2023 Finals Series

[Nico]

I hope GWS wins the flag. They've come from nowhere in the second half of the season and are playing very good footy.

[barry]

Kingsley head made the giants likeable. When he first started and was using the stress ball, I thought, oh no, he's another Brett ratten.
But now he's on the bench, relaxed, statesmen-like, he seems like destiny is on his side.

- - - Updated - - -

1. GWS
2. Brisbane
3. Melbourne
4. Port
5. Carlton
6. Collingwood

[KTigers]

My preferences are identical to Barry's above. It's highly unlikely but I hope GWS can do it. Sorry folks but I really find all the GW$
and "Plastics" references pretty f... silly. Yes, they were given a bunch of draft picks, but we've been given far, far more including
the entire eastern suburbs, north shore and inner west as a supporter base. We get our players to read virtue signalling statements
about rejecting gambling sponsorship whilst having a crypto mob as a sponsor. Seriously. The club is so full of it sometimes.
Oh well, you can't have everything.
It's very unfortunate but I suspect Collingwood are the best team this year and their handout, having the GF played at their
home ground will help them across the line. Like I said, an unfortunate situation. Hopefully we can remedy it next year.

[goswannies]

Add to that Lindsay Fox's gloating when Paul Morwood and Silvio Fochini crossed to the Saints without a clearance.

No biggie for me. We got Paul back (though that’s offset by Jayson Daniels going back and forth the other way, I guess). We did lose Membey to them, who’s been a handy forward. But we got Cazaly, Lockett and Hall off them. And Andrew Dunkley played U19 & reserves with the Saints before making his way to us (via Tassie). And they did take a broken Dan Hannebery off us, while an equally broken Paddy McCartin came our way, I’d say we got far better value out of him, then they did out of Hanners. Sure, they got Dempster and Schneider and Zac Jones, but Craig O’Brien was pretty useful for us. And we probably got the best out of Trent Dennis Land and Fred Campbell before their careers dwindled at Moorabbin. On the whole, we’ve done alright from players crossing between the Swans and the Saints

[sharp9]

Who Do We Barrack for Now?

I thought that this would be easy for me but as I am watching games my SUB-CONSCIOUS keeps popping up and telling me who I really want to win. I don’t live in Sydney so perhaps I am spared some of the animus toward GWS. I’ve always kinda liked them ‘cos they’re from Sydney. Am I right? Also I really love what Kingsley is bringing. I was never a fan of the previous bloke who’s name escapes me. When you are watching a game and multiple times you look at the screen and go “Gee, whiz, I wish he played for us,” then it’s hard to hate them. Tom Green, Kelly, Himmelberg (didn’t he spend years trying to get out to Fremantle or something?) Taylor (OMG yes!) Idun, that Irish bloke (Brown??) Briggs, and my absolute Swans wish player from a few years ago, Callan Ward. Still can’t stand Whitfield. Yilch! On the other hand my wife barracks for St. Kilda and I was fully on board in 2010/2011. 1966 and all that. But, at the end of the day, I can’t stand Ross Lyon. I respect that he gets the best out of average troops but “You’re quite brilliant, Shane” says everything I need to know about him. I really like it when he loses. Just sayin’. I used to be really keen on Jack Steele. WTF has happened to him? So on to the next game. Always a had a soft spot for Melbourne from way back when Albee was coaching. I liked Garry and Neitz. Also wife’s first EVER game started with Farmer standing in a Richmond player’s head for one of the marks of the century. And the Paul Roos connection will remain as long as Goodwin is there, so nothing to hate. But they did win a couple of years ago - so they shuffle down the pack. Now, I’m finding it really, really hard to hate Collingwoodnthis year. I’ve tried, Lord knows I’ve tried. But he’ll I love Craig McRae. I want to hate the Daicos boys but I can’t. And I wish Beau MacCreary played for us. Where the hell did Nathan Murphy come from? Jamie Elliott is a genius and is genuinely not an asshole. A former Swan and an American in the ruck. And Jack Ginivan is taking his well earned medicine with class. On the other hand it’s nice to be able to just raid GWS’s midfield (Adams) and then totally rort the system (Quaynor) because you sooked it up over Buddy and Heney. I never, ever want anything good to happen to that Jordan tosser (on the field that is). Moore had the chance to choose us, didn’t he? His mistake and screw him. And if Eddie thinks I’ll EVER forgive him he is dreamin’. So no go for Collingwood, obviously….EXCEPT if they play Carlton, ‘cos I hate that mob with every fibre of my being. I can’t stand Michael Voss. He was a bully in the field and then a terrible coach first time round who had no business being in that seat. Can coach now but I still can’t stand him. So number 6 seeding for you!
Now I’ve always liked Brisbane. I remember the first year or so that I followed footy cheering them on when they made a huge late run into the finals with thingo from Carlton as coach…about 1996 I reckon. Walls! And then was fully behind them in their premiership years (even with Voss out front). There are so many fine players and seemingly good blokes (not Harris Andrew - yerck) Charlie, Neale, Big O, and lots of good kids - Wilmott, Fletcher, Robertson for a start. Coleman, love him. How did they get Berry for nothing?? (Well we got Buddy for nothing, no wait, Eddie orchestrated a ban for us NOT breaking the rules.) And I really love Chris Fagan. What a pathway he has taken and what a great coach he is. Anyway, so here I am watching halfway through the second quarter and my sub-conscious tells me that I want Port to win. Why??? In musing I realise that I just live Ken. So other things flow from that. They were in the @@@@ a few years ago and picked up 3 brilliant kids. They play without big egos and deserve everything they are getting. Normally I would want JHF to go down a rabbit hole for sooking it up and reaming the draft (essentially) at North but here I am
wishing him good things. What’s wrong with me? I’ve never liked Port. Ever. So I don’t know what’s happened to me but
1. Port Adelaide
2. Brisbane
3. GWS
4. Melbourne
5. Collingwood
6. Carlton

