Roar Pro
Joined August 2017
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I follow the mighty Crows but have a soft spot for the Pies and Eagles.
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We have all heard of Halley's Comet before yeah? You know that big bright ball of ice and rock spewing out gases as it…
Most will accept the AFL era began in 1990, when the competition was renamed from the VFL to the AFL. Carlton were the most…
While the outlier Hawks continued to fill their cupboards with premiership cups throughout 2013-2015, they masked something sneaking up on us in the AFL…
If we set aside the VFL as ancient history and analyse just the start of the AFL from 1990, we see the following premiership…
For a bit of fun before the exciting 2017 AFL finals series, I offer my top five coaches for the 2017 home-and-away season, counting…
Collingwood are back on top. Not on the ladder - but back to the top of the membership table released by the AFL. The…
This shapes as a year where everything keeps going right for the Tigers. Made the top 4 despite losing three games in a row during the season by a total of 10 points. Then they get a home final basically against a team conditioned to Kardinia Park. Now, they sit on the right side of the draw with only the disappointing GWS, Port or West Coast to deny them. They won’t trouble the Tigers and another 50 point prelim win appears to be coming. This small forward/manic pressure isn’t a fluke though. Someone designed this whether Hardwick, Leppa or Caracella. Someone over Summer set this up and it will get these Tigers into a grand final. Extraordinary.
Five talking points from Richmond Tigers vs Geelong Cats second qualifying final
Marshall, 51 points isn’t unlucky in a final, it’s a mauling.
Five talking points from Richmond Tigers vs Geelong Cats second qualifying final
It’s amazing Peter what confidence can do. When the Tigers mauled the Cats in that last qtr they simply looked fitter, hungrier and more skilled. Injuries won’t be a concern as they play a team game. Looks like the name Rioli will grace the MCG once again on grand final day. They don’t have an apparent weak link. Good luck to them it’s turning into the fairytale flag again to follow the Dogs last year. I follow the Crows and will be really nervous if we get through and face the Tiger army at the big dance.
Five talking points from Richmond Tigers vs Geelong Cats second qualifying final
Tigers magnificent and now in the soft side of the finals, they should make the grand final now and would worry me if the Crows get through. Richmond v Adelaide grand final now. As for the Cats they looked slow, really slow and reactionary. Scott didn’t have any aces to play. 2 final wins from their past 11 finals if the Cats lose next week tells a tale however Cats fans want to dress it up.
Tiger time, at last! Richmond crush Cats to break 16-year finals drought
As good as the Tigers were it begs the question of whether the Cats can bounce back? I tipped the Tigers by 4 points but never expected a mauling. Dusty in that last qtr made me think he has gone past Dangerfield now as the most influential player in the competition if not simply the best. As for the Cats, what a confidence destroyer. A big test for them now to bounce back.
Five talking points from Richmond Tigers vs Geelong Cats second qualifying final
Have to feel you can’t let a good side like Cats stay so close, Last two Cats goals huge.
Geelong Cats vs Richmond Tigers: AFL Finals live scores, blog
Cat, did I prod a touchy spot! I have nothing but admiration for the Cats longevity and find it remarkable that but for 2015 you have been in the finals is it since 2006? It’s a remarkable record I was merely stating it was a surprise to read the article the other day highlighting the 2-7. However, of course it could go the other way this year and you go bang, bang bang for a flag and 5-7 where no one will care about your final record as it will all be about 4 flags since 2007. My personal opinion is the Tigers by 4 points tonight but if so I still see the Cats in the preliminary final.
Geelong Cats vs Richmond Tigers: AFL Finals Forecast
Rissole, in a way it isn’t their fault as they have no history. History, legacy players, magical moments all build to create a club but it takes time. Gold Coast are the same…no history, no legacy. Look at the Swans and how their history has built over the years…”Leo Barry you star” , Nick Davis “I see it but I don’t believe it”….the West Coast v Sydney grand finals, the Hawks Swans rivalry and the Buddy Franklin trade…Plugger, Hall, Kirk, Goodes, O’Loughlin…..it takes time to build a culture and club and in a way perhaps GWS need to go through more pain before they too start to create their own history which builds culture.
Poorly coached Giants no match for all-conquering Crows
Paul, I hadn’t realised the Cats are 2-7 in their last 9 finals….can you imagine a straight sets Cats exit will be 2-9 from 11? That’s a serious issue then? Surely a game like this the fans will show….
Geelong Cats vs Richmond Tigers: AFL Finals Forecast
I can’t see it Slane….I think the wet will keep it close unlike last night where the Crows were already ahead before the worst of it came down…got so slippery
Geelong Cats vs Richmond Tigers: AFL Finals Forecast
Tom, how many years does Cameron have left on his contract? Can you only imagine the long list of potential coaches who would love a crack with this list? Blimey, even Malcolm Blight might come out of hiding!
