Strategy Changes: Elimination Final v Gold Coast

[Tonga Bob]

Worst I've done is shown up to Eagles games with mates that support their opposition.

One of my best mates supports Sydney. I wear a random vaguely red-coloured shirt from my wardrobe if it's an Eagles game. As for actually spending extra money on Sydney gear - **** that - whatever I paid for the ticket was enough.

Think I've mentioned it elsewhere but I wear my South Freo scarf if I go to neutral games in Melbourne. Confuses the heck out of people.

 

[The Feeder Club]

In finals don't away clubs get allocated a couple of thousand tickets for their members, which then get added to the general admission pool if they're not sold in the first 24 hours?
If they're creative enough Gold Coast could make a bit of money here selling memberships. They are going to face an overwhelminlgy hostile crowd anyway, they may as well sell a thousand or two interstate memberships to desperate dockers supporters wanting a ticket

 

[BStaff17]

Unfortunately there will be heaps of WC supporters turning out and im sure they will be cheering for GC

People must have a lot of money if there going to pay big $$$ just to support another team in a finals fmd.

 

[ubiquitous226]

How do you know? Chardonnay purchases? Booing? Leaving in the third quarter?

Honestly? In each case them telling someone else they don't even support "X" team they're actually an Eagles fan.

 

[Spirit Level]

For a while I thought it was a bit overblown, but have now personally seen multiple west coast fans in opposition jumpers at our games this year.

I find it very bizarre, and ultimately supporter bases aren't thatttt different, so presumably there's some sad dockers fan doing it at an Eagles game, to which I say are you ok??

They're a super weird bunch.

I see multiple posters on here claiming the "rent free" bullshit yet I also see West Coast supporters in opposition gear at our home games and their opposition thread is always full of wrist cutting when we win big games.

Very bemusing

 

[purplerunsdeep2]

our wags replacement needs to be able to able to swing off the half back and move with speed, like wags.

I'd prob say it's more nod than Johnson. Plus Johnson hasn't played for 4 weeks

Tough call coming

 

[StingBitten]

We can go all the way folks.

Why?

• We've shown we can win games in bulk this year - 11 out of 12 wins. What's another 5 in a row?
• We are the best team at taking it to the big shots - Adelaide, Collingwood, Geelong, Brisbane away. None of these teams strike the fear of God into me, and neither should it to the boys.
• Away form is better than we give credit for - massive away wins this year against Collingwood, GWS, Gold Coast and the Bulldogs

I think a critical factor is drawing Gold Coast instead of Hawks. I believe we can beat Hawks but it'll cost us massively, whereas Gold Coast we have a decent change of beating comfortably. That would mean 3 weeks where we need to be at our best, I reckon if it's Geelong/Brisbane we can roll them. Adelaide comfortably in the Prelim. Then the GF.

Quote this thread please once we've won! I accurately predicted Pav's retirement year on Bigfooty several years before he retired, so I'm a bit of a Nostradamus round here these parts.

 

[Cobbler]

We can go all the way folks.

Why?

• We've shown we can win games in bulk this year - 11 out of 12 wins. What's another 5 in a row?
• We are the best team at taking it to the big shots - Adelaide, Collingwood, Geelong, Brisbane away. None of these teams strike the fear of God into me, and neither should it to the boys.
• Away form is better than we give credit for - massive away wins this year against Collingwood, GWS, Gold Coast and the Bulldogs

I think a critical factor is drawing Gold Coast instead of Hawks. I believe we can beat Hawks but it'll cost us massively, whereas Gold Coast we have a decent change of beating comfortably. That would mean 3 weeks where we need to be at our best, I reckon if it's Geelong/Brisbane we can roll them. Adelaide comfortably in the Prelim. Then the GF.

Quote this thread please once we've won! I accurately predicted Pav's retirement year on Bigfooty several years before he retired, so I'm a big of a Nostradamus round here these parts.

I love your optimism.

I’m similar in that there’s not a single opponent I’m scared of. Honestly, Dogs at Marvel is as scary as anyone in the top 8 away from home.

