The first official 2012 AFL thread

[Alisaura]

What's up with only having one game this weekend? Seems a bit unfair to Sydney and GWS (who are already "cross-town rivals" according to Triple M's commentary) to make them start a week early.

*clueless*

 

[Vlad n U 2]

To unveil the new team I suppose. It worked better than having Gold Coast begin round 2 after a bye.

 

[Axver]

They really are trying way too hard to manufacture a cross-town rivalry between Sydney and GWS.

I must admit, if I were a Sydneysider and an Aussie Rules fan, I'd struggle to see why on earth I'd go for GWS.

 

[Vlad n U 2]

I don't mind it. All it needs is some very tight matches between the two (and perhaps a bit of a brawl) to set it on fire.

Similar to the first GC/Brisbane match, that was a close one.

 

[Axver]

How long do you reckon we'll be waiting for those really close matches, though? I expect to still be wondering this in 2020.

(2020? I know a lot of people viewed 2000 as a kind of mythical date that suddenly became real. Typing this post just made me go "holy shit, 2020 is actually on the horizon now, not just some mythical far-off date".)

 

[Vlad n U 2]

GWS already seem to be ahead of GC in terms of development based on the previous night. They would've done better had they an established forward target (Folau has potential but he's not there yet), should've brought O'Hailpin in.

 

[bono_man2002]

Let's not jump to conculsions, they haven't played Hawthron, Geelong or Collingwood yet

 

[Alisaura]

Yeah, to have a rivalry, both teams need to be roughly equal. Or at least have a chance of winning.

When I heard part of the call just before half time, Mr Folau had all of two possessions. I hope he picked up by the end of the game.

Did GC get the same amount of time to prepare as GWS have? And I suppose GWS can market themselves as originating in Sydney rather than moving there from South Melborne, although that happened so long ago that most younger AFL fans in Sydney may not even be aware of it. Maybe GWS can go for the disaffected kids out in the suburbs who want to stick it to the hoity-toity types in the city...

2020 is only eight years away... and I'll be turning 42 that year. ...

 

[Vlad n U 2]

Let's not jump to conculsions, they haven't played Hawthron, Geelong or Collingwood yet

Gold Coast played Carlton, who, comparatively, are a relatively similar team to Sydney strength wise and they got thrashed. I do see a difference between GWS last night and GC last year.

 

[Axver]

I saw The Age make a pun about how last night wasn't quite the monumental "Bloods' bath" some people predicted, and I wonder how many people thought it was a typo rather than a pun.

GWS vs Gold Coast in round seven is going to be interesting.

 

[Axver]

Vlad, I'd have said Carlton are quite obviously a step ahead of Sydney. Maybe not a huge distance - Sydney would be capable of an upset - but Carlton are a realistic premiership challenger while Sydney could miss the eight.

 

[Vlad n U 2]

Both are/were in the 5-8 bracket, hence the comparison. I would agree that Carlton are a step ahead of Sydney now.

 

[bono_212]

Brisbane guernsey?

I bought a Brisbane polo. It's a a size small, but it was the only one on ebay that was located in the United States, so it only cost me $17. I'm actually wearing it out, but it's *this* close to being too tight.

 

[Axver]

Last year, I thought there were three tiers of teams in/close to the eight. The top two (Pies, Cats), the three challengers (Hawthorn, Eagles, Carlton), and then those circling around the bottom of the eight (Sydney, Saints, Essendon, and the nearly-theres like Freo and North).

 

[Vlad n U 2]

I think I've missed something but why does it seem that Hawthorn are favourites for the flag?

I bought a Brisbane polo. It's a a size small, but it was the only one on ebay that was located in the United States, so it only cost me $17. I'm actually wearing it out, but it's *this* close to being too tight.

Oh okay.

 

[Axver]

I guess everybody thinks Collingwood's not going to be as strong this year, especially without Malthouse, and 2012 is Geelong's off year before winning 2013's premiership.

But the true odds, via Axbet, is that Essendon are favourites for the flag.

 

[Vlad n U 2]

But the true odds, via Axbet, is that Essendon are favourites for the flag.

You need a betting agency. With odds for different artists for whether they'll fall into the 'Highly Respectable Listening' or the 'Truly Horrible Listening' or in between categories for both upcoming albums and performances.

 

[Axver]

Hahaha, and it can be associated with HiveBet when the next Rate the Song Series is held!

 

[Vlad n U 2]

This must be done.

 

[Alisaura]

Maybe I'm a perpetual pessimist, but I really don't think the Hawks will get the flag this year. We seem to specialise in sneaking in when no one's expecting it... based purely on 2008. *L*

 

[Axver]

In all seriousness, I honestly don't know who I think will win the flag. All of last year's top five look realistic, and I wouldn't be shocked if at least one of 6th-10th from last year becomes a viable contender this year too.

 

[cobl04]

There was a funny article in the Herald Sun the other day where they did vox pops in Blacktown. Most people told them to fuck off, most recognised Folau, and no one knew who Sheedy or Scully were.

 

[Vlad n U 2]

I don't follow NRL and even I know the big name coaches.

 

[Axver]

I don't follow NRL and would probably recognise only about five or ten big names.

Though half of them are probably retired now!

 

[Alisaura]

Is Billy Slater in NRL? I've seen a lot of Storm fans fapping over him lately...

 

[Vlad n U 2]

I forgot there were people who followed NRL in Melbourne.

 

[Alisaura]

When I say a lot, I mean the one or two people I have on FB who seem to blindly support everything in Melbourne regardless of... anything else.

 

[Axver]

I forgot there were people who followed NRL in Melbourne.

It's a little bit odd when you see people around Melbourne in Storm/Rebels/Heart/Victory gear rather than any footy club.

 

[The Sad Punk]

I feel like I see more people in Reds gear than either Crows or Port gear these days. Not just saying that because there hasn't been any footy for the past few months. Obviously there are more people who care about AFL than A-League here, but perhaps it's easier for Reds fans to show off their merch.

 

[Axver]

Most often when I see people in Melbourne not wearing footy gear, it's either tourists or people like me who come from out of town. Seen NSW league shirts, New Zealand shirts of varying descriptions, etc. more often than I've seen people wearing merch for Melbourne teams in those codes!