Viceregal
Premium Platinum
And it comes down to the final round of the season and what an absolute joy it is to care about September these days after so long in the wilderness where our focus was already on the draft to come without a Lion to be seen in the final’s fixture!
So last week was a game that, at the time of playing, could have had us come out second or fifth – fortunately (or by dint of our incredible skill
) we went with the win in a display or professionalism and inherent awesomeness that stamped our readiness as a finals contender (readers should avoid all contrary evidence/opinion presented in the Game Day thread, the Review Thread, articles in the media and, of course, their own lying eyes)
Last time we met …
There was no last time we met – that game was an abomination and should never be mentioned again (except perhaps by Tunstil when remembering how it all began coming into his 200th game with his beloved Lions) – suffice to say that we lost, and lost badly in what we hoped would be a line in the sand moment that would wake our players up / provide a needed impact to their collective derrieres but seemingly was ‘mulligan-ed’
Changes from that game-which-shall-not-be-mentioned
The Ground – last time was the MCG … this time is the ‘Gabba so we should all feel more confident on that note.
The Players (hat tip to Section 5 )
Evil Demonic Spawn of Evil …
The Ambiance …
On both occasions Friday night, national coverage, a lot to play for, season defining and the opportunity to show what we are made of. Last time we were the archetypal chocolate soldiers who melt and run when the heat is on … please please please don’t roll over, panic, choke, be complacent, get sucked into de-focusing physicality or give away stupid 50’s at key momentum shifting moments of the game etc and show us your professional, ready-for-finals, we’ve got this, ruthless, this is our game and we are taking it home with us game to the point where our pressure (oh yeah please bring LOTS to pressure and if, pretty please, you might consider doing it for like four whole quarters that would be totally amazing (if sadly non-typical)) makes it look like the Demons are having a bad day.
Ramifications …
We start the weekend on 4th based on percentage with four other teams on 60 points and one on 58.
First is locked – the Cats will be the minor premiers and will play ‘at home’ at the MCG (since Kardina Park (or whatever name it has now) is getting renovated.
Best case scenario is we beat the Demons (obviously) and the Saints beat the Swans (which helpfully we won’t know until late on Sunday) putting us 2nd going into the finals and playing someone like Freo, Pies, or the Dockers week 1 at the ‘Gabba all of which we could be forgiven for having a certain amount of confidence in (especially after defeating the Demons)
Next best is where we beat the Demons but Max King decides to court the love of the Swan’s fans rather than the Saints’ ones and that would put them into 2nd, us into 3rd (unless our wins are such that we gain approx. 4% in which case we stay in 2nd) and our first final would be against the Swans at, presumably, the SCG … again a game we would not be going into with that sign over the gates of Kardinia, “Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here”.
But, someone says, what if we lose? We would finish Friday evening still on fourth with a date at the MCG via the Kitty Kats (again doable and another practice session on the GF ground) but now other folks results may be more affective. If the Dockers win (go Giants) they would leapfrog us, if the Pies win (go cough gag hack Blues) the same and again if the Swans win (go Saints) another step down. So if we lose we end up anywhere from 4th to 6th based on those other three results.
We will certainly be paying attention to the others games this round whether we win or lose but it will be far more enjoyable after a win!
Odds …
Currently the AFL site is reporting Sportbet odds as Lions $1.88 and Demons $1.96 … I don’t know much about odds but that looks like we look about even but slightly in our favour. Squiggle is currently estimating us to win 82-80 (and wouldn’t that be unrelaxing!).
Form …
We have been up and down WWLWW and seem to be settling into a good final’s group without too many crucial injuries but a lot of fans (ok Bigfooty Board) have concerns over our ability to deliver when the pressure of finals comes on. Yes this is not a final but there is a lot on the line for both sides so I expect the intensity to be right up there especially with a week off after). It is good to see that Cam and Eric seem to be getting their confidence back in their bodies at the right time of the year.
They have been WLWLW (so due for an L ) and their aura of invincibility has become somewhat tarnished as other teams have worked out how to blunt their strengths. Hopefully we have been paying attention and will do a Lions-flavoured version of whatever Demon-slaying option is available with our personnel.
Result …
In a world where good always triumphs and evil never prospers we would of course be the victors ... but we do not live in that world and the one we do live in includes umpires, media, commentators, the AFL governing body, the MRO, the Tribunal and other representatives of partial evil (only the 8th circle of hell not the 9th).
I am going for Lions by 30 in the best four quarter display we have seen all year full of individual brilliance, team defense, desperation, focus, accuracy, no injuries, and a huge fillip for the finals series (that is re the Lions not the Demons btw).
