Roast This makes sense, right?

[winty]

I must admit I had a good chuckle when I was reading the Herald-Sun this morning, and in particular their mid-season report. While I wasn't surprised that Jon Anderson gave us an A+ for our first half of the season, what really made me laugh was Mike Sheahan's (yes, him again!) prediction for the ladder at the end of the season.

According to the all knowing, all seeing Sheahan, Geelong is going to fall from top spot. No surprise there, considering the form the Pies are in at the moment, but he also thinks Carlton are going to finish ahead of us as well!

When I saw that, I looked at the ladder and saw that Carlton were currently 2 and a half games behind us. I then looked at each team's draw for the rest of the year:

Geelong: St.Kilda (MCG), Adelaide (SS), Essendon (ES), West Coast (PS), Brisbane (Gabba), Richmond (ES), Melbourne (SS), Gold Coast (SS), Adelaide (AAMI), BYE, Sydney (SS), Collingwood (MCG)

Carlton: Sydney (ES), West Coast (ES), Richmond (MCG), Western Bulldogs (ES), Collingwood (MCG), Essendon (MCG), North Melbourne (ES), Melbourne (MCG), Fremantle (PS), Hawthorn (ES), BYE, St.Kilda (MCG)

Looking at our draw, I can see us losing to Collingwood in Round 24, with this week and the game in Perth against the Eagles possibly being 50/50. Even if we lost those three games, can you see Carlton winning all their games, which they would need to do to pass us?

Now Mike, we know you have an article up your sleeve about our supposed impending demise that you've been dying to put into print at some stage this season, but please, give us some respect, you muppet!

 

[Vdubs]

I would rather talk about the final ladder AFTER finals. Who really cares if we are 1, 2 or 3 or 4, as long as we don't have to go interstate for a final. What counts is the finals, and maybe then Blues finish above us and it counts.

 

[AM]

I would rather talk about the final ladder AFTER finals. Who really cares if we are 1, 2 or 3 or 4, as long as we don't have to go interstate for a final. What counts is the finals, and maybe then Blues finish above us and it counts.

Yep! When you have no meaty stories to get your teeth into but have an obligation to fill so many column inches indulging in idle speculation is the fall back position for journos like Sheahan and Wilson. It's not something worth getting our knickers in a knot about.

 

[Boxhead_31]

Starting to think it is about time someone got Mike a comfy rocking chair and a nice quilt in a retirement home somewhere

 

[Baudolino]

I suspect we'll lose 3-4 games (Collingwood, West Coast, and another 1 or 2, maybe St Kilda or Essendon). 18-4 would be easily enough to finish second, and we'd probably be only one game off Collingwood in that eventuality, as I'm sure they'll rotate their players in the latter stages of the season and drop an unexpected game or two.

 

[vinum coupe]

A follow up to the 'where's the respect thread'

As per usual sequels never stand up.

Still need a cuddle Winty?

 

[catters078]

On AFL360 tonight David King mentioned flippantly that Geelong wont be able to beat Carlton again this year

 

[winty]

Yep! When you have no meaty stories to get your teeth into but have an obligation to fill so many column inches indulging in idle speculation is the fall back position for journos like Sheahan and Wilson. It's not something worth getting our knickers in a knot about.

I agree with all that, but you'd think a journalist with so much experience and who's supposedly an informed "analyst" of the game should actually be able to back up his opinions with more than a passing comment like "oh, it's just a gut feeling I've got", like he did when he was pulled up about his comments about us after Easter Monday when he thought a few cracks were showing.

I know all and sundry were predicting us to fall down the ladder this year, but instead of expressing "gut feelings", he should actually try and analyse why we're actually bucking the trend, so to speak. Maybe then his articles won't be as full of crap as they are.

I wouldn't say I've got my knickers in a knot about it either. I just get sick of the media gushing over the likes of Carlton and Hawthorn when we're travelling just as well, or even better than what they are. Maybe I'm just getting grumpy in my old age, but it does irk me.

