god damn noise you hooligans.

 

Decent read actually, but my prediction is a little different:
(west coast fans come saturday)

 

We win obviously 

Wow, and here I was thinking that the inferiority (WA v Vic) complex would have them all shouting about an impending 100 point win by the Eagles.

Quite an enjoyable read, even without knowing it was written by an Eagles fan.

 

We can win this game only by dominating clearances and stoppages and converting our chances. If the Eagles can match our inside 50's, I fear we may get belted, as they really do have a very very good forward line.

And as always for a side travelling to Perf, we must score heavily early, to silence the crowd.

Only a non-Victorian could consider Collingwood part of a fairytale.

1 hour ago, Supermercado said:

Only a non-Victorian could consider Collingwood part of a fairytale.

If there were a comparable fairy tale, it would be Little Red Riding Hood.

Mostly because the idea of them winning the flag is as horrifying as the is of an elderly woman being mauled and devoured by a wolf so it can proceed to eat her young granddaughter. 

Edited September 17, 20186 yr by Colin B. Flaubert

10 hours ago, Supermercado said:

Only a non-Victorian could consider Collingwood part of a fairytale.

I don't get the whole fairytale thing. All it does is demean the efforts of the team that are considered to be the fairytale. Carlton winning the flag next year would be a fairytale. We are not.

9 minutes ago, Clintosaurus said:

I don't get the whole fairytale thing. All it does is demean the efforts of the team that are considered to be the fairytale. Carlton winning the flag next year would be a fairytale. We are not.

Must say making finals this year was the goal. Winning one a bonus winning two amazing.

Had we not dropped two games against Geelong we would be in there position. Personally win or lose the lads have done their job this year. 

Love a gf berth but must say the pressure is on the coasters. Top two, a rest and a home final. Sadly if they lose the supporters will want Simpson sacked. 

Lets enjoy the ride and regardless of result have opted for guaranteed gf ticket next year on membership !

Supermercardo's humour way funnier and much less forced.

Must be something in the water over there.

Great read tbh 

22 minutes ago, Smokey said:

Great read tbh 

It is a good read and the team analysis is well balanced.  But I can't cop the comment about "...Part of that is the perception of our MCG form...".

Its not perception - its reality.  The pies game this year was too impacted by injuries to both sides to be a reliable predictor of form, and prior to that WC had won 2 out of 7 at the G (against Carlton)

A Tigers vs Eagles GF will be the lessor outcome for the AFL in terms of interest and competitiveness.

Dees have to win to set up the dream GF.

 

 

2 minutes ago, Demon17 said:

It is a good read and the team analysis is well balanced.  But I can't cop the comment about "...Part of that is the perception of our MCG form...".

Its not perception - its reality.  The pies game this year was too impacted by injuries to both sides to be a reliable predictor of form, and prior to that WC had won 2 out of 7 at the G (against Carlton)

A Tigers vs Eagles GF will be the lessor outcome for the AFL in terms of interest and competitiveness.

Dees have to win to set up the dream GF.

 

 

Yes with all the allegations about concocted outcomes, who do we think the AFL would rather see in a GF

Richmond Eagles. yeah nah

Collingwood Eagles, yeah nah

Demons Tigers, yep

Demons Pies, indubitably.

the '22,000 stockholm sufferers' line is pretty solid

43 minutes ago, Demon17 said:

A Tigers vs Eagles GF will be the lessor outcome for the AFL in terms of interest and competitiveness.

Dees have to win to set up the dream GF.

...and let's hope that the umpires do not forget this critical maxim; gate receipts mean everything, to Gill.