Saints vs. Cats: Who will win?

[YELNATS]

Congratulations Geelong. Eight flags now and more to come over the next 10 years.

Bad Luck Saints, you were great, but missed your chances as the Cats did in 2008.

After years of frustration, Geelong have developed that winning habit courtesy of the administration under Frank Costa and shrewd recruiting and player development from about 2002.

Was also great to see the old stalwart Bob Davis present the Cup.

I can't wait for the 2010 season to start. What's the betting Geelong will play St Kilda in game 1.

 

[Prospector]

LUCKY MORE THEN GREAT i WOULD SAY

Saints supporters - your team had its chances, Geelong suffered last year (from poor kicking) and this year they were accurate in front of goals and despite having less scoring shots, won the game. That isn't luck, that is called doing the most with the opportunities that come your way. Life is like that sometimes.

(PS, I am a Crows supporter not a Geelong one, so I am objective.)

.Was also great to see the old stalwart Bob Davis present the Cup

That was funny when he got onto the platform and wouldnt leave while the team had their photos taken. We were thinking they would have to air-brush him out!

 

[greggy]

What a great match. Evenly poised up until the last minute. Congratulations to Geelong. I'll make a prediction now that the Saints will come back even stronger next year and win the 2010 Grand Final.
P.S. I don't barrack for either of these teams.

 

[Tink]

Was also great to see the old stalwart Bob Davis present the Cup.

Yeah I love seeing the legends of the Clubs in these special moments : )

He was so proud, the big smile on his face lol
it was so nice to see the guys with him..

I used to enjoy watching Jack Dyer, Bob Davis Lou Richards on the footy show then, had another name..

 

[Duckman#72]

Not at all, it's just that the goal umpire was the only one who didnt see it hit the post, remarkable.

With all those people telling him it touched, he should have had the sense to check.

Zac Dawson was right in front of it - and he hardly made an objection!

I agree with you Prospector, you can't expect the umpire to make a decision on the basis of the cheer squad!!

5 minutes later Milburn gives away a free kick for abusing a goal umpire for not calling a ball "touched" when it was clearly a goal on the replay!! Thank goodness the goal umpire didn't listen to him!!

The reason the goal umpire missed the ball hitting the post was that he was unfortunately caught out of position, by a poor disposal from St Kilda on their own goal line, and Hawkins produced a full blown kick from only 8 metres out.

There are hundreds of potential free kicks and missed opportunities in games, don't just single out these ones.

If you want villans, try Schnider and Milne not kicking straight. Geelong held St Kilda's forward line very quiet. Reiwoldt, Kossie and the aforementioned didn't have much impact at all.

Grreat game for the AFL to showcase it's big day. Although I thought the prematch build up was ordinary this year. (By the way WTF was Paddy Ryder doing in the sprints for Essendon at half-time? Was it a sprint for the ruckman? Where was Davey, Winderlich, Lovett etc? Or can someone tell me if Paddy is our fastest over 100m?)

Duckman

 

[MrBurns]

Zac Dawson was right in front of it - and he hardly made an objection!

I agree with you Prospector, you can't expect the umpire to make a decision on the basis of the cheer squad!!

5 minutes later Milburn gives away a free kick for abusing a goal umpire for not calling a ball "touched" when it was clearly a goal on the replay!! Thank goodness the goal umpire didn't listen to him!!

The reason the goal umpire missed the ball hitting the post was that he was unfortunately caught out of position, by a poor disposal from St Kilda on their own goal line, and Hawkins produced a full blown kick from only 8 metres out.

There are hundreds of potential free kicks and missed opportunities in games, don't just single out these ones.

If you want villans, try Schnider and Milne not kicking straight. Geelong held St Kilda's forward line very quiet. Reiwoldt, Kossie and the aforementioned didn't have much impact at all.

Grreat game for the AFL to showcase it's big day. Although I thought the prematch build up was ordinary this year. (By the way WTF was Paddy Ryder doing in the sprints for Essendon at half-time? Was it a sprint for the ruckman? Where was Davey, Winderlich, Lovett etc? Or can someone tell me if Paddy is our fastest over 100m?)

