The Other Preliminary Final

[layzie 30,400]

1 hour ago, Jaded said:

This is a bad outcome no matter which way you look at it. 

West Coast beat us and Pies win the flag. 

We beat West Coast and we face the possibility of losing to Collingwood in a grand final. 

It’s one big messy Cox fest. 

My thinking is completely in line with yours. This is a terrible result. Someone is bound to jump all over me for saying that. “Oh but playing Collingwood is our best chance of winning it!” “Bring it on” “You need to be more confident”. Heard them all and I understand it for sure.

I desperately wanted GWS to knock them out. Under no circumstances do I ever support this team, not for a home prelim, not for some other dumb scenario that is meant to help us, not for nuttin. I am NOT one of those people that loves seeing Collingwood make a Grand Final so they can enjoy seeing them potentially lose it. As far as I’m concerned they should finish bottom every single year.

I don’t know, I just don’t. A potential GF with them. If you wanted to come up with a way to give a reasonably healthy early 30s male a coronary, this isn’t a bad way to go about it.

 

 

[KingDingAling 3,683]

1 hour ago, Jaded said:

This is a bad outcome no matter which way you look at it. 

West Coast beat us and Pies win the flag. 

We beat West Coast and we face the possibility of losing to Collingwood in a grand final. 

It’s one big messy Cox fest. 

There is a winner and there is a loser but you have to be there to take part. If we do manage to make the grand final there is a possibility we could lose. I still want us there regardless. Plus, I think we could really trouble Collingwood. They had a lot of players tonight who played out of their skin - guys like Aish, Maine, Cox, Goldsack, etc. I have never seen these guys play like that and it is unlikely they all repeat that performance. If Collingwood were a race horse I'd say they may have just run their Grand Final and now would be a good time to send them out for a spell. Unfortunately for Collingwood there will be no spell, especially if we get there because we have been building, this would be our Grand Final and peak performance. 

[bing181 8,357]

There goes Goody's coach of the year award.

[Deestar9 1,435]

44 minutes ago, Beetle said:

I cannot believe how important it is, not just for us Demons supporters, but for all of humanity....that we win tomorrow!

 

45 minutes ago, At the break of Gawn said:

Nup, the Pies aren’t that good. They took it up to West Coast but couldn’t get the job done. They almost lost to a Giants team who didn’t show up until the second qtr plus DeGoey put on a masterclass. They played a Richmond team who couldn’t get going at all and Cox played his best game in 10 weeks. 

If we get through tomorrow, I fancy our chances much more than if the results were reversed tonight.

I agree completely....think we would have easily matched the Tigers & feel confident taking on the Pies if we get there...feel more nervous about the Eagles ...but maybe because I am surrounded by them over here & they are so arrogant ...didn’t subscribe to the love for the Tigers ...they had their good wins early ....lost against all away teams & beat up on average teams for the remaining part of the season plus Dusty injured was a huge bonus for the Pies...get it done tomz Dees

[Wolfturdo 123]

13 minutes ago, bing181 said:

There goes Goody's coach of the year award.

He was never winning it. Buckley or Simpson.

[What 18,810]

2 hours ago, Jaded said:

This is a bad outcome no matter which way you look at it. 

West Coast beat us and Pies win the flag. 

We beat West Coast and we face the possibility of losing to Collingwood in a grand final. 

 

We beat West Coast and we face the possibility of BEATING Collingwood in a grand Final.

Fire up!

Edited September 21, 2018 by Petraccattack

[whatwhat say what 20,369]

12 minutes ago, Wolfturdo said:

He was never winning it. Buckley or Simpson.

If Melbourne wins the premiership, Goodwin is the premier coach of the year

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

....and then there were 3.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

1 hour ago, titan_uranus said:

Indeed that is true, in fact ours was probably softer, but we won an extra game against a top 8 side, and have won two more since, such that even if we lose tomorrow, we'll still have a better record against the top 8 than Collingwood does.

They got a double chance by going 14-0 against the bottom 10. 

1) Good on them, not dropping games is a huge part of positioning yourself for finals.

2) Its all completely irrelevant now. Past results mean next to nothing.

[Wolfturdo 123]

Think you are all seriously clutching at straws if you think we have done much better against top 8 sides than Collingwood. You’re arguing over a 1 win difference. Which is really foolish and stupid.

The bathwater is still flowing I guess.

[Winter Dan 425]

Gee, Howe wld be a huge lose if he misses the GF. Their best defender. Any new on the extent of the injury? 

I'm feeling appreciative not having Sheppard on the park tomorrow - helps stem the defensive rebound and hopefully makes our weakest attribute a little easier, connecting into the 50.

 

[Fork 'em 6,629]

Anyone who remembers the last time Collingwood got into the grand final will know that whether we win or lose tomorrow, the black and white morons will be unbearable this week.
So be prepared to be reminded why we hate them like we do.

[layzie 30,400]

Yep, it’s never fun going through a Grand Final week with Collingwood involved.

[Demon Disciple 11,209]

Boo hoo that should we win today, we have to beat the Pies next week.

If we want to be premiers, it has to be anyone, anytime, anywhere.

Pies were fantastic tonight. Have they played their GF tonight? Don’t know, but it would be a Herculean effort for them to repeat what they did 2 weeks in a row.

Got to get there first though. We win we have a chance, either way WCE has next to no chance IMO.

[Bonkers 918]

Pretty ordinary game by Richmond. Granted Collingwood played well so credit where it's due. What is going on in the Richmond coaches box to allow Sidebottom 41 disposals? He is by far their most influential player. If we make it, Harmes would get that shut down role.

Cox was allowed a free run and jump at the ball all night, no body pressure, terrible defending. No one was willing to fill the space in front of him either. I can't see whoever their opposition is next week allowing that to happen. 

