I think our 2nd Qualifying Final would've been scheduled on Thursday night had Papley not been concussed. It makes sense as the loser would then have a additional day's rest over the winner of the 2nd elimination final for the 2nd week, like it has been set up on the other side of the finals draw.Originally Posted by Aaron
But rather forgo this day's rest advantage to enable Papley to play and won't be an issue anyway if we beat Melbourne! Go Bloods!!!
Yes, it is bloody exciting!
We're finals bound, and it's Bloody Exciting. - YouTube
Agreed.
All opinions are not equal. Some are a very great deal more robust, sophisticated, and well supported in logic and argument than others. -Douglas Adams, author (11 Mar 1952-2001)
Round 12 the Swans were successful at the MCG 9/10 to 7/13.
Franklin was suspended; and May was injured for the game.
Other changes from our R23 team were Ladhams played instead of Hickey; the 3 other changes were Amarty, Wicks and O'Riordan, replaced (currently) by Franklin, Clarke, Stephens
In Franklins absence, Reid kicked 3/1, McDonald 3/2 , Papley 2/1 and Heeney1/2. Gulden snagged his usual 1!
Melbourne goal kickers were Gawn 3/1, Fritsch 3/0, Jackson 1/1.
As someone has observed, their height will challenge our defence. Their wingmen that day (Langdon and Jordan) both scored goals, so hopefully Stephens and McInerney can negate.
But to revert to my first comment - Franklin V May!!
Richmond: Their recent form has been excellent. Since the end of April, they've won 11 games, drew one and lost four. Those four losses have been by a total of 15 points. I would not want to meet them in a semi final.
Brisbane: We have only beaten them once in the past four years (by 31 points in round 1 last year). I want to avoid them too.
So we must defeat Melbourne. I would rather have a finals series where we play the other top four sides than meeting any of the bottom eight.
Here's why. The form of top four sides against the other top four sides:
Geelong: Sydney (L 30), Collingwood (W 13), Melbourne (W 28).
Melbourne: Sydney (L 12), Collingwood (L 26), Geelong (L 28), Collingwood (L 7).
Sydney: Geelong (W 30), Melbourne (W 12), Collingwood (W 27).
Collingwood: Geelong (L 13), Melbourne (W 26), Melbourne (W 7), Sydney (L 27).
It's possible to produce a form ladder for the top four sides. Accounting for Melbourne playing Collingwood twice by making these worth half as much as the other games, the form ladder for the top four sides looks like this:
Sydney 3-0
Geelong 2-1
Collingwood 1-2
Melbourne 0-3.
So yes, we must defeat Melbourne - if we do, we shouldn't fear anyone else.
"Unbelievable!" -- Nick Davis leaves his mark on the 2005 semi final
I'm glad we aren't the first game this weekend but it would make it easier to know who to barrack for tonight, or more accurately, who I want to lose
If I wasn't concerned about our path I would like the Lions to win although a loss would have a certain schadenfreude about it.
Watching the 2022 Premiers (according to most media) lose to the Pies would also be fun but it means the Pies would win, talking about being conflicted
"Fortunately, this is the internet, so knowing nothing is no obstacle to having an opinion!." Beerman 18-07-2017
I think we need the Cats to end the notion of the Collingwood fairytale scenario. It will be at 2016 levels in Vic if they win on Saturday. The Cats can then get beaten in the Prelim so I can see the look on Brad Scotts' face. I don't mind the Cats so much but not a fan of the coach at all.I'm glad we aren't the first game this weekend but it would make it easier to know who to barrack for tonight, or more accurately, who I want to lose
If I wasn't concerned about our path I would like the Lions to win although a loss would have a certain schadenfreude about it.
Watching the 2022 Premiers (according to most media) lose to the Pies would also be fun but it means the Pies would win, talking about being conflicted
I like the sound of that. Dees beat Cats in the prelim and we get to face off against them again in the granny. Done.
All opinions are not equal. Some are a very great deal more robust, sophisticated, and well supported in logic and argument than others. -Douglas Adams, author (11 Mar 1952-2001)
Cats will roll Collingwood easily for mine. They aren't that good - despite they gazillion game winning streak, where 0 came up on the roulette wheel about 8 times. Cats choke will come in the prelim - they only have to see how we beat them to show how to make Collingwood completely uncomfortable. The effort will be there from Collingwood, but if the game isn't on their terms (or they are playing a bunch of chokers like Carlton) they'll be shown up to be the pretenders they are. Still wouldn't surprise me if they make a prelim (given they'd get either Freo or the Fairypups in week 2), but I don't think, unless the fairytale extends to fairypuppyesque umpiring on a grand stage that they can win flag.
"You get the feeling that like Monty Python's Black Knight, the Swans would regard amputation as merely a flesh wound."
I agree with the Geelong/Collingwood assessment.....serious team v pretenders.
On the fairytale stuff, this is what I was implying on another thread re: Gil anointing them as this years 'fairytale' (he did not use that exact word but he may as well have)......that sort of crap gets into the umpires heads. We all saw what happened in 2016 when the umpires went into the GF with a 'narrative' firmly planted in their Victorian based brains.
The only thing I fear is the Victorian umpires. It looks like its Collingwood's turn to be the AFL's darling.
Robbo (don't know his full name) actually said fairytale on AFL 360 in reference to the Pies. It made me a little nauseous
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks