lets get this started already. should be a cracker
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AFLW 2024 - Round 10 - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
current rnd Grand Final... St Kilda v Geelong
- Thread starter damochandler
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Who to follow though??? One of my best mates is a Geelong supporter so I kind of think it would be nice to see them win for his sake, but the Saints havn't won the big one in 43 years, and have only one flag. Also, they were the dominant team this year. I'll say Saints by 12.
Its going to be a LONG week...Im really nervous, first grand final we've made since '97
Second time ive seen saints in there in my life
Would be awesome to see them win the first premiership in my lifetime!
Second time ive seen saints in there in my life
Would be awesome to see them win the first premiership in my lifetime!
*Insert Song: Living on a Prayer*
God I'm starting to get nervous. But not so much as the Prelim loss hurt more... seeing 2 other teams play off when your team could've been there hurt alot more (I'm hoping).
But it'd be great for the Saints fans of the 80's.
God I'm starting to get nervous. But not so much as the Prelim loss hurt more... seeing 2 other teams play off when your team could've been there hurt alot more (I'm hoping).
But it'd be great for the Saints fans of the 80's.
Was the same for most of us Cats Fans in 2007. Great feeling. Such a relief.
Shame I was so nervous i got smashed before the bounce & can't remember much.
Well, what can I say? The two best teams by far this year has been St Kilda and Geelong, so it's obviously great to see them playing off. I have to admit, for a while there I thought it would be Dejavu of '99 where Essendon and North Melbourne were the best two teams in the comp that year but Essendon were knocked out in one of the most memorable Prelims ever.
Defence vs Attack.
St Kilda were renowned for their tackling pressure all year. They stifled their oppostion, causing turnovers which usually resulted in a goal for them. Their pressure on the ball carrier, and the discipline of their game plan was A1. "Lyons Cage" as it's affectionately known as has been solid all year, and almost been impenetrable. Geelong have had thier play on at all cost style for the last 3 years now. It has served them extremely well, has made them a very exciting team to watch when taking it through the corridor. Their run has been almost unstoppable, and really have only ever been dominated once since this adopted game plan, which occured agaisnt Collingwood in Rnd 9, 2008. I see this game as like the paradoxical conundrum of what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.
We have already had a taste of what's to come. The round 14 game this year between these two sides was arguably one of the best games in the modern era. Will we see the same thing happen again? Maybe. But there's are a few things to note first. Firstly, team structures. Geelong had injuries to 3 key players (Ottens, Johnson and Kelly) who are all back in the side now, and who all contributed with solid games last week. The other is the venue.
Much has been made of St Kilda not having experience at the MCG, and that the wide wings will make their 'flooding' type of play difficult and maye gte them exposed. Considering they beat the team in the first qualifying final whcih has more MCG expereince than any other this year, and who play along the wings more than any other team, quite convincngly in the end, even if on the scoreboard it only showed 28 points, tells me that this is a non issue.
The other thing is that Geelong like to run through the corridor, so effectivly the Saints have a lot less room to have to guard. Normally this would play into their hands, but I think with the speed that Geelong can not only run through the centre, but flick the ball around to effectively play keepings off, may expose the saints weakness. If the Saints can't effectively stop Geelongs run via pressure, they certainly won't be able to match them with leg speed, and I think this maybe cause St Kilda massive problems.
One last question mark that hangs over this game to me is how well Nick Rewolt pulls up. He has been instrumental and inspirational all year for the Saints. He is the heart and soul of that club, and has single handedly willed them over the line to get them to the position that they are in today. But how will his knee hold up? Last week seeing him hobble like that would be enough for any saints fans to get cold sweats. I think if St Kilda are to be a chance, he needs to have a blinder.
Everything all points to this being one of the best Grand Finals of all time. But rarely when a game like this is billed up to be this big does it actually deliver on it's promise. Round 14 delivered more than anyone could have hoped for. Whether or not that will happen again, no one knows. But what I am sure about is that both teams will be hungry - desperate if you will, to be able to raise that cup above their head on Saturday afternoon.
When you look back and analyse it clinically, you can say that the Saints are where Geelong were a couple of years ago. Whilst Geelong, having been the best team for the last 3 years (probably equal best this year), have the emotional burden of last year still fresh in their minds, and knowing that aother loss in a GF would almost certainly spell and end to their dominant era, it's harder to say who's under more pressure.
