2014 AFL Grand Final Thread

[Dry Rot]

Re: 2014 AFL Grand Final Thread

I would love a midfield and forward and back flankers that actually hit targets nearly always by foot.

This.

Today the Swans had the best 3 tall forward line in the comp, but all the guys further back up the field were pressured and started to bomb it in forward just like we do, and the fancy Swans tall forwards were not much more effective than our forward line.

Sure from now on, we must only draft or trade in players with good foot skills.

[SquirrelGrip]

Re: 2014 AFL Grand Final Thread

Getting fed up with the booing Hawthorn supporters of Franklin & Goodes even when they were 10 goals up. Post match they're still going on about how they also beat COLA.

But seriously, how does one team pick out the eyes of other clubs in the como and snare Burgoyne, Hale, Lake, Gunston, Gibson, and McEvoy. Most of those guys are paid under what they'd get elsewhere. What gives?

[Webby]

Re: 2014 AFL Grand Final Thread

You can throw the 1985 Qualifying Final against Hawthorn onto that list Jeemak. They were awesome that day.

It was like we poked a feral cat with a stck.

One Plough Wallace: standout BOG.

[jeemak]

Re: 2014 AFL Grand Final Thread

Getting fed up with the booing Hawthorn supporters of Franklin & Goodes even when they were 10 goals up. Post match they're still going on about how they also beat COLA.

But seriously, how does one team pick out the eyes of other clubs in the como and snare Burgoyne, Hale, Lake, Gunston, Gibson, and McEvoy. Most of those guys are paid under what they'd get elsewhere. What gives?

I think it's their role players who pick up the salary cap slack. Most of them are quite young and a year or two away from being in a position to stretch the club contractually.

Oh, and I asked the Hawks supporters in front of me that weren't "booing" Goodes, and apparently they were saying "Goooodes" and it wasn't the Hawks supporters doing it.

Buddy was being booed.

[Twodogs]

Re: 2014 AFL Grand Final Thread

One Plough Wallace: standout BOG.

Yep.

A few weeks before when we beat the Hawks at Western Oval Plough lost a vital contest right at the end which was Hawthorns last chance to win the game. He was cut, really cut. The umpire pays holding the ball against him when he'd actually been pushed in the back by 3 different Footscray players. He lays with his face down for a while and looks up with tears of frustration rolling down his cheeks that are clearly visible despite the driving rain.

I bet it felt good putting us to the sword in a final. Funny how things work out.

[KT31]

Re: 2014 AFL Grand Final Thread

I just got in anbd have not read any previous posts, but for mine what won it for the Hawks was the silky skills and the brilliant handball under pressure.
Would really love us to be able to hit a target as well as they do, maybe instead of players we look at poaching their recruiting staff.

[Bornadog]

Re: 2014 AFL Grand Final Thread

I just got in anbd have not read any previous posts, but for mine what won it for the Hawks was the silky skills and the brilliant handball under pressure.
Would really love us to be able to hit a target as well as they do, maybe instead of players we look at poaching their recruiting staff.

Too late Pelchan is now with the Saints.

[jeemak]

Re: 2014 AFL Grand Final Thread

Yep.

A few weeks before when we beat the Hawks at Western Oval Plough lost a vital contest right at the end which was Hawthorns last chance to win the game. He was cut, really cut. The umpire pays holding the ball against him when he'd actually been pushed in the back by 3 different Footscray players. He lays with his face down for a while and looks up with tears of frustration rolling down his cheeks that are clearly visible despite the driving rain.

I bet it felt good putting us to the sword in a final. Funny how things work out.

Plough was no soft cock or fool (which some people who didn't see him play would these days think of him - not you or anyone here).

Tough as nails, multiple premiership player and all round hard *!*!*!*!.

[Sedat]

Re: 2014 AFL Grand Final Thread

I felt quite overwhelmed watching the Hawks, at how far we have to go. The skills, the hardness, the right blend of attack and defence. There wasn't any area of the game where we aren't comprehensively behind them, and this was against the 2nd best team.

