Encouragement or Kiss of Death?

[YvonneH]

I was at home in Australia for the 2005 and 2012 Grand Finals and away overseas for the 2014 and 2016 Grand Finals.
Will be home in 2017 so here's hoping my form of winning at home holds fast.

[S.S. Bleeder]

From reading various articles it seems like the majority have selected us to be runners up again. I don't think I can handle another grand final loss ????.

I hate seeing footage/photos of the bulldogs from the GF. I mute the tv and turn away!

Sent from my HTC_PN071 using Tapatalk

Same here. That loss has really eaten at me. 2014 was bad but we didn't deserve that because of the way we played/Hawthorn played. But last years loss was because of pathetic umpiring. That should have been our premiership. We were robbed and that makes it ten times more painful.

[Wardy]

But I have to say whilst Stevic @@@@@@ it up for us (big time) the doggies supporters were far more gracious than hawthorn supporters would have been.

[Meg]

But I have to say whilst Stevic @@@@@@ it up for us (big time) the doggies supporters were far more gracious than hawthorn supporters would have been.

+1,000!

[mcs]

I'll be overseas during the finals season this year as well. So between the two of us we should get the Swans over the line! ??

If only I wasn't saving for our trip, then I'd be running down to the TAB to have some $$$$ on it (after all, the AFL condones gambling so heavily)

[mcs]

But I have to say whilst Stevic @@@@@@ it up for us (big time) the doggies supporters were far more gracious than hawthorn supporters would have been.

That is true Wardy, although I've run into a few unsavoury arrogant Bulldogs fans that think its the dawn of a dynasty - but every club has a group of those, and nowhere near the feral Hawks fans we've seen in recent years

As for Stevic - he will be hearing at close range my views on his 2016 'fix' at the first game I go to this season in which he is officiating - surely they won't be silly enough to give him our game on Saturday

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North have been very competitive over a number of seasons and this will continue. Collingwood has been a 10 win team for a number of seasons and Essendon will be the great improvers as they have a lot to prove.

GWS to Usain Bolt the pack.

It's going to be a great and exciting season for the fans.

North have lost a huge pile of experience, and despite some ok pre-season performances, they will go a fair way backwards this season. I don't think their young guys are anything special either.

I agree with Mug that port and Collingwood on paper have very poor looking lists.

[Blue Sun]

I will be away for the grand final too - well not away as such - not going to Melbourne because I have to attend a wedding !!!!!!!!! Yes a member of my extended family is having her wedding on grand final day ????????????????????????????????I asked her if she bollocking crazy - but I reckon we will win because I won't be at the "G" !!!

It might be a bit early to lament having other plans for GF day.

[dimelb]

I was at home in Australia for the 2005 and 2012 Grand Finals and away overseas for the 2014 and 2016 Grand Finals.
Will be home in 2017 so here's hoping my form of winning at home holds fast.

Yvonne, I'm glad you've got the home and away stuff sorted out.

[Mel]

I was at home in Australia for the 2005 and 2012 Grand Finals and away overseas for the 2014 and 2016 Grand Finals.
Will be home in 2017 so here's hoping my form of winning at home holds fast.

I'm the same. I should have known that last year was ill-fated. My GF history:

1996: Brother got married - couldn't go (that marriage didn't last either)
2005: I was at the GF
2006: Knocked up and unable to travel to the GF
2012: I was at the GF
2014: Building a house, flat broke and unable to afford the GF
2016: Overseas, not at the GF

I'll be around this year and should be able to scrape a few $$ together to get down to Melbourne. We're in with a chance - seems they can't do it without me!

[Wardy]

It might be a bit early to lament having other plans for GF day.

clearly you are new around here - I'm known for booking leave in April for grand final weekend!! So I'm serious when I say - if we get to the 2017 Grand Final - even though I'm premiership club and guaranteed a ticket - I CANT GO!!!! No lamenting about it!!!

[Wardy]

[QUOTE=mcs;718743]That is true Wardy, although I've run into a few unsavoury arrogant Bulldogs fans that think its the dawn of a dynasty - but every club has a group of those, and nowhere near the feral Hawks fans we've seen in recent years

As for Stevic - he will be hearing at close range my views on his 2016 'fix' at the first game I go to this season in which he is officiating - surely they won't be silly enough to give him our game on Saturday

GIVE THAT DICK@@@@ A MASSIVE SERVE MCS - it's your community service darl !!!! ????????

[The Big Cat]

ESPN have run the variables (team, draw, oppositon) 10,000 times and have come up with the most likely ladder at the end of the year. It could be a gut-wrenching year again! Have a look:

Footy Forensics introduces advanced AFL Elo-based ladder prediction rankings statistics

[mcs]

GIVE THAT DICK@@@@ A MASSIVE SERVE MCS - it's your community service darl !!!! ????????

Don't you worry Wardy, if we get him on Saturday, I'll be waiting at the Umpires race to let him know well and truly what I thought of his 'performance' that day in September!

I see it as part of the healing process from that day last year. I'll be doing the same for the other donkeys as well when I run into them around the grounds as well. Only once all 3 of the ground umpires know what I feel will I be ready to move on

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I'm the same. I should have known that last year was ill-fated. My GF history:

1996: Brother got married - couldn't go (that marriage didn't last either)
2005: I was at the GF
2006: Knocked up and unable to travel to the GF
2012: I was at the GF
2014: Building a house, flat broke and unable to afford the GF
2016: Overseas, not at the GF

I'll be around this year and should be able to scrape a few $$ together to get down to Melbourne. We're in with a chance - seems they can't do it without me!

If you don't have access to a ticket/need an additional one Mel, your welcome to make use of my Premiership Club barcode You may well just be our boys lucky charm!

[dejavoodoo44]

Don't you worry Wardy, if we get him on Saturday, I'll be waiting at the Umpires race to let him know well and truly what I thought of his 'performance' that day in September!

Perhaps you can slide in below his knees as he's running off? Just to demonstrate, why changing the season's interpretation of the sliding rule, on grand final day, wasn't a good idea.

[Hartijon]

I still harbour outrage at the GF result.I admire the way the boys are "moving on" but I can not. In the rule book there is no special section for how to umpire a GF .The swans will not be allowed to win a GF .