- Nov 23, 2015
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- #1
Game Day!
What a contrast in respective seasons for the two teams in this preliminary Final. Home & Away season #1 vs #7. Collingwood - who themselves arose from the ashes of a disastrous 2021 season to make a PF in 2022, and again this year - have been frontrunners all season. Hitting the top of the ladder in round 7, they have fended off all comers to be atop the H&A ladder, and saw off the Melbourne Demons in the first qualifying final a fortnight ago. Against GWS, whose place in the finals was only sealed by their win against Carlton in the very last game of the H&A season. Who fought back from 3-7 after 10 rounds, who have won in season 2023 at 11 different venues, and who have continued that form with two away wins in finals - against Saints (MCG) and Port (Adelaide Oval).
Mighty Collingwood, beloved of the VFL establishment, who arrogantly believe that they should succeed. Notwithstanding that, they deserve their top spot on the ladder, and first team into a PF this year, through weight of performances. Up against GWS who have travelled heavily this yar, including both finals. Yet who - for once - have travelled well, and have a minimal injury sheet. The Pies rightly deserve to be favourites for this game; and GWS deserve to believe that they can upset the Pies. The Giants' performances over the back half of the season stack up favourably. Adam Kingsley initially transformed Leon Cameron's stodgy stoppage game into a resurgence of the Orange Tsunami, with a running and forward half pressure game, then in the last few weeks added a contested midfield capability as well.
www.afl.com.au
For the Giants, our senior players such as TFG, Cogs, Chook and Whitters have regained some of their best form, pushed by young guns such as Tom Green, Sam Taylor, Connor Idun and Toby Bedford. The team is playing as a cohesive team, aided by flashes of individual brilliance. Possibly the best note to make is that in neither final has GWS been required to call on Toby Greene for a superhuman effort to rescue the side, rather, he contributed solidly but the team as a whole made the running. Those senior players have also infused in the whole team the idea that we shouldn't say "hey, we've improved, we'll be set for a flag tilt next year" but rather "this year could be our year - embrace the opportunity, rise up and grasp it".
I recall the MCG atmosphere in the 2017 PF defeat to Richmond, and the 2019 PF defeat of the Pies. In both cases, I was part of the small splash of orange in a seething stadium of opposition fans. It will be the same tonight, but the "Orange Team" has embraced the combative theatre away this year, and I think it will serve to spur them on.
I look forward to tonight's game. It should be a massive contest - a tremendous challenge for our team. Embrace the atmosphere lads and use it to gird your loins for combat. Go there, play your game, bring the orange tsunami, and beat those ******* Pies at their home ground. Stand tall, and never surrender!
What a contrast in respective seasons for the two teams in this preliminary Final. Home & Away season #1 vs #7. Collingwood - who themselves arose from the ashes of a disastrous 2021 season to make a PF in 2022, and again this year - have been frontrunners all season. Hitting the top of the ladder in round 7, they have fended off all comers to be atop the H&A ladder, and saw off the Melbourne Demons in the first qualifying final a fortnight ago. Against GWS, whose place in the finals was only sealed by their win against Carlton in the very last game of the H&A season. Who fought back from 3-7 after 10 rounds, who have won in season 2023 at 11 different venues, and who have continued that form with two away wins in finals - against Saints (MCG) and Port (Adelaide Oval).
Mighty Collingwood, beloved of the VFL establishment, who arrogantly believe that they should succeed. Notwithstanding that, they deserve their top spot on the ladder, and first team into a PF this year, through weight of performances. Up against GWS who have travelled heavily this yar, including both finals. Yet who - for once - have travelled well, and have a minimal injury sheet. The Pies rightly deserve to be favourites for this game; and GWS deserve to believe that they can upset the Pies. The Giants' performances over the back half of the season stack up favourably. Adam Kingsley initially transformed Leon Cameron's stodgy stoppage game into a resurgence of the Orange Tsunami, with a running and forward half pressure game, then in the last few weeks added a contested midfield capability as well.
Ranking the midfields: Which prelim team comes out on top?
Nathan Schmook runs the rule over the four teams fighting it out for the 2023 AFL premiership
www.afl.com.au
For the Giants, our senior players such as TFG, Cogs, Chook and Whitters have regained some of their best form, pushed by young guns such as Tom Green, Sam Taylor, Connor Idun and Toby Bedford. The team is playing as a cohesive team, aided by flashes of individual brilliance. Possibly the best note to make is that in neither final has GWS been required to call on Toby Greene for a superhuman effort to rescue the side, rather, he contributed solidly but the team as a whole made the running. Those senior players have also infused in the whole team the idea that we shouldn't say "hey, we've improved, we'll be set for a flag tilt next year" but rather "this year could be our year - embrace the opportunity, rise up and grasp it".
I recall the MCG atmosphere in the 2017 PF defeat to Richmond, and the 2019 PF defeat of the Pies. In both cases, I was part of the small splash of orange in a seething stadium of opposition fans. It will be the same tonight, but the "Orange Team" has embraced the combative theatre away this year, and I think it will serve to spur them on.
I look forward to tonight's game. It should be a massive contest - a tremendous challenge for our team. Embrace the atmosphere lads and use it to gird your loins for combat. Go there, play your game, bring the orange tsunami, and beat those ******* Pies at their home ground. Stand tall, and never surrender!
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