 

[AM]

I agree with all that, but you'd think a journalist with so much experience and who's supposedly an informed "analyst" of the game should actually be able to back up his opinions with more than a passing comment like "oh, it's just a gut feeling I've got", like he did when he was pulled up about his comments about us after Easter Monday when he thought a few cracks were showing.

I know all and sundry were predicting us to fall down the ladder this year, but instead of expressing "gut feelings", he should actually try and analyse why we're actually bucking the trend, so to speak. Maybe then his articles won't be as full of crap as they are.

I wouldn't say I've got my knickers in a knot about it either. I just get sick of the media gushing over the likes of Carlton and Hawthorn when we're travelling just as well, or even better than what they are. Maybe I'm just getting grumpy in my old age, but it does irk me.

Not knocking the thread Winty just dropping in my two cents worth.

Sheahan is experienced but I'm not too sure many would cast him as 'informed' or an 'analyst'. In fairness you did preface that with 'supposedly'.

BTW. Nothing wrong with being grumpy. Someone has to fill that role since Catman Forever vacated the mods chair.

 

[LifeSpan-Void]

I must admit I had a good chuckle when I was reading the Herald-Sun this morning, and

I would argue that this is the only sentence in your whole post that Sheahan cares about; in fact I'd go as far as saying he wants to be seen as a muppet, and write things that will raise the ire of (x) supporter base - as long as you keep on reading, incredulity optional. These guys aren't journos or reporters anymore. They're unit shifters.

 

[wmvaux]

Carlton aren't travelling as well as Geelong and as you point out there maybe 3 50/50 games for Geelong for the rest of the home and away season, Carlton have 6 50/50 that I can see, so it beats me how Mike thinks Carlton can get ahead of Geelong, it shows how little he knows. I think Geelong are a serious chance to win all home and away games, obviously Collingwood in the last is a big one, but not out of the question.

 

[RegHickeyStand]

All these close games are getting to me.

We are either going to break through, or we are going to slide. Thats how I feel right now.

I would hate for us to slide, just because I want this team to stick it up 'em!

They have earned that. Whether or not, we'll see.

Sheehan doesn't know any more than you or me about it. They are just offering up a meme they have believed strongly since we got thrashed in the Prelim: Geelong are gone. Too old. Game plan worked out. The great Gazza gone. They just can't explain why we are still here. So they are waiting for us to leave. Waiting, waiting. They are clueless.

 

[CF]

On AFL360 tonight David King mentioned flippantly that Geelong wont be able to beat Carlton again this year

I understand where he is coming from. Carlton are looking the Goods at the moment. But only time will tell if his prediction will come true.

 

[DO IT TO IT]

worst 11-0 team ever

 

[witsend]

Wasn't there a stat pulled out in 2009 when Cats & Saints were 12-0 that no team starting at least 12-0 has ever NOT made the GF?
Pretty good incentive to win!

 

[CF]

Let's face it, they hate us. They think we have had our turn now go away. Well we have another answer to that...F.U.! We are in it to win it.

 

[Partridge]

Not knocking the thread Winty just dropping in my two cents worth.

Sheahan is experienced but I'm not too sure many would cast him as 'informed' or an 'analyst'. In fairness you did preface that with 'supposedly'.

BTW. Nothing wrong with being grumpy. Someone has to fill that role since Catman Forever vacated the mods chair.

I hope not, I wouldn't know what to write otherwise.

Seriously though, who cares what clowns like Sheahan think? Let them dismiss our chances, doesn't make any difference on the field.

The fact is, as Scott has said numerous times, our big challenge is later in the year. That's when we'll find out if the younger guys can step up and if the older guys will hold up. It's a valid question and justification enough to have Collingwood ahead of us for premiership favouritism.

Until then, let's just keep ticking along. Hopefully by getting past St.Kilda this week.

