Good summary.  To add, the AFL's rep for punch-ons is no longer warranted.  If that was your thing, look to the 70s.

Re: current stuff, I'd say that's more or less spot on.  Geelong are cooked, yes.  We were unfathomably shite on Friday. Joel Corely appears to have had his limbs replaced with broomsticks.  Scott is no fool though; we've had ten players debut this season and all have shown promise.  They'll be indoctrinated into his style of play and we'll see how he really coaches.  Look for us again in 2014.  If Hawkins magically starts kicking straight, look for us in the finals.

Unsure on Collingwood.  They've got the wins and they've got the right age and experience profile to legitimately win it (the 2010 GF is a weird one, St Kilda really should have won and the draw worked for Collingwood) this time, but a lot depends on what Sydney and West Coast do.  If they storm home and take spots 1 and 2, I doubt anyone else will get a look in and it will be 2005/6 all over again.

Essendon have a serious test next week against the ailing Cats.  I'll be there with a few Bombers and I expect they'll be a bit nervy, despite our shite form.  When they're on, they have the best attacking game in the league, Pies included, but when they're off or Watson is held, they can disintegrate.  Next year will likely be their year. I expect them to win comfortably, but I sense Geelong is actually annoyed for the first time this year.  They don't like losing to Collingwood.

Hawks, there's a conundrum.  Great attack, razor sharp ball movement, but a potentially frail backline and a midfield that is suspect to my mind.  They love to beat the piss out of GWS et al.  Speaking of n00b teams, did you see the Gold Coast finale v Richmond?  About to watch it now.

I expect Brisbane will be making a finals bid next year, as will Richmond.  Carlton are a rabble, despite beating Collingwood.  This is a weird-arse season.  Ablett Jnr is a freak, Judd is a dirty bastard.

Finally, the football commentary that Seven are dishing up is by far the worst in living memory, and I've heard Peter McKenna and Paul Couch commentate.  Bruce, just... just fuck off.  Honestly, it's rubbish.  Embarrassing even.  Brian Taylor, wat.  PadDEEEE RyDERRRRRR BOYOBOYWOWEEEE aaaargh

It's technically amateurish and the introduction of Twitter opinion and that Fango crap is diluting the thing unnecessarily.  If only I could sync up the ABC broadcast with the telly; alas, I have no Foxtel connection.

And yes re commentary. Fridays are average but Saturday's with bt and Twitter is awful.

Facewon wrote:

And Hawkins may have to go. His kicking is killing you. I'd actually let him mark anywhere he wants outside 20 metres if I was defending him.

It's mental with him.  There are days when he strikes it beautifully, others where he may as well aim away from goal.  His technique, when he kicks properly, is sound.  Good momentum, straight leg, plenty of power.  If he wasn't marking bloody everything it might be easier to take.  He's at the point now where he can (and does) dominate an opposition backline in the air, he just can't fucking kick straight.  It's ever so galling.

Also, T. Cloke at $1m a year, LAWL.

Brian Taylor is a cunt.

Isn't there a team called the cowboys? From nsw.

Ftr I'm being serious.

mk64 wrote:

Isn't there a team called the cowboys? From nsw. Ftr I'm being serious.

That's the NRL, rugby league.  We're talking AFL, or Aussie rules football.

This.



For some context, the Suns (the red mob) were introduced to the league last year (winning 3 games).  This season, they were yet to win a game after 15 rounds (of 22).  As part of the marketing push to promote this new team and further the game in Queensland, Karmichael Hunt, a rugby league player in his prime, was pinched from the NRL as a show that the AFL is a premier code.  He's on a million a year or something.  Anyway, they hadn't won a game, he'd only kicked 3 goals in his short AFL career then this past weekend, the above happens.  Good story.

I'm not sure what all the stuff in the OP is, since we all know that they just make it up as they go along.

You're just saying that because we stuffed you 4-0.

It the number of cricket games that England and Australia won recently. Your mob are on the right.

Diluted Dante wrote:

It the number of cricket games that England and Australia won recently. Your mob are on the right.

Yes, I know.

Yeah, I was going to question the fitness program down at WB, but then there's Minson and a couple of the other vig guys, but it's not your bigs you necessarily want huge.

There's ways and means of imposing yourself, but the good teams have had midfield POWA. Going back, Voss to complement some of the quicker outside types like Lappin. Black was a bit of both. Luke Power was always a big unit. Kerr and Cousins where strong, Judd's inside and out and while not huge, has a lot of strength on the ball. Ablett, Ling and Chapman are all strong in their own different ways. Swan can't be moved, Buckley was powerful. And had Burns doing grunt work. The bulldogs seem to have some good outside players, backed up by goers without the power. Cross and the Captain, who's name eludes me right now get in there, but can't impose themselves. Higgins is classy but outside. etc etc.

I guess if I'm feeling sorry for Nick, I should feel sorry for the Pav too.

Feel free to pop round, I have popcorn.

Yep.  He's shifty Judd, despite his reputation.  Perhaps he's on the way out so wants to take a few with him.

There are rumblings about Malthouse.  It would fit with his sticking it up Collingwood philosophy he seems to have adopted.

Judd has been better of late, really looked to be struggling for a while there.  Joel Corey needs to follow suit, he's been awful lately.

Power of positive thinking. I like it. Certainly not out of the question. Essendon are no Collingwood.

Aren't you glad to be wrong? And really wrong.