POLL: Preliminary Final Opponent

[Demonland 73,163]

By popular demand. 2 polls.

Who would you prefer to play and why?

Who do you think we will play and why?

[TRIGON 4,790]

Juicy poll topic, might just wait until the teams get announced.

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,939]

Want to play GWS as their more cooked than Geelong. They could barely string a possession in the last qtr.

Would be stunned if we're not playing Geelong in the prelim.

[rpfc 28,779]

Why do I want Geelong?

Because we have to end it. Fate is calling and it is time to pick up the phone, take a deep breath and just end this.

[Jaded No More 68,974]

I definitely prefer to play GWS, but Greene just made sure that won't happen.

Beating Geelong 3 times in one season is going to be a big ask. On the other hand, they will be exhausted and we will be fresh. Their old legs might give out.

I still hate both these teams with a passion and I hope they bash each other badly this weekend.

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 5,307]

Prefer - GWS. We can beat both but a GWS game will bring much less emotional baggage (for me, mainly!)

Believe - GWS. Loss of Greene isn't all-or-nothing. GWS emotionally high after last weekend, Geelong shot. Geelong playmakers can be more easily identified, planned for and dealt with.

[Witches Hat 451]

15 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Want to play GWS as their more cooked than Geelong. They could barely string a possession in the last qtr.

Would be stunned if we're not playing Geelong in the prelim.

My thoughts exactly.

[FarNorthernD 5,861]

I want to play Geelong and I want to beat Geelong.
None of this Paul Keating ‘doing them slowly’ nonsense either. I want it over by 1/4 time and to pull away from there. I want it to be emphatic.

I want to run them off their feet. For Oliver to run Selwood stupid and to see the look in Dangerfields eyes when he realises that there will be no fairytale flag for him.

It will be obvious to one and all that their era is over, forever done and dusted, and we, Melbourne, landed the knockdown punch.

Aside from that I’m not that fussed. 

[sue 9,145]

Undecided, but if we lose to anyone in the prelim, I'd rather it be GWS.

[GCDee 3,199]

We will play the cats because the giants are a absolutely cooked and losing both Greene's will hurt. 

Want to play the cats even though they are a tougher opponent beating them in a preliminary final will be more satisfying. If we are lucky enough to win and make it through to the big dance I also think I a tougher hit out in the preliminary final will be important especially with the pre granny bye.

[gs77 4,445]

I'd prefer Geelong, because I frankly love knocking them off more than anyone with the exception of Collingwood. However, given the two options, I think they're more likely to run out of legs than GWS by the Prelim, having to go "the long way" to get there.

As to next weekend, I think Geelong will get over the top of GWS given the tumult of the Greene fiasco and the likely absence of Tom Green and possibly others. Oh, that and the fact they are a soulless polymer extrusion masquerading as a club.

[John Demonic 5,850]

I want Bris over WB & Port too, even though Port v WB would be a cracker. Prefer to avoid everyone but GWS & Bris, who will absolutely gas themselves if they were to get over Geel & WB/Port respectively. Bring on the worse spectacles for neutrals!

Edited August 31, 2021 by John Demonic

[Guest]

I selected PREFER GWS and THINK Geelong. Two questions, one answer… sans Green/e

[Jaded No More 68,974]

If we lose to Geelong in a prelim, it will officially be the end of me and 2021 will be declared the worst year in the history of years. 

[Guest]

Just now, Jaded said:

If we lose to Geelong in a prelim, it will officially be the end of me and 2021 will be declared the worst year in the history of years. 

Annus horribilis on steroids 😭

[Roost it far 8,628]

The flag is ours, it’s a lock. We’ll beat Geelong by 40 points in the prelim and port by 22 in the GF. 

[Little Goffy 14,645]

I think the extent of people's confidence that we will play Geelong also kind of indicates why it would be more convenient to be playing GWS.

Seems our principal vulnerability is to small forwards so GWS without Toby Greene doesn't feel very menacing.

I recall a very old anime movie where the bad guy was immortal and kept coming back to life so the hero was just beating his head in with a heavy blunt object over and over. "Why don't you just die!?"

That's pretty much us to Geelong at the moment.

Ahhh... here we go - the headbutt to death scene.

 

 

[BDA 22,891]

I was more worried about GWS than Geelong but given injuries and suspensions I can't see the Giants winning through to meet us.

I think the cats are done. We struck a huge psychological blow with our big comeback and after the siren win in Rd 23. We've broken them just need to apply the final blow. Doing so in a prelim will be sweet

[radar 1,865]

Giants and Cats go extra time then Golden point. 
Heavy track  

Selwood, Hawkins, Dangerfield reported

[Ted Lasso 19,549]

Cats won't handle our heat in a big prelim. Giants will play Chaos footy which is more of a threat to us. 

I think we'd beat both, but think we will play Cats and win by 10-40 points

 

[DEE fence 5,039]

The poll is pretty consistent, am with the consensus - play GWS but expect Geelong to be there. Picking up on Little Goffy - Geelong is the Mountain from GOT. I cannot express my gratitude enough to the club at how we have arrived at the PF, everything reeks of professionalism, ghosts of the past laid to rest. Titus without any material to moan about, and the DL Trolls unusually quiet. 

Looking forward though (picking up on the hate Geelong thread and I know it is a derail/diversion from the topic) , I see the next generation of rivalry with Essendon and Sydney - Tigers to still be thereabouts. Port not sure about, Brisbane and Westcoast need significant changes to personal to move forward. (Congrats though to Fagan, gets a lot out of a few bastards and they recruited well apart from Joe). Carlton is going to be the southern feeder team (like the Suns) while their off field management is so dysfunctional.    

Geelong, their controlled style of slow the ball play has clearly been exposed when placed under enough pressure. (Also to be fair injuries really have made a difference). But 2022 onwards we have more options on our list whereas they must surely be at an age related cliff, I respect them but I think they are cooked and need a new game-plan. (God I hope post this doesn't bite me on the ar$e) 

2023, every year you are only a couple of injuries away from mediocrity, like what happened to the Tigers in 2021 - but this will be the year when a couple of key players will be close to veteran status - May / Gawn / McDonald / Brown / Tomlinson even Viney ?, That is our spine. I know we have a young team turning out at the moment, but that is because we have been very lucky with a couple of recent recruits coming on so well (thank you again JT) But 2023 will be a danger year for us as age affects those who are currently driving standards move on, and who also hold down the key positions, our midfield should be OK but am worried about how old our key position profile is. 

I also assume Jones Jetta Hibberd Melksham AVB Daw M.Brown will be happily retired. I hope we are already looking at the next May. Definitely persist with Weid. 

[maximum bob 462]

Q 1...doesn't matter

Q 2...doesn't matter

 

[bobby1554 1,263]

Would much rather play GWS, as I think Geelong will be fired up to play us again. I don’t buy this”they will be cooked” mentality. Just because they are on average older than us doesn’t mean they are less fit. They won half a game less than us over the year. Playing 20 minute quarters. They will be a formidable opponent in the Prelim, and if we can get over that one, I reckon the cup is ours.

[Colm 2,187]

I went same as most but it was a close call on both accounts. Think we should be able to get past both. 
I’m not across who GWS will bring in for the players they have out. Whoever they replace Tom Greene with might be as important as who replaces Toby. If they can bring in players with fresh legs who can get a bit of the footy then I think they are right in it. 

[Mono 455]

Giants beat Geelong by 3 goals round 21 with 10 of best 22 out. And it was in Geelong.

Reckon they're a strong chance.