Macca

Following the Demons (this year) reminds me of that Norm McDonald joke In a dream you're relaxing by the pool with Christie Brinkley ... you wake up and then back to sleep and then back to the dream (kinda, sorta) This time around you're playing pool with Dr Christiaan Barnard

You'll never guess what happened! No one gained any points in the tipping comp Clint went close, but no cigar Resume normal transmission I'll post up the week 2 games tomorrow sometime but we've got a good game on Friday ... Chargers @ Chiefs

I'm over it now after a few days of miserable moping!! Lots of other things in life including a myriad of other sports ... the horses, NFL, Baseball playoffs, Cricket, Soccer etc etc For some, footy is their whole life and fair enough too. Everyone's different Looking back, we could search for excuses and reasons but ultimately, we weren't good enough And we live to fight another day ... as always, recruiting is the key. We need to go hard at improving the list with a can't-be-satisfied attitude

Straight set exits has actually happened 34 times since 1967 so it's quite common ... a bit less so in the 21st century but nevertheless, it's more common that imagined By the way, I was shocked (upon doing the brief research required) as I might have thought it was more of a rarity as well (straight set exits) Go to the 'What a waste of a season' thread (about half way through page 6) for a detailed breakdown Last 4 ... Hawks 2016, Hawks 2018, Lions 2019, Lions 2021 n.b. there were also a few inglorious 1 game exits for teams who finished 3rd or 4th in the final 6 era

The money deal for Jackson at either WA clubs could well be a big factor e.g. 7 years @ X amount vs 5 years @ X amount could be the play And the total amount of $$$$'s could be different as well. $$$$'s per year being another factor So any trade might have to be dependant on how much money will be coming LJ's way If one team drops out we might know the reason why And the bidding war could be short lived

Well we're not playing for a sheep station but the answer isn't yes! haha On Sportscenter this arvo Tim Hasselbeck was talking about Dallas getting another QB in for the short term (as an immediate starter) A particular player who was familiar with their set plays Dak could be out for 2 or 3 weeks minimum and it's his throwing hand with that broken thumb (I believe) Don't know a lot about Fields but all that sounds ok anyway. I'd wish you good luck but we're divisional rivals! And the rivalry is fierce The Divisional system especially in the NFL is fantastic. 8 different leagues within 2 conferences works a treat As for Lovie Smith, not surprised he got another chance. They like giving 2nd & 3rd chances in American sports and he did win 3 divisional titles at the Bears

Tend to agree but draftees can't get draftee money for 4 years. Especially if they are a player like say, Nick Daicos It's a free market in terms of players being able to get the best contract they can get (from their 3rd year onwards) So some real flexibility with pay scales would need to be factored in, otherwise the PA would never agree to 4 years minimum

Out in straight sets has happened more than one might imagine Since 1967 it's happened 34 times including a double whammy in 6 seasons Misery loves company and all that! The big surprise is Carlton - 8 times out in straight sets in this snapshot of time 1967 Blues (played in the 1968 GF) 1969 Pies (played in the 1970 GF) 1972 Pies 1973 Pies (the quick treble) 1975 Blues 1976 Blues (back to back) 1977 Hawks (won the flag in 1976 & 1978) 1979 North (played in the 1978 GF) 1980 Blues & Cats (Blues won the Flag in 1979 & 1981) 1983 Fitzroy & North 1984 Blues 1986 Swans 1987 Swans (back to back) 1988 Pies & Blues (Blues won the Flag in 1987) 1989 Essendon (played in the 1990 GF) 1994 North & Blues (Blues won the 1995 Flag) 1995 Eagles (won the 1994 Flag) 1996 Blues (that's 7 straight-set exits over a 22 period ... plus '67 to make it 8) (Won the 1995 Flag) 1997 Cats & Eagles 1999 Bulldogs 2001 Port 2007 Eagles (won the 2006 GF) 2014 Cats & Freo (Freo played in the 2013 GF) 2015 Swans (played in the 2014 & 2016 GF) 2016 Hawks (Won the 2015 Flag) 2018 Hawks 2019 Brisbane 2021 Brisbane Footnote: The last, and possibly only time we went out in straight sets was in 1961

Early takeaways ... Brady is as good as ever (he's never lost to the Cowboys) Tampa are a very good team especially with TB12 at the helm Mahomes stunning at Arizona (5 x TD's & no Int) KC are back The Bears might be alright. As too, the Vikings who look ready to make a run to the playoffs 49ers might be in the bracket as the Cowboys & Packers in the NFC. Rams slow out of the blocks as well. Early doors though and it's only week 1 Ravens & Chargers start well and get it done. Miami as well with a good win over the Pats Eagles, Commanders, Browns & Saints made hard work of it but a win is a win Patriots struggled but the Bills look the team to beat even at this early stage And the highly favoured Colts couldn't get it done at Houston

Looks like you are the only one still alive, Clint Broncos get up and you pick up 2 points with an added bonus point for going solo Good luck!

As are the Packers The Vikings are way better and the Bears could be very competitive as well Devante Adams is already being missed (big time) and the other WR's aren't much chop (running game average as well) Could be a long season for the both of us, Betters!!