Duckman

Someone giving away a free kick is not the same as a goal umpire missing the obvious and changing the flow of the game and whats kicking accuracy got to do with it ??? ........and it wasnt the cheer squad it was everyone behind the goals plus a few million watching on TV the coaches who had access to phones to tell them and all the technology available in 2009 and the goal umpire calls a point a goal changes the flow of the game and you brush it aside ???????

Perhaps the impact of that unnessary blunder on that game escapes you, not me and a lot of others.

 

[nomore4s]

lol, let it go Mr Burns. This sort of thing has been happening in footy for 100 years. Not even St Kilda have raised it as an issue as they had plenty of chances to win the game after that point but feel short, too much left to too few imo.

As a hawks supporter I find it somewhat ironic that all the cats supporters that were whinging that Hawthorn didn't win it Geelong lost it are now happy to celebrate winning in the same fashion, in fact Geelong were probably luckier then the hawks last year.

The GF this year again proves that it's not the best team during the season but the best team in September that wins the flag.

 

[Tink]

The GF this year again proves that it's not the best team during the season but the best team in September that wins the flag.

Yep I agree with that -- depends on how they play on the day

 

[Ardyne]

Mr Burns, did I mention..............................

WE ARE GEELONG THE GREATEST TEAM OF ALL

 

[Prospector]

Mr Burns, did I mention..............................

WE ARE GEELONG THE GREATEST TEAM OF ALL

Except in 2008, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002..........

 

[mexican]

lol, let it go Mr Burns. This sort of thing has been happening in footy for 100 years. Not even St Kilda have raised it as an issue as they had plenty of chances to win the game after that point but feel short, too much left to too few imo.

As a hawks supporter I find it somewhat ironic that all the cats supporters that were whinging that Hawthorn didn't win it Geelong lost it are now happy to celebrate winning in the same fashion, in fact Geelong were probably luckier then the hawks last year.

The GF this year again proves that it's not the best team during the season but the best team in September that wins the flag.

Not all of us. I have plenty of friends that are Hawk supporters and as I said to them and to you on this site last year, "Well done the hawks took thier chances and the Cats did not. The hawks deserved to win the flag. Enjoy!"
The same with the Cats this year, they took thier chances and the Saints blew it! Not the goal umpire Mr.Burns. The saints time will come sooner or later. But not too late or they will miss the boat completely.

I have watched the game a few more times and those goals that the saints missed............ bloody terrible!
Watch the game with both eye's open, not one Mr.Burns.


Mr

 

[Duckman#72]

Someone giving away a free kick is not the same as a goal umpire missing the obvious and changing the flow of the game

Why not? If a central umpire doesn't pay an obvious free kick in the goal square, or worse, pays a free kick that isn't there.....isn't that the same thing? Why is it different? Both are mistakes, both "change the flow of the game".

........and it wasnt the cheer squad it was everyone behind the goals plus a few million watching on TV the coaches who had access to phones to tell them and all the technology available in 2009 and the goal umpire calls a point a goal changes the flow of the game and you brush it aside ???????

Perhaps the impact of that unnessary blunder on that game escapes you, not me and a lot of others.

I'm predicting that the "impact of that unnessary blunder" as you put it, will hit the AFL community with similar force to Dennis Lillee bowling a yorker at me with a ping pong ball.

One day we will see cameras added to goal posts, and we will see "snick-o-meters" in action, but until then I will enjoy our game - "Third Umpire Free". I would hate to see our game going into the ...."wait for the video ref" path.

Yes in an ideal world, it would have been called a point, but if it means that an "ideal world" involves radio fitted umpires, mobile phone calls, video replays and a stop in play, then I don't want to live in that world. At what cost to our unique game are you getting the right decision?

Duckman

 

[MrBurns]

lol, let it go Mr Burns. .

I think everyone else should let it go and admit a mistake like this is different than giving a free kick away or any of the other stupid irrelevant comparisons they try to draw.

 

[Prospector]

Mr Burns, if the Saints had kicked those very easy goals in the earlier quarters you would be out celebrating now. It's funny how people (not just Mr B)attribute the very last error as the reason why a loss has happened, rather than everything else that was executed poorly before that.

If the Saints management take the same view as you Mr B and neglect the real reason why they lost, then they wont do very well next year.