The fact that the Cats have been here 3 years in a row, and that they are savagely hungry to avenge last year, and combine that with the fact that they've got a full fresh list at their disposal, it's hard not to back them. But the Saints have been awesome all year, a well coached and well disciplined side, with eveyr player exactly intune with what their role is. To dsimiss the Saints purely on their lack of GF expereince would be folly, as we all know what happened in Geelongs first GF in '07. Are the Saints on about to start their Dynasty? Or are the Cats so hungry to get one more cup that nothing will stop them? Only time will tell, but for mine, consdiering evertything, it's just hard clinically and emotionally for me to not back them.
Prediction: Geelong by 16 points.
Defence vs Attack.
St Kilda were renowned for their tackling pressure all year. They stifled their oppostion, causing turnovers which usually resulted in a goal for them. Their pressure on the ball carrier, and the discipline of their game plan was A1. "Lyons Cage" as it's affectionately known as has been solid all year, and almost been impenetrable. Geelong have had thier play on at all cost style for the last 3 years now. It has served them extremely well, has made them a very exciting team to watch when taking it through the corridor. Their run has been almost unstoppable, and really have only ever been dominated once since this adopted game plan, which occured agaisnt Collingwood in Rnd 9, 2008. I see this game as like the paradoxical conundrum of what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.
We have already had a taste of what's to come. The round 14 game this year between these two sides was arguably one of the best games in the modern era. Will we see the same thing happen again? Maybe. But there's are a few things to note first. Firstly, team structures. Geelong had injuries to 3 key players (Ottens, Johnson and Kelly) who are all back in the side now, and who all contributed with solid games last week. The other is the venue.
Much has been made of St Kilda not having experience at the MCG, and that the wide wings will make their 'flooding' type of play difficult and maye gte them exposed. Considering they beat the team in the first qualifying final whcih has more MCG expereince than any other this year, and who play along the wings more than any other team, quite convincngly in the end, even if on the scoreboard it only showed 28 points, tells me that this is a non issue.
The other thing is that Geelong like to run through the corridor, so effectivly the Saints have a lot less room to have to guard. Normally this would play into their hands, but I think with the speed that Geelong can not only run through the centre, but flick the ball around to effectively play keepings off, may expose the saints weakness. If the Saints can't effectively stop Geelongs run via pressure, they certainly won't be able to match them with leg speed, and I think this maybe cause St Kilda massive problems.
One last question mark that hangs over this game to me is how well Nick Rewolt pulls up. He has been instrumental and inspirational all year for the Saints. He is the heart and soul of that club, and has single handedly willed them over the line to get them to the position that they are in today. But how will his knee hold up? Last week seeing him hobble like that would be enough for any saints fans to get cold sweats. I think if St Kilda are to be a chance, he needs to have a blinder.
Everything all points to this being one of the best Grand Finals of all time. But rarely when a game like this is billed up to be this big does it actually deliver on it's promise. Round 14 delivered more than anyone could have hoped for. Whether or not that will happen again, no one knows. But what I am sure about is that both teams will be hungry - desperate if you will, to be able to raise that cup above their head on Saturday afternoon.
When you look back and analyse it clinically, you can say that the Saints are where Geelong were a couple of years ago. Whilst Geelong, having been the best team for the last 3 years (probably equal best this year), have the emotional burden of last year still fresh in their minds, and knowing that aother loss in a GF would almost certainly spell and end to their dominant era, it's harder to say who's under more pressure.
The fact that the Cats have been here 3 years in a row, and that they are savagely hungry to avenge last year, and combine that with the fact that they've got a full fresh list at their disposal, it's hard not to back them. But the Saints have been awesome all year, a well coached and well disciplined side, with eveyr player exactly intune with what their role is. To dsimiss the Saints purely on their lack of GF expereince would be folly, as we all know what happened in Geelongs first GF in '07. Are the Saints on about to start their Dynasty? Or are the Cats so hungry to get one more cup that nothing will stop them? Only time will tell, but for mine, consdiering evertything, it's just hard clinically and emotionally for me to not back them.
Prediction: Geelong by 16 points.
Just a note on grand final experience and what it helps with.