I'm still trying to catch up ... listening in to all the games tomorrow and then 5-6 hours of Sportscenter afterwards should fill my brain with lots of info Monday for me is NFL day with a bit of work thrown in when time permits!! (I do work Saturday's though) There's big raps on the Colts & Cowboys but if Tampa start off well, the talk will be about Brady. The Bucs are 2nd favourites to win the SB (behind the Bills) Then it's KC, Packers (?), Chargers, Rams, 49ers, Denver, Ravens & Dallas

Ravens, Colts, KC

Thunderstruck gets Alligator right on the line. It was always the more likely outcome and it went true to form They'll clash again no doubt The others never threatened including my choice - Western Empire (who was outclassed)

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As good as our midfield is, their actual disposal skills and decision making is not A Grade (as a collective) We get a lot of the ball and our contested work is terrific but our use of the ball heading towards goal is not great (our Fab 4 isn't Black, Voss, Lappin & Akermanis) Resulting in a number of inconsequential inside 50 entries. Often the ball ends up going out of bounds around the flank or pocket Add in forward line defensive pressure that has gone off the boil along with the other teams knowing exactly what we are doing and you are obviously going to have issues Our deep forwards aren't going to stand a chance with that scenario

You make some very good points, 64 With the forward 50 entries, regardless of the personnel, indirect footy wasn't going to win the GF this season And it was obvious from early in the season that the bombing to the pocket was something that the better teams had basically abandoned (not totally, but not a go-to method) So we didn't adapt and then went out in straight sets We had to risk turning the ball over (in the hot spot) and then back our defensive structures to repel a turnover After all, we were the reigning premier so why worry when our all-over defensive pressure is/was regarded as the best Nothing ventured, nothing gained

We threw the game away with indirect football in the first half Brisbane were shell-shocked and had no answers but we persisted with boundary line attacks and even worse, bombing it in a haphazard way to the pockets We showed no daring, took no risks and paid a heavy price by letting them back in it Probably the worst loss I can ever remember in terms of a superior side being beaten by an inferior side Poor coaching and our players are no better. Programmed with inneficient methods with our inside 50 entries. Unable to think for themselves We went with the GF team of last year and it didn't work. To not make a PF with this team is a massive fail Stafford can go, he's not up to it. Goodwin needs a rocket as well. This team is capable of blowing teams away (we've seen it) but we persist with not using the corridor. Why? Meanwhile, the other good teams do use the corridor. Makes no sense as to why we don't From the corridor we hit the flanks or pockets. It's garbage football We lost 8 of our last 14 games. Teams with that sort of record are usually down the other end of the ladder

Good player but lacks A grade vision A+ grade intensity with B grade disposal and decision making skills. Great courage, great desperation. But doesn't see the game unfold ahead. Only the best see it that way We lack real class disposing the ball forward from our midfield We get the cod a million times but we are wasteful. Tonight, even Oliver was handpassing to stationary targets (surrounded by opposition players) Jackson did it to May 30 metres out from the Lions goal. May got pinged So frustrating to watch

We won our first 10 games but in nearly every one of those wins, we went into cruise mode in the last quarter or ... we went onto lock down mode to stifle the opposition As the season went on that method was more so fade outs (as you've pointed out) The difference? Better opposition So we were exposed but the 10 & 0 start made matters a tad confusing. Winning has that effect The key is where to now? What do we do to be great again? 6 - 8 new players. Draftees or experienced talent. Might be closer to 6 players but the last 6 or so picked in the finals team were exposed tonight as rather ordinary If you want to be good, you've got to get better. And it's nothing personal It's a ruthless game

And in the end we were ousted by a lesser light who knew what we were going to do, especially with regards our forward 50 entries We showed our hand in plain sight. A predictable game plan that was picked apart by the good teams and then Brisbane From early in the season our forward line was crowded, Brown was double teamed or even triple teamed and we had no answers Default mode - bomb to the left forward pocket As a result, as the season went on, our forward line woes stayed as it was Hindsight tells us that we should have changed things up

A bit too quick though, layz We were looking for next week but there's no tomorrow until 2023 Hard to cop and I reckon most feel the same way

And why would a premiership team be happy to bomb it long to a pocket? Where's the arrogance? Doesn't make any sense at all ... doing that (bombing long to a pocket) invites the opposition in. Stupid football and a soft, conservative, boring game plan. Giving the opposition a chance You never give a sucker an even break. Never do what the opposition might want Make no mistake, we blew our chances tonight. We lost a game we should have won

And we did the same thing tonight when we had the opposition on their knees (in the first half) We could have killed them off and buried them but old habits die hard Poor coaching and shocking decision making (by the players) We gifted them the game, we gave them a sniff and in the end, they walked all over us

We got outplayed. Especially after half time. Even if we'd somehow won we wouldn't have been able to match the Cats anyway We are not good enough and there are zero excuses (or reasons) Biggest issues remain our forward 50 entries and the ability of our forwards I'm not sure we've got a midfielder who can deliver the ball into the forward line with precision (consistently) And apart from Fritsch, our forwards as a collective, are sub par Kicking deep to the FP? That's got to go The 2021 flag is history. The only thing that matters is the future Need about 6-8 changes to the list and we need to be prepared to give away some players to gain others who can improve the list This loss really hurts. 2 finals losses is unacceptable for a reigning Premier A PF appearance is a pass mark but out with 2 home final losses is a mediocre outcome. We went out meekly