[John Demonic 4,973]

Just finished watching on delay, wowee. A victory for footy imo. Not because of a premier being beaten but because a clean disposing fast running team won. Richmond's kicks were all messy hacks into forward line with 1 tall. They're an avg clearance team at best. I don't want to see that kind of style being a dominant force over the comp. Collingwood provides a much more exciting evolution for the game and for one of two other exciting attacking teams to try and match next week

Bad news for us? Sure, if you're insecure about our team. But it emphasizes how much better we have to now play from a 'capitalizing on clean Inside 50s' POV ie not turning it over with their rebound power. With Richmond we can wear them down, with Coll we have to now be more precise. Our mids vs theirs is a salivatingly colosal encounter. Gawn v Grundy (if we make GF)

 

 

Edited September 21, 2018 by johndemonic
Y

[Lucifers Hero 37,524]

Coll usually play 'pressure' football ala Tigers, Demons rather than 'possession' football ala Hawks.

Coll switched styles and started with 'possession' football and totally controlled the tempo.  Denied Tigers the ball. Took the Tigers by surprise and before they knew it the game was over.   

And the Pies kicked straight early on, thus applying massive scoreboard pressure!!  Qtr time scores: 5.2.32 vs 1.3.9.  Half time: 10.4.64 vs 2.8.20.  Tigers made changes at half time and outscored Pies in the second half - too late!

Lessons for us today:  Have our own surprise tactics and KICK STRAIGHT.  Nothing like early scoreboard pressure.

Lesson for next week (if we make it):  Don't underestimate Buckley - he is very good at countering opp strengths.

Edited September 21, 2018 by Lucifer's Hero

[Converted Dee 115]

For those that watch The Footy Show, Ed will be pitching a tent all episode with his smug face (don't actually watch it).

Be nice to see Mick Molloy brought down a peg on The Front Bar, he's been cocky as about his team all year.

[praha 10,574]

Truly lost at people celebrating this for 2 reasons:

1. You're cheering for COLLINGWOOD!

2. The Pies were always the tougher matchup. For both us and WC. I know we can beat anyone at any time but Richmond on a winning streak (and key injuries) are always more beatable than a team with momentum at the right time.

Winning today means you have two high speed trains meeting each other in the GF. No doubt a Melb v Pies matchup is the ideal scenario for neutral fans, the AFL, and broadcasters.

But as far as our best chance for a flag goes, it was to be against Richmond. 

It is going to be very tough to beat Collingwood next week.

Edited September 21, 2018 by praha

[spirit of norm smith 13,605]

7 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Pies are a very good side

tough. Skilled.  

Transition through Phillips and Sidebottom.

Toughness  Crisp  Maynard Adams 

Intercept backs Langdon. 

Versatile.  Mayne Sier Varcoe 

Skilled goalkicker De Goey

Ruck domination Grundy

Wildcard Cox

Tagger Greenwood

opportunists fwds. HoskinElliott. Thomas. Stephenson

one tall defender.  Goldsack

one spoiler defender Howe 

versatile hardworking tall fwd  Mihocek

 Bi polar player.  Aish 

Dangerous Mids.   Pendlebury Treloar

 

[Cards13 9,117]

People used to complain if you didn’t make top 4 you were just making up the numbers, people now complain the bottom 4 can win the GF each year, odd.

I think it is great, top 4 teams who win through need to find a formula that works to try and keep them “finals ready” with so little footy.

God I hope we win today.

Balme is one of the best in the business but his week long indignation session looks very silly now. 

Pies... I think we all had a chuckle at them after the first 3 or 4 rnds and the re-signing of Nafan, haven’t they made the most of the season. Played some brilliant footy last night. God they are annoying though.

[spirit of norm smith 13,605]

Sidebottom is hard to tag. Pla

4 hours ago, Bonkers said:

Pretty ordinary game by Richmond. Granted Collingwood played well so credit where it's due. What is going on in the Richmond coaches box to allow Sidebottom 41 disposals? He is by far their most influential player. If we make it, Harmes would get that shut down role.

Cox was allowed a free run and jump at the ball all night, no body pressure, terrible defending. No one was willing to fill the space in front of him either. I can't see whoever their opposition is next week allowing that to happen. 

Sidebottom is hard to tag. Played more as a half back/wing role.  I think they’ll play Pendlebury/Adams/Greenwood in the centre bounces. Greenwood is shutting down everyone right now. Treloar rotates in. 

Yes Harmes could tag Sidebottom but we might use Melksham as an option. Don’t discount Pendlebury.  He can destroy you still with effective clearance footy. 

[rjay 24,188]

6 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Sidebottom is hard to tag.

Not really 'Norm', the times he has been hard tagged this year he's really struggled.

The problem is most coaches like Hardwick last night haven't given him the respect of playing a hard tag.

No one should be getting 40+ touches in a prelim...

If we make it Melcham wouldn't be the option, he's better suited to dealing with Howe...if not Harmes it's more likely to be ANB who has the running power to go with him & Harmes with Pendles.

[Swooper1987 2,843]

They played a great game and it was the Tigers worst performance since they got pumped by St Kilda last year before they went on their big run.  They can't play that well again and we have what Richmond don't - a ruckman to match and then beat Grundy, and a midfield which is accountable and will close down Sidebottom, Treloar, Adams and Pendlebury.  If we get over the Eagles today and emerge relatively unscathed then we are a huge chance.  My only concern is that traditionally Prelim final weekend has one very tight game, and it clearly wasn't last night.  Buckle up for a cliffhanger!

[dees189227 11,303]

Ugh just woke up and realised collingwood are in the grand final

Edited September 21, 2018 by dees189227