08 Hawthorn (No Grand Final Experience) beat Geelong (Grand Final Winner 07)
07 Geelong (No Grand Final Experience) beat Port Adelaide (Grand Final Winner 04)
06 West Coast (No Grand Final Winning Experience) beat Sydney (Grand Final Winner 05)
05 Sydney (No Grand Final Experience) beat West Coast (No Grand Final Experience)
04 Port Adelaide (No Grand Final Experience) beat Brisbane (Grand Final Winner 01,02,03)
03 Collingwood (1 Grand Final loss) lost to Brisbane by about 8 goals
02 Collingwood (No Grand Final Experience) lost to Brisbane by about 8 points
01 Brisbane (No Grand Final Experience) beat Essendon (Grand Final Winner 00)
I know I'm looking for any reason for St. Kilda to win but I think Geelong or St. Kilda will win because they play better on Saturday not because of something as silly as Grand final experience or the ground. All the players have played many games of football and all the players have played on many grounds. The better and hungrier team always wins.
On the round 14 game. Looks can be deceiving.
1. St. Kilda had a fast start. I doubt that will happen again. 5 goals to nil. If it does then it's game over.
2. Geelong scored two goals from the 13 minute mark to the 16 minute mark of the second quarter, 3 goals in the 12 minute mark to the 16 minute mark of the 3rd and 3 goals from the 13 minute mark to the 18 minute mark of the 4th. This is the period of the quarter where Michael Gardiner was resting either in the forward line or on the bench and the 5th gamer Ben McEvoy was in the ruck. Geelong dominated the stoppages at these points in the game and setup all their play. In a game where 8 of their 13 goals were kick in 13 minutes of play. I don't see this happening again. King is back and so is Ottens. I know Ottens can go forward but it's all about the ruck and stoppages. That's how St. Kilda can win the game. Gardiner is a better tap ruckman than Ottens. King is break even or better than Blake.
3. Stevie Johnson is back. This is huge. But he's got to be back against a team that didn't have it's grand final performance the week before. If he and chapman kick 5-7 between them I can't see Geelong losing. If not I don't think Geelong can kick a score to win. Mooney and Hawkins will contribure 3 between them, that would be about their average against strong teams. Mids/Backmen will kick 5 between them. I think they will need to kick 13-15 to win the game. Burns and Varco are a danger but I think if they don't kick their goals the mids will take them and vise-versa.
4. St. Kilda's small forwards have to win the game for them. If and when the ball is brought to ground they must trap it in, like the 2nd half against the bulldogs then the rest of the field will be set. If it rebounds quickly (like the first half against the bulldogs) then it's trouble for the saints. Milne, Schneider, McQualter and jones would need to repeat the first game and get one each at least. Kosi has to lift and provide a consistant threat to keep one of the Geelong defenders honest. Riewoldt's knee is stuffed but it's going to get through without any worried. He's not going down this week after having it for about 6 weeks. St. Kilda needs 6-8 between Riewoldt and Kosi. And then 4 from mids/backs.
I think the saints will win because they are the better team. Geelong looked amazing against Collingwood but so did Port against North in the 07 prelim. I wouldn't be surprised if Geelong win because they have been great but I believe (and hope) this is the saints time.
Saints by 19 points.
08 Hawthorn (No Grand Final Experience) beat Geelong (Grand Final Winner 07)
07 Geelong (No Grand Final Experience) beat Port Adelaide (Grand Final Winner 04)
06 West Coast (No Grand Final Winning Experience) beat Sydney (Grand Final Winner 05)
05 Sydney (No Grand Final Experience) beat West Coast (No Grand Final Experience)
04 Port Adelaide (No Grand Final Experience) beat Brisbane (Grand Final Winner 01,02,03)
03 Collingwood (1 Grand Final loss) lost to Brisbane by about 8 goals
02 Collingwood (No Grand Final Experience) lost to Brisbane by about 8 points
01 Brisbane (No Grand Final Experience) beat Essendon (Grand Final Winner 00)
I know I'm looking for any reason for St. Kilda to win but I think Geelong or St. Kilda will win because they play better on Saturday not because of something as silly as Grand final experience or the ground. All the players have played many games of football and all the players have played on many grounds. The better and hungrier team always wins.
On the round 14 game. Looks can be deceiving.