My fear is to do that 3 times in a row? That’s beyond epic. We know we have off weeks and have done well to win some of those games.

I doubt you can be off for any of the away games and expect to win.

 

[StingBitten]

I love your optimism.

I’m similar in that there’s not a single opponent I’m scared of. Honestly, Dogs at Marvel is as scary as anyone in the top 8 away from home.

My fear is to do that 3 times in a row? That’s beyond epic. We know we have off weeks and have done well to win some of those games.

I doubt you can be off for any of the away games and expect to win.

Brisbane did it just last year - Home final, then away game in Sydney and back-to-back games in Melbourne.

 

[Cobbler]

Brisbane did it just last year - Home final, then away game in Sydney and back-to-back games in Melbourne.

Yep, we’d probably need the GF to be against another interstate side.

I could see us beating Geelong or Pies at the MCG but to beat both in back to back weeks would be much harder.

 

[Joose]

The petty, vindictive side of me would like to see us bundle the Hawks out of the finals.

I also think that Gold Coast pose the greater danger - better side on paper methinks.

 

[Righteo]

I think NOD's past month has been terrible because he was pushed into the Sharp role solo. It's where our players go to die. They had been using NOD, Wagner, Johnson in some sort of rotation since Sharp was booted, but then Wagner and Johnson got injured in Rd 19 versus Collingwood, and JOM was just coming back from injury. NOD took it on by himself, usually at the top of the tracker for km covered, and did just what Sharp did.

Then on the weekend it was JOM and Wagner into the void, mixed in with some close checking roles (especially JOM on Richards), and both had very quiet games for possessions (yes, I know Wagner was subbed out, but he was quiet on the stats sheet up until then).

It's just a position in our side where the player gets very little in the way of possessions. Whether NOD or Johnson comes in, I would expect them to take on whatever Wagner was doing against the Dogs and not get much of the ball. I suspect it might be NOD as he is the one with the miles in his legs and the better WAFL performance. But I think the staff might rate Johnson higher, so I won't be surprised either way.

Seems pretty insane to me to use a run & carry metres-gained monster like NOD in such a role. Surely we want the ball more in his hands and dobbing goals on the run like he was doing in his breakout year.

 

[fnerd]

The petty, vindictive side of me would like to see us bundle the Hawks out of the finals.

I also think that Gold Coast pose the greater danger - better side on paper methinks.

Yeah I’m bit like this thinking too.

Would love nothing more than to send those absolute pricks and their smug campaigner coach packing , let alone tacking into the history between the 2 sides.
Previously.

Add to the fact GC I feel would be a little bit more on the unpredictable side.

Bit like us v doggies- no one will give them a shot but they do have a pretty decent side , very good midfield and 3x winning flag coach who’s brand does obviously stack up at this time of year.

 

[Superkoops]

Seems pretty insane to me to use a run & carry metres-gained monster like NOD in such a role. Surely we want the ball more in his hands and dobbing goals on the run like he was doing in his breakout year.

And like he did on Sat. One goal he carried the ball from half back line with about five bounces and then goaled from just inside 50.

 

[Bigger]

Yeah I’m bit like this thinking too.

Would love nothing more than to send those absolute pricks and their smug campaigner coach packing , let alone tacking into the history between the 2 sides.
Previously.

Add to the fact GC I feel would be a little bit more on the unpredictable side.

Bit like us v doggies- no one will give them a shot but they do have a pretty decent side , very good midfield and 3x winning flag coach who’s brand does obviously stack up at this time of year.

That’s three of us then. Much rather bundle out the happy-with-themselves team from Hawthorn. And think GC a wild card entry.

 

[David Bubb]

Wagner looks to be done for the year going by his instagram post and the comments

 

[BStaff17]

Wagner looks to be done for the year going by his instagram post and the comments

Once JL said pec injury it was all over.

