QF vs Brisbane at the SCG

[mcs]

Saw that, brilliant.

Just watched some highlights and think I’ve settled on my fave play of the day, which was the lead up to Paps kicking his second goal in a minute in the third quarter.

Centre bounce after Paps’ prior goal. Neale nudges his way to the ball forward of the rucks and he is usually able to spit forward or at least release a handball to advantage. Nope. Serong nails him and has his arms, and whilst he’s able to send a pop handball to Lohmann, it is into a position where he has to run back and wide. Rowie then hunts him down, which he has no right to and nails him. Kyle scoops it up and sends it forward. The Lions mop up but are surrounded by numbers, fumble and Ainsworth goes backwards before Paps nails him. Each contest, the out number, hunt and hit forced them into dead ends and sent the ball our way effectively. Outstanding stuff.

Yep that was our brand of footy yesterday to a tee. If we bring that attitude again in two weeks time, it'll take a great team performance from our opponents to knock us off. While I know some of the younger guys were a bit in and out of the game yesterday - Kyle/Cootee/Datolli/Hanily etc, they all had really good moments, and most importantly - not once when something went wrong did they drop their heads. But just went again, got stuck in again and contributed. That was a great sign of how close the group is at the moment.

[Auntie.Gerald]

The key was that the 5/6 players that are young to AFL played distinctly more so pressure roles rather than attacking decision roles

this put the ball in the hands of our best 17 or so other players and they nailed it

less pressure decision making for the young / AFL new brigade and doubled down on our experienced players

Not withstanding that all 23 players made it happen yesterday

An extraordinary execution given the 8 players missing from our best 23

my concern is that is very challenging to replicate but that’s ok……..just replying like the squad did yesterday was remarkable

[Roadrunner]

To me, it felt almost like a GF win- we were in control throughout the game as deserved underdogs, with at least 5 or more of our best 23 missing. So proud of our young lads who brought energy, enthusiasm and tenacity without any fancy shmancy stuff- just good, honest and relentless pressure and helping each other like a top team does.

Credit to Coxy and the coaching staff- this is the way the Bloods need to play and long may it continue!!

A simply unforgettable game-we humbled last year’s premiers by every player playing his role and with no passengers to carry. An incredible effort- thank you lads!

[Kafka's Ghost]

To me, it felt almost like a GF win- we were in control throughout the game as deserved underdogs, with at least 5 or more of our best 23 missing. So proud of our young lads who brought energy, enthusiasm and tenacity without any fancy shmancy stuff- just good, honest and relentless pressure and helping each other like a top team does.

Credit to Coxy and the coaching staff- this is the way the Bloods need to play and long may it continue!!

A simply unforgettable game-we humbled last year’s premiers by every player playing his role and with no passengers to carry. An incredible effort- thank you lads!

Spot on. The atmosphere at the SCG was electric, and the crowd was into it all game, just like the players. The SYYYYDDNNNEEYY chant as the players, coaches and support crew left the ground was spine-tingling.

[KSAS]

Listen to Stephen Quartermain's stirring commentary at the final siren on SEN. Spine tingling stuff. Right up there with "Leo Barry you star!!!" He is great at sensing the occasion.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dc7HKWPSMYp/

[111431]

One of our greatest wins. Ever.

That was pure Bloods football. Guts, determination and effort, sprinkled with some very tasty sprinkles on top. We were superb to a man. Brisbane well below their best, but so much of that was because of our effort, our desire, our energy.

It doesn't begin to make up for what those 5 did off the field, or the need for long term effort to begin to heal that hurt. But that football today is what has made us proud of our club for so long.

That was up there with Port in '03, West Coast '06, Adelaide '12 for our greatest wins in week 1 of the final.

There were empty seats that some in the media will jump all over - but I can guarantee it won't be like that in a fortnight.

Whatever happens from here, those boys out there are doing all we can ask - giving it a red hot go. And you never know - that red hot go could take us all somewhere none of us would ever have dared even think 3 weeks ago

Cheer cheer you mighty boys in Red and White!

I love it! Bring it home

[KSAS]

Some interesting stats have been revealed with our goal kickers:

First time in 15 years 3 players have kicked 5+ goals each in a game. This hasn't been done in a final since 1988. First time since 1933 for the club ( premiership year - the famous Foreign Legion team).

Edit: 19 of our 21 goals kicked were from 4 forwards. Not sure if that is some sort of club record?

[crackedactor 01]

My friends have claimed that Brisbane took their task with over confidence and that our passion will only take us so far, I thought that may explain the first quarter, but what about the rest of the game? 53 points is a decent margin? Are we a chance for the flag or am I looking at this with Red and White bifocals?

[Blue Sun]

My friends have claimed that Brisbane took their task with over confidence and that our passion will only take us so far, I thought that may explain the first quarter, but what about the rest of the game? 53 points is a decent margin? Are we a chance for the flag or am I looking at this with Red and White bifocals?

Papley said in a postgame interview that “we believe”. And I reckon he’s right.

[mcs]

My friends have claimed that Brisbane took their task with over confidence and that our passion will only take us so far, I thought that may explain the first quarter, but what about the rest of the game? 53 points is a decent margin? Are we a chance for the flag or am I looking at this with Red and White bifocals?

