Pates

Good article, pretty spot on with that list I’d say. There were so many build up wins that we needed before getting to the big dance (call it learning crawl before you walk). I remember the TMac West Coast one so vividly because when they got out to 20 off points in the final quarter I just thought “no way do they lose from here at home”, but like so often in recent years this group proved me wrong. That frenetic lunge forward, and the swinging kick goal from Tommy sent me into raptures. I think I remembered thinking “if nothing else we are a team that has some guts and is respected by the footy world”. Perth is actually a happy hunting ground for us (let’s not talk about 2018 prelim though 🤫).

Jayden was THE hard luck story for me. Tomlinson is another but his injury came relatively early and it ruled him out immediately. Hunt had a really good year and had some fantastic link up play with Langdon, his injury just came close enough to dangle the possibility in front of him but Bowey was just too good to knock off. I hope he fights his way back in, I loved his reaction to us winning the premiership. If he was bitter at all he didn’t show it.

The question of switching Petty forward or keeping him back might rest on whether TMac is able to return to form (his back half wasn’t great) and whether Weid is able to make good on his talent. Brown looks settled in his position and his fitness now so that second tall forward spot is on offer (Tommy’s to lose currently). If, and it’s a big if, nether Tom or Sam are able to claim that spot then Petty as a forward becomes a possibility. For now though he looks like a natural defender and it’s up to Tomlinson to knock him off his perch. What a problem to have! 😄

I don’t like it being 50m as the penalty, I don’t mind the rule itself but for something so low in severity it seems so wrong for it to be on the same level as the go to penalty for dangerous/malicious acts. I’d halve it to 25m (I know a further distance for the umps) as that can take a player from outside 50 into a shot on goal but not a certainty. The rule definitely puts it back on teams to be better at patrolling space (something we’re very good at), I also love seeing that our players are absolutely on it for the play on call for shots on goal. Petty’s smother in the GF was a great 1 percenter moment.

Cometti is/was an absolute gem of a commentator. He never strayed from his role, which is play by play, but his little bits of personality were the cherry on top to what was happening. Sadly the up-and-coming heir to the throne of main commentator for Seven would have to Hamish McLachlan, can’t stand him.

Where BT grates me is when he throws in his own comments rather than commentating on the game. I think his general commentary on the play is up to scratch, it’s just when he makes his own special comments that he goes off track. He has a group of experts to defer to for special comments and most of the like they get it bang on. Leppa, Hodge, as our own Daisy all give great insights. Stick to who’s got the ball, who’s taken the mark, and who’s kicked the goal. I thought Brayshaw was good for the most part on the night, stuck to his role.

Click-bait title but important issues spoken about. I knew Matty Whelan still had his indigenous role at the club but it’s interesting to hear firstly how important it was compared to what the rest of the club knew, but also that it’s not something that was a mandated role until now. Sounds like with his knowledge we were able to create a strong bond with Kozzie that hopefully will never end! I’m really sad we’ve lost Nev (and going to the pies, urgh!) but he’s been in one system his entire footballing life so getting out into something new will be great for him, and he’s also seemingly gone where he’s needed the most. I hope in the future he’ll come back in some capacity, and I just hope the Pies are good to him.

They can keep making finals and prelim after prelim for all I care, if they don’t win a premiership for decades that’ll keep me happy.

Would’ve preferred a Saturday but I’ll do whatever day they want!

They tried to explain it away with tales of “gastro” but when we finished with the doggies I reckon they had to accept that we were just that bloody good that night.

Just saying I’ve seen them paid before, completely took the player out of the contest and didn’t take the grab (as you say Gawn spoiled him). I think it was the right call to say play on but every so often umpires decide to pay them.

Replay was just on this morning, I’ll never tire of watching it! Especially the third quarter! 😄

If we’re splitting hairs on the free kicks from the GF, Fritta’s second goal in a minute that started our run could’ve been penalised for unrealistic attempt/push in the back. For me the biggest howler was Kozzie clearly getting his head taken off in the third quarter. It was way more of a free kick compared to the one the dogs got in the second quarter where he lowered his body to draw the free, Kozzie was down collecting the ball and was very clearly taken high (as Trac quickly pointed out to the umpire). Overall I though the umpiring was consistent with most decisions, it certainly didn’t feel over-umpired as is usually the case in season.

