News Pies and Saints to play twice in 2011

[Heritier 09]

the afl have scrapped the old plan to have the grand finalists meet only once in the home and away season.

This, for the good of the game, is obviously the correct decision, but the conspiracy theory demon within me can't help but wonder whether it's a coincidence that they change it as soon as it's the pies involved. thoughts?

we'll smash them anyway.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/top-two-to-play-twice-next-season/story-e6frf9jf-1225943935421

 

[Swooop]

the afl have scrapped the old plan to have the grand finalists meet only once in the home and away season.

This, for the good of the game, is obviously the correct decision, but the conspiracy theory demon within me can't help but wonder whether it's a coincidence that they change it as soon as it's the pies involved. thoughts?

we'll smash them anyway.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/top-two-to-play-twice-next-season/story-e6frf9jf-1225943935421

Seems like the previous GF' ists usually play twice, last year was the exception.

I agree it is the correct decision.

I know many will disagree with this, but I think last year the AFL just gave St Kilda a draw to give them another chance at the GF

 

[Dawson]

the afl have scrapped the old plan to have the grand finalists meet only once in the home and away season.

This, for the good of the game, is obviously the correct decision, but the conspiracy theory demon within me can't help but wonder whether it's a coincidence that they change it as soon as it's the pies involved. thoughts?

we'll smash them anyway.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/top-two-to-play-twice-next-season/story-e6frf9jf-1225943935421

Because last year was the aberration

As far as I can recall the Grand Finalists, prior to last year, always met each other twice.

But I'm happy to go with the conspiracy theory

 

[jonbe54]

the afl have scrapped the old plan to have the grand finalists meet only once in the home and away season.

This, for the good of the game, is obviously the correct decision, but the conspiracy theory demon within me can't help but wonder whether it's a coincidence that they change it as soon as it's the pies involved. thoughts?

we'll smash them anyway.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/top-two-to-play-twice-next-season/story-e6frf9jf-1225943935421

Not up for conspiracy but the AFL probably took into consideration that the maggies being 'forced' into playing aints twice would go down well with the collingwood haters and thus ease the measure through any possible opposition.

 

[notorious_zhang]

Don't understand why we can't just have each team play each other once.

 

[smiddaz123]

Clearly a doctored draw. This means an extra game in Melbourne. AFL obviously looking after us again.

 

[Zahki]

As long as we're not playing all of Saints, Geelong, Bulldogs and Hawthorn twice again, it's all good. Gotta settle into the reality that now we're the best side we've got to expect to beat all other sides, so it shouldn't matter that much, but a softer draw certainly won't hurt with making top 4 again and maybe snagging another minor premiership.

 

[Pie eyed]

I have no problem with it at all.
We eventually played the Saints 4 times this year, played Geelong 3 times, the Dogs 3 times. Freo was the only side which inhabited the Top4 we missed playing twice and we were only given a game against Sydney once (would have preferred 2 or even 5).

We beat all the sides in the eight and any that looked even promising.

Melbourne could be seen as a our bogie side for the year FFS. Hawks got us with our minds on bigger things (though they will dispute this and will more than likely claim they should have been Premiers based on the round 22 win but were lust unlucky) and Brisbane just played better footy when it counted in the last qtr.

I can't see how the draw could be any harder for us this year, and if its just as hard then "experience" should be on our side anyway.

 

[jonesy86]

It just means saints fans will be reminded about that great October day 2 more times at least next year.

 

[Dawson]

Don't understand why we can't just have each team play each other once.

Answer: $

 

[Bay Pie]

Seems like the previous GF' ists usually play twice, last year was the exception.

I agree it is the correct decision.

I know many will disagree with this, but I think last year the AFL just gave St Kilda a draw to give them another chance at the GF

I agree. St.Kilda played Hawthorn, Cats & Dogs just once. The AFL did their best to hand them a flag. This will be St.Kildas' last legitimate shot at a flag with their current group. Hayes will be 31 next year and if he, Goddard & Reiwoldt don't play well, they will not beat us. Gardiner is getting on and may even retire, leaves a whole in their ruck. Hayes & Goddard played close to the best games of their career in GF1 and Reiwoldt was OK and they managed a draw.

St.Kilda now seem likely to have both us and Cats twice.

We've actually played St.Kilda twice during the H&A season in 3 of the past 4 years.

 

[jonbe54]

I agree. St.Kilda played Hawthorn, Cats & Dogs just once. The AFL did their best to hand them a flag. This will be St.Kildas' last legitimate shot at a flag with their current group. Hayes will be 31 next year and if he, Goddard & Reiwoldt don't play well, they will not beat us. Gardiner is getting on and may even retire, leaves a whole in their ruck. Hayes & Goddard played close to the best games of their career in GF1 and Reiwoldt was OK and they managed a draw.

St.Kilda now seem likely to have both us and Cats twice.

We've actually played St.Kilda twice during the H&A season in 3 of the past 4 years.

Agree We need to stop worrying about who we play and when because we showed last year we are the better of any club in the league and are quite capable of SMASHING the best available competition. THEY are chasing us, it's time to focus on integrating our new recruits and continuing to polish and refine our gameplan. If Krak and Tarrant can settle into the mix we have INCREASED our depth and polish and, given a decent run with injuries/suspension are a real threat again in '11.
We are the best, forget about the rest and get on with getting better.

 

[Helfarch]

Agree We need to stop worrying about who we play and when because we showed last year we are the better of any club in the league and are quite capable of SMASHING the best available competition. THEY are chasing us, it's time to focus on integrating our new recruits and continuing to polish and refine our gameplan. If Krak and Tarrant can settle into the mix we have INCREASED our depth and polish and, given a decent run with injuries/suspension are a real threat again in '11.
We are the best, forget about the rest and get on with getting better.

They aren't chasing, we're waiting.

 

[Heritier 09]

of course. sorry lads i was thinking of 09, where they didn't play until rnd 17. but they weren't grand finalists then. late night/early morning oversight.

 

[Pie eyed]

They aren't chasing, we're waiting.

A long wait it is too.

 

[jonbe54]

A long wait it is too.

"Are they here yet?". . . . ."Are they here yet?". . . . "Are they here yet?"
DAMN! Those MF's are SLOW!!

 

[Ed D]

I thought it was stupid that last years grand finalists only played once, it'll be a good test and spectacle, plus gear the team up again with playing against the best. Seems like we play the Saints twice a year anyway when I think about it.

 

[Bay Pie]

With the 2 games in 2011 we will have played St.Kilda 11 times in the last 4 years. Possibly more with finals.

 

[caca_pie]

hmmm..I swear I saw Pendles says something along the line of "love the idea of playing the Saints twice next year" in his Twitter....but now when I go back to his page, the post is gone!

perhaps the Collingwood publicist thinks it's a tad arrogant?

 

[Pie eyed]

I always believed you have to beat the best to be the best.
It worked out well for us this year so I can't find any reason it will be any different next season.

On the th flip side, this year most of us would have been happy to be playing Melbourne twice and look how they improved, not to mention Freo.

Who knows which sides will be the hardest to beat next year?

 

[Ed D]

I always believed you have to beat the best to be the best.
It worked out well for us this year so I can't find any reason it will be any different next season.

On the th flip side, this year most of us would have been happy to be playing Melbourne twice and look how they improved, not to mention Freo.

Who knows which sides will be the hardest to beat next year?

Yeah add to that teams peak at different times of the year and fall away at other times. Richmond for example were the worst team going around in the first rounds, then finished the year off reasonably.