Bay Riffin

yeah it interesting I just don't seem them there and there abouts. Cotchin looks gone, reiwoldt surprised me last year but his time is close, lost some key players as mentioned. I just dont see it. Outside of us, I see the dogs with a huge talent base now, they will bring another elite junior in Darcy as well as Ugle Hagan to develop and the natural progression of an out and out gun in Smith and I'd be thinking they are our biggest competition next year. but you never know. It might 'click like it did for us with teams like Brisbane or Sydney.

Brown finding form at the end was the fairytale dream we could see as a possibility but so often doesnt happen. The stars aligned perfectly. He had a great finals series, the Brisbane game was imposing to start off the new 'finals' season and he stood up on the big stage for the rest of the finals. Now the exciting part is our biggest doubt this year, the forward line, has come together nicely so we look strong all over the ground. I can easily see him injury free kicking 50 plus next year and having the occasional day out to win an easy game or two.

agreed. lets not forget 3 goals in the qualifying and 3 in the preliminary. He was a key reason throughout the year for our improvement. Had to go home for him mums funeral for quite a while and came back in super nick for round 1 which was an excellent sign. Got himself super fit was a key reason our vast for improvement in the first half of the year. the skys the limit, if he gets a big tank watch out.

Thats my beef with the doggies. Macrae dives low into his opponents body and gets head highs all the time. Hunter survives on conning the umpire and got a goal from a free that was so obviously contrived. It was my biggest fear going into the grand final. The doggies still played for them but this occasion unlike last time, the umps didn't get sucked into it as much.

surprised how composed he was in the heat of finals. actually looked a step above at times in reaction and speed of hand. Watching the Brisbane game he was lightning quick early and so clean under pressure. Early against the cats he was sublime, sides stepping, reading the play and delivering lace out from the backline. Such a great find. Geez we had two big roles to replace in Thomlinson and Hunt, with unproven back ups behind them, and Petty and Bowey have come good without being proven at the highest level. extraordinary really.

given we are injury free, which is unlikely he might struggle but everyone needs to be in top form. I can easily see him in round one.

his improvements in skills are outstanding. I think hes one of our best decision makers in heavy traffic too. handballing to space especially. he has a great feel for the game.

Absolutely outstanding season both as a player and a leader. As well as a great finals series, in our best in the first two games and a decent grand final. For Petty , Rivers and Bowey to come in and do so well is a testament to how he gets them positioned right and recovering quickly if things don't go our way. When May got injured he stepped up beautifully. As a leader when Rivers gave away a free early in the prelim, he was f1thy and the mics picked up Lever saying we need you focussed on the next one. You can see him doing that a lot during the game. we lacked that for so long. One thing I do see watching our finals is people probably underestimate how quick he is. I think hes got genuine toe which helps. To get him and Petty for two first rounders has been paid back in spades..

To be fair Carlton are much like Melbourne a few years back when Hibberd and Melksham joined, then Lever and May.

looking at his stats he seems more than a depth player. I can see Jordan, Sparrow improving as well as a rejuvenated Dunstan increasing our midfield strength. Does anyone know if he can play wing at all?. I'd like to see some back up there as well. We've been incredibly fortunate with our key midfielders. only Viney has really been a major injury worry.

this sums it up for me. This premiership feels so well deserved for supporters. As Jonesy said it was just years of [censored]. and now its sheer joy.

agreed. Hawthorn have won so many premierships without an A grade ruck, toiges and Brisbane as well. Yes West Coast with Cox and Dees with Max, but the common thread is extremely good midfields. I thought Jackson was our ace before the game, but thats because of the lack of match ups. a bit like Fritsch. Doggies rucks were just hanging in there.

