This Year's AFL Premiers

[Fleeta]

Hope you are right Warbs - looking forward to Sundays contest - will probably be an eye-opener for the Saints to play against so many gun players. Shame we will still be missing our best midfielder (Luke Ball).

Maybe they should bring back big Fraser for the finals?

 

[pan]

2008 AFL Finals
Pos Team Played Won Drawn Lost For Against % Points
1 Geelong 22 21 0 1 2672 1651 162 84
2 Hawthorn 22 17 0 5 2434 1846 132 68
3 Western Bulldogs 22 15 1 6 2506 2112 119 62
4 St. Kilda 22 13 0 9 2126 1923 111 52
5 Adelaide 22 13 0 9 2017 1838 110 52
6 Sydney 22 12 1 9 2095 1863 112 50
7 North Melbourne 22 12 1 9 2121 2187 97 50
8 Collingwood 22 12 0 10 2267 2038 111 48

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9 Richmond 22 11 1 10 2228 2288 97 46
10 Brisbane 22 10 0 12 2156 2200 98 40
11 Carlton 22 10 0 12 2217 2354 94 40
12 Essendon 22 8 0 14 2130 2608 82 32
13 Port Adelaide 22 7 0 15 2118 2208 96 28
14 Fremantle 22 6 0 16 1988 2121 94 24
15 West Coast 22 4 0 18 1670 2535 66 16
16 Melbourne 22 3 0 19 1629 2602 63 12

Disappointing tigers finished 9th for about the 10th time in the past 20 years.

4th favourite for next years final already. ha

 

[foofighta]

Fleeta,

I am not so sure about the G Train? I feel like he still has one last effort in him but not sure if he has the will to give it. If he does come back I hope leaves nothing out on the feild and gives it all he has!!

Geelong are guns but I think the Sainters are finally starting to believe!

GET UP THE SAINT BELIEVER'S NOW IS OUR TIME TO SHINE

 

[mexican]

Fleeta,

I am not so sure about the G Train? I feel like he still has one last effort in him but not sure if he has the will to give it. If he does come back I hope leaves nothing out on the feild and gives it all he has!!

Geelong are guns but I think the Sainters are finally starting to believe!

GET UP THE SAINT BELIEVER'S NOW IS OUR TIME TO SHINE

The Saints will need to do more than just believe!
The mighty Cats by 40pts+

 

[nomore4s]

How good did the Hawks look?

Buddy is a freak.

Geelong may yet have a challenger.

Go the hawks!

 

[Gspot]

Only watched half the game tonight, and what I saw was crap. What happenned to finals footy? You know hard, one on one pressure footy, where getting a clean disposal was hard to get.
I am so over footy and the way it is umpired/played. Well done "fat faced Demetriou for totally f***ing up the game. Why not give yourself and all your sponging mates another payrise for the hell of it. Mickey mouse could do such a better job!

 

[agro]

Win-Win Situation today

Crows win = good for south australia and non-victorians

Collingwood win = good for port fans because we don't have to put up with the crows rubbing in a victory

 

[marklar]

Only watched half the game tonight, and what I saw was crap.

It was a crap game, mainly due to the inconsistent standard of umpiring we've seen all year. Holding the ball, dragging it back in to the tackle, over the shoulder, illegal disposals, 15 & 50 meters, the interpretations all seem to change dramatically from week to week. The players spend half the game wondering what they have to do to avoid being penalised or awarded a free kick.

What happenned to finals footy? You know hard, one on one pressure footy, where getting a clean disposal was hard to get.

It's not how Hawthorn play the game, the 'cluster' or zone defence seems to work for them though.

I am so over footy and the way it is umpired/played. Well done "fat faced Demetriou for totally f***ing up the game. Why not give yourself and all your sponging mates another payrise for the hell of it. Mickey mouse could do such a better job!

Record memberships, record crowds, expansion plans, obviously not everyone agrees!

m.

 

[nomore4s]

Where did all the saints fans go? :

While Geelong are an awesome side, the saints were pathetic.

As soon as the pressure gets turned up the too many saints go missing. How many times did they fumble the ball yesterday?

Kosi has to be the most overrated player in the AFL, he never stands up when they really need him to. And Del Santo is much the same and Riewoldt had a shocker. Just too many passengers yesterday and for most of the year.

