39 minutes ago, monoccular said:

You presumably are meaning the Downlow.

No, I was meaning the "Norm", I know it's not voted by the umpires by the way but just making a point.

...after all the whinging in the media, when they get their chance they still vote a mid.

I thought Andrews deserved more votes and probably should have won it.

At least Kate McCarthy thought so too. Interesting to see just reading now that there was a lot of negative comment on her being on the panel. Well I think she stood up well & didn't just go with the flow. Well done Kate..

Without looking at the stats I don't know how Luke Hodge gave McLuggage a vote...I just looked at the stats and see why.

He looked at the stats. In the first half when it was on the line he did a couple of nice things but was quiet.

I'm a big fan of McLuggage by the way but I think a lot of his stats were from when the game was broken open.

1 hour ago, layzie said:

There will be more good field kicks in their reserves than our seniors.

Yep. They look like they’re doing a rerun of the early 00’s of having guns in every position and a deep list. Coleman alone is a deadset weapon.

Oh boy.

2 hours ago, ElDiablo14 said:

Academies should not have any ties to the clubs. Period.

Let the AFL run them and then those players enter the open draft market.

Agree or allow every club to have its own academies to develop talent, as the northern clubs are getting access to good talent and undermines the draft, quite possibly lions could have access to a top 10 pick after winning the back to back flags … equalisation hey

Brisbane won the last two flags from unlikely positions. Brisbane played a lot of ordinary football this season as well as last season but they seem to have managed to unlock the elusive finals footy formula when it matters most two seasons in a row even when decimated by injuries.

One could also say they underachieved prior to 2024 before finding success in contrast to us underachieving after being successful in 2021 followed by two low energy finals campaigns from strong positions.

Edited Saturday at 11:541 day by John Crow Batty

I really liked a quote from Chris Fagan:

‘One of the things I tried to teach the boys about when I first got to the club was the concept of having a growth mindset and the fact that if you want to be any good, you’re going to fail a fair bit, til you get there, and I always talked about the idea of failing our way to the top’

12 minutes ago, John Crow Batty said:

Brisbane won the last two flags from unlikely positions. Brisbane played a lot of ordinary football this season as well as last season but they seem to have managed to unlock the elusive finals footy formula when it matters most two seasons in a row even when decimated by injuries.

One could also say they underachieved prior to 2024 before finding success in contrast to us underachieving after being successful in 2021 followed by two low energy finals campaigns from strong positions.

Our list mgt to improve our list .. fail

We couldn’t define our purpose after 21..

I think a few players (Brisbane) today went into the FGF category of players.

Dangerfield was not as dangerous today but is still a FGF.

McLuggage and the Ashcrofts have now joined Andrews in the category.

Somehow Smith went missing when the heat was on . I think he must submit his own stats. Actually his "performance" today throws the concept of judging the Brownlow with Stats to "Help" the umpires to make judgement RIGHT OUT THE WINDOW !!!

ANother [censored] isa WHY DO We HAVE A F#### AMERICAN ENTERTAINER At OUR NATIONAL GAME's MOST IMPORTANT EVENT OF THE YEAR. [censored] !!!!

If he ever plays another GF, I'd sub Bailey Smith off with 4 mins to go in the 3rd quarter. He's currently 38 to 145 from that point.

I loved seeing all the auskick kids after the game lying on the ground playing with all that paper confetti. They were having a ball.

I feel for the cleaners that have to clean that up

Chris Scott alluded to some extenuating circumstances as to why they couldn’t run out the game, but would not expand on it in his presser.

Anyone know what the circumstances were? I know a former recruit from the GWS at the end of 2022 was missing from their best line up but aside from that they seemed like a settled unit on field.

1 minute ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Chris Scott alluded to some extenuating circumstances as to why they couldn’t run out the game, but would not expand on it

Yes, he always has an excuse for when losing games.

He never accepts defeat graciously. It’s called being a sore loser

Edited Saturday at 13:171 day by Demon Disciple

13 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Chris Scott alluded to some extenuating circumstances as to why they couldn’t run out the game, but would not expand on it in his presser.

Anyone know what the circumstances were? I know a former recruit from the GWS at the end of 2022 was missing from their best line up but aside from that they seemed like a settled unit on field.

A severe case of being out coached by Fagan.

46 minutes ago, DubDee said:

A severe case of being out coached by Fagan.

1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Chris Scott alluded to some extenuating circumstances as to why they couldn’t run out the game, but would not expand on it in his presser.

Anyone know what the circumstances were? I know a former recruit from the GWS at the end of 2022 was missing from their best line up but aside from that they seemed like a settled unit on field.

paddy kept "going to the toliet" in the changing rooms multiple times during the game....what has he? a colostomy bag? more likely painkiller jabs for unspecified niggles

5 hours ago, Demon Disciple said:

Yes, he always has an excuse for when losing games.

He never accepts defeat graciously. It’s called being a sore loser

Chris Scott is a notoriously POOR LOSER!

9 hours ago, DubDee said:

Lions salary cap be like kim beazley in a g string

You mean people would pay good money to get rid of it? 😯

8 hours ago, John Crow Batty said:

Brisbane won the last two flags from unlikely positions. Brisbane played a lot of ordinary football this season as well as last season but they seem to have managed to unlock the elusive finals footy formula when it matters most two seasons in a row even when decimated by injuries.

One could also say they underachieved prior to 2024 before finding success in contrast to us underachieving after being successful in 2021 followed by two low energy finals campaigns from strong positions.

