Preview 2016 AFL Grand Final - Sydney v Western Bulldogs, MCG, 2.10pm, Sat Oct 1

[BallaratBulldog]

Surely there'll be no need for any alternate strip shite?? Would be ridiculous but not surprising.

Nah. Or I will fight the AFL.

 

[Xtreme]

Attention whore of epic proportions.

Embarrassing for fellow Hawks fans.

Would you settle for a Lion King reference with the Swans being Simba and the Bulldogs being Mufasa ?
The Swans will over throw Mufasa and become the new king of the jungle

 

[House_of_Dahl]

Bulldogs supporter talking like a grand final regular. World officially gone mad.

perhaps you should read the post I was replying too first

 

[Stopher]

Nah. Or I will fight the AFL.

To be fair, I think both the Dogs and Swans have quite good alternate strips, especially Sydney and their nod to South Melbourne. That said, I still see them as a 'necessary' evil and should only be used sparingly. That Hawthorn v Freo debacle from a few years ago should never be repeated.

 

[Bollox]

Our gameplan must be simple. Take the umps out of the game.

Sydney 2016 Finals...yeah they hated us every single game.
Footscray 2016 Finals...yeah they loved them every single game.

Over an entire season
Free Kicks FOR :Footscray 2nd, Sydney 11th
Free Kicks AGAINST: Footscray 18th , Sydney 5th

Just how can you be a contested ball winning mob and not give away free kicks ? Are they ball whisperers ?

The umps rolled out the red carpet for the entire first half of their season...every single game.
It wasn't until the media and opposition fans forced a late season stewards enquiry they suddenly got the same treatment as others...at least for a short while.
Unfortunately the finals have brought back the same dream treatment from the umps. They are absolute sweethearts.
We need to be vigilant at all times, and watch out for those sneaky little momentum stopper free kicks the umps love to pay them....then somehow win the ball without ever actually touching any of them.

Not easy but it must be done...also that snivvling little cheat McLean needs to be either knocked out early or given 5m space at all times so the umps don't get the opportunity to punish anyone touching him.

All we ask for is a fair go.

 

[Americanpies]

what do you guys think of Aliir being out?

I really like him as a player and think he is one of the key players that has driven Sydney's success this year.

 

[Tippett2Goal]

what do you guys think of Aliir being out?

I really like him as a player and think he is one of the key players that has driven Sydney's success this year.

Disappointing for him, but in terms of matchups not a huge deal, dogs forward line more small and mobile, bringing a mills back in probably better matchup.

 

[Caj]

what do you guys think of Aliir being out?

I really like him as a player and think he is one of the key players that has driven Sydney's success this year.

Not ideal for us, would definitely prefer to have him in as his intercept marking and counter attack from half back has been important for us. The only positive we can take is that it won't hurt us as much with the Bulldogs smaller forward line

 

[Americanpies]

Not ideal for us, would definitely prefer to have him in as his intercept marking and counter attack from half back has been important for us. The only positive we can take is that it won't hurt us as much with the Bulldogs smaller forward line

This is true. Feel terrible for the guy to get this far and then injured.

You think Richards could come in? Similar type of player? or with the small forward line Mills perhaps.

 

[Igloo]

Chickens, Dude.

Swans are just chickens with long necks.

 

[Lsta062]

Sydney skillwise is better than Bulldogs, but their effort and persistence is just tough to match.

I felt like last week against GWS, you could tell that GWS were the better skilled side, but they just couldn't handle the persistence and strong effort from the Bulldogs. It just overwhelmed them.

Likewise, Sydney is probably the better skilled side, but if Bulldogs do to them what they did to GWS in terms of persistent pressure and effort, then they are a good chance of winning this.

Going to go with Sydney though by about 15 points. I think they'll remember the 2014 Grand Final and bring their A game.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

perhaps you should read the post I was replying too first

I did. And I re-read it. And I still see nothing in it that disproves that you're a Dogs supporter talking like a grand finals regular in that post.

But it was only meant as a bit of joshing anyway. All the best for Saturday.

 

[Americanpies]

Sydney skillwise is better than Bulldogs, but their effort and persistence is just tough to match.

I felt like last week against GWS, you could tell that GWS were the better skilled side, but they just couldn't handle the persistence and strong effort from the Bulldogs. It just overwhelmed them.

Likewise, Sydney is probably the better skilled side, but if Bulldogs do to them what they did to GWS in terms of persistent pressure and effort, then they are a good chance of winning this.

Going to go with Sydney though by about 15 points. I think they'll remember the 2014 Grand Final and bring their A game.

