Oh dear...

[Lenz]

In 2003, after struggling against the "team of the century" for a couple of years without success and even holding them to a Grand Final 9-point loss the previous year, we finally beat them in about round 20, and went into the Grand Final "knowing" we could now beat them, only to get thrashed. Now, having beaten the 2005 premier and 2006 runner-up twice this season, I'm terrified that our buys might go back into battle "knowing" they can beat the Swans. A recipe for disaster if ever there was one. I just hope MM makes this point loud and clear.

 

[Optimax]

We can beat the swans and im confident we wont make the 03 mistake again

 

[Frederlick]

In 2003, after struggling against the "team of the century" for a couple of years without success and even holding them to a Grand Final 9-point loss the previous year, we finally beat them in about round 20, and went into the Grand Final "knowing" we could now beat them, only to get thrashed. Now, having beaten the 2005 premier and 2006 runner-up twice this season, I'm terrified that our buys might go back into battle "knowing" they can beat the Swans. A recipe for disaster if ever there was one. I just hope MM makes this point loud and clear.

Won't lose our FF suspended before next week and wreck the entire team structure will we?

 

[Optimax]

Won't lose our FF suspended before next week and wreck the entire team structure will we?

No but maybe bryan meaning richards will play but that isnt really massive up oir down

 

[ShepBoy]

In 2003, after struggling against the "team of the century" for a couple of years without success and even holding them to a Grand Final 9-point loss the previous year, we finally beat them in about round 20, and went into the Grand Final "knowing" we could now beat them, only to get thrashed. Now, having beaten the 2005 premier and 2006 runner-up twice this season, I'm terrified that our buys might go back into battle "knowing" they can beat the Swans. A recipe for disaster if ever there was one. I just hope MM makes this point loud and clear.

You are wrong.

We didnt beat them in R20 of 2003, in fact we were thrashed that day at the MCG.

 

[Rohan25]

I think it was actually the first final we beat them in, yeah?

 

[the_mighty_pies_3733]

Yeah we didnt beat them in Round 20 at all, infact we got smashed on Heritage Round when they kicked about 8 goals to zip in the 1st quarter.

 

[Optimax]

I think it was actually the first final we beat them in, yeah?

Got it in one and we didnt thrash them it was like 14 points but fet like the best win ever

 

[Frederlick]

No but maybe bryan meaning richards will play but that isnt really massive up oir down

True, god I hope they can get Fraser back. Wouldn't mind seeing them win one, just to give the young blokes a taste of a finals 'series'.

 

[pieblessing]

Dont get excited, MM had trouble getting the team up for games against, Footscray, Melbourne Richmond this year. dont be surprised if we fail again this week. He will use the excuse the kids are getting tired, doesnt seem to be an issues for port adelaide?

 

[Barwick17]

Very dangerous week.... False sense of security doesn't bode well with the pies. Remember being favourites in the 2003 GF? Thankfully the Carlton Draught scooners nulled the pain after the first 10 min

 

[Jabso]

Dont get excited, MM had trouble getting the team up for games against, Footscray, Melbourne Richmond this year. dont be surprised if we fail again this week. He will use the excuse the kids are getting tired, doesnt seem to be an issues for port adelaide?

He never really used that excuse. You don't need a coach to get up for a friggen final. I don't think we failed to "get up" for the Bulldogs game at all, we were just beaten on the day. Games against crap opposition are often suspect to teams getting complacent, not finals.

It's the finals. If you can't get excited for these games you may as well give up being a supporter.

So get excited!

 

[cult_hero26]

I'll start getting excited about thursday or thereabouts. I'm still seething about friday night atm.

 

[twoforjoy]

im a bit excited. playing the swans was the best possible option for us. even if we win this one and lose the next one it still represents improvement on last year. if we improve a bit more every year the flag will be ours in about 3 years.

 

[DJ Black @ White Blood]

im a bit excited. playing the swans was the best possible option for us. even if we win this one and lose the next one it still represents improvement on last year. if we improve a bit more every year the flag will be ours in about 3 years.

Im more looking forward to finally getting the chance to knock the Ducks out of the finals for the first time in the last few years. Everyone has been tipping them for top 4 and saying they will get stronger towards finals time. Hope its a Pebbles goal from 70 meters out after the final siren to win by a point, that will shut the Ducks up and have the Rocca haters loveing him for another week.

 

[Magnus the Magpie]

Dont get excited, MM had trouble getting the team up for games against, Footscray, Melbourne Richmond this year. dont be surprised if we fail again this week. He will use the excuse the kids are getting tired, doesnt seem to be an issues for port adelaide?

Spot on! I'm absolutely sick of this bullshit about our young blokes getting tired, needing a rest and so on. If you keep telling them this sort of crap, you simply give them an excuse to fail! In any case, I expect we'll go in next week with a fairly experience side (we can hardly claim that the likes of 3rd-year players such as H. Shaw and Cloke are still young and inexperienced).

 

[Jabso]

Spot on! I'm absolutely sick of this bullshit about our young blokes getting tired, needing a rest and so on. If you keep telling them this sort of crap, you simply give them an excuse to fail! In any case, I expect we'll go in next week with a fairly experience side (we can hardly claim that the likes of 3rd-year players such as H. Shaw and Cloke are still young and inexperienced).

Yeah I don't think the likes of Cloke, H.Shaw, Thomas, Pendlebury need a rest. Clarke, fair enough it's his first year, he might need time to step back for a while, but you can always give these players rests by other ways through days off, get them to go back to their home town etc.

 

[mm fan]

Dont sent Clarke home its on the other side of the world.

I think MM has given a rest to the players that needed it and now we should be ready to go.