AFL 2021
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@barbarian I’m not big on the whole Premiership window thing. I am a Saints fan after all
Seriously though, you need a lot of things go your way on top of the talent to win one. Especially when there are ‘dynasty’ type teams up the top too (eg Richmond).
I think back to the Swans and West Coast in 2005 and 2006. Let’s face it, either of those sides were talented enough to win either of those years, but a bit of luck not only in the game, but the other finals games certainly helped the cause.
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@act-crusader i think the "window" absolutely exists in a general way.
But all it provides is an opportunity, you still need a bunch to go your way to win the whole thing. Which is why i never view a season as having one success and 17 failures.
But it can be bucked, not sure the 'dogs were considered "in the window" before they pinched one.
I just think Cameron and the way he wants to play football has actually held back that side. It's funny that he will probably be sacked with the least talented side he has had.
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@mariner4life I agree the window is more of a general concept.
I suppose to flesh it out a bit more, it's rare to have a really talented list at the peak of their powers and when you have it you need to make it count. That doesn't have to be flag success, but at least a consistent string of finals appearances.
GWS have had that, and apart from 2019 you'd say they haven't had the success they should have. And now it seems things are on the slide, and so you look back at the last three years and maybe see it as a lost opportunity to achieve something.
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Swansea get the raising star nom two weeks in a row, young boys doing good!
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@mariner4life said in AFL 2021:
@barbarian said in AFL 2021:
@mariner4life Leon Cameron won't get past round six. GWS made what I think is a pretty average Freo side look like world beaters.
Went to the SCG to watch Swans vs Adelaide, was a lovely afternoon. Nice to be back at the footy. Buddy did enough to suggest there's still some life in him yet, but he was pretty gassed for most of the game. I don't think Sydney make the eight but man they look like another era of premiership contention is right around the corner.
yep Swans fans should be excited about the talent they look to be developing. Buddy has barely trained, and will barely train, so it's going to take a while for him to have a full-game impact.
Cameron has been hanging on to that job for a while, not sure many GWS fans will mourn his passing
And i see the Lions got the dreaded "yeah we fucked up" ref admission. Always makes everyone feel so much better.
Are there any?
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After. The. Siren!!!!!!
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Collingwood fans will be gnashing what few teeth they have.
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Great game. What a finish. And by christ did.the lions need that.
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@antipodean said in AFL 2021:
Collingwood fans will be gnashing what few teeth they have.
My antipodean dossier of hate speech examples grows everyday young man. It'll be a thing one day
. The dentally challenged will have their day!Fucken Fitzroy fags.
Anyone want a gobby yank that can't catch? He sells a bit of merch stateside if that helps...
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Brisbane have the Bulldogs next weekend and I was going to comment that's a tough start, but
There aren't many "easy" games in the schedule now. Gold Coast seem to have their shit together. Adelaide have improved. Freo are better. Melbourne look.to be playing to potential rather than form.
Only North look a long way off and they'll surprise someone very soon
It's going to be a good tough season and just making the 8 looks hard, let alone top 4.
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@mariner4life North are a loooong way off. What a reaming from the Dogs
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Two from three!
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Two from three!
That was a bloody good game!!
Who is that guy who looks like Tex Walker but who knows how to play football
AFL to be commended. The new rules have produced a bloody good product
And yes @shark the Roos are awful. They tried hard early but they don't have the quality. The Dogs are great though.
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The window is a thing
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Sydney looked bloody good against the Tigers who seem to be making a habit of going to sleep in the second quarter. Absolutely smashed in clearances.
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I can't believe the Tigers were the one to fuck my multi. Losing to the Swans in R1 doesn't look a bad result now
But then St Kilda come out and get humiliated by the 2nd worst team in the comp. So it was fucked anyway.
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GWS stuck with the Dees remarkably well for three and a bit quarters, given the guys they had out and the injures they sustained during the game. It took until the last 10-12 minutes for Melbourne to pull away. This was in part due to Melbourne lowering it's standard but GWS also looked dangerous.
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Carlton did what they needed to do against Freo, who looked a bit lackluster without Fyfe. Goes to my theory that Carlton are actually pretty good and still have a chance at 8th spot if things go their way. Nice to see Harry McKay step up and kick a bag - tall forwards are going to be the difference in a number of team's fortunes this year if things keep going how they are.
This season is harder to pick than a broken nose. You could tell me the flag will be won by any of Richmond, Brisbane, Collingwood, Port, West Coast, Geelong, Bulldogs and Melbourne and I wouldn't be too suprised.
As M4L says there is only one easybeat team and that's North.
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Swannies with three raising star nods in a row, first time ever, dear god might this be the first time a full rebuild has actually worked as planned?
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4 and 0, an epic one, Heeney with a broken hand which is shit
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Another ripper game in prime time, the AFL is top notch this year so far. Gil would be a happy man.
Swans got the job done but I think it probably took the shine off them a little bit. They are a good team, will make a good finals run, but I just don't think they will be there when the whips are cracking in late September.
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@barbarian horse summed it up nicely, more or less the youngs guy aren't going to be able to do it every week but some of the old hats stepped up
much better than last year which was basically papley is going to have to win it for us
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Richmond lost a cracker last night but I still think they are the team to beat. Courageous from Port but I reckon the crowd got them home
What I did realise is how.much I like Dusty. He looks like another bogan piston wristed gibbon but he isn't. He's bigger fitter stronger and better than any other player in the comp. And yet he just plays the game. Never carries.on like a dickhead, never mouths, never snipes, just beats teams by being better at football. That goal he kicked late yesterday was classic dusty and I am so used to Richmond winning on the back.of it. In a team full of mouthy flogs he stands out in the best way.