There is no doubt some Brisbane players took the wrong attitude in - Fagan effectively said that was his conclusion in the press conference. However, equally he also recognised just how well we played.

The fact is had we kicked straight a bit straighter, it could have been 80 or 90 points and you wouldn't say it was undeserved. That wasn't against some bunch of hacks in the last round like it was with North - that was against a dual defending premiers with a pretty fit list.

There is no doubt the siege mentality around the club has the players brewing with adrenaline and passion. And there is the risk that the players hit a wall - no doubt about that. Probably heightened for the younger guys in the group.

But equally - that wasn't a win full of flukey moments, full of goals and the like created solely out of endeavour and passion. Papley hinted in a few interviews, and so have a few others about how meticulous the preparation was. That was the result of great execution, but most important - comprehensive planning and a tactical masterclass from Cox and the whole coaching team. Everything worked out on the day - one of those performances where everything came together perfectly. Tactics perfectly suited to our remaining strengths, and well defined roles where players (especially the younger ones) got it spot on to the tee.

Can we expect the same level of performance to happen in a fortnight, and dare we dream the week after? Of course not. But if we come out as prepared as we were on the weekend, and the effort and endeavour is at the same level, we will give ourselves a huge chance no matter who we play. It may not be good enough, and Freo or Geelong, or whoever from the other side might be too good, but as long as we make them absolutely earn it through effort and endeavour, then that is all we can ask.

So no, its nothing to do with red and white bifocals. We are in the flag conversation up to our necks now - don't believe anyone that says we are not. We may not have a full strength team compared to what we could with our overall list, but there is still a very fine football team out there. We have a home prelim final to come, and we have an outrageously good record in prelim finals in the modern era.

If we can get to 85 or 90 per cent of the level of performance from Saturday in the prelim, at worst we will still be in the contest when it matters most. Do it twice more, and you never know what might happen.

It is time for us fans to dream, and as the amazing crowd did on Saturday, show that we believe too.

[Nico]

Some interesting TOG from the game.

Errol Gulden 75% - It seemed like 100%
Billy Cootee 90% - Who would have thought
Grundy 72% - McLean 80%
Serong 77%
Kyle 86% - pretty darn good for a young first year player
Dattoli 46% - Could probably do with more TOG.
McCartin 100%. He's a marvel doing this almost every week
Hanily 67%
Sheldrick 61%

[imuninformedtwo]

My friends have claimed that Brisbane took their task with over confidence and that our passion will only take us so far, I thought that may explain the first quarter, but what about the rest of the game? 53 points is a decent margin? Are we a chance for the flag or am I looking at this with Red and White bifocals?

No, you're spot on.

Fagan was very gracious and honest. And that we did it for four quarters was what gave me confidence. We actually broke them. There was a point about halfway through the last quarter where they were struggling to clear the ball from half back and one of them kicked wide to the wing to let Berry run onto it. Cleary hared after him, closed down the space and rather than take possession of the ball and accept the tackle if it came, Berry simply hack kicked it off the ground and the ball went out (on the full, from memory).

[mcs]

Some interesting TOG from the game.

Errol Gulden 75% - It seemed like 100%
Billy Cootee 90% - Who would have thought
Grundy 72% - McLean 80%
Serong 77%
Kyle 86% - pretty darn good for a young first year player
Dattoli 46% - Could probably do with more TOG.
McCartin 100%. He's a marvel doing this almost every week
Hanily 67%
Sheldrick 61%

Very interesting Nico!

Far out Gulden is a marvel. He got his 41 touches against North in even less time on ground - just 74%. And his lazy 47 touches against Essendon in just 77% of time. And to think he didn't even finish top 3 in his rising star count in 2021.

Billy Cootee has a serious tank - being that bit older and around the AFL ecosystem has definitely helped.

I suspect Dattoli's numbers are a bit around fitness/tank - the reason I say that is he is playing a real ROK like role (the comparison doesn't just stop with a similarity when viewed from afar) - all action and all effort in short bursts. He is playing like what you'd call a 'box to box' midfielder role in soccer. Based out of half forward but with a licence to roam. I suspect we are trying to limit ToG to some degree to maximise impact. I know it didn't quite come off for him on Saturday, but on another day he could easily have kicked a couple with the chances he did have - and his workrate while on there is top notch. He gets to a lot of contests consistently.

Going to be interesting to see what happens in the prelim, assuming its JMac that comes in. Surely we will wanting to keep his time managed in the Prelim if at all possible - so it might be that Dattoli seems some more ToG.

Kyle is just going to be a superstar - mark my words! There was more than a little passing resemblance to Marty Mattner in that tackle on Lohmann too....

[Auntie.Gerald]

Is everyone else still walking with a spring in their step this Monday morning

I can’t stop smiling ?

that was up there the game against Braibane

Seriously amazing !!!!!! ?

I’ve got Phil Collins “against all odds” song on repeat in my head…. I can’t stop singing that song ?

it is literally on repeat !!!! ?

https://youtu.be/UjDRcVJB-78?si=_1_NcW4EAJupetMN

[Auntie.Gerald]

And Tom Mc has gone strong re Mills

”we will win the next couple for him”

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DHU41JpgP/?mibextid=wwXIfr

wow wee !!!!