StevieG wrote:Business end coming up, my friends!
Hey SleeplessOne, could be a battle of the stripes this year! It's all looking very interesting.
hey there StevieG, good onya for reviving this thread, was a lot of fun posting on the lengthy one of last year ...
It *is* all looking very interesting as you said.
I just quickly wanna go back to the start of this particular thread which Ninjaboy kindly kicked off and look at some of the questions he posed at the dawn of season 2010 :
Do the Cats, with a new captain, get a 3rd premiership in 4 years? Will Ablett go to the Gold Coast w/ his family? Will Stokes ever play again?
The first part of that question is obviously still to be answered. The Cats have given themselves every chance by finishing the home&away season in a top 4 position. The captain, Ling, has come under some scrutiny during the season for various reasons; umpires have cracked down on his tagging tactics. He's looked slower than seasons past (which is saying something, as he was never exactly quick !)
The Ablett question is another one still to be resolved. A month or so ago I was fairly sure he was gone. Now I'm fairly sure he'll stay. Throughout he has played as brilliantly as ever.
Stokes paid the penalty for a very serious lapse in judgement (I think the court case was a bit of a wash-out in the end, 'trafficking' a gram of coke was always a little ridiculous). He has come back to the game fairly strongly.
Can the Saints, minus 2 A-grade players in Ball and Lovett go as well as last year? How many more matches will Reiwoldt's body last?
the Saints have really been the quiet achievers this year imo; they weathered the loss of Riewoldt, their biggest match-winner, admirably - at times they have looked a tad shaky, but they have done what very good sides always manage to do - win. Their form hasn't been as irresistable as 2009, but they are still right amongst the action.
Friday night's Grand Final re-match with the Cats will be a cracker.
Adelaide look to have a side that can beat about anyone! How far can they go in September?
this one looks funny in hindsight, but Adelaide were widely tipped to finish top 4 this season. Things obviously went horribly wrong.
They turned it around a bit as a club towards the 2nd half of the season, but it was too little, too late.
The loss of McLeod, Edwards and Goodwin (and Bock to the Suns) means a completely new-look Crows will take the field next year. They have a lot of talent on their list (Tippet/Dangerfield/Van Berlo/Vince for starters), I can't see why a return to the top 8 would be out of the question.
The Mighty Bombers - What will this suprisingly talented young side achieve?
suprisingly little.
They are verging on becoming a basket-case.
They have some flashy players but little of substance apart from valiant skipper Jobe Watson.
The sacking of Matthew Knights, whilst probably appeasing the fans, was pretty unsavoury.
I predict a couple more troubled seasons ahead for the Bombers.
As for the upcoming finals series (wow this has turned into an epic post)
really interested in seeing the Freo vs Hawks game. Two unpredictable teams. If the Hawks win through they may really challenge.
Swans and Carlton could be a cracker; this game will probably have the least publicity surrounding it, but I can see this being a free-flowing, entertaining game to watch.
Swans are a team that I've grown to respect during Paul Roos tenure as coach.
Carlton, are a team I've struggled to respect (salary cap cheating, lots of cheap high draft picks) - *but* I have to admit they are one of my fave teams to watch. Disappointing big Matthew Kruezer, one of my fave young players, won't get a chance to show his skills due to his season-ending knee injury a while back.
But Murphy, Gibbs, Judd, Betts, Kade Simpson etc are fun to watch and should give a good account of themselves.
Bulldogs and Collingwood is looking like it could be a bit lop-sided, the Pies, despite losing last week, have been in ominous form, while the Dogs have a few injury worries and have been up-and-down form-wise all season, despite finishing 4th.
But finals can bring out the best in some teams, and I expect the Dogs to lay down a good challenge to the Pies.
Reckon Collingwood should win this one though..
Saints vs. Cats - I dont really wanna think about this one - I'm stressed already ! I'm actually going to this game too, I dont get along to the footy very often so wish me luck, I may well have a heart attack !
yes I noticed this a week or so ago, I sent the person a PM but as yet no reply ...