Poorly coached Giants no match for all-conquering Crows
A harsh call Cameron but no doubt a question that will be asked now. What is this missing ingredient for GWS? They move to the softer side of the draw now and should win against either West Coast or Port but after the display last night can anyone see them recovering to make the grand final or take the cup? For me I couldn’t be more excited, the Crows in a home preliminary final gives us a huge chance at making the GF now.
Poorly coached Giants no match for all-conquering Crows
Geoff, a win over GWS and we sit with a home prelim final and Sloane back, our best shot at a grand final in some time….so important to get this first win.
The Roar’s AFL expert tips and predictions: Finals week one
Thanks Paul, a sobering and topical reminder of how close the whole competition went to going under prior to the national competition.
Which club can catch the heavyweight Hawks in the AFL era?
Wow Mattyb your grandfather was a visionary. Yes, I recall some claiming West Coast would win 5 flags in a row when they were introduced and that Malthouse had the best coaching gig in the history of the game.
Which club can catch the heavyweight Hawks in the AFL era?
The interesting point there Cat is if we used the salary cap being introduced in 1987 then that would add two flags to the Hawks list and make them very difficult to catch at 7.
Which club can catch the heavyweight Hawks in the AFL era?
Birdman, I’m interested in this from a Hawks fan perspective. What do you believe Clarkson tweaked in 2010 to get the Hawks back to an elimination final by 2010 and a close preliminary final loss in 2011 after the disappointment of 2009? (before of course their run of grand finals).
The five-years-from-now Bulldogs are scary as all hell
Thanks Matt, it will be interesting to see who climbs the AFL flag ladder this year. I like your idea of taking this further in the renaming of trophies and also the notion of thought process around this. I do recall too the hysteria around the West Coast Eagles when they entered the competition and the Victorians devaluing their early flags as “we came up against a State side”. Even though the editors cut back on the article a fair bit (sorry North fans!) I found I still used the term “interstate” teams, a term which should really die in a national competition.
Which club can catch the heavyweight Hawks in the AFL era?
Paul, I tend to agree it will happen naturally but only eventually. I think there is an argument to delineate the two histories now. The VFL history will always be magnificent and the great clubs of the VFL should be acknowledged as such. The competition has changed now and the beginning of the AFL to me is the time to start our new history. What history it is already starting with Tony Shaw breaking the Pies premiership drought through the mighty Eagles run in 1992 and 1994. Two powerful AFL seasons from the Blues in 1995 and Bombers in 2000 and of course the mighty threepeats of the Lions and Hawks and rise of the powerful Cats.
Which club can catch the heavyweight Hawks in the AFL era?
Cheers Jacques. It does seem totally unfair to judge say for example Port Adelaide as having only achieved one flag in “history” when they only started in the competition in 1997. It also illustrates just how successful the Eagles and Lions have been and a surprise to some they both have been more successful than Sydney.
Which club can catch the heavyweight Hawks in the AFL era?
I don’t think you will smash them but I do think the Tigers will win by 4 points and book yourselves a preliminary final berth. Bombers to upset the Swans.
The Roar’s AFL expert tips and predictions: Finals week one
Thanks Birdman, I agree the time has come to truly think of the national competition rather than joining the VFL-AFL history. The Hawks are clearly the most dominant side in the competition from the 1970’s onward, however the AFL era gives us a point of reference to begin with. To think the Hawks still dominate even allowing for not including the 1986, 1988 and 1989 flags shows how powerful the club is and they should be acknowledged as such. Essendon, Carlton and Collingwood fans may not agree but I believe more acknowledgement of the AFL era needs to begin. It also shows how powerful the Cats, West Coast and Brisbane have been in the era. We can still acknowledge the wonderful VFL history of course but as a separate competition.
Which club can catch the heavyweight Hawks in the AFL era?
I think with the need to run forward and back like basketball nowadays sadly you can’t afford to keep your X factor player in the side just for that one minute of magic. Players need to be aerobic beasts now and just one player who can’t run up and back all day becomes a liability. Yes you want him there for that moment but you have also had to restructure your team to allow for his lack of running capacity the rest of the game. The trick is to capitalise on his replacement so you don’t even need the clutch goal in the dying seconds.
Why Stevie J shouldn't have been dropped
Surely by the time the Norm Smith medal is presented the losing supporters have largely left the G and the winners are way too happy to bother with booing. I kind of agree it is pointlessly early to do this but really hope it is a non event and just happens without any booing or carry on.
Should James Hird really present the Norm Smith Medal?
Blimey how silly do I look tipping the Bombers now. How do the Cats stop them next week? It will only be the Swans putting the cue in the rack now and protecting themselves for next week. This is a really shocking final, what a shame.
Sydney Swans vs Essendon Bombers Highlights: AFL Finals live scores, blog