2020 was an underachievement but it was something required to drive the players to do more this year I feel. I also concur with the OP that we got a rough deal throughout the season, had we got the run the the Saints had we would’ve played finals. Instead the Essendon game getting postponed meant we were forever chasing our tails, then the Cairns trip really messed us up. Missing finals definitely made the fire burn harder for this year I reckon.

Was a free kick, but Gawn definitely made more of it and caused his head to hit the turf. If Gawn keeps himself strong no way does he go to ground. I actually think Daniel was within his rights to tell Max to get up. EDIT: I also think that was the moment Max knew that it wasn’t going to be a night he plays a blinder, and took the back seat to Dogga. Game changing moment after that.

Richmond have been slow starters each year after their premierships, the only thing that’s ensured them getting the W in round one is that they keep playing the Blues. I think facing the dogs definitely has the advantage of coming up against a team that’s had the exact same preparation time.

I’m really hoping there’s been some discussion on this as both years we’ve been home teams we’ve been screwed out of good crowds. Maybe not so much the ANZAC eve last year but certainly QB we barely would’ve got two 5 cent pieces to rub together. That’s on top of the Alice Springs games being taken away. Either way we do need to maximise our exposure to get the best $$$$ we can get.

That’s the thing, what little I have seen of him looks like he’s got potential and athletic capabilities, but to be in the same ballpark as Dogga is a big call on him.

It was interesting to hear that Marc McGowen seemed to think he could go as high as top 5, I will admit I know little about this guy but it sounds like he’s being pumped up beyond what he should be realistically looked at. I hope he’s not going to become one of those players that the media hypes and hypes, when really he should be going 2nd round and given 3+ years to develop his craft.

For me a momentum shift of the game was when he asked for the ball from Martin (I think it was) and shanked the kick which ended in Brayshaw’s goal. Up until that point he’d been almost as clean as Salem and was providing a really important springboard for them off HB. After he shanked that kick I don’t he did much that was super positive for the dogs. Killed his confidence and his teammates. He had an awesome first half but faded to nothing after Brayshaw’s goal. I’m sure it’s been mentioned but there are little team things through the game from players that didn’t play their best that ensured they still contributed to the win. Kozzie harassing in the first quarter allowing Spargo to get on the end of it, and his hard shepherd that let Trac kick his dribbler. TMac blocking Sparrow’s goal through. Max letting Jacko have his run in the ruck and providing a foil up forward. It’s a testament to the team first mentality.

I was actually thinking this, how good would a twilight Saturday night match against Brisbane be against perhaps Brisbane (another contender from the year but interstate). The most likely scenario would be Saturday night (which I would prefer), request the game be half an hour early and have a really good build up to it. I don’t mind playing the dogs round one, but I’d rather we hold onto the rematch as a bankable windfall.

I like the bullish request, getting the grand final replay out early and saying bring on our rivals. I do wonder whether we could save the replay for later as another bankable attractive game to get bums on seats. We could play GWS and the MCG will still be packed for the unfurling of the premiership flag. I would personally love say Essendon in round one as our home game, I hate them so much and it would be satisfying to present the flag to our members in front of their arrogant fans.

Yep now the we’ve won the premiership I see no reason to mock the Saints decision. They needed/desperately wanted a forward and Paddy had good reason to be picked at number one, much the same that we picked Watts at number one. Glad the saints went down that path, sucks for them it didn’t work out. I know that there are a few on this site that would happily watch the saints drought go for a while but they can be next to end their pain (after we’ve had our dynasty 😜). Hawks, Cats, Essendon, Carlton, Collingwood can have a drought now. I’d say 50+ years in the wilderness is about right.

His role this year was super underrated by some, focusing purely on statistics and not the body of work he put in and how much of a sacrifice it was to shift into a role that was unfamiliar to him. What he did all year allowed Langdon to do his thing on the other side His game in the Grand Final was huge, loved his passion when he scored his massive goal.

Fair to say, worth the picks. What a gun.