Dappa Dan

Yeah, now that the smoke has settled a bit (though not on sportcenter I can tell you), the more I think about it the more I reckon that may have been the Eagles' ceiling. They played pretty badly for 3 and a half quarters... And didn't deserve to win, as they didn't play good footy for as long. They can't rely on freaky Vick plays and dumb luck from Dodge to Jackson to win games... The better defences will blitz Vick, and it'll be enough most likely. I wouldn't say the Eagles fear anyone, but I don't like the thought that they'll probably end up playing the Giants in week one. And if not them, most likely the defending champs... of all teams. Still. Fun to watch.

GO THE EAGLES!!!! They're the most rewarding team to follow at the moment. Doing all the freakiest things. If you have questions, don't be afraid to ask... I used to judge this sport hugely... but once you get the rules down, it becomes a massively rewarding game to follow as a fan. But as usual, it's only rewarding if the team you pick is winning. Extraordinary. I still don't really believe it happened. And I certainly don't know HOW. The onside kick had them completely fooled, Jackson got very lucky... It's all about Vick though. He had 37 yards at halftime, and ended up with 250+ passing and 150+ rushing... It's one of the top 5 things I've ever seen on a field of sport. The media over here is losing their blob over it... They're calling it the Miracle at the NEW meadowlands. My mate who got me into the Eagles got in a cab to go home... I had to call him on the phone.... and he still didn't even believe me!!! Andy Reid in tears in the rooms after... I knew this team could do some freaky things, but I didn't think they could do that. Who are you picking for the Superbowl? Pats/Eagles?!!! I know I am...

I must be new to this game. When does he ever make the wrong decision anymore? He's thrown 2 picks through about 10 games! And given the modest offensive line, they're standing up wonderfully. In all but the last two games Vick has had an eternity to make his decisions. Only Cutler at the Bears shadowed him, and he'll never play a game like that again. At least not this year. I'm willing to concede easily here as I'm new to it... We just got cable in the place I'm staying, and I'll be there throughout the first half of playoffs. Oh... and I'm going to Miami vs Cleveland tomorrow!!! My first NFL game!!! SHould I wear my Vick jersey? :D Yeah. The bears game showed the Eagles big weakness. A strong complete defence will get him. And yet, we beat them, and beat them well. :D. If he doesn't get retained at Philly, the town will implode. That's the superbowl winner right there. Best performed this season. I'm picking the Eagles at this stage to get there.... but it could be the Falcons, Packers easily... and watching the Bears last weekend? They worry me too.

How can this be the first time I've seen this thread? Wow... Coming up to 3 years old.

I wouldn't say Atlanta look more dangerous than Philly at all. Nor would the media I'd say. After all, we did beat them handily. Likewise, the AFC may be stronger, but only cos of the depth... and because they desperately need to do something about the NFC West which is dragging the whole League down. The cream rises to the top though, and I'd say the Eagles are a top 4 side at the moment, and have no reason to fear ANY side, especially given they just beat (what was at the time) the best defence in the NFL by ten points, even dropping 2 touchdowns and one interception... What's more, I think there is no offence more feared (or that makes a defensive co-ordinator wet his Breeches more) than that of Michael Vick. He just does TOO much. And even though the Giants worked him out, what did it get them? Beaten by ten. That's no tactic to beat Vick the [censored]. All you can hope is to limit him to 4 TDs. And that's enough to win against any team going round at the moment. And if all THAT isn't enough, even if you smash Vick in his nuts with a sledgehammer, Kolb is right there to throw for 300... Your prediction? I think you might have something there. The Saints are just warming up, and we know all too well what they can do. Also, there's no telling how much longer Vick can play like this without being decapitated. Their starting WRs, RBs, and CBs are among the league's best, but backups? The cupboard is pretty bare. Just like with ANY football, the team's fitness will decide how far they can go. All in all? Philly have as good a shot at winning a superbowl this year as any team going round. That's not saying much as there's a whole BUNCH of teams that are up there, but it's still an important factor. Texans? Shame. They looked ok there for a bit. Beat some handy teams early this year. But that Sanchez TD hurt. Great game to watch, but ouch.

The big bad birds keep on keeping on!!!

45 points in a half?!!!! DO WHAT YOU DO MIKE VICK!!!!!!!!