Thats a 2/3 month injury

 

[fnerd]

Yea coukd t believe they(being whoever put that post out) saying likely few weeks.
I’ve always known pec tear injuries to sideline players for months on end

 

[StingBitten]

Unfortunately there will be heaps of WC supporters turning out and im sure they will be cheering for GC

An Eagles fan I work with literally told me today he's going to buy a guernsey for whichever oppo club we get, go to the game and troll Freo fans.

They literally are a brain dead, loser club with loser fans.

 

[AAACockburn]

Strange thing to say. Who other then an umpire can award a free kick?

he ducked his head otherwise he would have been pinged for holding the ball.

 

[WhoneedsMcLeod]

Forget the bullshit 'this one easier to beat than that one'. Any and all teams will be super tough including Gold Coast.

Three issues that bother me and where we could be better;

Still so predictable with the kick ins, smaller and mid sized players need to work harder to provide a longer option and cheap release from defence. Other teams are doing it.

Freddy kicks a goal or two but his piss weak stand offish play around the contest continues to show no improvement and is ignored. At times I am screaming at the TV 'Freddy get your piss weak arse in there and help', I cannot believe that has not been addressed with him.

The Fyfie issue - A minefield for poor JL, I'm not sure how anyone could justify a full game for Fyfie in view of the time he has missed, his current physical/injuryl fragility and his form last two years. Making him the sub is quite ridiculous actually, he is never going to provide run/zest to assist the teams tired legs and give us a lift. At this point in the season getting him to 250 and similar talk is crazy, should not come into the equation.
The elephant in the room.

 

[AAACockburn]

Fyfe is cooked. Yea he was a legend of the game but so were so many other players that donned on the freo guernsey.
Does he deserve to earn his 250, of course, if there was nothing to lose.

Freo have had a winning formula going for a while now since he was sidelined this season.
And the last few games he came onto the field in the last quarter, he was shouting and pointing around before the ball was even bounced, having a go at Freo players that actually provided the balls and grit to uplift the rest of the team.
He is so slow, the game has passed him by, he provides the oppo team with an extra spare and he farks with team coercion.
The problem with Fyfe is he can't let go.

 

[s_wd6]

Fyfe is cooked. Yea he was a legend of the game but so were so many other players that donned on the freo guernsey.
Does he deserve to earn his 250, of course, if there was nothing to lose.

Freo have had a winning formula going for a while now since he was sidelined this season.
And the last few games he came onto the field in the last quarter, he was shouting and pointing around before the ball was even bounced, having a go at Freo players that actually provided the balls and grit to uplift the rest of the team.
He is so slow, the game has passed him by, he provides the oppo team with an extra spare and he farks with team coercion.
The problem with Fyfe is he can't let go.

We're still 6-1 when he's played, and the only game we lost was when he came on when we were already 6 goals down.

Really apart from yesterday he's come on in the last, had his 8/9 touches, couple clearances, does what we need to help get us on top. Against Port he had 8 touches, 3 clearances, 3 score involvements in a quarter and we probably don't win without him.

Is it the best use of our sub? Probably not. But we seem to be very conservative with it anyway and never use it until the last quarter and a bit.

 

[fnerd]

Freddy kicks a goal or two but his piss weak stand offish play around the contest continues to show no improvement and is ignored. At times I am screaming at the TV 'Freddy get your piss weak arse in there and help', I cannot believe that has not been addressed with him.

Yeah couldn’t agree more on this .
Look he ain’t getting dropped because he certainly has uncanny knack of kicking goals off minimal touches and his ability to get up and back is elite for HHF not to mention our small/mid fwd options are thin outside b22

Buuuuuutttt….

Yeah alot of his efforts (more than usual for him too) were very soft yesterday and going into finals were the pressure goes up again it is genuine worry that his squibbing could really end up causing the team in some big moments.

might also add his inability to effect basically anything resembling a genuine tackle is another major issue heading into finals where, as a team we are going to have to start sticking them on the regular

 

[serial_thrilla]

It's JOM's 200th in the EF, yeah? And only his second ever final.