Round 4: the other games. Our work here is done.

[Thunder Shaker]

It's hard to say what's up with them. It could be the slow start that teams who go deep into the finals often have; since they're still bashing away, while other teams are already recovering from the season. But on the other hand, many teams seem keen to move the ball quicker, to take advantage of the new rules. Geelong don't seem to be interested in doing that. Maybe they think a slower style suits their players better? Maybe it shows a lack of imagination? Who knows? Perhaps somebody should ask Chris Scott at his press conference?

I've been expecting Geelong to make a significant fall down the ladder in the next couple of years, as in not making the finals. All their best players are over 30 and retirements and injuries will take their toll. I wasn't expecting it to happen this year, but it could already be happening.

Geelong's recruitment has been short-term, focused on "win the flag now", without considering that their prospects in the longer term are dire. After their aging stars retire with no young players to replace them, I expect they will finish close to the bottom four in the next few years.

[i'm-uninformed2]

Whoops, accidentally pushed post. I'll continue.

While I can grudgingly accept players accentuating contact that has actually occurred, I really don't like them pretending that contact has occurred. It's just cheating and should be punished.

The other incident happened earlier in the game, when Selwood was penalised for a high tackle on Spargo. However, replays showed that Spargo had thrown his head back, as if it had been hit, well before any contact had been made. Then when contact was made, it didn't appear to be around the head. At first, I had a bit of a chuckle, at Selwood being penalised for a high tackle, but then I thought, no, that sort of blatant staging should be punished.

Selwood would have sacrificed every dollar he’s ever made in footy from those sort of fines

[barry]

Was it the Crows that eliminated us from the finals that year, at the SCG of all places? Very heartbreaking season.

I cant remember without looking it up. All I recall is we kind of limped into the finals, and were out pretty quick. Premiership success looked another 70 years away at that point....

[liz]

I cant remember without looking it up. All I recall is we kind of limped into the finals, and were out pretty quick. Premiership success looked another 70 years away at that point....

Paul Kelly injuring his ACL part way through that season was a major reason why we fell away that year. He was by far our most important player (even more so than Lockett).

[dejavoodoo44]

Selwood would have sacrificed every dollar he’s ever made in footy from those sort of fines

Yes and no. While I do think that Selwood constantly milks high contact frees, there's a difference in what he often does and what Spargo did yesterday. Spargo threw his back without any contact being made. Whereas Selwood tends to have a method of turning chest high contact, into a high contact free. Which has the components of: lowering his body; pushing his arms out, to force the tackler's arm upwards, and/or moving his head towards the tackler, then moving it away if contact is made m

Which isn't actually blatant staging, because there's usually contact to the head. It's more that he's willing to take minor blows to the head, in order to exploit a rule that was designed to protect against dangerous blows to the head. Not sure if he should be fined for his method, but umpires should be aware of his tactics and only award him frees for genuine whacks.

[Doctor J.]

Was it the Crows that eliminated us from the finals that year, at the SCG of all places? Very heartbreaking season.

Peter Friggin Vardy of all people kicking 5 goals.

[Doctor J.]

I cant remember without looking it up. All I recall is we kind of limped into the finals, and were out pretty quick. Premiership success looked another 70 years away at that point....

Yeah beat ST Kilda by 1point (or was it 2) in the first final and then lost to Adelaide who had been smashed by Melbourne the week before.
Ridiculous finals system in use in those days.

[barry]

Adelaide had a good finals run. 4 straight finals on the road, and a grand final against a Vic side that hasn't been further than 5 km from home all September.

[Thunder Shaker]

Speaking of Adelaide, they have the round 4 Rising Star nomination, Lachie Sholl.

[KSAS]

Was it the Crows that eliminated us from the finals that year, at the SCG of all places? Very heartbreaking season.

Yes it was by my memory but Kelly didn't retire till end of 2002 season along with Dunkley when they both chaired off in the final game against Richmond. Roos was care taker coach following Eade's mid season sacking. Choose Roos campaign followed (instead of Wallace appointment).

Locket made comeback in 2001 but was cut short due to serious corked thigh injury. We had recruited Barry Hall by then as well.

[KTigers]

Yes it was by my memory but Kelly didn't retire till end of 2002 season along with Dunkley when they both chaired off in the final game against Richmond.

Yes, it was at the Grand Old Lady of Australian Sport no less. Barry Hall kicked 5.

[barry]

Yes, it was at the Grand Old Lady of Australian Sport no less. Barry Hall kicked 5.

What a game, what a ground.

[mcs]

What a game, what a ground.

roflroflroflrofl

[The Great One]

Yes and no. While I do think that Selwood constantly milks high contact frees, there's a difference in what he often does and what Spargo did yesterday. Spargo threw his back without any contact being made. Whereas Selwood tends to have a method of turning chest high contact, into a high contact free. Which has the components of: lowering his body; pushing his arms out, to force the tackler's arm upwards, and/or moving his head towards the tackler, then moving it away if contact is made m

Which isn't actually blatant staging, because there's usually contact to the head. It's more that he's willing to take minor blows to the head, in order to exploit a rule that was designed to protect against dangerous blows to the head. Not sure if he should be fined for his method, but umpires should be aware of his tactics and only award him frees for genuine whacks.

Perhaps we should christen Selwood "The Milkman". Ad you say he has perfected the art of turning minimal contact into high tackle frees. Been doing for years

[KTigers]

Perhaps we should christen Selwood "The Milkman". Ad you say he has perfected the art of turning minimal contact into high tackle frees. Been doing for years

There were some stats going around a few years ago that showed the top three "frees for" players for a particular period
were three of the Selwood brothers. Coincidence? Nope. They practiced for them.