Not sure I can agree with GWS being the better skilled side. 53 - 38 clearances and 68 - 45 inside 50's. I understand what you are saying but I think the Dogs have been underrated in this finals series because of all the injuries they copped throughout the season. A big factor of their success is that they got everyone back at the right time. If they didn't have all those injuries throughout the season, would they have finished top 4? top 2? probably. Their 7th spot on the ladder doesn't reflect their true ability. I can refer to two games specifically two weeks apart in the 2nd half of the season - Vs St Kilda and then Vs Geelong. In both games the dogs lost 3 players to injury during the game, as well as already having key players out. Take those injuries out and give them those two wins and they are equal first (on points) on the ladder. This why I believe they have surprised everyone - their injury list has reduced and we can see what they are capable of.

 

[Bulldogs Legend]

Touchy touchy just because some people are not falling for the "fairytale" story.

Fairytales are a myth, they do not exist.

Not falling for the fairy-tail story either. We are simply the better team, we have beaten them in Sydney already this year and beaten GWS last Sat the team that only 2 weeks prior smashed the Swans. No need for magic wands just Libba and the Bont will do.

 

[Bulldogs Legend]

I think (Hope) we will win comfortably TBH. No disrespect to the Bulldogs but I think the GWS game gave us the the kick up the arse we needed and our last 2 weeks have been sensational.

The Bulldogs have been sensational all year and to even get to the big dance is an amazing effort and I have no doubt that they will get another chance to win one in the next couple of years, I just hope it is not this year though.


On another note: What mate who lives in Melb currently would allow their bucks party to be on GF weekend FFS. ( I most enjoy watching GF's on my own TV in my lounge room by myself ).

There is another kick coming

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

what do you guys think of Aliir being out?

I really like him as a player and think he is one of the key players that has driven Sydney's success this year.

Very sad for him, we all love him. But two things:

1. He only cemented his place in Round 16. From memory, we were already top of the ladder, or close to it. So although his strengths and skills had been adopted into our recent game plan, we can win without him.

2. With the way his fellow Swans youngsters have shone this year, it'd be a brave person that betted against AA getting another crack at a flag in the next year or three.

 

[Bulldogs Legend]

Bulldogs supporter talking like a grand final regular. World officially gone mad.

Get used to the new world order!

 

[Bulldogs Legend]

I did. And I re-read it. And I still see nothing in it that disproves that you're a Dogs supporter talking like a grand finals regular in that post.

But it was only meant as a bit of joshing anyway. All the best for Saturday.

Whats this a Swannie with a sense of humour, gold star for you!!!

 

[Armchair Critic]

There is another kick coming

We will see on Saturday

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

Whats this a Swannie with a sense of humour, gold star for you!!!

Pass. Premiership cup for mine, nothing less.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Has Footscray played much in the wet this season ? I know we have.

Western Bulldogs played 14 games at the roofed stadium.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Spewing I'm over in WA this week.
Being from the western suburbs of Melb and having every second mate as a dogs fan I can only imagine the excitement back home.I'm actually nervous and excited as though it were my own team in it.
Can't recall looking forward to a GF more.

The nearby fish and chip shop and pub both have Bulldogs colours up. And I don't even live in a western suburb!

 

[Foreign Legion]

KB on SEN reporting that Robbo has tweeted that Mills will play - for what its worth.

 

[B4Bear]

Yep this

Love Teddy, has been a great servant of the club, but he can't be brought in this week, there is a reason he hasn't been able to get his way back into the side.

If both McVeigh and Mills are fit, think we play them both, which means 1 of Marsh or Hewitt miss imo

I would think that Mills has the potential to break down again in the game. He would want to be 100% without a doubt.

 

[hawks787]

Our gameplan must be simple. Take the umps out of the game.

Sydney 2016 Finals...yeah they hated us every single game.
Footscray 2016 Finals...yeah they loved them every single game.

Over an entire season
Free Kicks FOR :Footscray 2nd, Sydney 11th
Free Kicks AGAINST: Footscray 18th , Sydney 5th

Just how can you be a contested ball winning mob and not give away free kicks ? Are they ball whisperers ?

The umps rolled out the red carpet for the entire first half of their season...every single game.
It wasn't until the media and opposition fans forced a late season stewards enquiry they suddenly got the same treatment as others...at least for a short while.
Unfortunately the finals have brought back the same dream treatment from the umps. They are absolute sweethearts.
We need to be vigilant at all times, and watch out for those sneaky little momentum stopper free kicks the umps love to pay them....then somehow win the ball without ever actually touching any of them.

Not easy but it must be done...also that snivvling little cheat McLean needs to be either knocked out early or given 5m space at all times so the umps don't get the opportunity to punish anyone touching him.

All we ask for is a fair go.

So #freekickdogs you reckon?
No way, can't believe it after the year I watched.