I didn't watch the lions today, but as expected they were no match for the dogs. Daniher in the running for worst buy of the season.
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Fuck the AFL is so good this year!!
This is a ripper of a game! Saints were dead and now smashing them!
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@mariner4life we showed a bit of steel in that second half. Would’ve been nice to convert a few more with all our inside 50s, but any win against the Eagles is massive for us.
Have to say, Nic Nat is awesome. Just dominates the ruck and moves around the field like a rover.
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The Dees are now 4-0, but yet to be tested by a healthy, quality side.
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Crows 3 & 1 and had to deal with power house North Melbourne!
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Freo have beat the Hawks at home.
Three undefeated teams then the two Adelaide teams followed by six teams on 2-2.
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Good season so far
Pretty much every game looks like either team can win. No system standing out. Games are open and end to end.
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couldnt help a snap shot of the ladder. Had to say people have been telling me that the D's were about to dominate since i moved here nearly five years ago, might finally be happening
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@kiwiwomble if someone predicted that ladder after 4 rounds you would call them an idiot.
Doggies and Port in the top 4 was probably predictable, North and Hawthorn the bottom 2 the same. The rest? all over the shop.
Sydney unbeaten? fucking Melbourne unbeaten? Adelaide up and about? Richmond losing a couple i could see, but games 3 and 4, not 1 and 2 is a surprise.
After 4 weeks a couple of things are apparent:
Shark is right, and Melbourne look pretty good. Their midfield is winning enough ball, and they are kicking enough goals. Should be a good season for them
With the open game style, having youth, pace, and a willingness to take the game on are huge benefits.
Which brings us nicely to Geelong, who have none of those, and have gone from premiership favourites to a side battling to make the 8. Danger and Cameron coming back in will obviously help, and i don't see them missing the 8, but Scott's rigid game is fucking killing them.The Dogs' game plan looks sustainable, i back them to finish top 4. Richmond have too many good players not to finish top 4. West Coast the same, with the added bonus of the Perth advantage. The rest is wide open. How good?
Oh yeah, and fuck knows what has happened at the Lions. Daniher has come in, and done fuck all except free up Hipwood, who is playing bloody well. Our best player is a shadow of last season. Our apparently gun midfield gets beat most weeks, and our small forwards are not having an impact. It's all fucked.
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It's been a cracking season for sure. Of the teams that made the eight last year, currently Geelong, St Kilda, Brisbane and Collingwood are outside.
How many of those get back in by seasons end? I'd say maybe only two or three. Collingwood look to be in a bit of strife, so does Brisbane. Geelong could go either way, but I think they are too classy to miss out.
Carlton had a scrappy win on the GC in tough conditions. Wasn't pretty but that's a game we would lose in previous years, so happy to bank the four points and move on to Port. Still don't think we're a top 8 side but at least we're hanging in there.
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@mariner4life definately, i even said earlier in the thread i expected another year of the swans "building"
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@barbarian not Collingwood. Maybe not Brisbane (though i struggle to wrap my head around that). Like you i just expect Geelong to make it. Saints should
But nothing is certain
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@mariner4life A better way of thinking about it might be flipping it - instead of who goes out, it's who comes in.
Outside of the Demons and Swans you'd be hard pressed to make a compelling case for anyone else. The Crows will fall, I'm not sold on Carlton or the Dockers, Essendon are frisky but very young, GWS are injured.
So I think you've likely got just two coming in, which means there is plenty of time for Brisbane to get their shit together.
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@mariner4life said in AFL 2021:
@mariner4life said in AFL 2021:
Sydney good again
Great to see gold Coast do to North what they should
The dons are nothing. The roos are nailed on for the spoon.
Melbourne look like they will actually achieve and finish 6-8th
I'll go so far as to suggest we can make the top four.
Gawn, Jones, Oliver, Petracca, Neale-Bullen, May, Viney, Pickett, Brayshaw, Fritsch, Harmes, Salem, Weiderman, MacDonald all healthy makes a bloody competitive unit.
gulp
Lol yeah righto
We made it. Doesn't need to be the end of the season does it?
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We've got Hawthorn this weekend, then a big game against Richmond ANZAC Day eve and then North. On form, we win games 1 and 3 comfortably, but the three game series is a huge test for a relatively young side on the up. Not bottling it due to over-confidence against the lesser teams is one challenge, but another is a game against the defending premieres on a really big stage. We could be 7-0 in early May , but it wouldn't surprise me to see us lose to the Tigers and drop one of the other games. And speaking of May (see what I did there), we'll need him back from his busted eye-hole quick smart.
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Starting with a hiss and a roar is entirely different to hitting your straps at the end.
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@antipodean said in AFL 2021:
Starting with a hiss and a roar is entirely different to hitting your straps at the end.
No shit?
I just said I don't expect them to maintain this early season form. But after a 4-0 start I'd like to think we win 50% of our games moving forward and make it to September. We also have key forwards to come back in which might help correct any forthcoming lull. There's enough there to maintain a positive outlook for the season and for our post-season hopes, but I'm also realistic which comes from being a long-suffering Dees fan. To be quite honest, I don't give a fuck if we limp into a knock-out game after going 1-3 towards the end or something like that: I'll just be happy to make the eight again and anything can happen from there. I didn't expect to reach a qualifying final a couple of years back so who knows. -
The media are sniffing around for their early coach assassination. And with a couple of clubs doing better then expected they have fallen on Buckley. Not for the first time, but without his best backer, they might get their scalp this time. Though what anyone else would do with that team right now...
