Finals Week 1

[mcs]

That article was the biggest joke lol. Indeed my post in the comments (I actually quite like the regulars in the footy Below the Line comments on the Guardian - by far a reasonable lot most of the time) was 'what is the point of this article' haha.

[Meg]

Hi Meg - there are two links in what you posted: clicking on the headline of the article directs to the article; clicking on the URL directs to the generic homepage.
.

Ah, thanks MattW, I only tried the generic link obviously. I wonder if I can eliminate that (or space it out). I’ll try:

ps: nup, I can’t…

[MattW]

Sorry re above link, I still haven’t found a way to post a link that goes directly to the relevant article. I am using iOS on an iPad. Can anyone advise me, please?

Hi Meg - there are two links in what you posted: clicking on the headline of the article directs to the article; clicking on the URL directs to the generic homepage.

As an experiment, I'll try to link to the same article, using the hyperlink chain icon in the top left of the post drafting window, using an Android phone.

EDIT: while the preview shows the full URL, I get the same result when I actually post.

[Meg]

Sorry re above link, I still haven’t found a way to post a link that goes directly to the relevant article. I am using iOS on an iPad. Can anyone advise me, please?

[Meg]

Lol, this is heart-breaking. Not!

”The final Melbourne-based team left standing, Hawthorn, travel to South Australia to play Port Adelaide this Friday after their first finals victory in nine years ……. Hawks fans have already complained about the cost of flights which are upwards of $1,000, and buses are being organised by fan groups.”

[mcs]

What a shame. Doggies and Carlton going out, we come from the clouds to win a thriller. Couldn't have gone much better than that.

Go and lick your wounds #sobraves and #screwyourblues. Better luck next year.

[stevoswan]

Are Carlton going to pull off a miracle? Last five goals and Brisbane suddenly stopping like they've done before.....and have also done before against Carlton. FFS.....

To answer my own question......NO.

[stevoswan]

Are Carlton going to pull off a miracle? Last five goals and Brisbane suddenly stopping like they've done before.....and have also done before against Carlton. FFS.....

[Nolie]

The Dogs board on bigfooty is complaining about umpiring and get this - Hawks’ handballs being throws and chucks. Irony is dead.

Glad someone monitors Bigfooty so I do not have to read that drivel.

[dejavoodoo44]

I've just come home from dinner at my sisters place and saw that score.....what a shellacking. Sad for Blues fans......NOT!

I'm now hoping that they can play a totally pointless first half.

[stevoswan]

A literally pointless first quarter from Carlton. Aww.

I've just come home from dinner at my sisters place and saw that score.....what a shellacking. Sad for Blues fans......NOT!

[dejavoodoo44]

A literally pointless first quarter from Carlton. Aww.

[Blue Sun]

The Hawks got away with at least 4 blatant throws. And they won the free kick count 22 to 13 ! Hilarious to watch the Poodles be on the receiving end of that!

The Dogs were fine this season, I thought. They played exciting footy for the most part and weren’t gifted games as we’ve seen in seasons past.

Hawks are a bit of a worry, they are so fast. Their zig zag slingshot footy could be a problem. What’s the best strategy to beat it? Playing 1v1 footy and flooding back defensively to plug their 50? Hopefully Horse will come up with something (if required).

[Sandridge]

The Dogs board on bigfooty is complaining about umpiring and get this - Hawks’ handballs being throws and chucks. Irony is dead.

The Hawks got away with at least 4 blatant throws. And they won the free kick count 22 to 13 ! Hilarious to watch the Poodles be on the receiving end of that!

[mcs]

More proof that a lot of the Champion Data stuff - which had the Dogs as the team of the comp - is just pure bull@@@@.

Data and analysis will only take you so far if you don't apply a layer of common sense over the top.

Case in point will be the outrageous BT-esque hyperbole all week that the Hawks are suddenly the team to beat. They are playing good footy - sure. It will take a good team to beat them - sure. But equally, they are away next week, away in Sydney for a Prelim, and then would likely face one out of Geelong/GWS/Sydney/Brisbane in the grand final (I just don't think Carlton can win in Brisbane) They could win it all - but the likelihood still remains low. And would not surprise me for Port to bounce back and win next week - its been one of those seasons.

Another case in point is Squiggle - which to me has always been one of the better statistical prediction models has had a hard on all year for the Dogs - constantly predicting them to win the flag. Now its predicting the Hawks to win the flag.....

Just like the world with the coming AI revolution - if you don't apply common-sense across the top, it'll just give you nonsense every once in a while. *NB if referring to commentary, the nonsense is almost all the time.