Opinion Non-Crows AFL 11

[119others]

What in the world do our neighbors do down the road?

On the one hand - they have to keep going. Made the finals 4 out of 5 years with ladder positions of 1,2,11,3,2. They are in a window to challenge again for another flag in 2025. Houston will be a loss, but Luko will be a great 2nd forward addition and is a harder position to fill than a rebounding half back.

Their losses in the finals were significant, but then again look at Brisbane's across 4 finals seasons from 2019 - 2022.

2019 - Finish 2nd - loss home QF by 47. Lose home SF by 3
2020 - Finish 2nd- Win home QF by 15. Lose home prelim by 40
2021 - Finish 4th- Lose neutral QF by 33. Lose home SF by 1
2022 - Finish 6th - Win home EF by 2, Win home SF by 3, Lose prelim by 71.

The size of the losses by Port in the finals are the biggest concern. They have averaged losses by 50+ points. The Lions also looked shocking in finals against top teams losing by 71,33, 40 and 47.

Are they close enough and just need to keep plugging and away and hope that a good run of form towards the end of the season is enough. Getting rid of Ken - does it destabilize what is clearly a top 4 list? Getting rid of Ken - does it bring in someone with a new way to approach finals and change their finals form.

Tough to know what is the right answer IMO.

If clearly a top 4 list why are they 10th fave for flag?

Kane thinks they miss finals next year and I agree. Narrow band of elite mids and a couple of decent flankers and then a load of shit.

Going forward we will win 7 or 8 of the next 10 showdowns IMO. We are moving past them next year and staying there

 

[AFC979810]

If clearly a top 4 list why are they 10th fave for flag?

Betting odds mean sweet F all as an indicator for success. The betting agencies have Hawthorn 3rd at $7 to win the flag.

Port are Equal 10th with Geelong.

They are clearly a top 4 list because they have made the top 4 in 4 of the last 5 years including the last two.

Kane thinks they miss finals next year and I agree. Narrow band of elite mids and a couple of decent flankers and then a load of shit.

Good for Kane. He also suggested that Port were winning the Jack Watts trade.

Going forward we will win 7 or 8 of the next 10 showdowns IMO. We are moving past them next year and staying there

Very well may happen. Very well may not happen.

 

[119others]

Betting odds mean sweet F all as an indicator for success. The betting agencies have Hawthorn 3rd at $7 to win the flag.

Port are Equal 10th with Geelong.

They are clearly a top 4 list because they have made the top 4 in 4 of the last 5 years including the last two.



Good for Kane. He also suggested that Port were winning the Jack Watts trade.



Very well may happen. Very well may not happen.

Will agree to disagree re odds if you think that way about them being meaningless. Top 4 faves for flag - Lions, Hawks, Blues, Giants are just a smidge better chance than the bottom 4 of Tigers, Kangas, Eagles and Saints IMHO but perhaps you vehemently disagree

 

[Cromulant]

Betting odds mean sweet F all as an indicator for success. The betting agencies have Hawthorn 3rd at $7 to win the flag.

Port are Equal 10th with Geelong.

They are clearly a top 4 list because they have made the top 4 in 4 of the last 5 years including the last two.



Good for Kane. He also suggested that Port were winning the Jack Watts trade.



Very well may happen. Very well may not happen.

If they lose Houston, they arent making top 4.

Also, theres teams behind them who will pass them IMO. Giants might go backward a bit too given their departures.

 

[1970crow]

Most pubs outside of the CBD are there days

That's why we don't venture to the burbs when up there.

 

[AFC979810]

Will agree to disagree re odds if you think that way about them being meaningless. Top 4 faves for flag - Lions, Hawks, Blues, Giants are just a smidge better chance than the bottom 4 of Tigers, Kangas, Eagles and Saints IMHO but perhaps you vehemently disagree

Port were 9th in 2023 according to the bookies to win the flag. Finished top 4.
Port were 7th in 2024 according to the bookies to win the flag. Finished top 4 - Interestingly enough they had us 8th.

