How many times have GWS beat us prior to the last game?
Not many and do you know why?
They were far too inexperienced but even still, look at the games:
59 point loss
7 point loss
27 point loss
13 point win
You can clearly see how even our games have been against them in recent seasons. They now know they can get us and I think they may even beat us again in round 11.
Didn't we beat Hawthorn? Preseason as an indicator? I'm struggling to see how you've formed this opinion that you are presenting as fact with any sort of logical consistency.
Yes we did beat Hawthorn in round one when they had no Ceglar, Hill or Roughead but Hawthorn have got us when it mattered most come September. There is no hiding away from this. Continue to put your head in the sand if you like.
We are a better team this year while Hawthorn are a weaker team but I'll happily give the edge to Alaister Clarkson if we have to meet them again in a final this season as he has the runs on the board.
And you can say people continually look at the end result but it's funny how you ignore the bit where they say it's a very different team. I think most would concede the contested ball, hitouts and clearances were a real concern in 2014 and a big part of the finals result. You'd be hard pressed to make that case in 2016 though because they've actually been strengths.
It's a different team, that is for sure but certainly not a very different team.
Lonergan, Enright, Mackie, Taylor are still our main back line. The same blokes who have been found wanting in those big games after 2011. You want to know why they have been found wanting?
They are no longer in their prime and they are asked to play on guys 22-27. In fact, go on to YouTube mate, type in Geelong 2009 highlights or 2010 highlights and you will see just how fresh and lively those same four guys looked and compare them to the highlights you watch today.
Henderson has been a great get, he's definitely going to be holding his own but I have no confidence in the rest once our midfield tires and drops away and our backs are getting pummeled with relentless inside 50's.
Hawthorn's back line in recent grand finals has been so good because they are still youthful and smack bang in their prime. Last year, the oldest defender was Lake at 33.
Stratton 26, Birchall 27, Frawley 27, Suckling 27, Duryea 24.