Anyone wanting a splash more confidence and belief?

https://www.afl.com.au/video/798583/who-s-your-premiership-tip-?videoId=798583&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1657656000001

Twomey and Riley Beveridge still backing us on the AFL Exchange. Sara Olle too. They're far less reactionary and clickbait than the channel nine commentators, and follow trends/stats more closely.

Edited July 12, 20223 yr by John Demonic

My biggest watch in the next 5 weeks will be the coaching staffs input, in team selection, positional selection, and telegrams to the game plan style. We have failed against Cat, Freo, Swans, Pies with our style. Do they stay the same or tweak. 

Wouldn't mind avoiding Sydney and/or Collingwood in the finals.

Our record against those two sides has been absolutely atrocious and embarrassing.

We have a 2-10 record against Sydney since 2012.

From round 23 2017 until present, we have a 1-5 record against Collingwood, and the only win came in one of those micky mouse shortened games during 2020 in which the Pies were on a 4 day break versus our 6.

1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Wouldn't mind avoiding Sydney and/or Collingwood in the finals.

Our record against those two sides has been absolutely atrocious and embarrassing.

We have a 2-10 record against Sydney since 2012.

From round 23 2017 until present, we have a 1-5 record against Collingwood, and the only win came in one of those micky mouse shortened games during 2020 in which the Pies were on a 4 day break versus our 6.

if the Pies/Swans make the finals they don't concern me. Our midfield would crush them in a finals-type game

Saints have an easy run (so do Pies) and I reckon could dislodge one of them

One week at a time….

If the Boys are still hungry we will do just fine. 
 

Do they WANT to go Back to Back or just hope it happens….

Agree swyl, when on our midfield still [censored] on every other midfield in the league and can bulldozer over them. Our defence is the best in the league. Our forward line is clearly the worry but more than capable especially when our mids are on top and contributing to the scoreboard.

I await the next two and a half months with nervous optimism.

14 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Agree swyl, when on our midfield still [censored] on every other midfield in the league and can bulldozer over them. Our defence is the best in the league. Our forward line is clearly the worry but more than capable especially when our mids are on top and contributing to the scoreboard.

I await the next two and a half months with nervous optimism.

Agree.
No one except those in the Football Department know exactly what the players are thinking. They will all speculate as if they do, but that’s all it is. 
Our List knows they can do it, it was the most emphatic Grand Final Victory ever, but do they want it again. By that i mean, the whole list. Losing TMac to a serious injury is a huge factor, but seeing him on the track this week moving freely gives me great hope. 
i have said it before but this year, from now is all about Attitude and Fitness. 
It has nothing to do with opponents 

 

Edited July 13, 20223 yr by Sir Why You Little

Geelong played to their maximum capacity last weekend and for all their so called dominance only won by 28. With 10 minutes to go if Kosi doesn’t miss scores are level. Our pressure was way off what we’re capable off, we have several players fumbling a lot very early in the game and we had two of our weapons in Gawn and Jackson struggling to find touch and missing with injury. For all of our so called problems we’re sitting second by 2.7%. Nothing is guaranteed but I’m confident a top 2 finish awaits then our dream of back to back is there for the taking.

5 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Wouldn't mind avoiding Sydney and/or Collingwood in the finals.

Our record against those two sides has been absolutely atrocious and embarrassing.

We have a 2-10 record against Sydney since 2012.

From round 23 2017 until present, we have a 1-5 record against Collingwood, and the only win came in one of those micky mouse shortened games during 2020 in which the Pies were on a 4 day break versus our 6.

Don't worry about the filth. They are our cannon fodder in finals.

35 minutes ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

Geelong played to their maximum capacity last weekend and for all their so called dominance only won by 28. With 10 minutes to go if Kosi doesn’t miss scores are level. Our pressure was way off what we’re capable off, we have several players fumbling a lot very early in the game and we had two of our weapons in Gawn and Jackson struggling to find touch and missing with injury. For all of our so called problems we’re sitting second by 2.7%. Nothing is guaranteed but I’m confident a top 2 finish awaits then our dream of back to back is there for the taking.

I wouldn’t say maximum capacity, they were missing Stewart who, apart from literally taking players out, is a massive part of their game.

11 hours ago, TheWiz said:

I wouldn’t say maximum capacity, they were missing Stewart who, apart from literally taking players out, is a massive part of their game.

And Parfitt

15 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

i have said it before but this year, from now is all about Attitude and Fitness. 
It has nothing to do with opponents 

 

I would’ve thought it does…

Edited July 14, 20223 yr by Bring-Back-Powell

15 hours ago, TheWiz said:

I wouldn’t say maximum capacity, they were missing Stewart who, apart from literally taking players out, is a massive part of their game.