GO LIONS
So last week was a game that, at the time of playing, could have had us come out second or fifth – fortunately (or by dint of our incredible skill
) we went with the win in a display or professionalism and inherent awesomeness that stamped our readiness as a finals contender (readers should avoid all contrary evidence/opinion presented in the Game Day thread, the Review Thread, articles in the media and, of course, their own lying eyes)Last time we met …
There was no last time we met – that game was an abomination and should never be mentioned again (except perhaps by Tunstil when remembering how it all began coming into his 200th game with his beloved Lions) – suffice to say that we lost, and lost badly in what we hoped would be a line in the sand moment that would wake our players up / provide a needed impact to their collective derrieres but seemingly was ‘mulligan-ed’
Changes from that game-which-shall-not-be-mentioned
The Ground – last time was the MCG … this time is the ‘Gabba so we should all feel more confident on that note.
The Players (hat tip to Section 5 )
Evil Demonic Spawn of Evil …
- out Weiderman, Bedford, Bowey, Harmes
- in Gawn, Melksham, Rivers, Hunt
- out Payne, T Berry, Dev, M Robbo, Tunstall
- in Gardiner, Bailey, Zorko, Ah Chee, Mathieson
The Ambiance …
On both occasions Friday night, national coverage, a lot to play for, season defining and the opportunity to show what we are made of. Last time we were the archetypal chocolate soldiers who melt and run when the heat is on … please please please don’t roll over, panic, choke, be complacent, get sucked into de-focusing physicality or give away stupid 50’s at key momentum shifting moments of the game etc and show us your professional, ready-for-finals, we’ve got this, ruthless, this is our game and we are taking it home with us game to the point where our pressure (oh yeah please bring LOTS to pressure and if, pretty please, you might consider doing it for like four whole quarters that would be totally amazing (if sadly non-typical)) makes it look like the Demons are having a bad day.
Ramifications …
We start the weekend on 4th based on percentage with four other teams on 60 points and one on 58.
First is locked – the Cats will be the minor premiers and will play ‘at home’ at the MCG (since Kardina Park (or whatever name it has now) is getting renovated.
Best case scenario is we beat the Demons (obviously) and the Saints beat the Swans (which helpfully we won’t know until late on Sunday) putting us 2nd going into the finals and playing someone like Freo, Pies, or the Dockers week 1 at the ‘Gabba all of which we could be forgiven for having a certain amount of confidence in (especially after defeating the Demons)
Next best is where we beat the Demons but Max King decides to court the love of the Swan’s fans rather than the Saints’ ones and that would put them into 2nd, us into 3rd (unless our wins are such that we gain approx. 4% in which case we stay in 2nd) and our first final would be against the Swans at, presumably, the SCG … again a game we would not be going into with that sign over the gates of Kardinia, “Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here”.
But, someone says, what if we lose? We would finish Friday evening still on fourth with a date at the MCG via the Kitty Kats (again doable and another practice session on the GF ground) but now other folks results may be more affective. If the Dockers win (go Giants) they would leapfrog us, if the Pies win (go cough gag hack Blues) the same and again if the Swans win (go Saints) another step down. So if we lose we end up anywhere from 4th to 6th based on those other three results.
We will certainly be paying attention to the others games this round whether we win or lose but it will be far more enjoyable after a win!
Odds …
Currently the AFL site is reporting Sportbet odds as Lions $1.88 and Demons $1.96 … I don’t know much about odds but that looks like we look about even but slightly in our favour. Squiggle is currently estimating us to win 82-80 (and wouldn’t that be unrelaxing!).
Form …
We have been up and down WWLWW and seem to be settling into a good final’s group without too many crucial injuries but a lot of fans (ok Bigfooty Board) have concerns over our ability to deliver when the pressure of finals comes on. Yes this is not a final but there is a lot on the line for both sides so I expect the intensity to be right up there especially with a week off after). It is good to see that Cam and Eric seem to be getting their confidence back in their bodies at the right time of the year.
They have been WLWLW (so due for an L
) and their aura of invincibility has become somewhat tarnished as other teams have worked out how to blunt their strengths. Hopefully we have been paying attention and will do a Lions-flavoured version of whatever Demon-slaying option is available with our personnel.Result …
In a world where good always triumphs and evil never prospers we would of course be the victors ... but we do not live in that world and the one we do live in includes umpires, media, commentators, the AFL governing body, the MRO, the Tribunal and other representatives of partial evil (only the 8th circle of hell not the 9th).
I am going for Lions by 30 in the best four quarter display we have seen all year full of individual brilliance, team defense, desperation, focus, accuracy, no injuries, and a huge fillip for the finals series (that is re the Lions not the Demons btw).
GO LIONS
