titan_uranus

Don't agree with this for a few reasons. Firstly, I don't think we're good enough to win finals with just the Brown-Jackson combo. We tried the TMac-Jackson combo post-bye and it didn't work for us. We used it again vs West Coast (wet) and Adelaide (bottom.4 side). IMO we need two tall marking options alongside Jackson and Fritsch, not including them. Secondly, I don't think your analysis of TMac's form is reasonable. We've seen plenty of players this year struggle in their first game back from injury. Prior to his injury he hit the scoreboard in each of his four most recent games but whilst he didn't kick bags of goals, the games we played included Hawthorn (entire side was off) and the Dogs (it was wet). His best games have been big games against good opponents: 3 goals vs Port, 3 goals vs Brisbane, 3 goals vs the Dogs (the first time), 4 goals vs Sydney, 3 goals on ANZAC Eve. I don't think there's much merit to the argument he should, or even might, be dropped. Not after one game.

Smith had 6 disposals, 4 of which came from marks, along with 0 rebound 50s and 6 metres gained. If he was in the side to play any sort of rebounding/offensive role, he failed to do it. If, though, he was in the side to be a defender, that's fine, but my concern is balance-wise we don't need four mid/tall defenders playing a defensive role. We already have May, Lever and Petty. I don't think we also need Smith to be that sort of player. Leaves too much to too few. Either he is freed up to be more aggressive (in the Hunt/Hibberd mould), or we play Hibberd in his place.

An incredible round of football. Would have been the GOAT if Fremantle had won today and forced Essendon into a win-and-in situation, but not to be. Although for the Dogs it was 3rd they were hoping for, not 1st. Had we lost and they won, Geelong would have finished 1st, we would have finished 2nd, and they would have finished 3rd.

[Censored] Fremantle. Ruining all the fun for the rest of us. Now watch Essendon lose to Collingwood. A 10-12 finalist. I mean, 11-11 is bad enough. Meanwhile Richmond finished 12th!

It looks like Port v Geelong Friday in Adelaide, Sydney v GWS Saturday in Hobart, us v Brisbane Saturday night in Adelaide, and Dogs v Essendon Sunday, likely in Adelaide.

I actually reckon Geelong will beat Port next week. The Dogs are cooked and that's Port's most meaningful win for two months. I'm just not convinced that Port will bring it against top 4 quality in the heat of a final. There are only two ways we can face Sydney in the finals: We win our prelim and they win their EF vs GWS and then their SF vs Port/Geelong We lose our prelim, and meet them in the Grand Final I'm relatively relieved that we can't cop them in the SF if we lose to Brisbane. Having said that, we'll most likely cop Essendon if we lose to Brisbane. As I said, I think the Dogs are cooked and I reckon Essendon will beat them. I can't stand the fact that Essendon are even in the finals, let alone that by finishing 8th with a record no better than 11-11, they get the luck of playing the most out-of-form top 8 side.

It's so incredibly petty, but I love watching the Geelong players' reaction to Gawn's mark. Stanley tries to blame everyone else when he blatantly couldn't be arsed covering Gawn (or anyone else). Hawkins pulls his "oh crap" face. O'Connor asks his teammates the question. Rohan gets angry. Someone (might have been Rohan) yells "f*cking man up!" at his own teammates. So petty but so, so enjoyable.

Trac and May had poor first halves but I thought both of them lifted in the second half, May in particular, who had looked at sea a number of times under high balls. I agree re: Smith. He's much loved on here but I can't stand players going up when they shouldn't and whilst most of our list has fixed this part of their game over the last 3 years, Smith's first act last night was to spoil Petty and give Geelong a goal.

Randomly just getting all the feels for Steven May. He currently is third on the list of most games by current players who are yet to play in a final, with 168. Next week he gets to come off that list.

Rubbish. @Graeme Yeats' Mullet has helped but a number of his summaries are just unbelievably negative after arguably this club's greatest ever win.

Had 10 pressure acts tonight, same as Hawkins, more than TMac (8) and Cameron (5) so stacked up reasonably well in the tall forward stakes.

We had the top 3 players for pressure acts and 5 of the top 7: Viney 35 Oliver 34 Harmes 28 Dangerfield 24 Parfitt 24 Petracca 24 ANB 24

The reversal free on Dahlhaus.

I'm surprised there haven't been more "keep a lid on it, finals haven't started yet" posts by now.

I think it's near-certain we'll be playing on Saturday night next week. Presumably at the Adelaide Oval but not sure of venue yet. Saturday night makes sense - we get the extra day off (Geelong get the 6-day break into the Port game), and they can play 5 v 8 on the Sunday which means that winner, and the winner of Sydney v GWS on Saturday afternoon, gets a six-day break into the semis. https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-finals-fixture-2021-afl-finals-2021-who-plays-who-schedule-bracket-dates-venues-times-tv-how-it-works/news-story/fdf43203d959093c4a6d440cce2785c1

Lol Chris Scott saying they were in control. They played 20 (albeit near-perfect) minutes of football and we controlled the rest of the game. But he's minimising the disappointment which I suppose is understandable.

It's too early to call because of the raw emotion. Fingers crossed no surprise injuries. Assuming we're all fit, I'd look at bringing Hibberd back for Smith (cost us early goals and provided no real oomph whereas Hibberd I think would). TMac stays. Doesn't get dropped after one game back. Structure is important and we need forward half options against Brisbane's tall defence.

6 - Oliver 5 - Lever 4 - Gawn 3 - Langdon 2 - Pickett 1 - Salem

@joeboy calling TMac "embarrassing" after that is pretty low. I'd argue that's pretty embarrassing from you, actually.

Dear lord. What was that. Let's be clear: we were the better side for all bar 20 minutes. Geelong played 20 perfect minutes of football and I thought we were going to lose top spot because of just 20 minutes. But the better team won. I'm sure there will be some on here who will say we over-reacted to that win but IMO it may well be the greatest H&A win we've ever had (surely top 5), secured top spot after a tough year, gets us control over our finals destiny, and beat Geelong in the process. The reaction IMO shows the unity of our side and how much we want to win, and want to be successful and relevant. Oliver should have just sewn up the AFLCA award and may have grabbed a Brownlow too. That was an elite performance. It's no coincidence that our A-graders were the ones who were down in the second quarter (Gawn got belted, Lever/May owned, Oliver/Petracca nowhere to be seen), but simultaneously where the ones who dragged us back into it. Gawn got back on top, Lever and May in the second half rectified all their poor form, and Petracca lifted. This could be a watershed moment for this club. I'm so proud, but mindful that we have to reset now because a minor premiership isn't the real thing.

A few reasons why I don’t think this is a dead rubber at all. Firstly, winning form is important. Secondly, I don’t want to play Port in Adelaide next week. Thirdly, the AFL will let the side who finishes 1st pick whether they play their QF on Friday or Saturday. I reckon if we get 1st we’ll ask for the Saturday as the Friday would mean a third consecutive six day break. If we lose, we’re giving that choice up and I can see Geelong taking the Sat and Port getting the Friday, and an extra day’s break.

Not sure of the logic here. If we win tonight, we can still end up in Adelaide for the prelim - they win their first final, we lose ours. Puts us in their half of the draw.

Brisbane look good but they’ve barely even played a top 8 side since the bye, let alone racked up the wins against them.

Well they said that last year and it didn’t happen.