If the Saints don't put in a drastically improved performance this week they will get belted by the pies. I'm pretty sure the Pies have beaten the Saints twice this year already.

Swans to beat the Dogs in a close one.
Pies to win easily.

 

[Duckman#72]

AS for this weeks games - I think they should all go to plan with the exception of the Pies. They have a good record at AAMI from memory and they might take the Crows. In racehorse speak....I'm happy to forgive the last run. Adelaide don't excite me.

As for Sydney v North......if you forget last weeks games you woul say North but anything could happen up in Sydney. North regularly overachieve - I'd say Sydney might get up.

Hawthorn should be too good for the Bullies and Geelong are a wrecking machine at the minute.

Duckman

If only I was seeing my stock picks this clear.

Two great games this weekend.

Saints will need to do something special to hold out the Pies in Melbourne and Bulldogs better find some form fast if they want to remain in the hunt. As good as the Hawks were - Bulldogs were bloody bad.

Pies and Swans for me. Bulldogs were awful last start - you don't lose 6 of your last 8 and last too far into a finals campaign.

Duckman

 

[pan]

If only I was seeing my stock picks this clear.


Pies and Swans for me. Bulldogs were awful last start - you don't lose 6 of your last 8 and last too far into a finals campaign.

Duckman

Dogs had a good win last night, but I can't see them going much further to be honest.

 

[Gspot]

It was a crap game, mainly due to the inconsistent standard of umpiring we've seen all year. Holding the ball, dragging it back in to the tackle, over the shoulder, illegal disposals, 15 & 50 meters, the interpretations all seem to change dramatically from week to week. The players spend half the game wondering what they have to do to avoid being penalised or awarded a free kick.


It's not how Hawthorn play the game, the 'cluster' or zone defence seems to work for them though.


Record memberships, record crowds, expansion plans, obviously not everyone agrees!
m.

Victorian clubs continue to struggle and rely on afl handouts, playing home games in northern states, and playing Collingwood as much as possible too break even every season.
Where else in the world has a league that also fudges the fixtures every year to get maximum cowds.
As for expansion, lets just wait and see how this turns out, before claiming it a success. Pesonally I think it will be a multi-million dollar failure. Something Fatfaced Demetriou has quite a list of.

 

[Duckman#72]

Victorian clubs continue to struggle and rely on afl handouts, playing home games in northern states, and playing Collingwood as much as possible too break even every season.
Where else in the world has a league that also fudges the fixtures every year to get maximum cowds.
As for expansion, lets just wait and see how this turns out, before claiming it a success. Pesonally I think it will be a multi-million dollar failure. Something Fatfaced Demetriou has quite a list of.

Things change GSpot and you have to roll with it.

The AFL is considered by impartial sports commentators to be one of the best administered sporting bodies in Australia. They are extremely professional, jealously guard and value the brand, promote extensively and constantly put themselves in a position to continue as the premier football code in Australia. The have a war-chest that is the envy of all other codes.

Of course there are some grey areas - the AFL is continually being knocked for their drug policy however in the main I think they do a good job to find the right social balance.

Your comments are very general and can be disputed. Victorian clubs are not struggling - only some Victorian clubs are struggling. Clubs like Essendon and Collingwood are the pin-up boys of the AFL, while clubs like Hawthorn and Geelong have done a fantastic job turning around constant losses several years ago to current surpluses. Even St Kilda and Carlton are not the basket cases they once were. No one is denying that North and the Dees don't have big problems but hey......haven't they always.

As much as I dislike Collingwood you have to give them credit for extending their brand. Same as Essendon. Essendon and Collingwood get bagged for playing the Anzac Day game.......yet it was Kevin Sheedy and the Essendon football club that developed the concept and made it into what it is today. Same with the "Dreamtime at the G"...developed by Essendon and Richmond.
North have their Grand Final breakfast...each club has their own "special day" or at least they should try and start one.

It is hard to argue about how the Victorian clubs are "struggling" when Adelaide can't even get a full house for a home final against Collingwood on a beautiful spring day.

As for umpiring decisions.....that's part of the game. North Melbourne beat Brisbane on the Gold Coast when an umpire wrongly (IMO) called play on after a Lions defender marked in from the kickoff. The resulting goal turned the game. If that decision wasn't made then the Lions hold on and win....and I win my office tipping comp See G Spot...you have to be like me and get over umpiring decisions no matter how #@#&ing bad they are, and how much they $%#ing affect the &*@#ing result.

