Preview Pre Finals 2025.. any good recipes...anyone for tennis?!?! Uno perhaps?

[Lana]

Andrews played on Henry at the Gabba.

Us going 1 from 5 with that match up is telling

 

[Commando]

Yes. But I hate that ad if if the one with the smart arse driving off as he gets to it all the time.
Funny until someone falls under the wheel.

Thats the one!

 

[Mr Meow]

I can’t challenge the stats, but when we went ahead in the PF last year, and had the momentum, did we get the ball into our forward line after the next two centre bounces? I watched it live on tv but haven’t been up for watching it again so my memory could be faulty.

We struggled to it's true (Stanley hit the post late), but the Lions murdered us off interecepts all night too.

The best teams at scoring off turnovers consistently win flags and finals in the modern era. Ball movement and skills are king. Teams who are poor at executing on or defending transition get found out.

The best centrebounce clearance teams of 2025?

1. Bulldogs
2. Carlton
3. Gold Coast
4. Melbourne

The teams that finished 7th and out of finals.

 

[Seeds]

Andrews is going to neale. Wherever neale plays. Cant really tag at marking contests cos there are rules against it.

 

[Seeds]

Andrews played on Henry at the Gabba.

I was at the gabba game. He was definately on neale for most of the night. Gave him a bath.

 

[Cataholic]

We struggled to it's true (Stanley hit the post late), but the Lions murdered us off interecepts all night too.

The best teams at scoring off turnovers consistently win flags and finals in the modern era. Ball movement and skills are king. Teams who are poor at executing on or defending transition get found out.

The best centrebounce clearance teams of 2025?

1. Bulldogs
2. Carlton
3. Gold Coast
4. Melbourne

The teams that finished 7th and out of finals.

I still think we need to win the midfield in this particular game, and by 'win' I should've clarified I'd consider a 'break even' as such.

Brisbane have the ability to dominate us in the centre and generate a significant number of forward entries, and do so rapidly.

This could overwhelm our intercept game with the likes of Lohmann, Rayner, Cameron and Ah Chee being fast and mobile, and we've seen our defense become disorganised several times through the year.

We hold our own in the midfield and we slow the speed and number of their forward entries, which benefits our intercept game.

I understand your point about the importance of intercept and turnovers but I just think Brisbane are a side that can overwhelm our ability in that area with a sheer number of forward entries if we don't at least break even in the midfield.


,

 

[Mr Meow]

I still think we need to win the midfield in this particular game, and by 'win' I should've clarified I'd consider a 'break even' as such.

Brisbane have the ability to dominate us in the centre and generate a significant number of forward entries, and do so rapidly.

This could overwhelm our intercept game with the likes of Lohmann, Rayner, Cameron and Ah Chee being fast and mobile, and we've seen our defense become disorganised several times through the year.

We hold our own in the midfield and we slow the speed and number of their forward entries, which benefits our intercept game.

I understand your point about the importance of intercept and turnovers but I just think Brisbane are a side that can overwhelm our ability in that area with a sheer number of forward entries if we don't at least break even in the midfield.


,

Fair enough, yep I think breakeven fits the bill - like I said, we can't be dominated there.

Our forwards are good enough to have a decisive advantage, if they can kick the bloody ball straight when going for goal! I'd love for players like Mannagh, Stengle and Close to fire - because they really haven't against Brisbane lately.

I agree about Brisbane's forward threats, which get underestimated in the face of their strong midfield. I would say they give us at least as much cause for concern, especially because some of them link up with the midfield so effectively.

I agree on your last point. Do I think we can win with 5 to 10 less inside 50s though? If we are clinical and decisive - yes. Any more than that and I agree we would be overwhelmed.

 

[Cataholic]

Fair enough, yep I think breakeven fits the bill - like I said, we can't be dominated there.

Our forwards are good enough to have a decisive advantage, if they can kick the bloody ball straight when going for goal! I'd love for players like Mannagh, Stengle and Close to fire - because they really haven't against Brisbane lately.

I agree about Brisbane's forward threats, which get underestimated in the face of their strong midfield. I would say they give us at least as much cause for concern, especially because some of them link up with the midfield so effectively.

I agree on your last point. Do I think we can win with 5 to 10 less inside 50s though? If we are clinical and decisive - yes. Any more than that and I agree we would be overwhelmed.

We need to stifle their centre clearances somewhat to give our defenders the best opportunity to intercept, be precise with our forward entries and lethal with our goal kicking to win imo.

Kind of sounds obvious, but what I'm saying is we need to be on song because I think our margin for error is smaller than the Lions.

We've just got to find a way to stop them free wheeling out of the middle, or at least slow them down. If we can do that it'll strengthen our intercept game and from there we can ping it back the other way, but we mustn't keep them in the game by missing shots on goal.

Neale's inclusion will help because he is a beautiful set shot, but we'll also need Cameron, vintage Stengle, Mannagh and Martin contributing in the goal column.

It's doable, but it ain't gonna be easy.

