Round 1 - GWS v Sydney

[Go_Dogs]

Well, I for one have been hanging out for the season to start and will watch tonight's match with interest, although I expect it to be demolition.

I believe 17 first gamers for GWS, so will be good to see how their kids look in their first official game. Not sure I'm looking forward to seeing Ward run around for them, but will surely be thinking 'what if' every time he does something good.

My tip, Swans by 76.

[The Underdog]

Interested to see that Sam Reid couldn't crack the 22. Expect to be switching around half time.

[Eastdog]

You know footy is back when the goal posts go up at the MCG. Tonights match will be 'significant' of course as this is GWS's first game in the home and away season. Sydney will win and win quite comfortably. I think GWS might get a reality check tonight as did Gold Coast in there first game against Carlton.

[bornadog]

I believe 17 first gamers for GWS, so will be good to see how their kids look in their first official game.

David King said during the week, don't look at the score board, just watch the kids to see how they perform as its a glimpse to the future. They will be very good in about 3 to 4 years time but in the meantime expect a thrashing.

[Ghost Dog]

David King said during the week, don't look at the score board, just watch the kids to see how they perform as its a glimpse to the future. They will be very good in about 3 to 4 years time but in the meantime expect a thrashing.

Have no doubt the AFL are going to fix it so they sit at the top in 3-4 years.
Isreal Folau, a guy used to being a part of dominant player groups may not be able to handle the crushing losses and keep his dignity intact ( owing to his poor skills ). A good chance he gets reported in a major way this season, trying to take someone out.

[ledge]

Have no doubt the AFL are going to fix it so they sit at the top in 3-4 years.
Isreal Folau, a guy used to being a part of dominant player groups may not be able to handle the crushing losses and keep his dignity intact ( owing to his poor skills ). A good chance he gets reported in a major way this season, trying to take someone out.

Your a bit hard on Izzy, I think he will be ok, he looks and seems a pretty relaxed person to me just learning everytime he goes out there.

[Ghost Dog]

Your a bit hard on Izzy, I think he will be ok, he looks and seems a pretty relaxed person to me just learning everytime he goes out there.

Sure he's relaxed. He's an elite athlete.
In the ruck he does well. Watching it now.
But he's very easily out positioned, even by much smaller players
Seen it several times tonight.

[Eastdog]

GWS not doing as bad as I thought but there is still another half of footy and Sydney have a comfortable lead.

[JohnGentStand]

John Patton is a monster.

[Remi Moses]

Just emphasizing tonight what a joke the Compo pick was..

[Sedat]

Callan Ward reminding us just how good he is and Andrejs Everitt reminding us just how shithouse he is.

[ledge]

Sure he's relaxed. He's an elite athlete.
In the ruck he does well. Watching it now.
But he's very easily out positioned, even by much smaller players
Seen it several times tonight.

I am not doubting that but i dont see him losing his temper.
His reports so far have been nothing in the aggravated mode and i dont see him getting his dignity affected

[Eastdog]

We should remember that Izzy played Rugby League of course and that he is still learning Aussie Rules.

[Ghost Dog]

I am not doubting that but i dont see him losing his temper.
His reports so far have been nothing in the aggravated mode and i dont see him getting his dignity affected

Luke Darcy thinks Israel Folau, just 22, may return to rugby league after his current contract with the Giants is completed.

How amazing is Adam Goodes. At his age, still monstering the opposition and outrunning most on the field.

[ledge]

Luke Darcy thinks Israel Folau, just 22, may return to rugby league after his current contract with the Giants is completed.

How amazing is Adam Goodes. At his age, still monstering the opposition and outrunning most on the field.

They said that about Karmichael Hunt but he just signed a new contract.
Luke Darcy can think what he likes doesnt make it true.

[Eastdog]

They said that about Karmichael Hunt but he just signed a new contract.
Luke Darcy can think what he likes doesnt make it true.

Very true ledge. It is just Darcy's opinion. Izzy may improve in the season a little and end up playing on.

[Ghost Dog]

They said that about Karmichael Hunt but he just signed a new contract.
Luke Darcy can think what he likes doesnt make it true.

Exactly. It's an opinion.

Is there a problem using a commentator's opinion to support your own? Seems ok to me. I hope he does improve and stick with it, Rugby is a bit of a waste of energy if you ask me....

[Eastdog]

GWS were I thought quite relaxed and content after the match. I guess it was because the werent beaten by over 100 points which was a big possibility.

[ledge]

Exactly. It's an opinion.

Is there a problem using a commentator's opinion to support your own? Seems ok to me. I hope he does improve and stick with it, Rugby is a bit of a waste of energy if you ask me....

Think and may is a two way bet:D

[Remi Moses]

Difference is that Hunt had played Aussie Rules in high school.
Falou has never touched an Aussie Rules ball!
What's that three touches at 1 mil a year, I agree with Darcy going to be hard when you dominate a sport then go back to being a battler.
Sydney were on a hiding to nothing and the newbies were always going to be pumped up.

[Ghost Dog]

:rolleyes:
Think and may is a two way bet:D

He's only in the team because of who he is in another sport.
GWS did pretty well all things considered for a bunch of kids. BIG kids.
But with all that capital thrown at them, not surprising really.

Four expansion teams have every had a win first off.