[Thunder Shaker]

1. Brisbane. Very watchable. Likeable players, most of whom I would have no trouble with if they played for us. Longest without a flag apart from Carlton.
2. Melbourne. A good side, a bit of an underdog.
3. GWS Giants. Yet to win a premiership. Nothing else to say really.
4. Collingwood. Second to fourth is fairly close. Would be ranked higher if they had fewer rough conduct charges at the Tribunal.
5. Port Adelaide. Poached Aliir. Where's the salary cap?
6. Carlton. Treat Sydney as a recruiting zone. Automatically disqualified after what they tried to do in the 1990s.

[rojo]

Am I reading it correctly that Collingwood is likely to face the Giants, and that the Lions will face whoever wins the Melb/Carlton game?

If so, with the Lions playing that match at home they should surely win. Then it would be up to the Giants/Port to topple Collingwood, which is a big ask. A Grand Final featuring the Lions v the Giants would be so sweet?

[KTigers]

Great story in the SMH about Toby Bedford. 18 games in four years at Melbourne, about to play his 18th game this
year at the Giants, who got him for a bag of chips. Has to be the recruit of year.

[MattW]

Re Maynard / Brayshaw:

- agree with Whateley here: https://twitter.com/FOXFOOTY/status/...uy7qk1sw&s=19; and

- Lyon and where Scott got to here: https://twitter.com/FOXFOOTY/status/...GRnGcFeyQ&s=19.

[barry]

If Maynard gets anything less than 3 weeks, then the AFL is corrupt.

Also Michael Christian must resign

[Thunder Shaker]

GWS will not fear travelling to Adelaide for a semi final. They have won games at 11 different venues this year.

[liz]

Everything that truly matters - and what doesn't - ahead of the biggest AFL Tribunal case in years

Whately irritates me more often than not, particularly when gets going on umpiring or score review or tribunal issues. But I think this piece is good. He doesn't give an opinion on whether Maynard will or should get suspended, but instead focuses on the questions that need to be asked and answered.

My gut feeling remains that Maynard will be cleared because I think the prevailing "vibe" in the game is still that you are entitled to contest the ball in any legitimate way, regardless of consequences. And I think Maynard's initial attempt to smother was legitimate, and that he likely couldn't control his body after that.

But if he is cleared, I also have no problem with the sport moving the goal posts going forward to effectively outlaw what Maynard did. I'm just not sure how far you take it. You can say that once you choose to leave the ground you have to be aware that you will not be in control of your body and you are culpable for any injury that arises. But what does that do for marking contests, which are a defining feature of our sport?

And what do you do about a Tom McCartin / Shane McAdam case? Does McCartin lose his right to keep his eye on the ball and track it as it bounces? Is he obliged to be more aware of who is around him?

There was another good piece -that also failed to offer an opinion on what should happen to Maynard but is none the less interesting for that - in yesterday's Guardian.

Concussion an issue AFL can’t afford to smother | AFL | The Guardian

[barry]

If you are going to consider what Maynard did as a smother, then you need to consider he got no where near the ball. In an equivalent marking contest it would be called 'an unrealistic attempt'.

I don't think the smother should come into it,.which removes the 'football act' argument completely.

[neilfws]

If you are going to consider what Maynard did as a smother, then you need to consider he got no where near the ball.

I certainly thought it was a very poor attempt at a smother. An effective smother is when a player runs in from the side and launches low and horizontally, close to the ball just as it leaves the boot. To me this looked like "being seen to attempt something" rather than a realistic effort. But then players "leap in hope" all the time.

There is so much debate around this one, very difficult to say which way the ruling will go. I can see the case for "footy act gone wrong" and also for "careless and consequences could have been foreseen".

[Sandridge]

If Maynard gets anything less than 3 weeks, then the AFL is corrupt.

Also Michael Christian must resign

Maynard got off and is free to play in the Preliminary Final. Now everyone knows how to take out an opposition's star player.