1. St. Kilda had a fast start. I doubt that will happen again. 5 goals to nil. If it does then it's game over.
2. Geelong scored two goals from the 13 minute mark to the 16 minute mark of the second quarter, 3 goals in the 12 minute mark to the 16 minute mark of the 3rd and 3 goals from the 13 minute mark to the 18 minute mark of the 4th. This is the period of the quarter where Michael Gardiner was resting either in the forward line or on the bench and the 5th gamer Ben McEvoy was in the ruck. Geelong dominated the stoppages at these points in the game and setup all their play. In a game where 8 of their 13 goals were kick in 13 minutes of play. I don't see this happening again. King is back and so is Ottens. I know Ottens can go forward but it's all about the ruck and stoppages. That's how St. Kilda can win the game. Gardiner is a better tap ruckman than Ottens. King is break even or better than Blake.
3. Stevie Johnson is back. This is huge. But he's got to be back against a team that didn't have it's grand final performance the week before. If he and chapman kick 5-7 between them I can't see Geelong losing. If not I don't think Geelong can kick a score to win. Mooney and Hawkins will contribure 3 between them, that would be about their average against strong teams. Mids/Backmen will kick 5 between them. I think they will need to kick 13-15 to win the game. Burns and Varco are a danger but I think if they don't kick their goals the mids will take them and vise-versa.
4. St. Kilda's small forwards have to win the game for them. If and when the ball is brought to ground they must trap it in, like the 2nd half against the bulldogs then the rest of the field will be set. If it rebounds quickly (like the first half against the bulldogs) then it's trouble for the saints. Milne, Schneider, McQualter and jones would need to repeat the first game and get one each at least. Kosi has to lift and provide a consistant threat to keep one of the Geelong defenders honest. Riewoldt's knee is stuffed but it's going to get through without any worried. He's not going down this week after having it for about 6 weeks. St. Kilda needs 6-8 between Riewoldt and Kosi. And then 4 from mids/backs.
I think the saints will win because they are the better team. Geelong looked amazing against Collingwood but so did Port against North in the 07 prelim. I wouldn't be surprised if Geelong win because they have been great but I believe (and hope) this is the saints time.
Saints by 19 points.
i'm extremely nervous, I always have a bad feeling going in to games like this. I don't think I can hack back to back grand final losses, but you've gotta be in it to win it.
Hope it's a cracker, hope the cats can play as well as they can, and if the saints still beat them, then power to them, and the cats will pass the torch to the saints. If the saints do win at least they'll deserve it and know the feeling we had in 2007.
Good luck saints, but GO CATS!!!
Hope it's a cracker, hope the cats can play as well as they can, and if the saints still beat them, then power to them, and the cats will pass the torch to the saints. If the saints do win at least they'll deserve it and know the feeling we had in 2007.
Good luck saints, but GO CATS!!!
- Aug 7, 2008
- 8,949
- 39
- AFL Club
- St Kilda
- Other Teams
- When they're not belting us, NZ
Weather forecast is saying Possible Thunderstorms and hail
Who, if either side, could this favour?
warrior_4
Debutant
i would say that it would favour the cats more so than us...they have more harder bodies and a lower centre of gravity which would make them more suited to the wet..plus they play at skilled stadium which is wet and windy most of the time...riewoldt and kosi's marking ability will weaken in the wet...
- Sep 29, 2005
- 10,525
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- AFL Club
- St Kilda
- Other Teams
- New York Knicks, Redskins, NUFC
will it?
some of Riewoldt's best games have come in the wet. (Sydney in 07' and last friday night against the dogs was pretty damp/dewy as well)
He takes plenty of chest marks so the weather shouldn't really affect him too much..
warrior_4
Debutant
i believe that it will....few games against port when it was raining like cray at aami when i went to watch he hardly got into the game...remember the 1st finals game against the cats when it was raining...taylor beat him pretty comfortably...every other game when they have played riewoldt accounted of him pretty good...the game against the dogs i wouldnt call that wet weather...im talking more of a heavy down pour and raining constantly...
Papa Juggs
Hall of Famer
- Banned
- #15
This game will come down to use under pressure.
Spuds like Mark Blake can't play under extreme pressure.
It's going to be an interesting game. The ones Geelong lose and the ones they get called holding the ball or don't use it well enough under pressure.
We might have lost a couple to bottom 8 sides but at least we didn't get thrashed by Carlton LOLOLOL
That's what gives me hope
Losing to ********... rofl
Spuds like Mark Blake can't play under extreme pressure.
It's going to be an interesting game. The ones Geelong lose and the ones they get called holding the ball or don't use it well enough under pressure.
