Oppo Camp Non-Essendon Thread XI

[Liberator]

In which time a lot has changed. The swans are in such good form I don't see how anyone can't see them as favs.

In which time a lot has changed. The swans are in such good form I don't see how anyone can't see them as favs.

Agreed. This has all the hallmarks of the classic of the 'just happy to have made it' scenario. Saying that, this dog group has some serious esprit de corps... My favourite finals campaign ever... Bar us of course.

 

[DapperJong]

Agreed. This has all the hallmarks of the classic of the 'just happy to have made it' scenario. Saying that, this dog group has some serious esprit de corps... My favourite finals campaign ever... Bar us of course.

Yeah exactly. The GWS game was so emotional. The swans have had a pretty regulatory run into the GF despite the initial loss.

 

[Stopher]

To get back to my comment re Bont having the potential (and I stress this point) to be the best Bulldog ever, a lot of people mentioned some very fine players that would be in the conversation. I want to concentrate on a group of those for a second, namely Chris Grant, Rohan Smith, Scott West and Brad Johnson. These 4 were all at or near their respective peaks in the late 90's when their team made top 4 for 3 consecutive seasons (and were a kick off finishing top in 1998). If you also include the 2000 season when they made finals, their 'September' record in that stretch of 4 seasons is a disappointing 2-5, including a straight-sets exit in 1999.

Given they had that core group of great players for that run and were obviously surrounded by a decent team, does it count against any/all of them that not only could they not manage to make a Grand Final in that time (despite being in the box seat twice), but that their overall finals record in that period is quite poor?

 

[Pweter]

Yeah exactly. The GWS game was so emotional. The swans have had a pretty regulatory run into the GF despite the initial loss.

Whilst I don't necessarily disagree, there's a bit of a trend in recent times of teams who waltz into the big dance tend to come up short against the team that scraped in by a small margin.

 

[Maddogm]

Yeah exactly. The GWS game was so emotional. The swans have had a pretty regulatory run into the GF despite the initial loss.

Exactly the feeling going into the GWS game. I'm not saying the Doggies are favourites, but I wouldn't dismiss them.

 

[DapperJong]

Whilst I don't necessarily disagree, there's a bit of a trend in recent times of teams who waltz into the big dance tend to come up short against the team that scraped in by a small margin.

That's one trend, but there's plenty of other trends you can look at that say the swans will win this easily. Plus they haven't exactly waltzed in. As I said, they had a hiccup in the quals. Just like hawthorn last year, just like the dons in 2000.

But hey, I'm all for bucking trends. A team that finished 7th goes on to win the GF. It would be amazing.

 

[Kong]

What time does the actual count start tonight?

 

[Pweter]

That's one trend, but there's plenty of other trends you can look at that say the swans will win this easily. Plus they haven't exactly waltzed in. As I said, they had a hiccup in the quals. Just like hawthorn last year, just like the dons in 2000.

But hey, I'm all for bucking trends. A team that finished 7th goes on to win the GF. It would be amazing.

The Swans are deserved favourites, but I think the game will be reasonably tight and the Dogs are not without a hope. The Dogs have based their game plan on contested footy and manic pressure on the opposition which has translated well to the finals. Neither Adelaide nor Geelong are renowned for what they do when not in possession, that will be a big difference for Sydney to adjust to this week.

 

[astrowizzle]

The Swans are deserved favourites, but I think the game will be reasonably tight and the Dogs are not without a hope. The Dogs have based their game plan on contested footy and manic pressure on the opposition which has translated well to the finals. Neither Adelaide nor Geelong are renowned for what they do when not in possession, that will be a big difference for Sydney to adjust to this week.

Swans are the masters of manic pressure as much as it disgusts me to say that

 

[Pweter]

Swans are the masters of manic pressure as much as it disgusts me to say that

I'm not denying that, but the Dogs showed they can absorb it pretty well on the weekend. Can the Swans?

 

[Mercurial89]

What time does the actual count start tonight?

Red Carpet at 6:30
Count begins 8:15

 

[Beerfish]

What time does the actual count start tonight?

I'll save you the trouble. Dangerfield wins by a bazillion votes.

 

[Lord Nicholson]

I'll save you the trouble. Dangerfield wins by a bazillion votes.

You don't rate Shaun Hampson's chances?

At the very least you get a semi-decent recap of the season that was.

