AFL - Round 21

[CyberKev]

Huge win for Freo tonight to put the side firmly back on finals footing.

More tellingly for Craig & Cammers, that upset result means that Richmond's fleeting finals chances could be officially ended as early as this afternoon, with a Geelong win making it effectively impossible for the Tigers to make the 8 this year.

Dark night for the Saints, who have now all but lost 3rd spot on the table. The team is a good one, but will have to work bloody hard to compensate for the loss of Kozitschke over the next month.

 

[Twizzle]

I almost picked them too, I thougt the home ground would be enough to get them home, but on form, I had to pick Saints

not a good start

go CATS

 

[camsmith]

I picked saints, but had money on Freo.. so i was happy either way.

Our (Richmonds) finals chances were pretty slim anyway, so no big loss there.. i think i read in the age the other day that we had a 9.5% (approx) chance of making the finals... that was before last nights game.

For mine, St Kilda have had the best run of any side when it comes to the umpires, im happy they, for once were on the end of some questionable decisions against them.

 

[CyberKev]

Great win to the Cats, humiliating West Coast by 76 points, with the final scoreline flattering the Eagles.

Geelong turned on genuine finals pressure and, not surprisingly, the Eagles capitulated. West Coast looked truly dismal up forward only kicking 5 goals for the match, and failing to trouble the scorers at all during the third term. Again the Eagles went wide, and often backwards, failing to find any firm targets up forward. They were smashed out of the middle, with Cousins & Judd not getting their usual space, and the general ball use by the side was appalling.

Geelong didn't have a lot up forward, but the mediocre Eagles defence was well and truly exposed by weight of ball coming inside 50.

Both Abletts were good, and Geelong fans would have been rapt with young Nathan's first half display. Very, very good!

Frankly, West Coast is very vulnerable to physical pressure and will struggle to go up the required notches in the cauldron. Home finals or not, it wouldn't surprise to see the Eagles outed in straight sets.

 

[wittyfan]

Saints were bitterly disapponting last night. I expected more from them. And have the Eagles have run out of gas? The Crows are closing in on them fast on the table!

 

[camsmith]

Another great game tonight, Dee's very lucky... Dogs looked the better team all night, but i guess the scoreboard is all that matters.

 

[Up the mighty Phins]

Well, that's the end of the Lions' season now after getting well beaten by Port last night. They won't beat the Saints in Melbourne next week.

 

[CyberKev]

F&%#!!!

If I saw fit to give Collingwood a well deserved roast a couple of weeks back, I can't refrain from giving my own side a similar bake for today's effort.

Awful display after getting away nicely.

Absolutely livid with the performance.

Nice come from behind win from the Tigers, their record in close contests is second to none in the competition over the past two years.

Congratulations to Mark Graham for going out a winner after a career in which he gave everything he had to give.

Bloody good thing the Dragons held on to win for me, or Hawthorn would have really copped a nuclear roasting.:x

 

[Red Bear]

Essendon goes well in a game, 15 rounds to late. Still, i'll take 182-83 any day of the week.

Good to see Sydney win, hopefully they will go all the way this year.

 

[CyberKev]

Good to see Sydney win, hopefully they will go all the way this year.

For the first time in my life, I can actually envision it happening.

Very much a dark horse.

 

[Red Bear]

Similar to St George Illawarra, they are full of confidence after a poor start to the season, and have few injuries.
I think i'd rather come 4th tho and face west coast rather than face Adalaide at present.

 

[camsmith]

You would rather face West Coast at West Coast? huh? They are a completly different side there..

NOW.. on to Richmond...

CARN THE MIGGGGGGGGGGHTY TIGES!!!

Great show of heart to come back from 41 points down, although we should of never let the margin slip to that.
I remember a game about 2 years ago at the MCG. Hawthorn also got away to a good lead in that game and was killing us at halftime... I also happened to be sitting with a bunch of arrogant Hawthorn supporters who obviously thought they had the game won.... well... did i love to see the look on their face when they snuck out of the ground after Richmond put on an awesome display to come back and get the win!!!

Same thing happened today, bloody annoying Hawk supporters sitting behind me, all smug at halftime and during the third quarter... giving it to Richo all game...left very quietly.. mumbling something about draft picks.. PPLLeease!:roll:

I gotta say something though, Good on ya Hawk players for showing the respect to stay out on the ground after a heart breaking loss (dont anyone tell me they were playing for draft picks, or that their supporters wanted to lose to get priority draft picks..) and applauding Mark Graham as he came off. You earnt my respect there.