We might have lost a couple to bottom 8 sides but at least we didn't get thrashed by Carlton LOLOLOL
That's what gives me hope
Losing to ********... rofl
Coooooooneyyyyyyyy
Club Legend
This will be HUGEEEEE.
St Kilda's biggest problem will be if Geelong gets 3-4 goals in front - what is their "plan B"? They have rarely been tested this year and, like Geelong in 2008, may find that they run out of ideas if their opponents get several goals in succession.
If they fall behind, they will need to do something different to get back in the game but what is it? Do they put Kosi in the ruck, Gardiner to full-forward - who knows, but their systems and structures that have served them well all year may need to be altered mid-game. This is their biggest fear - because I doubt they have a plan B that they have tried and successfully tested in a match scenario. For Geelong, although they may partially have the same concern, they have put in a concerted effort all year to not rely on a single way of playing the game.
Most of their major ball-winners have spent time in the backline, for example, and Ablett (or Ottens) playing up forward is also an obvious move if goals are required. They were exposed last year when Hawthorn got a run-on in the third quarter and, with Harley off the ground, they seemed out of ideas as to what to do. A conscious decision was made that this would never happen again. Rest assured, Geelong will try to knock the stuffing out of St Kilda's system early in the game and do exactly what Hawthorn did to them last year - and expose a lack of ideas and creativity in the St Kilda brains trust.
If they fall behind, they will need to do something different to get back in the game but what is it? Do they put Kosi in the ruck, Gardiner to full-forward - who knows, but their systems and structures that have served them well all year may need to be altered mid-game. This is their biggest fear - because I doubt they have a plan B that they have tried and successfully tested in a match scenario. For Geelong, although they may partially have the same concern, they have put in a concerted effort all year to not rely on a single way of playing the game.
Most of their major ball-winners have spent time in the backline, for example, and Ablett (or Ottens) playing up forward is also an obvious move if goals are required. They were exposed last year when Hawthorn got a run-on in the third quarter and, with Harley off the ground, they seemed out of ideas as to what to do. A conscious decision was made that this would never happen again. Rest assured, Geelong will try to knock the stuffing out of St Kilda's system early in the game and do exactly what Hawthorn did to them last year - and expose a lack of ideas and creativity in the St Kilda brains trust.
This game will come down to use under pressure.
Spuds like Mark Blake can't play under extreme pressure.
It's going to be an interesting game. The ones Geelong lose and the ones they get called holding the ball or don't use it well enough under pressure.
We might have lost a couple to bottom 8 sides but at least we didn't get thrashed by Carlton LOLOLOL
That's what gives me hope
Losing to ********... rofl
haha its studs like you that will mean you team will cop alot of flack on here come saturday arvo
saintsrule
Premiership Player
Remember round 14 wasn't too bad an effort and didn't expose too much. I suppose Saints won't bother trying to expose any weaknesses in Geelong! I think people's opinions have been influenced strongly by Geelong's performance against a vunerable Collingwood team, which basically put up little opposition after half time. Remember that they beat Bulldogs by only 14 pts in the QF. Geelong v Bulldogs PF may have produced a very different result.
Garginer is a better tap ruckman than Ottens? I dont think so!
saintsrule
Premiership Player
Garginer is hopeless, but Gardiner is definitely better and an accurate goalkicker too!
Geelong should have beaten the Dogs by 7-8 goals,the 14 point margin had nothing to do with the Dogs play.On the other hand the Dogs were very unlucky not to win on Friday night. Dare say their are a couple of umpires with Gieshen's rant still ringing in their ears.
saintsrule
Premiership Player
You are getting a bit desperate now. Saints 28 pts win against Pies was also not reflective of Saints dominance in that game. If Geelong had faced Bulldogs and won on the same terms, what would you say?
This game will come down to use under pressure.
Spuds like Mark Blake can't play under extreme pressure.
It's going to be an interesting game. The ones Geelong lose and the ones they get called holding the ball or don't use it well enough under pressure.
We might have lost a couple to bottom 8 sides but at least we didn't get thrashed by Carlton LOLOLOL
That's what gives me hope
Losing to ********... rofl
Wow, classy post. Not to mention a couple above me.
Abusing people really isn't the right way to go about this.
Agree with pretty much everything except this. Blake is an exceptional tap ruckman. If he wasn't he wouldn't be in the team. 3rd in hitouts 2nd in hitouts to advantage during the season. The others smash him round the ground but he is the best tap ruck in this years finals.