Sydney def Melbourne by 29 points at SCG, March 28 1982
Brisbane def North Melbourne by 33 points at MCG, March 27 1987

West Coast def Richmond by 14 points at Subiaco, March 29 1987
Adelaide def Hawthorn by 86 points at Football Park, March 22 1991

Edit!

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/giants-stand-tall-in-63point-loss-20120324-1vrm2.html#ixzz1q4tIw21u

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/giants-stand-tall-in-63point-loss-20120324-1vrm2.html#ixzz1q2RERKYW

[Go_Dogs]

Only two expansion teams have every had a win first off.

Sydney def Melbourne by 29 points at SCG, March 28 1982
Brisbane def North Melbourne by 33 points at MCG, March 27 1987

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/giants-stand-tall-in-63point-loss-20120324-1vrm2.html#ixzz1q2RERKYW

I'm assuming you're using the criteria NSW and QLD only, as the Crows won their first game as did WC. In reality, 2/3 before yesterday nights game for NSW and QLD was a pretty good record and the make up of the latest 2 expansion teams is entirely different to the previous two whereby everyone realises they will struggle for a while.

Overall I thought GWS did fairly well. It almost looked to me as though the Swans treated it as another practice game, given they now have a week off and were basically guaranteed a win going at 3/4 pace. Given the lack of mature bodies I think GWS might do the opposite to GC and get worse as the year progresses, the legs tire and bodies get sore.

[LostDoggy]

Just emphasizing tonight what a joke the Compo pick was..

The funny thing was that, forget what the AFL said was the 'formula' they used to decide the compo picks, the only formula involved was media profile -- Scully got more press, so he was worth two first round picks. Self-perpetuating logic -- the press says he's a star, so he must be a star!

On every other criteria, Ward has clearly done more than Scully has in their careers to date: how many finals games has Scully played in and/or influenced, much less Prelim finals? Scully, far more so than Callan, is the ultimate press-created superstar. Has done the equivalent of f-all on an AFL-level football field to date.

[chef]

Difference is that Hunt had played Aussie Rules in high school.Falou has never touched an Aussie Rules ball!
What's that three touches at 1 mil a year, I agree with Darcy going to be hard when you dominate a sport then go back to being a battler.
Sydney were on a hiding to nothing and the newbies were always going to be pumped up.

He play less than half a dozen games.

[ledge]

Actually think Falou will be ok and will be better than Hunt, but time will tell.

[LostDoggy]

Actually think Falou will be ok and will be better than Hunt, but time will tell.

Falou will only be better than Hunt is the $ stakes.

[westdog54]

Actually think Falou will be ok and will be better than Hunt, but time will tell.

He was pretty quiet in general but that passage of play late in the last where he ran down a Sydney player, then followed up with a clean pickup off the deck at speed and handball to release them through the midfield was promising.

Doesn't seem to mind going into a pack to try and win it. Only 4 touches but all 4 were contested.

He won't be a superstar but he'll be fine.

[bornadog]

He was pretty quiet in general but that passage of play late in the last where he ran down a Sydney player, then followed up with a clean pickup off the deck at speed and handball to release them through the midfield was promising.

Doesn't seem to mind going into a pack to try and win it. Only 4 touches but all 4 were contested.

He won't be a superstar but he'll be fine.

He is not in the best 22 at this stage.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

The funny thing was that, forget what the AFL said was the 'formula' they used to decide the compo picks, the only formula involved was media profile -- Scully got more press, so he was worth two first round picks. Self-perpetuating logic -- the press says he's a star, so he must be a star!

On every other criteria, Ward has clearly done more than Scully has in their careers to date: how many finals games has Scully played in and/or influenced, much less Prelim finals? Scully, far more so than Callan, is the ultimate press-created superstar. Has done the equivalent of f-all on an AFL-level football field to date.

Scully is perhaps the most overrated young footballer that I've seen for a decade.

They basically pinned everything on that one game he played against us in the wet at the MCG.

As you said, he's done F all but is continually talked about in the vain of a superstar.

[BulldogBelle]

:rolleyes:

He's only in the team because of who he is in another sport.
GWS did pretty well all things considered for a bunch of kids. BIG kids.
But with all that capital thrown at them, not surprising really.

Four expansion teams have every had a win first off.

Sydney def Melbourne by 29 points at SCG, March 28 1982
Brisbane def North Melbourne by 33 points at MCG, March 27 1987

West Coast def Richmond by 14 points at Subiaco, March 29 1987
Adelaide def Hawthorn by 86 points at Football Park, March 22 1991

Edit!

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/giants-stand-tall-in-63point-loss-20120324-1vrm2.html#ixzz1q4tIw21u

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/giants-stand-tall-in-63point-loss-20120324-1vrm2.html#ixzz1q2RERKYW



The difference is that GWS have a couple of guys who are 34 + 35, a couple who are 20 and 21 and the rest are 18 years old

Adelaide + West Coast + Brisbane all recruited significantly large batches of senior players to augment their youth - it took West Coast from 87 to 92 and Adelaide from 91 to 97 to win a flag

Paul Roos made some interesting comments about GWS' and GC' recruiting strategy and how they both largerly ignored mid aged (25-28) years olds who have been delisted or could have been picked up cheaply

Be interesting to see if the fans and the current batch of players want to wait 8 years for any sort of real success, and even if that will come after probably 3-4 seasons of regular floggings