I have watched both Prelims this weekend with a view to trying to tip the winner of the GF.
Some observations:
Prelim #1
St Kilda did a bit of lairising and overused the footy, when a kick straight down the middle would have done the job, on too many occasions. It was like they were trying to impress the PA Crowd with their skills. Ultimately, I think, it cost them the game.
St Kilda's use of Brett Voss to nullify Chad Cornes drive from the HB line was a really good piece of coaching. Don't admit to it often, but take a bow Thomas. Matthews will have noticed.
The Saints fans running onto the field when they had the momentum would have to be the biggest no-brainer of all time. Even down the TV channel you could feel PA getting their shit together. Absolute losers!!
PA don't have a midfield. They have Roger James. I reckon it will cost them in the end.
I saw the camera focus on a PA supporter wearing a "Finks MC Club" t-shirt. He had teeth but his mate alongside him had a goatee and the regulation gap in the front teeth. Not a good sign if you are paying for outlaws to fill the stadium.
The PA reliance on Tredrea is not good. There are no other forwards, they rely on Lade drifting forward, Thurstans to kick one or two and the midfield(Roger James) to chip in. A ruthless outfit(read Brisbane) will exploit this situation and smash Tredrea early.
A lot of PA's drive came from the umpires and will not re-occur in the Granny.
If Grant Thomas and his offsiders put as much effort into coaching as they did to chewing, they would probably be unbeatable. Just have a look at the TV shots to the coaches box during the game. Must cost a fortune for catering.
Observation
PA didn't win by being the best side as much as the Saints lost it by throwing it away(if that makes sense)
Prelim #2
The umpires kept Geelong in the game early. At one stage the free kick count was 10-3 Geelong's way. From my seat, I thought that the frees were a bit biased and even pointed out to the wife(who is Victorian but knows stuff all about footy) that I thought the AFL had directed that Geelong win to retain a Vic presence in the GF.
Geelong played a terrific game and match up very well with Brissy. Ultimately, I thought that they were unlucky not to pull off the big upset(umpires notwithstanding) but were just that couple of kicks behind Brisbane. You only have to wonder as to their level of success next season. There should be no bar to them making the GF if their metal processes are right.
Ablett Jnr is going to be an absolute star. He has it all.
Cameron Mooney desperately needs a haircut, but nothing else. He has played a couple of blinders in the last two finals and is a linchpin to Geelong's success in the future.
Brisbane has had their downer(Jeez I hate that word. Reminds me of a clown pollie). Expect them to burn next Saturday. They will leave no stone unturned.
Observation
Geelong good but with a lot of help. Brisbane will NOT play that flat two weeks in a row.
Prediction
Brisbane by 42 points.
― Westener (Westener), Sunday, 19 September 2004 12:00 (twenty-one years ago)
Hopefully Fred that will not be the only
"none-too-easy job: for Port.
I can understand their celebration at the end of the Prelim final but wonder if they have done themselves a disservice - certainly hope so!
I reckon' all the discussions about the Tribunal and the very public arguments between the AFL and Rick Lewis would have been very distracting for Jonathan Brown. I personally think this is why his game on Saturday night was not brilliant - more so than the dodgy knee.
Westener I hope you right, 42 point comfortable win would be good for my heart after Saturday nights close call, but I'd thrilled we've got to the GF for the 4th consecutive year a win of any description will be amazing. Luckily I'll be viewing from the Great Southern Stand!
― Lucy Lion (Lucy Lion), Monday, 20 September 2004 00:38 (twenty-one years ago)
Finals experience. You just can't top it. Brisbane and Port have been there a lot in recent seasons and St Kilda and Geelong haven't. That is why the results panned out the way they did.
There are other factors like the week's break, and the venue in Port's case but it all comes down to experience. St Kilda and Geelong will be regulars in the finals in the next few seasons and I'd like to see both clubs claim a flag in that time.
I thought these two games were almost the same. Experienced finals side plays direct football and hangs on to win. Up and comers stick with the more fancied side but make more mistakes by overpossessing the football and lose the match.
The ground invasion has been stated as a major contributing factor to the Saints loss but I don't buy that. The G train got his ton in THE FIRST QUARTER. If you can't come back from that you aren't much of a side and quite clearly, St Kilda is a very good side. St Kilda regained the lost monementum later in the match and there are many changes in momentum during the final so losing the momentum once in the first stanza is hardly the defining moment.
As for the Cats, recruiting some blokes who could kick straight should be an immediate priority.
regards,
REB
― Rik E Boy (Rik E Boy), Monday, 20 September 2004 01:01 (twenty-one years ago)
"As for the Cats, recruiting some blokes who could kick straight should be an immediate priority."
Hello Lance? Maxwell Smart* here. Sorry about the Geelong deal mate. It looks like they've gone fussy on us. I'll get back to you on the Weagles.
(*M.S = agent. Just in case you were wondering.
― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 20 September 2004 01:07 (twenty-one years ago)