GFC gameday thread

[Melbourne_Blood]

You would rather play Geelong than Collingwood in a GF? Seriously ?

[stellation]

That was a strange game to watch. I don't normally feel hard done by with umpires, but I did feel that they were absolutely right there and trigger happy for every free that could potentially go to Geelong and reluctant to award them to us.

Hard to praise or be critical after a game about that... and it might just be the beer... but... Craig Bird has started to kind of @@@@ me this year.

[Melbournehammer]

Yes, I am serious.

We should know what to expect. We are up against the league champs in drawing free kicks and it's their home ground. The ump is only waiting to exhale whenever the ball comes into Selwood's vicinity. When you are desperate to just hold on to possession, this is what happens. They were constantly a couple of steps ahead of us.

We got slaughtered in all the key indicators, possessions, tackles, inside 50s. Not just the free kick count.

Ludwig is clearly correct. We lost because we repeatedly made dumb decisions, and because they clearly are Better than us both inside and outside.

If I was them I'd put Hawkins a way for 2013.

[Foreign Legion]

Yes MB - absolutely - Collingwood have an X factor that I can't explain, over us. Geelong at the G are much different from Kardinia Park.

BTW their 'record' at the ground is total crap - they only play the non-victorian sides there. When was the last time they played any of Collingwood/Essendon/Richmond/Hawthorn etc etc there?

It is a 'false' record.

[annew]

Now that 4th is a lock, we can rest up next week and get ready for the replay at the MCG.
We have no chance of beating this lot, but maybe Freo can.
At least we get to play Hawthorn on a Friday night in week one of the the finals, which is the best result possible for us.
Our form is a worry, but what can you do? We just have to hope that something clicks in once finals start.

I agree plus we did lose to Collingwood, Geelong and Hawthorn in the last 4 rounds last year. Hard to go back to back, and if you include Shaw as he was out early there were 9 players from the premiership team missing. Hoe we can at least win one final and get to the prelim

[Melbournehammer]

That was a strange game to watch. I don't normally feel hard done by with umpires, but I did feel that they were absolutely right there and trigger happy for every free that could potentially go to Geelong and reluctant to award them to us.

Hard to praise or be critical after a game about that... and it might just be the beer... but... Craig Bird has started to kind of @@@@ me this year.

Craig birds kicking has not improved over the course of his career. He still gets. Under the ball too often and lacks penetration on the kick. But when he plays hff he lacks speed to keep the ball in and can't get free as a player. He becomes very one dimensional.

[Ludwig]

Ludwig - do you think that Geelong would have done the same at ANY other ground than Kardinia Park?

Its like the Eagles at home there - whistle and give the ball to the home team. They are NOT that good - I would rather play them in the GF than Hawthorn or Collingwood.

Well, if they're not that good, then what does that say about us? I actually think they are the form team at the moment.

They certainly got the better of free kicks, but we were totally outplayed. They seemed to be playing with double the number of players we had. They got more players to the contest, but still seem to outnumber us all over the ground. We were really slow.

[Melbournehammer]

Well, if they're not that good, then what does that say about us? I actually think they are the form team at the moment.

They certainly got the better of free kicks, but we were totally outplayed. They seemed to be playing with double the number of players we had. They got more players to the contest, but still seem to outnumber us all over the ground. We were really slow.

I've been saying for a few weeks now that I think it is gee longs flag to lose. They have too much pace for hawthorn a nd lonergan and Taylor as well as Jackie and rivers make it very hard to score against.

Things can still go wrong on. Any particular night but I do think we are about 6th in line for the flag as it stands. Just hope we don't go out in straight sets

[hot potato]

A masterclass by the Cats. Made Sydney look very inferior, who usually fight back but They were not allowed to tonight.
McVeigh was fantastic though, he's so polished , makes many of the others look very average. Cats supporters must love going to SS.
They look like the Premiers this year . Hawks unimpressive against Roos.

HP

[Foreign Legion]

Agree, we were @@@@ - but we should be with the injuries we have. Shaw played no part and Hannebery and Smith were clearly injured during the game. Easy to get sucked in at Geelong - have you witnessed a game there?

There will be no finals played at Kardinia Park. Anyone who compares this team to their previous Premiership teams is not thinking straight. Hawkins - injured. Podsiadly - just going and can't run. No ruckman of note.

Yeah they looked good but I reckon away from home they will be exposed. Wait and see.

YES were terrible. We won't win the flag - too many injuries this year.

[Bloodthirsty]

Injury has @@@@@@ us. If we had a full squad we'd probably beat sitting undefeated on the top of the ladder, and unbeatable. But we constantly have to rearrange the team to cover for injuries.

[crackedactor]

new rules

Well, if they're not that good, then what does that say about us? I actually think they are the form team at the moment.

They certainly got the better of free kicks, but we were totally outplayed. They seemed to be playing with double the number of players we had. They got more players to the contest, but still seem to outnumber us all over the ground. We were really slow.

New rule was introduced today. I see you can take a player to the ground regardless if he has the ball or not. I think I seen this at least 20 times today that a swans player was taken out before he could even enter the contest and not one free kick was paid, amazing what they can get away with. Must be a new rule I did not hear about or is this just a Kardinia Park rule?

I hope this new rule does not apply in the finals!!

[Foreign Legion]

Injury has @@@@@@ us. If we had a full squad we'd probably beat sitting undefeated on the top of the ladder, and unbeatable. But we constantly have to rearrange the team to cover for injuries.

Agree, maybe we need Stephen Dank to help us LOL - joke only!!

[Bloodthirsty]

New rule was introduced today. I see you can take a player to the ground regardless if he has the ball or not. I think I seen this at least 20 times today that a swans player was taken out before he could even enter the contest and not one free kick was paid, amazing what they can get away with. Must be a new rule I did not hear about or is this just a Kardinia Park rule?

I hope this new rule does not apply in the finals!!

I noticed this too. It seems that pressure football is confused with 'just constantly infringe' football, but hey, Geelong can do whatever they like.

- - - Updated - - -

I see no difference between the this Swans team and the Swans teams of previous years that gallantly made the finals only to be clearly making up the numbers.

[Auntie.Gerald]

i thought that we contained the tsunami that is Gellong for most of the game

but the Cats are a long way ahead of where we need to be to win a GF in my opinion !