 

[cats_09]

Andrews is going to neale. Wherever neale plays. Cant really tag at marking contests cos there are rules against it.

more often than not, Andrews seems to play as the loose defender - Stewart role, and then will get himself to the right position to intercept and double team the opposition

 

[Cataholic]

more often than not, Andrews seems to play as the loose defender - Stewart role, and then will get himself to the right position to intercept and double team the opposition

Why our forwards need to peel off and lead to multiple positions.....to create multiple options and spread their defenders.

If we resort to the hail mary high bomb they'll pick them off with ease.

 

[cats_09]

Why our forwards need to peel off and lead to multiple positions.....to create multiple options and spread their defenders.

If we resort to the hail mary high bomb they'll pick them off with ease.

Exactly this - don't all lead to the same area

And, don't kick bombs to where Andrews is lurking


Lower our eyes, if Andrews is hanging out near Neale then look for where Cameron, Dangerfield or Martin is - I can see a situation where Andrews starts on a player like Martin or Dangerfield knowing he'll drop off to do his own thing, so if he does that let's start playing through his man as that means he has to start being accountable

AND if we're going to see Blicavs forward where he will have to be matched up on - have someone like Mannagh running near following a mark for the easy hand off & snap on goal

 

[standupand]

I was at the gabba game. He was definately on neale for most of the night. Gave him a bath.

Jack Payne had Neale in the Gabba game. Andrews played mostly on Ollie Henry.

 

[Seeds]

Jack Payne had Neale in the Gabba game. Andrews played mostly on Ollie Henry.

Nope.

 

[iameviljez]

I was at the gabba game. He was definately on neale for most of the night. Gave him a bath.

So was I - Neale was, in my memory, opposed to Payne. Memory can be faulty though

 

[Play it Sam]

Exactly this - don't all lead to the same area

And, don't kick bombs to where Andrews is lurking


Lower our eyes, if Andrews is hanging out near Neale then look for where Cameron, Dangerfield or Martin is - I can see a situation where Andrews starts on a player like Martin or Dangerfield knowing he'll drop off to do his own thing, so if he does that let's start playing through his man as that means he has to start being accountable

AND if we're going to see Blicavs forward where he will have to be matched up on - have someone like Mannagh running near following a mark for the easy hand off & snap on goal

I'm groaning at that, because it's alluding to the way we failed- surely we can't play that dumb again. Prefer to think that game was an aberration.
Brisbane is capable of allowing us to play well, or why else would they finish third, have percentage that reflects close wins, and almost get done by Hawthorn last game. Not to mention the finals lead we had last year before capitulating.

All we need is some snappy little motivational saying that trumps Fagans and it's a level playing field.
Maybe they borrow Strange Cats KILL EM FARKEN

 

[Zouz Kitty]

I just kicked my dog when the news dropped.

Hope your dog bit your plums

 

[standupand]

I'm groaning at that, because it's alluding to the way we failed- surely we can't play that dumb again. Prefer to think that game was an aberration.
Brisbane is capable of allowing us to play well, or why else would they finish third, have percentage that reflects close wins, and almost get done by Hawthorn last game. Not to mention the finals lead we had last year before capitulating.

All we need is some snappy little motivational saying that trumps Fagans and it's a level playing field.
Maybe they borrow Strange Cats KILL EM FARKEN

One little piece from Fagan's post-game after the Hawthorn win caught my ear. He said that it was difficult to be premiers with every team treating you as the hunted. He said the trend has been for premiers to miss finals altogether the following year. And he said that despite setbacks with injury etc their season had already been a overwhelming success.
I listened to that and I thought we are going to be the hungrier team this finals series. They're maybe just a little bit satisfied with what they've done. Could be wrong, but we'll see...

 

[iameviljez]

One little piece from Fagan's post-game after the Hawthorn win caught my ear. He said that it was difficult to be premiers with every team treating you as the hunted. He said the trend has been for premiers to miss finals altogether the following year. And he said that despite setbacks with injury etc their season had already been a overwhelming success.
I listened to that and I thought we are going to be the hungrier team this finals series. They're maybe just a little bit satisfied with what they've done. Could be wrong, but we'll see...

I have never really bought into this theory - it’s just that we have had three sides recently win flags right at the end of their “window”.

We have had a heap of sides play in Grand Finals the year after winning the flag in the last 25 years.

 

[standupand]

I have never really bought into this theory - it’s just that we have had three sides recently win flags right at the end of their “window”.

We have had a heap of sides play in Grand Finals the year after winning the flag in the last 25 years.

I agree with you. It was more what this reveals in terms of their mentality that Fages was saying it.

 

[Zouz Kitty]

News? From NSW New England Bush?

One of those chop chop tobacconist opened here
Broken into the first night. All of the gaspers stolen

It was great, I didn’t have to drive to Armidale.

Next two weeks, chop chop shop broken into twice.

The tobacconist was from a Lebanese gang.

The local bikies (Bandidos) ran them out of town!

I had no idea bikies ran this tiny town.



PS Good news, stopped smoking

It’s like a dear friend died

 

[Zouz Kitty]

News? MORE news from NSW New England Bush?

Was behind a Victorian driver
Who parked in a disabled parking spot. Edged slowly + asked if he had a disability parking permit. He rolled his eyes.

I said: “Tell me you’re a Collingwood fan, without telling me you’re a Collingwood fan!

His jaw dropped!

How did you know I was a Pies’ fan

Seriously?