My goodness me. If you asked for a player with a certain skillset, that would be it. I was too. Until this morning. What a choke. Massive. Although they're ALL massive really. I was saying to another Eagles fan that if we're 5-2, I'd have us juuuust as a chance to make playoffs. We have a nasty run home there. And I reckon we're going to need to pick up a few division wins to be sure. That means a couple of 2-from-2s against the Giants and Cowboys. The other games are going to be veeeery tough against Vikings, Colts etc etc Yup. Now WE'RE the 3-0 team. I'm not picking us though. Not with no Deshaun, and with us copping a lot of sacks. Took me AGES to get it. You really do need someone to sit with you through your first few games. Know any other sports like that? That was unbelievable. People who think they're soft for wearing armour should watch that. There's nothing like that in the AFL. LIke a car crash. As for Deshaun, they said it wasn't as bad as first thought... and that if he does miss this week, which he will, we have a bye so he'll be straight back in. He's my second favourite player. Awesome pace. Disagree. He torched the last game... The one before he was serviceable. Vick has more weapons, and too many to ignore. But I reckon he won't come back til after the bye either. How good is that? On the downside, they're likely to pull themselves together in time for when we play them. Which sucks. The redskins are supposed to be the weakest of the three opponents... and yet... Don't know much about them, but I'll keep an eye on them now.

Yeah, I knew there was one... Maybe one other as well? How are you finding the season so far? ARe you starting to believe a bit? They may not be the best side going round, but [censored] they're fun to watch. So unpredictable Are you like everyone else? On the Vick bandwagon?

I know there's one or two on here that like the NFL. I've just gotten into it over the last year or so... Though I find it too overwhelming to visit their sites. Anybody here follow it? Anybody follow the Eagles by chance?

If you mean one season as "in their prime" Then the list is very different from a regular "best players" list... 1: Alan Jackovich - his first 100 goals, he was arguably the most exciting forward going round. And the only time we had a player that could go with the Dunstalls, Abletts, and Pluggers. 2: Jeff farmer - circa 2000, sent shivers through the rest of the league, and got us to our only GF in my lifetime. 3: David Neitz - In his coleman year he was either the best, or second best FF going around. He's the chief reason I fell in love with footy again after a number of years off. 4: David Schwartz - If he had actually put together a whole season early on during his bad knee years he would have delivered, if only for 22 rounds, on his massive promise. As it is he was still an awesome force. 5: G. Lyon - You may not like him, but he was a gun player in anyones' book. My parents and many older fans say of him "he was always a champion." And I'm certain no-one else in my time following MFC rates like that. Apologies to Jim Stynes who was more of an accumulator... Yze and Johnston who were AA quality one year and very flashy but not top 5 material... Davey, who I think hasn't yet had his best season. Give it another 13 rounds.

I think we could use a player or two hat stand up in a contest. He seems to do that. Give him a few years to put on some size, work in some Byron like bumps and we may have a presence on the ground. Looking forward to seeing him play. I spoke to someone who watched him in the final and said he had him among his BOGs.

Fills the gaping hole left by Hayes...

Is there anyone in the AFL you DON'T know?

Please explain?

Just ran into Robbo tonight in Brighton, having dinner at the Dendy Deli with a beautiful blonde. An absolutely wonderfully nice guy, which is a surprise considering his profile and reputed "ego." He noticed my demons lanyard and immediately shot me a smile. I said good luck to him as I left and patted him on the shoulder (he was sitting) and nearly broke my hand at the wrist. He's carved out of some kind of granite. Proof positive that not ALL footballers are imbeciles. I hope I get another chance to run into him, I'll ask him more questions if I can next time. And it's no wonder his girlfriend (assumption) is such a stunner, he's a good looking man... Not that there's anything wrong with that....

That reminds me, I've seen Jeff White at my gym a few times. I remember a few years ago when there was some talk of him being traded to St Kilda (or maybe Collingwood) I mentioned as I walked past "thank god they didn't trade you." After the initial shock, he [censored] himself. Nice guy, and very quiet, almost shy for a man his size. Though he's a midget as far as ruckmen go, he's just enormous to any normal person. HUGE shoulders and jaw (particularly after 2005).

I've heard a number of stories from close friends of mine who've run into Gaddy in various instances over the last 4 years or so and each and every one of them have said he was a great guy to talk to, and very easy to approach. Perhaps it's only been post-divorce and post-career that he's dropped the ego, and maybe I'm way off mark, but it needs to be said that not EVERY story of meeting Lyon was a disaster.

Sandilands as Jaws. Eddie McGuire as Goldfinger. Lou Richards as "Q." Bev O'Connor as "M" (Judi Dench). Samantha Jones (Fox footy newsreader?) as Moneypenny. Now THAT'S a cast. Move over House of Bulger.

Only Darce. I'm a huge 007 fan, and none of those really rank. Bond has to be tall, have blue eyes, heaps of chest hair, look severe and frighteneing, have a dry sense of humour, and appear to be classy, while rugged. Clement, Hamill and Judd are nowhere near good-looking enough. Croad and Miller are too pretty in the teeny bopper sense. I can't speak for Darcy's chest hair or eye colour, but he fills the other items well. A hysterically dry sense of humour, tall, severe looking (when he wants to be). He fits the bill the best probably. Interestingly the new Bond fails one or two of these categories. He's shortish, looks like a boxer, not an aristocrat, and has no chest hair. That aside, I thought he did a ripping job in the movie. So much for rules. There's probably a couple of others that'd go alright too, but I can't think of them right now.