Finals Week 1

[old dee 22,952]

45 minutes ago, Billy said:

If we replaced Collingwood in the 8 West Coast would’ve beaten us by 10 goals

We don't have the stomach or the direction for it at present. But the sadest part is the direction won't change.

[Diamond_Jim 11,941]

Waking up to the cold realisation that Pies could win the flag.

Geelong... 50/50

Brisbane...why not

Port or Richmond (slight underdogs)

Pies were fortunate with their accuracy last night but there were few players who had a quiet night. Grundy, Pendlebury and De Goey.

[John Demonic 4,854]

7 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Waking up to the cold realisation that Pies could win the flag.

Geelong... 50/50

Brisbane...why not

Port or Richmond (slight underdogs)

Pies were fortunate with their accuracy last night but there were few players who had a quiet night. Grundy, Pendlebury and De Goey.

De Goey winning the Norm Smith with a bag of 5 and fronting court on rape charges the following Monday. A truelly awful finale to season 2020.

[Mr Steve 3,820]

Well done to the Pies in beating the Eagles last night but did anyone else notice how slow the Move to on/play on calls were in there last 90 seconds.

[Witches Hat 229]

12 hours ago, Return to Glory said:

I've got a confession. I dislike Geelong more than Collingwood. 

Same.

One reason. Two words. Chris Scott.

[BDA 20,421]

51 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Waking up to the cold realisation that Pies could win the flag.

Geelong... 50/50

Brisbane...why not

Port or Richmond (slight underdogs)

Pies were fortunate with their accuracy last night but there were few players who had a quiet night. Grundy, Pendlebury and De Goey.

Nah. The pies won’t win the flag from here. They finished 8^th for a reason.

They were exceptional last night but everything fell there way. Accuracy, output from Cox (doubtful that will repeat), free kick count. A couple of miracle goals. Zero expectation which always helps.

They have plenty of travel ahead of them and have to beat 3 of Geelong, Lions and either Richmond or Port in the final. It can’t be done.

[Sir Why You Little 34,705]

6 minutes ago, Better days ahead said:

Nah. The pies won’t win the flag from here. They finished 8^th for a reason.

They were exceptional last night but everything fell there way. Accuracy, output from Cox (doubtful that will repeat), free kick count. A couple of miracle goals. Zero expectation which always helps.

They have plenty of travel ahead of them and have to beat 3 of Geelong, Lions and either Richmond or Port in the final. It can’t be done.

They will beat Jeeelong next week

[Diamond_Jim 11,941]

16 minutes ago, Better days ahead said:

They have plenty of travel ahead of them and have to beat 3 of Geelong, Lions and either Richmond or Port in the final. It can’t be done.

It's tough but no more travel. They now move to Brisbane and will stay there.

[BDA 20,421]

10 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

They will beat Jeeelong next week

I think they will beat Geelong as well but I think the party ends for them against the Lions.

The lions will be hard to stop from here. They got the monkey off the back against Richmond and play at home. Huge advantage.

[Sir Why You Little 34,705]

7 minutes ago, Better days ahead said:

I think they will beat Geelong as well but I think the party ends for them against the Lions.

The lions will be hard to stop from here. They got the monkey off the back against Richmond and play at home. Huge advantage.

Agree with the Filth. 
i think there will be another twist in Finals results.

There are 5 sides who “could” win it this year. Jeelong won’t. 
Even the Saints with a Fit Max King could  do it. He is a young gun. 

[Diamond_Jim 11,941]

4 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Even the Saints with a Fit Max King could  do it. He is a young gun. 

Jealous is an understatement.

A question for the experts...did the King twins play in the same under age sides as they grew up? Must have been interesting to see which one played full forward.

[Witches Hat 229]

Going to be tough for the Saints without Ryder. He was enormous yesterday.

Carlisle possibly out too won't help with Lynch back for Richmond.

I'd love them to cause the upset.

[Witches Hat 229]

[layzie 29,308]

2 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Waking up to the cold realisation that Pies could win the flag.

Geelong... 50/50

Brisbane...why not

Port or Richmond (slight underdogs)

Pies were fortunate with their accuracy last night but there were few players who had a quiet night. Grundy, Pendlebury and De Goey.

Can definitely see an unprecedented pathway to the grand final at least much like 2018.

[Lord Travis 10,231]

1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Jealous is an understatement.

A question for the experts...did the King twins play in the same under age sides as they grew up? Must have been interesting to see which one played full forward.