-----

What a week in footy, can next week top it!???
Well it can if,

Collingwood beat the Dogs (lol yeah right..)
Essendon Beat Melbourne
St Kilda Beat Brisbane
Fremantle Beat Port

And ofcourse... RICHMOND beat Geelong (by heaps!)

---------


I can always dream..

 

[meltiger]

I remember a game about 2 years ago at the MCG.

They were up by more than 50 that day ;-)


Results would have to fall our way and we would have to beat geelong by about 40 goals .... Not going to happen.


Tambling's numbers were similar to Franklin's and Richo made a fool of Roughead ...


Yep Richmond made the wrong choice at the draft table ...............................................................

 

[meltiger]

or that their supporters wanted to lose to get priority draft picks..

There were two pooh and wee supporters in the locker room at half time proclaiming "What are we dong - We can't win this game"

Not all Hawthorn supporters wanted to win.

 

[meltiger]

You would rather face West Coast at West Coast? huh? They are a completly different side there..

He's spot on ... Sydney play a style of game that Adelaide can handle ... The kind of footy West Coast cannot handle.

 

[CyberKev]

.
Tambling's numbers were similar to Franklin's and Richo made a fool of Roughead ...

Hmmm.

I don't know why Richmond supporters as a group carry the tag of the most arrogant, ignorant & feral in the game??? :roll:

Stood-up well (again) Richo to drag his side across the line.

Where would the Tigers be without him?

One shudders to think.

 

[meltiger]

Cut the crap, go have a read of Big Footy and tell me it's Richmond supporters continually carrying out the comparisons.

Pooh & Wee fans have been bagging us off all season over drafting Richie.

Although I must say I'm pleased to see that you cannot argue Richie's numbers were as good as Franklin's.

Maybe it's just annoyance at the fact that even though they were gifted a bag from the umpires (8!) they still couldn't win the game...

 

[CyberKev]

Cut the crap, go have a read of Big Footy and tell me it's Richmond supporters continually carrying out the comparisons.

If you had any understanding of BF History you would know that the rot started with Richmond fans after the draft last year. Hawthorn has its share of knob jockeys on there carrying on with crap, but Richmond gives plenty, don't worry about that.

Pooh & Wee fans have been bagging us off all season over drafting Richie.

Again, more Tiger fans have been giving out the other way. I haven't seen you commenting on the bagging Franklin copped from Tiger tools after the last draft, and has continued to cop throughout the season. I suspect its because you're a biased dribbler.

Although I must say I'm pleased to see that you cannot argue Richie's numbers were as good as Franklin's.

A meaningless argument. I've always felt Richie will be a good player. He doesn't have the diversity or the defensive side that Franklin has, but he will be very dangerous as a peripheral forward.

Maybe it's just annoyance at the fact that even though they were gifted a bag from the umpires (8!) they still couldn't win the game...

Yeah, with 14 frees for and 25 against we got a fantastic run. :roll:

Richmond have had the best run of any VIC-based side with umpring in 2005.

I also notice that you cannot argue my point that Richmond would be in dire straits without Richo.

 

[CyberKev]

You would rather face West Coast at West Coast? huh? They are a completly different side there..

In this case, absolutely. West Coast lack a sound structure and physicality that is required for finals football. Adelaide is far harder and more disciplined.

Great show of heart to come back from 41 points down, although we should of never let the margin slip to that.

Yes, great fightback. I wasn't surprised to see Hawthorn bolt clear, nor was I surprised to see Richmond pull them back. The Tigers have been found wanting early on several occasions this season, and Hawthorn has rarely strung 4 quarters together. Allowing for the missing personnel, particularly 3 players from the midfield rotation, I expected Hawthorn to tire late in the game. Essentially, the side did well to maximise opportunites early, but again got found out for lack of forward options late.

Same thing happened today, bloody annoying Hawk supporters sitting behind me, all smug at halftime and during the third quarter... giving it to Richo all game...left very quietly.. mumbling something about draft picks.. PPLLeease!:roll:

As with any supporter, from any club, I could relate umpteen unsavoury experiences with Tiger fans at Richmond games, but it doesn't really lead anywhere.

I gotta say something though, Good on ya Hawk players for showing the respect to stay out on the ground after a heart breaking loss (dont anyone tell me they were playing for draft picks, or that their supporters wanted to lose to get priority draft picks..) and applauding Mark Graham as he came off. You earnt my respect there.

I concur wholeheartedly that the side was playing to win and would be ropeable about losing though. Of course the Hawk faithful would clap Graham after his last game. He was a great servant for Hawthorn in more than 200 games.

 

[Twizzle]

how good were the CATS and how bad were the Weagles


and Nate Ablett, looking forward to next year when this kids gets a bit bigger and stronger