Getting excited about 2007

[Allefgib]

G'day all,

I've only just got back in the rhythm of checking the boards again the last week or so.

End of 2006 was very busy but on the trip home from Korea I took the canadian girlie to all 3 games we could get to. She even started learning when to oh and ah which was pleasing. I was gutted over the prelim loss, just gutted as I sure most of you were.

I'm now living in UK and been too busy getting life organised (and its also off-season.. not pre-season, OFF-SEASON PEOPLE!!) so not been checking in much.

Question: Does anyone know of a place in London that regularly shows some AFL footy in a bar etc? Any other crows supporters out there in London atm?

Also, by jingo by crikeys people... I've seen some real negativity on this seasons prospects. Well, I just read the sticky on 2007 team. Thats still a damn fine side to field folks. Damn fine. I think we'll struggle with West Coast again but most other sides I think we can match if not better. Where does all the negativity come from? Me thinks some peoples memories are too tied up in the injury horrors of last year. Sure they can happen again but they could also NOT happen again. The biggest horror then will be trying to give everyone a game!

Good to be back amongst the opinionated again

 

[snakebite01]

There's definitely a lot to look forward to.

You're right, a lot of people are a bit blinded by the finish to the season where a number of the 22 in the Prelim (which we only lost by a kick remember) weren't fully fit, and forget that Roo was either injured or half fit for the majority of the season - whereas now, he's getting a full pre-season.

The main concern is the fire power up forward without Hentschel, but if Mattner/Van Berlo/Knights can step up on the wing it allows us to play Burton up forward, who along with a fully fit Roo, Perrie/Bock/Kenny and Bode and Welsh, forms a pretty dangerous forward line.

 

[Allefgib]

There's definitely a lot to look forward to.

You're right, a lot of people are a bit blinded by the finish to the season where a number of the 22 in the Prelim (which we only lost by a kick remember) weren't fully fit, and forget that Roo was either injured or half fit for the majority of the season - whereas now, he's getting a full pre-season.

The main concern is the fire power up forward without Hentschel, but if Mattner/Van Berlo/Knights can step up on the wing it allows us to play Burton up forward, who along with a fully fit Roo, Perrie/Bock/Kenny and Bode and Welsh, forms a pretty dangerous forward line.

I was thinking the Rucks could be an issue more than the forward line to be honest. Thats assuming we don't have the run with injuries we had last season. Bock was out most the season and if he switches that to be IN most the season and Roo/Bird don't have as bad a run with injury I think our forward line looks quite dangerous. Bode/Welsh always around to scrap and kick a few. Perrie/Kenny as insurance in the tall department. Looks v. tidy.

 

[snakebite01]

Rucks will be OK provided Hudson stays injury free. We played over half the year with Maric as back-up ruckman last year (in fact Maric was back-up in that period when no one could get within 10 goals of us) and Hudson>Biglands...so basically it all depends on the fitness of Hudson.

 

[*PAF]

Yes I agree it will be an exciting year.
The carton at the end of the year is finally a chance.

 

[- PC -]

PM NikkiNoo on AFL spots in the UK

I am positive as always, but as always overly cautious and wont predict anything above a top 4 finish

 

[bus24]

I'm excited about seeing our young kids get plenty of opportunity. I'll be a tad dissapointed if we played alot of guys, that TBH will never be that great, over the kids.

Don't really care where we finish, with Roo, Goody and co playing it will be Top 8. However we need to build towards our next genuine flag tilt.

 

[Southerntakeover]

Im not sure why so many have given away the flag chance for this year. We were only 10 points out of the grand final in 06, and as i see it, theres no reason why we should fall away dramatically, infact, i think there are still areas where we will improve.

 

[Allefgib]

PM NikkiNoo on AFL spots in the UK

I am positive as always, but as always overly cautious and wont predict anything above a top 4 finish

Thanks for the tip.

I am tipping top 8 and hoping top 4 then as James Hird has said.. anything is possible.

From what I hear people saying here I was starting to wonder if being in the mix at the right time of the year wasn't good enough anymore? It certainly is what to aim for at this stage THEN you apply all the lessons you learnt in the previous few heart breaking losses to finally break through again. Lets not forget we kinda broke the mould in 97/98 without doing our time in losing finals first (93 counts a bit I guess) before breaking through.