 

[SC26]

Sort of.

Fagan is a much better tactician.

As made evident by him having a 7-1 record over Stinkley ever since Lions became good post-2018. Average winning margin 41 points, they don't belong in the same sentence

 

[119others]

If they lose Houston, they arent making top 4.

Also, theres teams behind them who will pass them IMO. Giants might go backward a bit too given their departures.

Yep. And remember they played the equivalent of team 12th for EACH of their 6 double up games. Softest draw and only one (8th based Blues) finals team twice. Lots of close victories (5/6 many against bottom non finalists) mean they were never a second ranked team in terms of quality. I was adamant BEFORE the finals they would bomb and they did

 

[Samcro24]

Fagan’s roaming the streets just whipping it out for anyone who wants a look.

 

[Cromulant]

You can get away with that in most of Queensland, they wouldnt know what it is.

Still though, how good by him.

 

[jackster83]

You can get away with that in most of Queensland, they wouldnt know what it is.

Still though, how good by him.

If he tried that in Adelaide or Melbourne, he would get mobbed and the cup taken to the scrap metal place to be sold for crack money.

 

[Samcro24]

If he tried that in Adelaide or Melbourne, he would get mobbed and the cup taken to the scrap metal place to be sold for crack money.

When I’m out walking with it wrapped in a towel offering people a look, even a touch, they call the cops.

Premiership coaches get away with everything.

 

[Mutineer]

Ken is no Fagan.

In Ken's defence he also has never really had the quality of the playing list that Fagan had at his fingertips this year IMO.

 

[ams4crows]

Band 1 for battle is a joke, just another way to prop up the struggling Vic clubs

 

[FR0GGY]

Sort of.

Fagan is a much better tactician.

Are either of them doing the tactics given they are on the bench not in the box?

 

[Cromulant]

Are either of them doing the tactics given they are on the bench not in the box?

Depends what theyre using it for I suppose.

Its much easier to give the exact message you want, whether it be a bit of a bake or a tactical change.

 

[Disco Fox]

Band 1 for battle is a joke, just another way to prop up the struggling Vic clubs

Cal Twomey - "Saints lost the Battle but won the war!!" This is to soothe the savage beast that is Andrew Bassat(Saints president), who had a huge crack at the AFL during his B & F speech the other night regarding academies & father/son rules.

 

[hugecannon]

Band 1 for battle is a joke, just another way to prop up the struggling Vic clubs

Absolute joke, no way would anyone ever dream of trading pick 8 for him, and it just disadvantages all the teams picking after them

 

[jackster83]

Absolute joke, no way would anyone ever dream of trading pick 8 for him, and it just disadvantages all the teams picking after them

Poor Freo with 3x first rounders all being pushed back because of that.

 

[1970crow]

When I’m out walking with it wrapped in a towel offering people a look, even a touch, they call the cops.

Premiership coaches get away with everything.

I think it depends where you're doing it, south parklands used to be ok, as did Tennyson sandhills.

 

[aabp1978]

There is no way that Battle is worth Pick 8 in compo....all I can say is I am glad (in one sense only) that we finished below the Saints. Assume they will split that pick?

 

[1970crow]

Absolute joke, no way would anyone ever dream of trading pick 8 for him, and it just disadvantages all the teams picking after them

If they'd won the flag it would have been pick 19.

 

[Slime Roy]

View attachment 2130994

Fagan’s roaming the streets just whipping it out for anyone who wants a look.

Big Woop, his Ol' Mate Kenny does that with his Bell Park one down the Port Docks all the time..I seen him!

 

[fuic08]

Band 1 for battle is a joke, just another way to prop up the struggling Vic clubs

Paying band 1 compo wages to Vattle is ludicrous

 

[whattagun07]

Goody's BnF speech tonight is going to be popcorn stuff