A lot of hard work ahead of us in every way.

That was my sobering impression of today's awesome performance by Hawthorn. We are still so far off the pace.

The key stat for me was uncontested possessions - Hawthorn absolutely annihilated Sydney on the outside today. While everyone else was obsessed with CP's and loading up on inside mids, Clarkson and his recruiters were loading up on outside speed machines like Hill and Smith. Hawthorn under Clarko have won 3 flags in 7 years and the gameplan has changed multiple times - he is always setting the trends, not following others.

Brilliant coach and brilliant team.

[Remi Moses]

Re: 2014 AFL Grand Final Thread

They had a pace issue and outside run in about 2010.
They addressed it with Brad Hill Smith and puopolo.

[Greystache]

Re: 2014 AFL Grand Final Thread

I think it's their role players who pick up the salary cap slack. Most of them are quite young and a year or two away from being in a position to stretch the club contractually.

Oh, and I asked the Hawks supporters in front of me that weren't "booing" Goodes, and apparently they were saying "Goooodes" and it wasn't the Hawks supporters doing it.

Buddy was being booed.

You mean like Mitchell getting $450k to play reserves, or like Reid on $600k to be their 4th forward. Make no mistake every Sydney player is getting more to play their role than any other club could afford to pay them to be first choice at their club. Kennedy and McGlynn aren't their for the love either. I was talking to a forensic accountant today, if the AFL ever got an independent audit Sydney would be paying up to $11m a season.

[jeemak]

Re: 2014 AFL Grand Final Thread

You mean like Mitchell getting $450k to play reserves, or like Reid on $600k to be their 4th forward. Make no mistake every Sydney player is getting more to play their role than any other club could afford to pay them to be first choice at their club. Kennedy and McGlynn aren't their for the love either. I was talking to a forensic accountant today, if the AFL ever got an independent audit Sydney would be paying up to $11m a season.

Que?

In my post I was talking about Hawks players not topping the salary cap. Not Sydney players (and their obvious concessions).

[SquirrelGrip]

Re: 2014 AFL Grand Final Thread

I think it's their role players who pick up the salary cap slack. Most of them are quite young and a year or two away from being in a position to stretch the club contractually.

Oh, and I asked the Hawks supporters in front of me that weren't "booing" Goodes, and apparently they were saying "Goooodes" and it wasn't the Hawks supporters doing it.

Buddy was being booed.

I'll accept what you're saying about Gooooodes (although it didn't sound that way from where I was sitting).

As for Hawthorn and the salary cap, then surely there are players ripe for the picking from them.

[whythelongface]

Re: 2014 AFL Grand Final Thread

This.

Today the Swans had the best 3 tall forward line in the comp, but all the guys further back up the field were pressured and started to bomb it in forward just like we do, and the fancy Swans tall forwards were not much more effective than our forward line.

Sure from now on, we must only draft or trade in players with good foot skills.

Agree (change good to elite). But didn't Christian Howard have good foot skills. Just saying.

[whythelongface]

Re: 2014 AFL Grand Final Thread

That was my sobering impression of today's awesome performance by Hawthorn. We are still so far off the pace.

The key stat for me was uncontested possessions - Hawthorn absolutely annihilated Sydney on the outside today. While everyone else was obsessed with CP's and loading up on inside mids, Clarkson and his recruiters were loading up on outside speed machines like Hill and Smith. Hawthorn under Clarko have won 3 flags in 7 years and the gameplan has changed multiple times - he is always setting the trends, not following others.

Brilliant coach and brilliant team.

I do enjoy watching Hawthorn play when they are on song. I actually prefer watching them this year, without Buddy, as it really looks like a more team effort. As you have acknowledged Brilliant coach and team. I hate them but my admiration for them is on a very high level (same goes for the Geelong team from 07-12).

As for Bradley Hill - love watching his pace and skill. Wish we had a player like Hill.