Which side is Collingwood's closest..

[Fastback]

You were HP but that was until we learned to beat the cluster. You did get us in a game we had nothing to play for and the excitement and looks on your players and coaches faces after that round 22 game, shows it meant alot to Hawthorn.

We kicked the last 4 goals of the game to give us a chance of playing a home final, hard not to get excited by that.

I believe we have Collingwood covered, have for a while now, it's only the game plan or lack thereof sometimes which hurts us.

 

[Jesse Custer]

hahaha we joined in Oct 2010.

He has been around for much longer than that.

The joke is on you.... hahahahahha....

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

demons??

 

[Rooface]

He has been around for much longer than that.

The joke is on you.... hahahahahha....

No, its on you. Aliass's are really funny

 

[Jesse Custer]

No, its on you. Aliass's are really funny

Yeah.... Not an alias when your previous account has been permanently banned now is it?

 

[sherrinorburley]

Aliass's are really funny

Try not to feed the trolls ace.

 

[collingtimber]

Collingwood,barring injuries only their own complacency will stop them.

 

[Claude Balls]

Collingwood's dominance is 60% gameplan, and thus they are only a new gameplan away from being one of many next year.

Geelong managed to win a second flag on talent alone in 2009, but their gameplan had already been superceded, and arguably was superceded only 12 months after their first flag when the Hawks beat them.

It doesn't take much.

 

[Fadge]

i expect all the teams the op mentioned to go backwards next year. the question is if collingwood will join them. i think they will.

the bottom half of this years 8 will improve, creating an incredibly even top half of the ladder.

a flag is there for the taking next year.

Come on, please be serious. You're not in the Bay now...

Contrary to what many think I believe the dogs will be the team to watch out for next year, they were probably a fit Cooney and a match fit Morris away from beating the Saints in that Prelim which they lead at half time.

Ward will be better next year as will Grant, Wood, Roughead and Higgins. Wallis looks like the type that could come in and make an immediate impact ala Sidebottom. Sherman is a more than adequate replacement for Johnson, considering what they got out of him this year. Also I don't think Gilbee, Hahn and Gia are finished yet despite there questionable performances in the 2010 finals.

The only queries I have on them are can Hall stay up for another season? and can they replace Harbrow?

I fully agree with this. Eerily similar to the reasons people wrote of Collingwood this year. Cooney in 2010 Finals Series = Pendlebury in 2009 Final Series. Lake and Morris either injured or playing injured. Griffin also injured (though performed phenomonally well). Comments re: Hall and Harbrow spot on, and for this reason I believe there will be daylight between the best and second best teams in 2011.

We were 1 Petterd mark away in the first one. The second one, we were lucky to get the draw. The Pies dominated that game, yet couldn't find the win.

Hawks for me. They could've done some damage had they got past Freo in week 1 of the finals.

Exactly what many said about Adelaide in 2009. Delusional. Geelong showed how big the gap was between the top four and the next four in the Semis. The Swans were flying when they ran into an injury depleted Bulldogs outfit, and they still couldn't get over the line.

 

[Bay Pie]

We kicked the last 4 goals of the game to give us a chance of playing a home final, hard not to get excited by that.

I believe we have Collingwood covered, have for a while now, it's only the game plan or lack thereof sometimes which hurts us.

It was your gameplan that we struggled with. Now we've figured that, you're going to need Franklin to kick 5/6 to have any chance against us. There is no way you'll beat us with the cluster. It is an advantage for us if you play like that.

Like St.Kilda, you have a few top notch players but also alot of very average players but yours don't follow a rigid gameplan that works like St.Kilda do.

 

[getgaff]

Very early days but i've got 3 teams being the big challengers. Geelong, St. Kilda and for me the main challenger is Hawthorn


Fremantle, Sydney, Western Bulldogs to make it as far as the semi finals and no further. 8th place to go out in the Elimination Final


Adelaide, Brisbane, Carlton, Essendon, Gold Coast, Melbourne, North, Port, Richmond and West Coast still a bit away from challenging

So why Hawthorn - Sure they still have deficiencies (tall defenders) which is where Tarrant would've been an unbelievably good fit but thats the past now. Gilham & Gibson the FB and CHB. Stratton a third tall option. Rather him than Murphy. Schoenmakers a likely option to.

Hale in the middle is a massive coup. He will have a top rate midfield to palm down to (better than Norths) and will cement himself in that number one ruck role when fit early. Better news still if they can get games into Bailey.

Have two key forwards that command close attention. Class in the pockets and falanks with Rioli, Osborne maybe off half forward who can be dangerous and a resting midfielder as well. I've got Burgoyne there.


They have definately underachieved imo as far as ladder positioning goes since 2008 but they do know how to match it and beat the better teams. Drawing with the Saints in 2010, beating the Pies in Round 22 (and have a good record of late against them), got close to the Cats, beat the Dogs in the middle of the year. All top 4 teams.

If they get the right mix and ther best 22 on the park as much as possible they will challenge the Pies.