The King brothers did play the same sides all the way until being drafted. Max played forward, Ben played back. Max was the higher rated brother, sliding to pick 4 due to injuries. Ben went pick 6 as best key defender in 2018 draft.

Both are guns and have had amazing starts to their careers for 200cm tall players. The whole talls take time thing is only partly true. If a tall is truly elite talent then they’ll be good from day one regardless. Look at Hogan as another example of that.

[Macca 16,173]

Watching the finals highlights how below standard our actual disposal,  decision making and efficiency is. 

Also, the forward lines of the finals team's are way ahead of our lot.  Playing in front in the forward line is something the good teams can do but we continually fall short

This season our forwards were caught playing from behind (or having their opponent lead them to the ball) on hundreds of occasions.  And it's been that way most seasons since 2006.  It's any wonder we can't win when it counts.  The eyes say it all

Going hard at the footy isn't an issue in other parts of the ground and and winning the footy isn't that great a problem in those areas either.  But as for the rest of it ..

We need an injection of real talent as the current list is way behind the best.  Especially in the forward line

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,349]

Speaking of St Kilda, who has the better list? Melbourne or St Kilda?

[Willmoy1947 3,808]

West Coast must have upset the AFL applecart to have crucial decisions paid against them like last night.

If the planning is right we will have two Victorian Teams vs two Interstate Teams battle it out, and then two Interstate with multiple supporters with travel rights.....

[Lucifers Hero 37,227]

1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Speaking of St Kilda, who has the better list? Melbourne or St Kilda?

Melbourne has the better top 8 players.  Saints list has better positional balance and overall skills.  

So Saint's list is better placed for success.

Edited October 4, 2020 by Lucifer's Hero

[titan_uranus 22,659]

Two things stood out to me across the four finals.

The first was that the St Kilda-Bulldogs game was not close to the standard of the other three. 

The second was that Brisbane is the best all-round side in it this season. Can they knock off Geelong/Collingwood in a prelim? That, to me, is their biggest test. Their GF opponent will likely be Port (will back them in to beat Richmond/St Kilda at home) but I think the pressure of either Geelong or Collingwood will be significant.

15 hours ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Bad option by Kelly to handball inboard. He had players loose on the outside.

Yes but in the heat of the moment he's always going to pass that ball.

The fault was Ah Chee for calling for it despite having Taylor Adams right in front of him. Shouldn't have called. Again, heat of moment sort of stuff, but had to let Kelly get up and go outside.

2 hours ago, Better days ahead said:

Nah. The pies won’t win the flag from here. They finished 8^th for a reason.

They were exceptional last night but everything fell there way. Accuracy, output from Cox (doubtful that will repeat), free kick count. A couple of miracle goals. Zero expectation which always helps.

They have plenty of travel ahead of them and have to beat 3 of Geelong, Lions and either Richmond or Port in the final. It can’t be done.

It's so easy for disgruntled Melbourne supporters to feel jealous of Collingwood winning that final (or indeed, seeing St Kilda play distinctly average football but get a dud Dogs side and win anyway).

But you're right, a lot went right for Collingwood. The accuracy, the freak goals, Cox doing something (had maybe 2 or 3 touches after quarter time), and no Dean Margetts umpiring. Chuck in their "relaxing" (by COVID-standards) run home too.

They deserve huge credit for winning against the odds, but I can't help but feel if that had been us, the same disgruntled supporters would, as soon as we lose, discredit that win for those reasons.

[layzie 29,308]

16 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

They deserve huge credit for winning against the odds, but I can't help but feel if that had been us, the same disgruntled supporters would, as soon as we lose, discredit that win for those reasons.

Absolutely. It sucked watching it but it was a tremendous win and with everything going on the job was probably even harder. Match winning players in that side who stood up when the game was there to be won. Fully deserved.

[daisycutter 28,640]

how the heck did eddie make sure margetts wasn't umpiring?

would love to see those pics he has of gil

[old dee 22,952]

1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Speaking of St Kilda, who has the better list? Melbourne or St Kilda?

Clearly the Saints, they are playing in the second week of finals and we are not.

[Diamond_Jim 11,941]

1 hour ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Melbourne has the better top 8 players.  Saints list has better positional balance and overall skills.  

 

Agree

Saints remind me of the 1987/88 demons. Some very good players and lots of solid contributors many of them journeymen.

Thinking back our bottom 6 in '87 were probably pretty solid.

[dees189227 10,910]

I just look at what Max King did yesterday in a final and only his 2nd season and think why can't Weiderman be like that?