AFL Finals Series 2025 - Week 2

[GVGjr]

Friday
Adelaide vs Hawthorn

Saturday
Brisbane vs Gold Coast

[Sedat]

Brisbane missed a trick dropping Reville for the first final. They need more leg speed between the arcs, not less. In a strange way, Neale out will actually help Brisbane because he was banged up anyway before doing his calf, but they desperately need more run and carry and less in-and-under. I reckon they should drop both Levi Ashcroft and Charlie Cameron - young Ashcroft was absolutely torched by Dempsey on the wing and has been pretty poor for many weeks now. Cameron looks absolutely cooked. Fort out for McInernay is a no-brainer as well.

Fagan is a very loyal coach - I wonder if he's had enough with a couple of his players and pulls the trigger at selection this week. He looked pretty pissed off (in the nicest possible way) post-match on Friday night.

[BiteNibbleChomp]

Ten days ago I was on the Adelaide hype train, I'd enjoyed all the games I'd watched of them (except for a certain Saturday arvo at Marvel, of course!). But the booing of Quaynor has soured me on them a fair bit. On the other side of the coin, I've been hoping that Gold Coast would crash out all season because I've found the idea of them being perennial bottom-feeders to be quite funny, but now that they've actually won one I'm starting to come around to them (maybe it's just the story of their first player, about to retire, winning them their first final).

I'm heading up to Canberra for the W game so will be watching Adelaide/Hawthorn at a pub there. The last time I travelled interstate was the W preseason game in Perth in July - where a pub was showing Adelaide play Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval on a Friday night. Talk about coincidences...

- BNC

[Pleather Sole]

These finals have come down to deciding which team I hate the least. So some very slim margins each game.
Adelaide are on the nose in every way. Geelong are clinically impressive but, they're Geelong.
Ten years ago you couldn't have paid me enough to back the Pies or Hawks for a win but happy to do so over the Cats and the Crows.
Brisbane I don't mind, Gold Coast I like but Dimma irks me.

I wouldn't be surprised if Hawthorn put on a show in Adelaide and win by 3-4 goals. Gold Coast whipped Brisbane earlier in the year at home. Not sure Fagan can outcoach Dimma this game, tight one but the Suns by 6 or less.

[azabob]

Before the finals started for me it was anyone but Geelong or Hawthorn.

Now it’s anyone but Geelong.

[josie]

Before the finals started for me it was anyone but Geelong or Hawthorn.

Now it’s anyone but Geelong.

Insert why can’t we have both image….

[GVGjr]

Just having a look at both Hawthorn and Adelaide teams
Adelaide have 6 players who have played at other sides. Hawks have 9.

In our last game we had 4 players

It's interesting to see how team build their squads.

[angelopetraglia]

Just having a look at both Hawthorn and Adelaide teams
Adelaide have 6 players who have played at other sides. Hawks have 9.

In our last game we had 4 players

It's interesting to see how team build their squads.

The Pies team who played in week #1 of the finals had 8.

I have no doubt some clubs with larger profiles and marquee games have an unfair advantage when it comes to attracting free agents and players from other clubs.

[Sedat]

Just having a look at both Hawthorn and Adelaide teams
Adelaide have 6 players who have played at other sides. Hawks have 9.

In our last game we had 4 players

It's interesting to see how team build their squads.

Adelaide is really 7 with Rankine as well.

Hawthorn's backline alone has Barrass, Battle, Scrimshaw, Impey and Amon - absolutely elite list management and trading.

It's not like we haven't been proactive - we were in the hunt for both Barrass and Impey.

[GVGjr]

Adelaide is really 7 with Rankine as well.

Hawthorn's backline alone has Barrass, Battle, Scrimshaw, Impey and Amon - absolutely elite list management and trading.

It's not like we haven't been proactive - we were in the hunt for both Barrass and Impey.

I think it's a sign of how impatient clubs might get. Hawks are impatient for success so they chase hard.
Adelaide have been more patient and have added a few players in the last couple of season.
The Saints are going hard to strike a better balance having lost faith with the draft and develop model.
We've tended to do it the right way given our list and while maintaining early selections and looking for value.

[azabob]

Just having a look at both Hawthorn and Adelaide teams
Adelaide have 6 players who have played at other sides. Hawks have 9.

In our last game we had 4 players

It's interesting to see how team build their squads.

As much as I despise Tom Morris, majority of this article is a good read.

[Axe Man]

I think it's a sign of how impatient clubs might get. Hawks are impatient for success so they chase hard.
Adelaide have been more patient and have added a few players in the last couple of season.
The Saints are going hard to strike a better balance having lost faith with the draft and develop model.
We've tended to do it the right way given our list and while maintaining early selections and looking for value.

I don't think we have much of a choice in having a draft first philosophy. It is just too difficult for us to consistently attract top line players. We might be able to get the odd one here and there but we certainly can't afford to take a Geelong like approach.

Unfortunately that means our drafting is more important to get right than it is for the bigger clubs that can compensate for poor decisions by bringing in talent from elsewhere.

I certainly prefer this approach to throwing excessive contracts to average players like St Kilda and North do.

I think we do about as well as we can with the situation we are in. If we could find a way to consistently finish higher up the ladder it might make Power/Regan's jobs attracting talent a little easier.

[GVGjr]

As much as I despise Tom Morris, majority of this article is a good read.

Thanks, yes a good read. I don't they've acknowledged the impact of Darren Burgess as the fitness boss but in A-team speak, 'I love it when a plan comes together'

[Bornadog]

I don't think we have much of a choice in having a draft first philosophy. It is just too difficult for us to consistently attract top line players. We might be able to get the odd one here and there but we certainly can't afford to take a Geelong like approach.

Unfortunately that means our drafting is more important to get right than it is for the bigger clubs that can compensate for poor decisions by bringing in talent from elsewhere.

I certainly prefer this approach to throwing excessive contracts to average players like St Kilda and North do.

I think we do about as well as we can with the situation we are in. If we could find a way to consistently finish higher up the ladder it might make Power/Regan's jobs attracting talent a little easier.

Aren't we just the same as every other club except for just a few in attracting A grade players?

Last few Years we have snagged Treloar, Lobb and Kennedy turned out allright. Prior to that we had Keath, Bruce, Duryea who were decent players.

I am not that fussed and don't understand the negativity of " Why not us, or typical of us." We have done a great job with draft picks.
We have put the feelers out for players like Wilkie and Butts - they are contracted players, and if they don't come to us, it is because their clubs want them.

Trade period starts in October, so let's see what happens, but I won't be acting like poor us because we couldn't get anyone.

We have done a great job with draft picks and this is the best way to go unless we can find a trade that suits our needs.

[Uninformed]

Thanks, yes a good read. I don't they've acknowledged the impact of Darren Burgess as the fitness boss but in A-team speak, 'I love it when a plan comes together'

And good on them for sticking with Nicks. He seems a really good coach.