 

[OPETH]

Watts all this Melbourne Melbourne talk. Watt about NORF. They're just as good

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

It was your gameplan that we struggled with. Now we've figured that, you're going to need Franklin to kick 5/6 to have any chance against us. There is no way you'll beat us with the cluster. It is an advantage for us if you play like that.

Like St.Kilda, you have a few top notch players but also alot of very average players but yours don't follow a rigid gameplan that works like St.Kilda do.

Hawthorn haven't played the cluster since Rnd 6, 2010.

Franklin averages 6.25 goals a game against the Pies the last 4 times he's pulled on the boots.

 

[WatWouldCyrilDo]

Hawthorn haven't played the cluster since Rnd 6, 2010.

Franklin averages 6.25 goals a game against the Pies the last 4 times he's pulled on the boots.

But they have Tarrant now... surely he'll help right? RIGHT?

 

[Pleasedontfail11]

I think the Bulldogs could go close this year if not next. With the 2 father son selections almost slotting into their best 22,the improvement of Higgins, Grant and a lot less injuries they are a real contender.

 

[Rik E Boy]

How are the Hawks winning this poll? Yeah they grow and arm and leg when they play us the bastards but they are dead set ordinary. I vote Melbourne.

regards,

REB

 

[gaz15]

How are the Hawks winning this poll? Yeah they grow and arm and leg when they play us the bastards but they are dead set ordinary. I vote Melbourne.

regards,

REB

People can see the quality in our top 8-10 players. Hodge, Mitchell, Franklin, Rioli, Lewis, Sewell, Roughead, Burgoyne are all potential A graders. It s our bottom 6 players and lack of ruckman that has held us back. Obviously we are no gaurantee to challenge but if we can get our shit together we have shown we can beat the best sides.

 

[Poseidon]

It has to be the Blues. We've made it pretty clear we aren't carrying any passengers next season. I think another pre-season into the likes of Murph Gibbs and Yarran will prove to be a gamechanger as far as the structure and performance of the team goes. The list is chockers with talent far superior to C'woods, we just haven't been as drilled and well-developed. With a coaching overhaul and a new attitude to boot, the Blues are gonna be the ones to watch out for!NO PASSANGERS

 

[the distributer]

It has to be the Blues. We've made it pretty clear we aren't carrying any passengers next season. I think another pre-season into the likes of Murph Gibbs and Yarran will prove to be a gamechanger as far as the structure and performance of the team goes. The list is chockers with talent far superior to C'woods, we just haven't been as drilled and well-developed. With a coaching overhaul and a new attitude to boot, the Blues are gonna be the ones to watch out for!NO PASSANGERS

epic lolz.

 

[BEEG]

it has to be the blues. We've made it pretty clear we aren't carrying any passengers next season. I think another pre-season into the likes of murph gibbs and yarran will prove to be a gamechanger as far as the structure and performance of the team goes. The list is chockers with talent far superior to c'woods, we just haven't been as drilled and well-developed. With a coaching overhaul and a new attitude to boot, the blues are gonna be the ones to watch out for!no passangers

gold !!!

 

[bradrowe#32]

People can see the quality in our top 8-10 players. Hodge, Mitchell, Franklin, Rioli, Lewis, Sewell, Roughead, Burgoyne are all potential A graders. It s our bottom 6 players and lack of ruckman that has held us back. Obviously we are no gaurantee to challenge but if we can get our shit together we have shown we can beat the best sides.

Didn't some of these "potential A graders" get dropped this year?

 

[Dyslexic Emo]

Freo had by far the worst injury list of all the top 8 teams if not the entire league (Adelaide probably wins this by a whisker).

If all things are the same, purely by our younger guys being a year older, fitter, stronger, we will be able to go further in to the season before the drop off occurs. This drop off clearly cost us 2 games (Richmond and Sydney(home)) So with those games it would have put us into the top 4 alone.

Of course this is just speculation but both these games were very winnable for us and we only lost by a kick or so towards the very end of the game, playing what was a shell of a team.

 

[daics_35]

The Cats no doubt, they have lost Ablett and honostly i dont think it will affect them much, they have enough qulity in their team and could b eplaying off in a grand final next year. The Saints are my next biggest worry but I think we have moved past them but on their day everyclub will be worried about playing them. The next two teams I dont think will challange us for the flag but they are our bogey sides and they are Melbourne and Hawthorn. I rate Melbourne really highly and I actually think they can make the top 4 but their lack of experience will mean they wont do alot of damage in September.

 

[the distributer]

Freo had by far the worst injury list of all the top 8 teams if not the entire league (Adelaide probably wins this by a whisker).

If all things are the same, purely by our younger guys being a year older, fitter, stronger, we will be able to go further in to the season before the drop off occurs. This drop off clearly cost us 2 games (Richmond and Sydney(home)) So with those games it would have put us into the top 4 alone.

Of course this is just speculation but both these games were very winnable for us and we only lost by a kick or so towards the very end of the game, playing what was a shell of a team.

agreed, freo will finish top 2 for mine, pies freo GF.