Duckman

 

[Speewha]

Hello

On a warm September evening in Melbourne at the MSG there is nothing like the clack sound the seats make as the Collingwood faithful leave the MSG early.

Those Saints have you in hell one week, heaven the next.

Time for the Saints to revenge the 1971 GF and Don Scott’s hit on Stewie Trot.

Regards

 

[CoffeeKing]

Hello

On a warm September evening in Melbourne at the MSG there is nothing like the clack sound the seats make as the Collingwood faithful leave the MSG early.

Those Saints have you in hell one week, heaven the next.

Time for the Saints to revenge the 1971 GF and Don Scott’s hit on Stewie Trot.

Regards

Whats the MSG - "Melbourne Stomping Ground"
I suppose it will be for the winners

 

[banska bystrica]

If only I was seeing my stock picks this clear.

Two great games this weekend.

Saints will need to do something special to hold out the Pies in Melbourne and Bulldogs better find some form fast if they want to remain in the hunt. As good as the Hawks were - Bulldogs were bloody bad.

Pies and Swans for me. Bulldogs were awful last start - you don't lose 6 of your last 8 and last too far into a finals campaign.

Duckman

Well done. Could not have got it more wrong if you tried.

 

[Speewha]

Whats the MSG - "Melbourne Stomping Ground"
I suppose it will be for the winners

Hello

Sorry Mr Coffeking just back from the MCG, I must of had more that I thought, head will hurt Sunday Morning.

Regards

 

[CoffeeKing]

Hello

Sorry Mr Coffeking just back from the MCG, I must of had more that I thought, head will hurt Sunday Morning.

Regards

It seems, at least, your team is still in it, better than mine as they went down the perverbual gurgler. Ah well always next year

 

[Fleeta]

Pies and Swans for me. Bulldogs were awful last start - you don't lose 6 of your last 8 and last too far into a finals campaign.

Duckman

Duckman - you have under-estimated the Saints and their champion skipper Nick Riewoldt - or as he will be known in a couple of weeks time - Mr September! Everyone talks about the buddy/roughhead show but we have the kosi/rooey/milney show and its gonna take the Saints to the Cats on the big day - and in their complacency after the first final win, see Robert Harvey sent off after 21 seasons with a premiership medallion around his neck - it is destiny

P.S. I also LOADED UP on the Saints to kick the highest score of the round at the crazy odds of $5. What happened - Saints 106 points, doggies 106 points - I got half of a sh1tload of cash - 1 more point, damn!

 

[Duckman#72]

Duckman - you have under-estimated the Saints and their champion skipper Nick Riewoldt - or as he will be known in a couple of weeks time - Mr September! Everyone talks about the buddy/roughhead show but we have the kosi/rooey/milney show and its gonna take the Saints to the Cats on the big day - and in their complacency after the first final win, see Robert Harvey sent off after 21 seasons with a premiership medallion around his neck - it is destiny

P.S. I also LOADED UP on the Saints to kick the highest score of the round at the crazy odds of $5. What happened - Saints 106 points, doggies 106 points - I got half of a sh1tload of cash - 1 more point, damn!

Hi Fleeta

I did last week - but I actually picked them last night for our office footy picking. Also had a couple of $ on Reiwoldt being leading goalscorer for the game....so am very happy. BUT....am very annoyed with Swannies performance. I thought they would get over the Bulldogs considering their recent for and finals experience. Anyway.....5 from 6 finals ain't bad.

As for next week. I'm tempted to take up St Kilda over Hawks. (However I better wait and post Friday night and not air my preferences Sunday afternoon in future as Banksia likes to track my results). I think Hawks will be due for a bad one soon. A game where Buddy gets 4 kicks 2 marks and scores 1.1!! I'll be interested to see if Kozie gets off - hope he does for the games sake. I can understand his frustration before getting reported....... Wakelin was all over him in the fine tradition of Steve Silvagni. Should have got the free kick ..not given it away. One of the big bugbears of mine. Wrestling defenders.....you grab, you're gone in my opinion.

I agree with your assessment of Reiwoldt. Wonderful game last night. Although they are still way oput of Geelong class. You are dreaming if you think otherwise. They could beat Hawks, if the hawks have on off day.

I'd prefer Geelong and Hawks in the GF becasue at least "on their day" Hawks could push the Cats.

Duckman