Prelim vs Dockers

[stellation]

7 quarters of exciting finals footy; they should all be proud of their efforts.

I can’t imagine the emotional pressure the team has been under over the past month, hopefully they get an opportunity to get away from the club and reset a little.

[lwjoyner]

forgot to mention the posters i can remember 3 (cc,hmc,tp) and i may have forgotten some

[dejavoodoo44]

I think one thing that's been proven over the last few weeks, is that Cox is a quality AFL coach.

https://youtube.com/shorts/BudcSorLld8?si=HZx_FBhHMWJQvQ4P

[crackedactor 01]

Agree 100% !!

Eight free kicks to one in the last quarter was disgusting. This is our home ground advantage. It would only happen to the Swans as usual.

[Velour&Ruffles]

We got closer last night than we did in round 18, when the team included Heeney, Blakey, Warner and Jordon (and Mills, different circumstances obviously). A hell of a good performance by an undermanned team.
With a little luck, a couple of different choices and fewer posters, we could have won last night. I can’t feel bitter though - the last two matches have exceeded my wildest expectations and reinforced that the club will get through the current challenge.
I do think that had we pulled off a win last night we’d have struggled in the GF. History is littered with teams that have nothing left for the GF because they gave everything to get there.
It’s bittersweet but I think we should all be very proud of our team.

[Kafka's Ghost]

We got closer last night than we did in round 18, when the team included Heeney, Blakey, Warner and Jordon (and Mills, different circumstances obviously). A hell of a good performance by an undermanned team.
With a little luck, a couple of different choices and fewer posters, we could have won last night. I can’t feel bitter though - the last two matches have exceeded my wildest expectations and reinforced that the club will get through the current challenge.
I do think that had we pulled off a win last night we’d have struggled in the GF. History is littered with teams that have nothing left for the GF because they gave everything to get there.
It’s bittersweet but I think we should all be very proud of our team.

100% Proud of what this team has achieved despite being put through the wringer. But we’d have been in strife next week if those four posters had gone through the goals instead. Pretty sure Papley wouldn’t have been fit after the most putrid non-decision of the night. Glad Cox mentioned it in his presser.
In other news, have just heard that Chad has knocked back overtures from the west and wants to stay with Sydney and earn everyone’s trust and respect back. Those five party boys will be hurting badly knowing how much they’ve let everyone down, including themselves.

[mcs]

Gosh that was a massive effort and we got damn close. Just hit the wall in the last, and hadn't quite taken advantage of our chances earlier on. Freo got a sniff, took their chances and got carried home on the momentum. Helped in no small bit by the usual questionable mix of umpiring calls (and in parts lack there of) in the last - although we had a decent run of it in the first half too, so it probably evened out over the night. Did not enjoy the flashback to 2016 with Paps however - that was arguably a big turning point in the game.

Cox and those boys deserve huge credit for the way they bounced back from the idiotic actions of a few. Did us very proud - and I would like to think they may have rediscovered the type of footy to play that can win the flag sooner rather than later in the process.

Freo will get their butts handed to them next week if they play anything like they did last night. Had to rely on individual brilliance from a few to get them home. Big talls basically anonymous for large parts of the game. Not sure they have a winning score in them on grand final day of that is repeated.

Great atmosphere at the SCG too - genuinely hostile and up for it, was great to see. Still some odd bods - including a group near us that must have thought they had bought tickets to go to church, such was their whining all night because some passion was on show by others. Had the energy of a wet lettuce leaf then left whinging that others had ruined their night. Very, very strange.

[Sandridge]

We got closer last night than we did in round 18, when the team included Heeney, Blakey, Warner and Jordon (and Mills, different circumstances obviously). A hell of a good performance by an undermanned team.
With a little luck, a couple of different choices and fewer posters, we could have won last night. I can’t feel bitter though - the last two matches have exceeded my wildest expectations and reinforced that the club will get through the current challenge.
I do think that had we pulled off a win last night we’d have struggled in the GF. History is littered with teams that have nothing left for the GF because they gave everything to get there.
It’s bittersweet but I think we should all be very proud of our team.

Great post V and R ! The club and our supporters responded magnificently to the drama of the last month!

So, so much to be proud of!

GO BLOODS!

[Daisi]

Really proud of the club for overcoming the odds and getting to a prelim. I doubt we would have gone further even with the 5. There were some worrying signs during the season that the spirit wasn't there. I think we have now rediscovered a new brand of footy,and a club ethos that will make us stronger.

I think I'd welcome Warner back. He's 25, he's young enough to learn from mistakes and become a better person and player for the experience. He seems to want to stay too. I'm not too sure about the others.

I'd like to ask that we can sit in our usual seats for finals. I was surrounded by silent newbies and a couple who just ignored the game and chatted about other stuff all throughout , it really ruined the atmosphere. I was in a fairly quiet Brewongle stand. I'd really prefer to be with my usual footy neighbours who go every week, know the game and players and sing for every goal.