Also they went into the 2001 finals as second elect behind Essendon. People assumed they were the same juggernaut as in 2000 and probably focussing on the second half of that year Brisbane were the better team. Nonetheless in the early noughties they were never minor premier. Port finished top 2002-4 and only as Brisbane started fading did they finally make the most of their minor premiership. Hell one year Brisbane came second but Port were 3 wins or more ahead of every team. For whatever reason Brisbane has done pretty well at converting their high finishes into flags even if in the patch before 2023 they had a couple of prelim losses and straight set exits.

8 hours ago, John Crow Batty said:

Brisbane won the last two flags from unlikely positions. Brisbane played a lot of ordinary football this season as well as last season but they seem to have managed to unlock the elusive finals footy formula when it matters most two seasons in a row even when decimated by injuries.

One could also say they underachieved prior to 2024 before finding success in contrast to us underachieving after being successful in 2021 followed by two low energy finals campaigns from strong positions.

8 hours ago, dimmy said:

I think a few players (Brisbane) today went into the FGF category of players.

Dangerfield was not as dangerous today but is still a FGF.

McLuggage and the Ashcrofts have now joined Andrews in the category.

Somehow Smith went missing when the heat was on . I think he must submit his own stats. Actually his "performance" today throws the concept of judging the Brownlow with Stats to "Help" the umpires to make judgement RIGHT OUT THE WINDOW !!!

ANother [censored] isa WHY DO We HAVE A F#### AMERICAN ENTERTAINER At OUR NATIONAL GAME's MOST IMPORTANT EVENT OF THE YEAR. [censored] !!!!

Simple, who is truly good enough in Australia?

And before you a see that, I mean, who will reach a global audience like the Snoop Performance would do. Just having Snoop play means a lot of people globally will watch that clip meaning more revenue for the AFL and channel 7.

9 hours ago, rjay said:

No, I was meaning the "Norm", I know it's not voted by the umpires by the way but just making a point.

...after all the whinging in the media, when they get their chance they still vote a mid.

I thought Andrews deserved more votes and probably should have won it.

At least Kate McCarthy thought so too. Interesting to see just reading now that there was a lot of negative comment on her being on the panel. Well I think she stood up well & didn't just go with the flow. Well done Kate..

Without looking at the stats I don't know how Luke Hodge gave McLuggage a vote...I just looked at the stats and see why.

He looked at the stats. In the first half when it was on the line he did a couple of nice things but was quiet.

I'm a big fan of McLuggage by the way but I think a lot of his stats were from when the game was broken open.

I would have loved it if Hugh won (had money on him to win), but first half he was just ok, once the tag went to Charlie he got going. And the game was well in their control.

Hodge for me got it right with Fletcher, watch the first half again and see Fletcher calmly repel the cats when the game was at its hottest, he drops away a little in the second half when the ball lived in the lions half. But I don’t think he wasted a single possession. He had 29 with 6 intercepts. He was BOG for me.

9 hours ago, Fritta and Turner said:

I thought 2021 was a better game, spectacle.

Damn straight.

The gifts they've been given and are going to get make this a hollow victory for neutrals, even if it's against Geelong or Collingwood. I counted 1 fist pump and audible shout, after that magnificent Lachie Neale goal, but that was it. Usually im up and about when im barracking and the game and it was a pretty decent nerve-wracking struggle for 2 1/2 quarters. But after the dam broke, it wasn't joy for anyone but the Lions organization. Nice to see them dominate and have fun, but impossible to feel any sense of 'shared' enthusiasm over it. They're not us, never felt more evident.

Footy is a great sport, but its clear that there are huge inequalities that make it impossible to put aside, when watching it at its best.

Edited Saturday at 20:391 day by John Demonic

7 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Chris Scott alluded to some extenuating circumstances as to why they couldn’t run out the game, but would not expand on it in his presser.

Anyone know what the circumstances were? I know a former recruit from the GWS at the end of 2022 was missing from their best line up but aside from that they seemed like a settled unit on field.

Some of the players were still recovering from what ailed them in the 2021 Preliminary Final.

Anyone see Scott's post match presser? Started his own monologue before any questions, again alluded to "extenuating circumstances", "challenges within the playing group" blah blah blah which none of it he would not elaborate on. Almost the exact same way he spoke about the 2021 prelim loss.

Since 2013, Geelong are 1 flag from 9 prelims.

Since 2012:

Flags won: Geelong 1, Melbourne 1.

Scott may be a terrific home and away coach but he's got nothing on Clarkson or Hardwick when it comes to finals.

Classic Chris Scott press conference, citing 10 or 12 unknown challenges that made Geelong's task this year so difficult.

What might some of those be? Well, being the only Victorian club with a weird home ground unlike any other in the competition for them to train and play at to the disadvantage of all who are sent there, almost gifting them 6 or 7 wins a season. And maybe being gifted the softest fixture of any of the previous years' finalists, that could be one.

So while he goes through the motions of praising Brisbane he spends most of his time hinting at challenges but not really explaining any of them in case we learn what they are and think so what?

I mean, does he even know that Brisbane were missing Coleman and Hipwood? (I am not fan of Hipwood but he is structurally important to Fagan)

It makes me wonder why Simon Goodwin did not moan about Petracca playing a finals series with a fracture fibula (secondary bone in the lower leg) or Gawn carrying a debilitating back injure in the second half of 2022 (Mason Cox you rat).

Really ungracious performance typical of that entitled winger.

Wonder how much lenience the Cats give Bailey Smith in 2026, given he was a walking headline for most of 2025.

Good when you’re winning but when elite sport is won based on very small percentages, the distraction might not be worth it.