Congratulations AFC!!

[FCAGJAT]

Absolutely disappointed with the loss today but I would like to congratulate the whole team on getting this far. There's probably not much point in trying to single out players to point a finger at for our loss today but instead I would like to focus in acknowledging the team's efforts this year in getting this far. It is hard to consistently perform well in every game and sometimes we expect far too much from every single player in the team. Players like Perrie, Bode, Biglands etc cop so much flack during the year but I can tell you that these blokes have contributed in some way, shape or form just like the rest of the team. Well done AFC and I know the future looks bright for us! I don't see our window of opportunity closing as some may claim but I remain positive that we will continue to remain competitive for some time. We are a proud club and this will a great learning experience for all our players!

 

[ICanDressMyself]

too shatrterd and paro to care, im just devo

 

[jo172]

I agree we did **** today and yes our stars are getting old but look at the new generation coming through.

We're set for ruckmen for up to 10 years with the Meese and Ivan, KPP's for 5 - 6 years with Rutten, Stevens, Bock and K-Mac still very young and the next generation of midfielders in VanBerlo, Douglas, Knights, Vince, Porplyzia and Pfeiffer are all coming through the ranks.

If we do have to bottom out at some stage I can't see us ever doing a Carlton and getting wooden spoons.

 

[tribey]

Absolutely disappointed with the loss today but I would like to congratulate the whole team on getting this far.

Problem is, we've got this far for three of the past five years (02, 05, 06).

It doesn't matter a jot unless we can finally take the next step - that's what we play for, not to repeatedly fall at the second-last hurdle and finish third.

 

[ICanDressMyself]

Problem is, we've got this far for three of the past five years (02, 05, 06).

It doesn't matter a jot unless we can finally take the next step - that's what we play for, not to repeatedly fall at the second-last hurdle and finish third.

hmm surprising not to see u with total power and floodbuster talkin bout our "choke"

 

[maccas_no1]

WTF are we congratulating????

Another wasted year????

 

[TheTruth]

Was a dissapointing loss today but we were playing a great team. I just though our intensity dropped off for probably the first 10-15 minutes of the third quarter and West Coast took advantage, all credit to them. I thought Perrie was moving around poorly today, something definately seemed wrong with him.
Anyway, we have the Ashes to look forward to now and an improvement from the like of Knights, Van Berlo etc in 2007. Bring it on.
Cheers

 

[macca23]

Conratulations are barely in order - they are normally saved for achievement.

However, I've got no problem in saying thanks to both the coaches and players for providing us the supporters with plenty of enjoyable moments during the year, and hopefully a solid basis to improve upon next year.

 

[Stiffy_18]

hmm surprising not to see u with total power and floodbuster talkin bout our "choke"

But he is right though. We have made prelim 6 times and 3 times in the last 5 years. That a pretty good strike rate but it means sweet **** all if we don't take out the premiership.

As macca23 said, congratulations are reserved for winners. We lost today.

I might question our level of talent, I might question the tactics from time to time but there is one thing I wil NEVER question about this group of players and thats their heart and their desire. They never gave up today but were beaten by a more talented side.

We are not far off but we better make that bloody step forward soon or it would be a period of wasted opportunities IMHO.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Problem is, we've got this far for three of the past five years (02, 05, 06).

It doesn't matter a jot unless we can finally take the next step - that's what we play for, not to repeatedly fall at the second-last hurdle and finish third.

True but it could be argued in 02 and 06 we over achieved.

 

[Mad Dog]

True but it could be argued in 02 and 06 we over achieved.

do ya think....?

 

[tribey]

True but it could be argued in 02 and 06 we over achieved.

Sure, but we definitely overachieved in 97 and 98 too, with the obvious difference being we took our chances.

Crows 05-06 have a touch of the 97-99 Doggies about them I think - a core of gems surrounded by a gaggle of unheralded, uncompromising players that unexpectedly got so close to the pinnacle in each of those three years but just couldn't seal the deal at the business end.

It just goes to show how hard it is to actually win one of these bloody things - I think it was after the Kangaroos win when I sent a group text to friends who couldnt make it to the ground saying, "if we don't win the flag this year we never will."

Couldn't have known the planets would later align and strike down many of our most important players but yeah, whether it's an extra 5% or simply greater luck we need to tip us over the edge, I don't know - but it'd be nice if instead of being merely around the mark, we finally added a third cup to the cabinet.

 

[Ruddiger]

Good game Adelaide. Cheers for a thriller of an encounter.
All the best for next year.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

do ya think....?

yeah definately. Take out 4 of the top 8 players ( Roo, Macca, Burton and Trent )from any team on the eve of finals and they will struggle.

 

[Mad Dog]

yeah definately. Take out 4 of the top 8 players ( Roo, Macca, Burton and Trent )from any team on the eve of finals and they will struggle.

so after being 15 and 2......we over achieved.......

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

so after being 15 and 2......we over achieved.......

Take out 4 of West Coasts best today, how do you think they would have gone?

 

[Cap]

Take out 4 of West Coasts best today, how do you think they would have gone?

which 4 players did we have out ?

 

[Mad Dog]

Take out 4 of West Coasts best today, how do you think they would have gone?

so if you get injuries....then do well....that's overachieving.....

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

so if you get injuries....then do well....that's overachieving.....

It could be argued a finals hardened West Coast is a different prospect to a finals virginal Freo. If as you say, you take 15-2 into account then you could say we underachieved but I would argue heading into finals 4-8 and losing 4 of your most important players on the eve of finals would suggest somthing other than overachievement.

 

[RoosterLad]

terrible thread

 

[Mad Dog]

It could be argued a finals hardened West Coast is a different prospect to a finals virginal Freo. If as you say, you take 15-2 into account then you could say we underachieved but I would argue heading into finals 4-8 and losing 4 of your most important players on the eve of finals would suggest somthing other than overachievement.

3 Prelims in 5 years without conversion to GF = definately not over achieving especially coming from 15 and 2 this year.

Fact is if everything had gone rosey for us in the last 2 months of the season - we would have finished 1st or 2nd - and won straight through to a home Prelim. Well - we did that - so really - injuries didn't diminish the outcome of the last part of the season. Yesterday we went in without our captain - and without Kenny....really the only 2 who left a hole in our structure. Other than that we had nothing to complain about.