I think we've found some good players. Dattoli was far too inexperienced for this game, but he'll learn. Sheldrick tried his heart out and will improve, our backline has been a liability for some time, we need a really good backman. Probably should have moved heaven and earth to keep Alir.

Anyway, onwards to victory next year after a tumultuous end of season with highs and lows and everything in between. Who would have expected so much emotion laden performances and dramas six weeks ago?

Again thanks to all here who comment with great insight. I learn something every week from you all.

[imuninformedtwo]

I think one thing that's be proven over the last few weeks, is that Cox is a quality AFL coach.

https://youtube.com/shorts/BudcSorLl...x_FBhHMWJQvQ4P

We are in such good hands. The mental turmoil he must have gone through since that morning in the foyer at the Pullman, we could never imagine. To compose himself and give us a shot at making a GF till effectively one minute to go is genuinely one of the great coaching performances. We’re lucky to have him.

[dejavoodoo44]

We are in such good hands. The mental turmoil he must have gone through since that morning in the foyer at the Pullman, we could never imagine. To compose himself and give us a shot at making a GF till effectively one minute to go is genuinely one of the great coaching performances. We’re lucky to have him.

And let's hope that no more of our assistant coaches are tempted away. I particularly hope that Malceski stays, as I was impressed with what he did with the VFL side.

[neilfws]

Great game in perfect conditions. Cannot fault the force of the crowd, willing them on! Quite a few Freo supporters too, in good voice.

I tend to agree with the broad consensus here; it was a great effort but they just ran out of gas in the final quarter, and the pressure eventually got to the second-tier players, causing enough cracks. Almost thought extra time was a possibility at one point when Papley kicked out of congestion, but it just found the post and wasn't to be.

All credit to Cox, the coaching staff and player group for finding a way to hold it all together and play some of their best footy. I guess sometimes a bad situation is an opportunity for the true spirit of a team to shine through and I think fans and commentators alike have seen that in recent weeks.

I hope the ugly mess gets resolved as soon as possible in the off season, and we can look forward to a more "normal" 2027.

[111431]

Great game in perfect conditions. Cannot fault the force of the crowd, willing them on! Quite a few Freo supporters too, in good voice.

I tend to agree with the broad consensus here; it was a great effort but they just ran out of gas in the final quarter, and the pressure eventually got to the second-tier players, causing enough cracks. Almost thought extra time was a possibility at one point when Papley kicked out of congestion, but it just found the post and wasn't to be.

All credit to Cox, the coaching staff and player group for finding a way to hold it all together and play some of their best footy. I guess sometimes a bad situation is an opportunity for the true spirit of a team to shine through and I think fans and commentators alike have seen that in recent weeks.

I hope the ugly mess gets resolved as soon as possible in the off season, and we can look forward to a more "normal" 2027.

Fully agree. The team got the most they could out of themselves in the most extreme circumstances. They’ve rediscovered the bloods culture and long may it never be forgotten.

congratulations on an amazing last month

[Kafka's Ghost]

Really proud of the club for overcoming the odds and getting to a prelim. I doubt we would have gone further even with the 5. There were some worrying signs during the season that the spirit wasn't there. I think we have now rediscovered a new brand of footy,and a club ethos that will make us stronger.

I think I'd welcome Warner back. He's 25, he's young enough to learn from mistakes and become a better person and player for the experience. He seems to want to stay too. I'm not too sure about the others.

I'd like to ask that we can sit in our usual seats for finals. I was surrounded by silent newbies and a couple who just ignored the game and chatted about other stuff all throughout , it really ruined the atmosphere. I was in a fairly quiet Brewongle stand. I'd really prefer to be with my usual footy neighbours who go every week, know the game and players and sing for every goal.

I think we've found some good players. Dattoli was far too inexperienced for this game, but he'll learn. Sheldrick tried his heart out and will improve, our backline has been a liability for some time, we need a really good backman. Probably should have moved heaven and earth to keep Alir.

Anyway, onwards to victory next year after a tumultuous end of season with highs and lows and everything in between. Who would have expected so much emotion laden performances and dramas six weeks ago?

Again thanks to all here who comment with great insight. I learn something every week from you all.

I do think we’ve found a good defender in Will Edwards. Other than the five, we were effectively another four first choice players down once Papley was injured too. A tremendous effort to be in this game until the last 30 seconds.

[Swannette]

Agree with the sentiment expressed by most - our boys just ran out of gas after giving it their all and I couldn’t be prouder. Doubt we would have won it next week and the pain of a third GF belting would have been too much. I noticed the club issued at least 2 posts thanking the crowd/fans with a simple tag line of we see you, we hear you. That speaks volumes to me as to the clubs’ recognition of our role in moving forward. We showed our collective willingness to trust again and they appreciate it. Onwards to 2027.