I've seen people talk about how its a waste of time if you aren't focussed on winning the premiership each and every year. I don't think it does, or should, work that way. NC himself focusses on enough wins to make the finals. Then looks at top 4 for the double chance. Then top 2 for home ground prelim. THEN he starts focussing the premiership. I know thats boiled it down a bit simply but I also feel its the right way to look at the season or like last year maybe you get a bit ahead of yourself...

 

[kimirocks]

There certainly is a lot to look forward to, not only in th race to the premiership, but also the development of the kids. I will be devo if we don't make the Top 4 with our list, a GF or nothing is really what I am after. I think this coul be our last year to stage a proper tilt at the cup, before we steady for a year or two and another big tilt.

I'll be joining you in like 8 weeks, and am desperate to find somewhere to watch the games, otherwise am going to have to rely on parents sending over the games on DVD.

 

[Eggzoi]

You can find the games reasonably easily online (not Telstra) to download. Good quality too. PM if you're interested.

 

[macca23]

Yes I agree it will be an exciting year.
The carton at the end of the year is finally a chance.

PAF, my old buddy from Outer Mongolia - are you suggesting that the carton of Cooper's Pale Ale wager is on again this year???

 

[Jarmayhem]

I think there's plenty to look forward to... but I'm moving to Canada in June so I'd love to know how to watch games online/ on cable TV if anyone has any suggestions!

I don't get to see the young guys you all talk about from the SANFL so the NAB cup will be interesting to see them in action too.

 

[ignoranus]

There certainly is a lot to look forward to, not only in th race to the premiership, but also the development of the kids. I will be devo if we don't make the Top 4 with our list, a GF or nothing is really what I am after. I think this coul be our last year to stage a proper tilt at the cup, before we steady for a year or two and another big tilt.

I'll be joining you in like 8 weeks, and am desperate to find somewhere to watch the games, otherwise am going to have to rely on parents sending over the games on DVD.

I am going OS too soon to live and I have the same dilemma.

This is what I came up with...

OPTION 1
*******
(1) Adelaide computer has TV receiver card inserted eg.
COMPRO Videomate
(2) Adelaide computer is always left on
(3) Adelaide computer connected via ADSL2+ to internet with an ISP that provides FREE uploads (most of them)
(4) OS computer is on an unlimited broadband plan
(5) OS user can log in to Adelaide PC (eg. WINXP remote desktop or radmin)

Once this is done the OS user can schedule recording of games and save them to disk in a compressed video format. Once saved to disk OS user can download them from Adelaide PC at no cost to Adelaide PC (free uploads).

PROS: Very flexible, relatively cheap. Adelaide user doesnt have to do much work
CONS: A bit tricky to set up. File transfers can be pretty big. eg. 1-2GB per week!

OPTION 2
*******
Join Telstra Bigpong International AFL subscriber

PROS: Easy
CONS: that window is tiny!

OPTION 3
*******
Get someone nice from Oz to snailmail DVDs.

PROS: good quality video
CONS: slow, labour intensive for suckers in Adelaide

OPTION 4
*******
Same as option 1 but only 1 person needs to do it, then sets up a torrent of each game for everyone else who is an OS Crows supporter to leach.

PROS: minimal effort for almost everyone
CONS: ?

Any other ideas?

 

[Eggzoi]

I suggest you read my post earlier.

 

[*PAF]

PAF, my old buddy from Outer Mongolia - are you suggesting that the carton of Cooper's Pale Ale wager is on again this year???

Sounds good to me, hail or shine I'll be there.

 

[Crow-mo]

Question: Does anyone know of a place in London that regularly shows some AFL footy in a bar etc? Any other crows supporters out there in London atm?

Try one of the walkabouts. home of drunken idiots, booze filled slappers, and the odd AFL game. everything good about our country

 

[*PAF]

Try one of the walkabouts. home of drunken idiots, booze filled slappers, and the odd AFL game. everything good about our country

He said London not Darwin.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Sounds good to me, hail or shine I'll be there.

Someone just does not know when to give up

 

[*PAF]

Someone just does not know when to give up

I'll have to google that one.