 

[Beerfish]

You don't rate Shaun Hampson's chances?

At the very least you get a semi-decent recap of the season that was.

Just what I was after..

 

[Run and carry]

They will get smacked imo the way Sydney demolished Adelaide and Geelong was bloody scary.

Geelong were as rusty as an iron gate. Blokes were handballing above team mates heads, fumbling and dropping the ball, all with little to no pressure. Just wasn't Geelong. One game in 27 days was probably not ideal.

 

[Darealrath]

To get back to my comment re Bont having the potential (and I stress this point) to be the best Bulldog ever, a lot of people mentioned some very fine players that would be in the conversation. I want to concentrate on a group of those for a second, namely Chris Grant, Rohan Smith, Scott West and Brad Johnson. These 4 were all at or near their respective peaks in the late 90's when their team made top 4 for 3 consecutive seasons (and were a kick off finishing top in 1998). If you also include the 2000 season when they made finals, their 'September' record in that stretch of 4 seasons is a disappointing 2-5, including a straight-sets exit in 1999.

Given they had that core group of great players for that run and were obviously surrounded by a decent team, does it count against any/all of them that not only could they not manage to make a Grand Final in that time (despite being in the box seat twice), but that their overall finals record in that period is quite poor?

Yeah it does, fairly or unfairly. Looking back I think one problem was that while they had a lot of really good players in those late 90s teams, their peaks didn't sync like happened with Geelong and Hawthorn.

• Liberatore and Wynd played their best footy in the early 90s.
• Johnson played his best footy in the early-mid 2000s.
• West was very good throughout his career but was probably a better player in the early 2000s.
• Darcy was only a bit-part player.
• Nathan Brown was just starting out.
• Mark West and Leon Cameron were incredibly injury prone.

Only Grant and Smith were probably at their peak for that run.

 

[Run and carry]

To get back to my comment re Bont having the potential (and I stress this point) to be the best Bulldog ever, a lot of people mentioned some very fine players that would be in the conversation. I want to concentrate on a group of those for a second, namely Chris Grant, Rohan Smith, Scott West and Brad Johnson. These 4 were all at or near their respective peaks in the late 90's when their team made top 4 for 3 consecutive seasons (and were a kick off finishing top in 1998). If you also include the 2000 season when they made finals, their 'September' record in that stretch of 4 seasons is a disappointing 2-5, including a straight-sets exit in 1999.

Given they had that core group of great players for that run and were obviously surrounded by a decent team, does it count against any/all of them that not only could they not manage to make a Grand Final in that time (despite being in the box seat twice), but that their overall finals record in that period is quite poor?

Not at all. Have to look at the last half a dozen players in a finals team. Like the Saints grand final teams. First 6 or 7 were champs but they fell away at the bottom. I'd be looking at how Grant, Smith etc performed personally in those finals as a better indicator. To be fair they were 22 points up at 3/4 time against the Crows in the 97 prelim before Darren Jarman got in the mood.

 

[DapperDon]

Stew Crameri has his wedding booked for this Friday.

Seriously. What a dickhead

 

[Mercurial89]

Stew Crameri has his wedding booked for this Friday.

Seriously. What a dickhead

Suspended for the year so not playing
Partners family is Irish and suited them best (bride to be gets the say)
no one in their right mind thought Doggies would make it this far.

 

[Alfred E Neuman]

Stew Crameri has his wedding booked for this Friday.

Seriously. What a dickhead

Well, all his Essendon mates will be there at least...

 

[DapperDon]

Suspended for the year so not playing
Partners family is Irish and suited them best (bride to be gets the say)
no one in their right mind thought Doggies would make it this far.

Footy player booked his wedding GF weekend.

Don't care if the partner is Irish or not, you just don't do that.

 

[Proper Gander]

Yeah exactly. The GWS game was so emotional. The swans have had a pretty regulatory run into the GF despite the initial loss.

Do you mean they have arrested teams, or revoked their licences?

 

[DapperJong]

Do you mean they have arrested teams, or revoked their licences?

#whateverittakes

 

[baz_machine]

Stew Crameri has his wedding booked for this Friday.

Seriously. What a dickhead

Queue swiss verdict coming in, decision overturned and him been selected....

 

[citizen-erased]

I'll save you the trouble. Dangerfield wins by a bazillion votes.

Gone with Mitchell to pinch it.