2012 AFL Thread V - Planning Our End of Season Trip

[The Sad Punk]

I'd prefer they just started the real season a couple weeks earlier and make it extra long. Plus, all the games are on fox footy. Fuck that.

Good little article about Jurrah. Hope he gets back on his feet: Liam Jurrah speaks: I still dream of playing AFL | adelaidenow

 

[Axver]

Ditch the NAB Cup and use those weeks (perhaps relocated to mid- or post-season) more productively to bring back State of Origin. I know I've said it before but I'll keep saying it until it happens.

 

[intedomine]

Just let the clubs independently decide whether they would like to play practice matches. They can play whoever, whether it be WAFL teams or whatever.. Clubs should be able to prepare for a new season on their terms, not because the AFL wants to run a half-arsed tournament for marketing reasons. The season proper sells itself anyway.

 

[cobl04]

Melbourne gets fined $500k, Bailey (current Port assistant) gets banned for 16 rounds and Chris Connolly for 12. All for "conduct prejudicial to the interests of the AFL".

Bit miffed as to how a seven-month allegation, with an 800-page dossier, can result in heavy fines and bannings but finds that the club didn't deliberately lose games and the club doesn't lose draft picks like Carlton/Adelaide did.

 

[Vlad n U 2]

We're going to get penalised for what Essendon are alleged to have done, I can see it.

(Obviously, Simon Goodwin is an assistant there and Josh Jenkins was a rookie there )

 

[LemonMelon]

It looks like no Sandilands until May. That guy cannot stay healthy.

 

[intedomine]

No Morabito either, his career is in tatters. Might need to rethink my 3rd place finish for Freo.

 

[Axver]

I'm stunned Melbourne weren't found guilty of tanking. How the hell did they NOT tank?

 

[cobl04]

I just spoke to Russell Robertson, who said the club "was in a really dark place at the time" which added to it. Reckons the $500k is gonna hurt them a lot.

 

[Alisaura]

If the club didn't tank, what are the fine and suspensions for...?

 

[intedomine]

The most staggering thing is that the AFL refuse to do anything about it.

I'm all for the socialism of the AFL (the key ingredient that gives it do much credibility over European soccer leagues) but something needs I be done.

Draft picks are never a surefire thing anyway. It is ridiculous to lose a match in the hope of getting one player next season who might be good. Josh Fraser anyone?

Teams that finish 9th to 18th go into the lottery for 1 pick between 1 and 10 and another pick between 11 and 20. Done.

 

[Vlad n U 2]

Socialism of the AFL? What is that? Do the coaches/players run the league themselves?

 

[intedomine]

Salary Cap, rich clubs can't buy on-field success.

 

[Axver]

Oh dear inte, you said the s-word.

 

[cobl04]

With the help of M83

AFL 360 - Grand Final 2012 Montage - YouTube

 

[Alisaura]

Ah yes... Swans vs. Buddy, a great game.

 

[Axver]

So did Hawthorn send their under-15s to play last night or something?

 

[Axver]

It may be pretty meaningless since it's just the pre-season, but both of last year's grand finalists lost both of their pre-season games.

Sydney even lost decisively to GWS! (GWS also nearly knocked off Carlton.)

 

[cobl04]

It is definitely meaningless.

 

[Axver]

Where's Vlad to tout the meaningfulness of Adelaide's 2012 pre-season and regular season performances?

 

[Vlad n U 2]

We got smashed by St. Kilda in 40 minutes so I'm not going to say anything.

 

[LemonMelon]

Carlton kicked ass tonight. Off to a great start.

 

[intedomine]

It is completely and utterly meaningless, as evidenced by Carlton's win in the tournament about 7 years ago or so followed by their regular season wooden spoon, and Sydney's shameless tanking a few years back when Paul Roos advised his players to "whatever you do, don't kick a goal"

 

[LemonMelon]

If the Blues leave the tournament healthy, I'll be thrilled. So far so good.

 

[Alisaura]

So did Hawthorn send their under-15s to play last night or something?

I think it's telling that I can't easily find the NAB Cup results on the AFL website, just the fixture and "Buy tickets! Pleeeease?".

... Can't even see anything on the Hawks' own page, also telling.

Dear gods, I had to go to Wikipedia. Not even the internet give a shit.

Well, that would be embarrassing, but I suspect the Hawks did something fairly similar to sending out their U-15s. As I suspect most of the sides did, or at least the top half of last year's ladder. They give the new kids a run, while the bottom half of the ladder may take it a bit more seriously in the hopes of generating a bit of pride/hope from a few wins. *shrug*

 

[Axver]

Tiger six-pack rates a mention

What do you mob make of this? The Essendon one doesn't evoke much disagreement from me.

 

[intedomine]

Maric YES
Deledio YES
Cotchin YES
Tuck YES... just

Riewoldt NO
Houli FUCK NO!


Ryder for Essendon would be a fair case for elite I reckon

 

[Axver]

Ryder's been a bit too inconsistent for my money. Above average, but needs to perform week-in week-out to be elite.

What've you got against Houli?

 

[Axver]

So, Hawthorn are winless after four preseason games thanks to Jack Riewoldt kicking a goal from out wide after the siren to give Richmond a one-point win. I imagine every Hawks fan right now is chanting the "preseason is meaningless" mantra right now to feel a bit better about it.

 

[Alisaura]

That, and making a case for a rule change banning goals after the siren.