 

[Turkey Tom]

On AFL360 tonight David King mentioned flippantly that Geelong wont be able to beat Carlton again this year

David King might be right! We don't play them again in the home and away, and we may not play them in the finals.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

I understand where he is coming from. Carlton are looking the Goods at the moment. But only time will tell if his prediction will come true.

Whilst I can't see Carlton finishing above us in the H&A they are going to be very stiff opposition in the Finals. They match up on us very well and they have strong depth and genuine upside in guys like Kreuzer and Henderson , provided others maintain their current form.
Having said that we have upside as well and it would be great to start by flogging the Saints this week. As another poster said you get the feeling we will slide or break out - I hope it's the latter.

 

[RogersResults]

worst 11-0 team ever

It is true that Geelong 2011 has the lowest percentage of any team that has gone 11-0 but....

Of the most recent 11-0's Essendon 2000 won 4 matches against the previous year's finalists. St Kilda 2009 won 5 matches against the the previous year's finalist and Geelong 2009 won 6.

Geelong 2011 has won 8.

 

[SJ]

It is true that Geelong 2011 has the lowest percentage of any team that has gone 11-0 but....

Of the most recent 11-0's Essendon 2000 won 4 matches against the previous year's finalists. St Kilda 2009 won 5 matches against the the previous year's finalist and Geelong 2009 won 6.

Geelong 2011 has won 8.

What about these sides against top eight teams at the same stage in those years?

 

[randyzany]

It is true that Geelong 2011 has the lowest percentage of any team that has gone 11-0 but....

Of the most recent 11-0's Essendon 2000 won 4 matches against the previous year's finalists. St Kilda 2009 won 5 matches against the the previous year's finalist and Geelong 2009 won 6.

Geelong 2011 has won 8.

Geelong's fixture was clearly designed to make us slide down the ladder. I'm prettys sure no other club's fixture comes close to the degree of difficulty in ours.

Playing the saints and hawks twice in the first half of the season (considering how tight those games have been) and the second time around playing both in consecutive weeks was meant to be the final nail in the coffin the AFL might have presumed.

It feels great to have defied the odds and stuck it up those bozos.

 

[topic97]

Carlton aren't travelling as well as Geelong and as you point out there maybe 3 50/50 games for Geelong for the rest of the home and away season, Carlton have 6 50/50 that I can see, so it beats me how Mike thinks Carlton can get ahead of Geelong, it shows how little he knows. I think Geelong are a serious chance to win all home and away games, obviously Collingwood in the last is a big one, but not out of the question.

I think round 24 is gonna be a pisser to watch to be honest.
If it pans out the way it looks like and both cats and pies remain few games clear in the top two its going to be Geelong seconds VS Collingwood reserves - neither team is going to care about the result nor want to get one up if they are that far ahead!! It may end up being quite humorous to watch!!

I agree, Blues have way more 50/50 games than we do. God, he might as well be saying west coast will take top spot from the pies the way he is going..... theres just no logic in his remarks sometimes!!

Most likely the Hawks will end up 3rd, carlton 4th and I would be suprised if its not pies 1st and cats 2nd.

 

[CharacterFirst]

I would argue that this is the only sentence in your whole post that Sheahan cares about; in fact I'd go as far as saying he wants to be seen as a muppet, and write things that will raise the ire of (x) supporter base - as long as you keep on reading, incredulity optional. These guys aren't journos or reporters anymore. They're unit shifters.

Agreed. Most people would probably say it applies to the press generally (with a few exceptions of course).

But I see people use the press to support their own positions when it suits them.

 

[CharacterFirst]

Most likely the Hawks will end up 3rd, carlton 4th and I would be suprised if its not pies 1st and cats 2nd.

Yep and nah. I recon Pies 1; Us 2; Blues 3; maybe/probably Hawks 4 - see how they cope with injuries.

Can see Saints with soft draw sneaking into 8. Freo, Swans, and WCE should be the bottom half - order uncertain. After all, what is certain?