layzie

This. If they are happy to have a season go on a month longer than it should and have all these dead rubber games then show some guts and be prepared to have some of these crud games on a Friday night.

High drama. Some huge results overnight. To the elephant in the room. Well played Spurs and well done to Ange I'm so happy to see him having this success. They did what they had to do with the advantage they were presented and I really do believe they are a better team without Kane. Madison has been an excellent fit. But we have to look at this game as it happened and it was not a good day for the EPL. With the world watching we've had what should have been an amazing game ruined with over officiating. Curtis Jones challenge has had 50-50 opinions. Personally I thought he had his foot on the ball and accidentally made the contact, not a good challenge but I would have thought yellow card. But it's about how this decision was made: yellow was given, ref went over to the monitor and the worst thing for the EPL was that we could see what the ref saw: a freeze frame shot and then slow motion. No real time at all, of course he was going to give it red. You then have Diaz score and the linesman flag instantly. VAR checks this quicker than the Petracca goal against Carlton with no lines drawn for offside and clears the offside call. They didn't even need the line to see it was onside. Jota gets a second yellow for a stupid challenge, I thought his first yellow was harsh but he still shouldn't have done this. Then the own goal at the death. I've gotta say there were some stupid yellows given to Tottenham as well. The Udogie one was laughable. Like I said, well done to Spurs and they did deserve the win. As a spectacle though it's so frustrating being served this up and it's getting a bit much.

It's the kind of move you make as a rebuilding club from the bottom 6 IMO. Experienced head to bolster the mid depth.

I know we hate Maynard but I wouldn't mind this kind of player right now.

This is my feeling this year. They used to sweep under the rug pretty well bur something shifted this year even further. I can't remember a season where the final 8 was shaped by as much controversial events as this one. The execution and skill of the players was not forefront (Although I will say it was in the GF) it was anything but. I'd also like to add to this: The media. I'm sure there's others that still love any sort of football media but this was the year that completely turned me off any sort of football shows and commentary. The concussion debates firstly with Alir and Jones then Maynard and Gus seemed to pit the ex players against us idi0ts that wouldn't know because we never played the game. It's left me with an uncomfortable feeling and a lot of division. We'll see what ends up happening with this class action, who knows maybe there will be more division but as many here have said the money is piling in so they'll be fine.

Yes and this is the concern. It's like a tech company like Apple or Samsung releasing a new smartphone, a ton of problems come up but they won't fix them because there's a new release coming out anyway and people will still buy it.

We need to find a gem

Fair call, will take that.

I find myself sitting here, the day after, wondering if this has genuinely been a good year for the AFL in terms of showcasing the sport and taking it to a new level. The general footy public mainly think it was the bees knees and I get that straight after a sleeping giant has triumphed, even haters of Collingwood are getting swept up in the Eurphoria of it, there's a reason they are the most talked about sporting club in the country. But let's look at it as a whole, did this season do what the AFL wanted it to do? Off the top of my head the Gather Round appeared to have been a success and the level playing field and standard of finals games but I think of the following things and don't know if they add up to a great look for the league: - Concussion: Does the AFL care enough? The Alir and Jones incident was a total joke. Then the Maynard and Gus incident, the player got off and the story sold papers but did we actually learn anything from it? - Fixturing: Where do you start? - The MRO: New rules every week and what could now appear to be a conflict of interest in the position. No consistency. - The rules: Still no clarity on the stand rule and a heavy penalty for the slightest of movements on the mark. A heap more nonsense 50 metre penalties and a sport that has never been harder to explain to a new fan. - The Brownlow: Losing more credibility. Yes Neale's year may have been better than we thought but the number of shock 3 voters and non votes for others seemed high. - And lastly, the umpiring: I take nothing away from Collingwood who have been toughest the longest in 2023. But with wins by 7 points, 1 point and 4 points, knocking out a key player in the first, having at least 3 no calls in the prelim go their way and then the rub of the green in the Grand Final culminating with the most ridiculous advantage of all time, it's almost fitting that this season was underlined with that as the exclamation point. Nothing is ever perfect but I felt this season missed the mark on quite a few quality metrics. A big club winning the flag is not papering over the cracks, it's wallpapering over a gaping hole. The league has got their TV cash and Gil leaves on his horse into the sunset while Dil picks put a new $5k Herman Miller task chair for the office. Yes there is some saltiness right now but I'm keen to hear views on this. Was it a good season for the AFL and the game in general? Happy to hear both sides, keep it respectful.

The line in the sand has been drawn. This will be the most important trade and draft period in this football club's history. Yesterday should have burned in the guts of this club to a crisp, we have been smacked across the face with a big fish and totally shown up. Don't bother arguing or protesting with this because you will lose. We need to put our chips to the middle of the table and make a stand, list wise, game plan wise and attitude wise. You've got to know when to hold 'em Know when to fold 'em Know when to walk away And know when to run You never count your money When you're sittin' at the table There'll be time enough for countin' When the dealin's done.

I'd like a fixture that is level to the average AFL fixture for a change. - Stop giving us Geelong trips - Stop giving us 10 day breaks when we should get a proper bye - No Thursday night games in Melbourne (wishful thinking)

Quaynor would be the best 1v1 small defender going right now IMO.

Losers can please themselves.

You know what I reckon Collingwood do well? They 'extend' games. Games that could be dead are kept alive thanks to their great rearguard and never say die attitude

We need a bloody good coach

I've also spoken with 2 players directly who feel that the season is too long. Makes you wonder what the AFLPA does all day.

Had high hopes

I don't think this was a good AFL season despite the AFL getting everything they ever dreamed of. Fixturing - bad Score review - horrible Brownlow - bad Umpiring- mostly poor Umpiring in the finals - mostly poor Maynard incident and stance on concussion - a joke Umpiring in the Grand Final - poor Umpiring in the last few minutes of the Grand Final - poor Grand Final entertainment - OK

Oh yeah how's Balidemon going? Still here?

If ifs and buts were candy and nuts then we'd all have a Merry Xmas

Honestly let's just stop it. We are not as good as what many people here think we are. This divine right rubbish about how our game style stacks up because we won a flag can go straight to the nearest bin. We have a very good side but there is nothing now to suggest to me that we were streets ahead of the other premiers in the last 5 years. People giving it to Brisbane because they choke in finals then we choke in finals, people not rating Bris through the season because they 'couldn't win away from home' yet we flopped on the road until the very last game of the season. Would we have beaten Collingwood in the Grand Final? Maybe, but we were not there and didn't deserve to be while Collingwood found a way. Need to settle a bit, we have a good list but there's been so much bull lately with ifs and buts and candy and nuts and all the stuff. The truth is the truth, all you can do is live with it.

Lots of people think we would have beaten Collingwood. There's one problem with this, we didn't.

It's over all. Gotta move on.

I've always said the day after a Collingwood premiership is the end of days.