Maybe take a break and then really look at the match again. Of course it was a poor decision but it wasnt the reason they lost. Geelong could just as well taken the ball after the point (instead of the centre bounce) and countered immediately with a goal.

 

[Ardyne]

From the age today.......

"The greatest? Seems so
THE greatest of team of all? Well, here are some stats to prove that Geelong may well be that. The Cats' dual triumph from three successive grand finals was the 23rd time the feat has been achieved in league history but, importantly, their match-winning percentage during their 2007-09 period was 86.67, bettering the previous best, by Carlton in 1907-09 (84.33 per cent) and ahead of Essendon in 1948-50 (82.81 per cent) and Hawthorn 1987-1989 (82.43 per cent)."




My Mum is a fanatical cats supporter and after last year she was obviously very disappointed. She did say however that althought they lost the team had been so successful that she really enjoyed the whole year anyway and going to the footy was a lot more fun than it used to be.

 

[Duckman#72]

If the Saints management take the same view as you Mr B and neglect the real reason why they lost, then they wont do very well next year.

Completely agree Prospector.


What was a bigger factor in the Saints loss in the Grand Final this year;

a) Cameras not fitted to goal posts, or

b) Players skills under pressure situations?


What is going to win the Saints more games next year;

a) Cameras fitted to goal posts, or

b) Further development of the players skills under pressure situations?

The question Mr Burns is asking is....are we all happy to change the rules to allow video overule? And if so under what circumstances.

Duckman

 

[Duckman#72]

From the age today.......

"The greatest? Seems so
THE greatest of team of all? Well, here are some stats to prove that Geelong may well be that. The Cats' dual triumph from three successive grand finals was the 23rd time the feat has been achieved in league history but, importantly, their match-winning percentage during their 2007-09 period was 86.67, bettering the previous best, by Carlton in 1907-09 (84.33 per cent) and ahead of Essendon in 1948-50 (82.81 per cent) and Hawthorn 1987-1989 (82.43 per cent)."

Ummm...... am I missing something here??

Why is Geelong being labelled as "The Greatest Team of All" after comparing themselves to other teams that have only won 2 flags out of 3?

Are the Lions 3 Flags in a row somehow not counted?

If that s the criteria, for what it is worth, Geelong are clearly the greatest side in history that only won 2 out of 3 flags.

Brisbane still have dibs on "The Greatest"

Duckman

 

[Prospector]

From the age today.......

"The greatest? Seems so
THE greatest of team of all? Well, here are some stats to prove that Geelong may well be that. The Cats' dual triumph from three successive grand finals was the 23rd time the feat has been achieved in league history but, importantly, their match-winning percentage during their 2007-09 period was 86.67, bettering the previous best, by Carlton in 1907-09 (84.33 per cent) and ahead of Essendon in 1948-50 (82.81 per cent) and Hawthorn 1987-1989 (82.43 per cent)."

Surely the bottom line is to win the Grand Final and not how you win it? In which case the Brisbane Lions Australian Football Club is the most successful AFL team this century, having appeared in four consecutive AFL Grand Finals between 2001 and 2004, winning three (2001, 2002 and 2003).

Geelong aren't there yet.

And back to back will also trump two out of three - as recently as the Crows.
I think maybe the statisiticians can drag up any manner of stats to prove a point. But ultimately it is only the number of times a team has won the match that counts.

Ah Mr Duckman, we are in sync....

 

[Duckman#72]

Ah Mr Duckman, we are in sync....

Be careful making comments like that Prospector!!

Being "in sync" with Duckman is no good for your "street cred" on ASF.

 

[Duckman#72]

Since we are talking about "The Greatest Team of All". Here's a test for you.

What is the worst team ever to be labelled "The Greatest Team of All"?

I'll kick off and say I think it has to be the Bombers for their 1999,2000 and 2001 years. For all their dominance, they only won 1 GF, lost another GF and failed by a point to even make the GF in 99.

The comments about them being the "Greatest Ever" came strongly after their win over North, where they came from 69 points behind to win the game. (What the "Greatest Team Ever" was doing 69 points behind is apparently irrelevant to the debate!!

Are there any others worse than this?

Duckman