Choco denies playing mind games

[winty]

MARK Williams has backed away from the war of words with minor premier Geelong, saying he didn't intend to ignite the flame before tomorrow's clash.
Denying he was trying to get into the heads of the high-flying Cats, Williams said his comments that Geelong – which has lost star rover James Bartel, who had his appendix removed yesterday – was susceptible in the finals was not a well-planned tactical ploy.
"I'm not that smart," Williams innocently said. "I didn't ask the question (after the five-point win against Hawthorn), I just gave the answer. And all I said was that injuries, sickness and suspension do happen and they do affect results. That is a fact."
Williams also denied ringing Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley to get an insight into how to beat the Cats. This is despite Power midfielder Steven Salopek saying on Wednesday that Williams rang his Roos counterpart to get the lowdown on a team which has won 15 consecutive matches.
"We're good friends but I didn't ring Dean," he said. "We do talk when it's appropriate but we're basically in the same position (on the premiership table), so it's certainly not appropriate now."
Regardless of what ammunition a week of off-field talk from Port has given Geelong, Williams doesn't think it will make any difference when the ball is bounced at Skilled at 2.10pm tomorrow. "What downside could there be?" Williams asked. "Geelong has won every game, so I don't think so."
Williams confirmed premiership full back Darryl Wakelin will return to the Power side after being out of the team since round 13 – he has replaced Alipate Carlile – while he is confident hard-nosed defender Michael Wilson also will line up. This is despite Wilson leaving training early yesterday after an accidental kick to the calf from David Rodan during a competitive drill.
"This time of the week he doesn't need to do the last five minutes of training, so he'll be fine," Williams said.

Choco trying to close the barn door after the horse has bolted?

 

[FTW_]

"I'm not that smart," Williams innocently said.
Good to see he can admit it.

 

[Brasil2007]

"I'm not that smart," Williams innocently said.
Good to see he can admit it.

Spot on. Anyone who bags a major sponsor in a grand final speech is unlikely to be graduating from Harvard any time soon!

I reckon it's just a bit of fun on his part, trying to drum up some interest in the game from his supporters. His club oddly doesn't seem to be doing the business off the ground it should be, given its run of success. Nobody is talking about them and their attendance figures (even in Adelaide) are underwhelming.

 

[thegerman]

Obviously he isn't that bright. Cornes came out and said that you need more motivation to play at this level, in reference to Geelong being 4 games ahead and having little motivation to continue to win.

So Choco (or should that be Choke-o?), then opens his big mouth for the Cats to take all the motivation they need, to ram his words straight back into his mouth.

 

[chapmanmagic35]

Makes for a good clash!

 

[Roo-Boy]

I just hope that you's smash Port Adelaide like we did to Carlton today and wipe of some percentage of Port Adelaide

 

[SirRooke]

there is a fair chance we will play them in the first week of the finals...

i think Williams is just hoping that his team can put in a good show this week so he can build the pressure...it is probably a two act show for him...he may lose this week but if gets close then he will hope the choking worry might affect us...

i'd be more worried about his team if i was him...if we beat them in the first final he would be playing the winner of hawks vs swans or coll vs swans... they may well go out with two losses, so he should be worried about port being labelled as even bigger chokers than they already are


as for Geelong vs Port, nothing good can come for Port from this.... this is like the scrawny little kid in the school yard throwing rocks at the big, older, uglier bullies.... they will simply come over and beat the crap out of them..

Geelong by 60+

 

[winty]

as for Geelong vs Port, nothing good can come for Port from this.... this is like the scrawny little kid in the school yard throwing rocks at the big, older, uglier bullies.... they will simply come over and beat the crap out of them..

Geelong by 60+

Love the analogy!

 

[winty]

If you make it.

Good point. We only need to lose 6 in a row to miss out with one game remaining. Peanut.

Enjoy your win today. I promise you the result will be exactly the opposite next time we meet.

 

[Toots Hibbert]

Obviously he isn't that bright. Cornes came out and said that you need more motivation to play at this level, in reference to Geelong being 4 games ahead and having little motivation to continue to win.

So Choco (or should that be Choke-o?), then opens his big mouth for the Cats to take all the motivation they need, to ram his words straight back into his mouth.

Mooney was pretty quiet today. Maybe Choco did get to him.

 

[NakedDeadGuy]

Found it a bit funny that the coach of the chokingest team in the last 5 years highlights his own mobs failures to capitalise when they're 2nd on the ladder. Is he just foreseeing what his chokers will do yet again when the pressures on? Looks like his FB is done for starters.

 

[Powerstufff]

Found it a bit funny that the coach of the chokingest team in the last 5 years....

Yes 2004 was a dreadful year for us. Perhaps we can model ourselves on a successful regional Victorian team instead.

 

[winty]

Dunno what's worse. Losing two star players since Thursday night, playing crap and losing by 5 points to a full strength side who controlled most the game, yet nearly threw away a 26 point lead, or having all their supporters flocking here acting like their team's the real deal or something.

 

[karldoh]

Yes 2004 was a dreadful year for us. Perhaps we can model ourselves on a successful regional Victorian team instead.

Shocking run of injuries that year. We would've won if Primus and Francou were in.

 

[DSL64]

Found it a bit funny that the coach of the chokingest team in the last 5 years...

Interesting to see you limit this quote to the last 5 years...
Now, how many Grand Finals have you guys lost since you last won one?
And can U actually remember back that far, or do you have to ask your grandfather for details of your last GF win?

 

[Larry the Liquidator]

Isn't funny seeing supporters of the chokingest team in the AFL since 1989 call other teams chokers. How many grand finals you won since 1989 scumbags? How many you played in? Let me refresh your memory. Played in 4, won zilch. A big fat zero.

Now hark back to 2004. Port demolish the Cats in the Qualifying final, and end up winning the flag.

It seems you certainly owe us 1, but until that happens, if indeed that happens, the shoe is on the other foot, morons.

Now if you will excuse me homos, think I might go put on the video from yesterday's game.

See you in the finals losers.

 

[winty]

Isn't funny seeing supporters of the chokingest team in the AFL since 1989 call other teams chokers. How many grand finals you won since 1989 scumbags? How many you played in? Let me refresh your memory. Played in 4, won zilch. A big fat zero.

Now hark back to 2004. Port demolish the Cats in the Qualifying final, and end up winning the flag.

It seems you certainly owe us 1, but until that happens, if indeed that happens, the shoe is on the other foot, morons.

Now if you will excuse me homos, think I might go put on the video from yesterday's game.

See you in the finals losers.

Bet you weren't this cocky after round 9, were you? Or even after Carlton rolled you a few weeks after that. True, losing to a bunch of tossers like Port hurts, but if we were playing a decent side yesterday, we'd have lost by a lot more than 5 points. Missing 4 midfielders, having a minimal input from our best key forward in Mooney, playing crap all day and still getting within a kick wasn't bad, considering the way you guys played. If I was you, I'd be shitting myself if you were to play us in September when we're a lot closer to full strength than we were yesterday.

 

[TheFridge]

Time for a chill pill...

Injuries clearly affected Geelong, Port were clearly fired up for a big occasion.

Warning shot has been fired across the bows of HMAS Geelong, but the ship has not been hit by any torpedoes just yet. Still flag favourites, but as Chocco intimated last week, there are a few weeks to go before the engraver should get to work on the Cup...