Max was pivotal to allow Fritsch his 6 goals. Max's prelim had a huge impact as he drew players away for Fritsch to gets some freedom.

yes it worked out so well for us. Thomlinson went down, then later in the season Hunt. Many people here were bagging Petty who had a poor debut 2 years ago, and I thought geez we don't give young players hope if they stuff up. He was a slow burn for the first 3 weeks just doing his job, then he ramped it up e.g the Port game and became a strong force at times. By the end of the season May was having the luxury to play a more free role to be used as an outlet much like on grand final day. Interestingly when Petty was recruited we weren't looking for tall backs Taylor was saying, we had a few but were after runners. Taylor said Petty drifted to our pick in the mid 30s and he thought we have to take him, he's too good. much like Jackson, most thought its not what we need at the time, but he went on gut I reckon. With Hunt, lets not forget our biggest trouble down back was small forwards right up till this year. That problem almost disappeared with Hunt playing within his limitations and using his speed defensively. Then he went down and I thought we are in trouble, but what are the odds of a first year debutant in Bowey coming in and filling the void. Hunt had taken years to develop down back. and Bowey, wow, he was very good in his 3 finals. That depth won us a premiership. Jason Taylor take a massive bow.

if you watch Sparrow, he doesn't over extend himself. He just looks to time it, and hit it sweetly with no running momentum. Was very cool under pressure.

100% agree. they have many clever tricks, watching the replays Macrae often 'dives' forward dishing off the ball almost unnecessarily to draw a high free. he will propel himself horizontally. if we don't give up those type of frees, it will help keep the ball 'live' rather than the doggies earning a freebie.

sometimes in a big finals punching it forward or grabbing it and kicking as sometimes Max does is very effective. better to get some ascendancy than win most of the taps with no ascendancy. and surely they've had time to be unpredictable. you'd like to think the first quarter with Gawn, Petracca, Oliver, Viney we can win the clearances. the centre clearances are more vital with the 6-6-6 rule and thats what they will be panicking about. we smashed Geelong when we won the centre clearance.

my bugbear from commentators when we are winning. ' its just their day today', like it was more the planets just happen to align then good well planned footy.

goodwin did mention they will adjust for those stoppages. frees were 25-11 doggies way that night. and hopwefully that does not happen again. I found it extraordinary and we still had the same scoring shots. I believe if its dry and umpires are fairly even for both side, we will beat them easily. Ben Brown is a weapon now and Petty is playing so well. If wet they are in with a big chance but still think we will be better.

excellent news. I thing clubs talk a lot about processes and hard work, but talent spotting and 'feel' for the game is so important. Carlton for instance have had similar picks etc and while they recruited some top high picks they missed this whole middle tier of talent. at first when he arrived and got Oliver and Petracca we then kept recruiting mids and were too one sided with contested beasts, but the last couple of years (2019 especially) we finally got some balance. I think prime examples are Petty and Jackson. When we got Petty we were full with talls especially tall backs but he said for our second pick he thought he was too good to pass up. and again with Jackson he went for pure talent rather than needs which was a classy half back available at pick 3. I think its important to pick blokes on superior talent and let coaches re-work the game plan.

mixed feelings for me. . I said a few weeks ago the dogs just have an u unusual leg up with umpires. a plus 70 in frees for during the home and away season then +8 then +9 in the first 2 finals. the last winning by 1 point. I think they are lucky to get this far. yes they played well tonight but normally the gate is shut. they can count themselves very lucky. let justice prevail and do them fairly and properly.

I expect the cats to win comfortably unless Hogan kicks a bag, and I cant split the lions v dogs. I can see the dogs getting momentum but I can also see the lions bouncing back against a doggies defence which can be suspect, then get McStay back to play Port and take it to them. but as people have said lets hope they are grinding affairs and in the prelim we have the physical advantage.

not many small forwards have taken us to task this year. I believe a big part has been Hunt who has played more defensively. either directly taking his opponent or indirectly helping out with speed and athleticism.

Andrews was on Fritsch for a fair period.

agree. I watched the Fagan presser, he was surprisingly relaxed. maybe too relaxed. with Mcstay has just answered yeah we could have done with that extra tall with the down the line play. very humble in defeat.