I meant in terms of ability / pressure applied. 
We had TMac out but that’s not what I was talking about.

Amazing how everyone rates T/mac so highly now that he's unavailable.. Before most wanted him dropped,and was, but recalled due to covid protocols hitting the team. 

I dont believe all this talk about clubs figuring us out.We just arent playing as well incl the backline. Why didnt anyone figure out Hawthorn who went three peat?

S.May and our forwards need to pull their socks up. Keep focused. No unforced changes required.

Brayshaw into the middle if Oliver out. Replace him with anyone you fancy except you know who.

55 minutes ago, deebunked said:

Amazing how everyone rates T/mac so highly now that he's unavailable.. Before most wanted him dropped,and was, but recalled due to covid protocols hitting the team. 

I dont believe all this talk about clubs figuring us out.We just arent playing as well incl the backline. Why didnt anyone figure out Hawthorn who went three peat?

S.May and our forwards need to pull their socks up. Keep focused. No unforced changes required.

Brayshaw into the middle if Oliver out. Replace him with anyone you fancy except you know who.

How did the Hawks go in 2009?

Took them a few years to toughen up 

Had an interesting chat with a former AFL great / media figure last night and he doesn't buy into the training load theory much. His view was that it was more hunger and it wasn't easy to go back-to-back without that. Thinks the cats have it, but he's not sure they will last in the finals. Still thinks if we can find our best, that we are lock.

To my view, we are in a similar spot to where we were last year, but the critical difference is this year we know (from last year) that we have, and can find, another gear as we ramp into September.

And knowing is more powerful than hoping.

So we are better placed to win this years GF than last years...

Q.E.D

;)

Edited July 15, 20223 yr by PaulRB

we will have a season defining will in perth

4 hours ago, CYB said:

Had an interesting chat with a former AFL great / media figure last night and he doesn't buy into the training load theory much. His view was that it was more hunger and it wasn't easy to go back-to-back without that. Thinks the cats have it, but he's not sure they will last in the finals. Still thinks if we can find our best, that we are lock.

Mick Malthouse ?

5 hours ago, CYB said:

Had an interesting chat with a former AFL great / media figure last night and he doesn't buy into the training load theory much. His view was that it was more hunger and it wasn't easy to go back-to-back without that. Thinks the cats have it, but he's not sure they will last in the finals. Still thinks if we can find our best, that we are lock.

Teams don't just lose their ability to run and repeat sprint etc during games. It's not just down to some intangible like "hunger".

How "former" is this former great? Many former greats have NFI when it comes to the modern game and get paid handsomely to espouse their ignorance.

Hang on..

We're playing the doggies next week off a 6 day break while they get a 8 day break themselves?

Yeah nah great scheduling......

3 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Hang on..

We're playing the doggies next week off a 6 day break while they get a 8 day break themselves?

Yeah nah great scheduling......

And then the following week we get a second consecutive 6 day break, whilst Fremantle get 7. 

5 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Hang on..

We're playing the doggies next week off a 6 day break while they get a 8 day break themselves?

Yeah nah great scheduling......

I’m OK with that Dazzle. But the fact that the umpires have already blown the whistle and awarded the doggies 5 free kicks is seriously taking the [censored]!!!

5 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Hang on..

We're playing the doggies next week off a 6 day break while they get a 8 day break themselves?

Yeah nah great scheduling......

 

1 hour ago, titan_uranus said:

And then the following week we get a second consecutive 6 day break, whilst Fremantle get 7. 

Throw in the 2 long haul flights in 14 days to NT and WA and the challenge grows.

I take comfort from the fact we had much worse in the last month or so of 2021 HnA season and had extensive quarantine requirements thrown im, as we travelled to and from: WA.SA and Qld.

So we have the formula 🤞

22 hours ago, PaulRB said:

To my view, we are in a similar spot to where we were last year, but the critical difference is this year we know (from last year) that we have, and can find, another gear as we ramp into September.

And knowing is more powerful than hoping.

So we are better placed to win this years GF than last years...

Q.E.D

;)

Your comments abobe are spot on IMO.

Only 3 weeks ago we found the gear and demolished a supposed contender in the Lions. The media had us all back as flag favourites.

The belief this season will be real, whilst last year given lack of finals experience it was more of hoping - probably for fans and maybe the team as well. Except for Goody of course - he'd seen it all before.

They can now visualise success in Spetmember. last year they couldn't.