AFL 2011

[Troy]

The NAB Cup is already under way and the main season starts in around five weeks time.

Big season this year with Gold Coast joining the AFL as the 17th team. Huge rule change as well with the interchange dropping to three players with an extra player as a substitute. I really don't like the rule but I will see how it goes this season before I comment more.

North Melbourne has to be in the eight this season. Anything less will be a failure since we have a great group of young players and last year we only missed out by percentage. If we can have a good run with injuries we can hopefully challenge for sixth spot.

Collingwood are clear favourites again. Geelong, St Kilda and Freo will challenge to be top four but I don't know if any team will be able to defeat Collingwood.

 

[Troy]

Brendan Fevola was sacked tonight by Brisbane. It is the right decision since he fell out of line too many times last year. This has turned into a terrible trade for Brisbane since they traded away a good young player in Lachie Henderson and because of this trade they lost Daniel Bradshaw. Hopefully Voss learns from this otherwise he wont last long as coach. No other team will touch Fev and supposedly he wants to try to get into the NFL but I can't see that happening. The guy has no other skills and will his gambling and alcohol addictions he will struggle big time outside of the AFL.

 

[Troy]

It is up to the Semi-Final stage in the NAB Cup.

March 4 Essendon vs St Kilda
March 5 West Coast vs Collingwood

Not liking the scheduling since Essendon and St Kilda have already played each other this tournament. Essendon and Saints should be a great match as both teams have a lot to play for. Essendon have a new coach who wants to prove himself and a team of young players that want to impress their new coach. Saints have had a terrible offseason and will want to show that they are focussed on their football. Collingwood should easily account for West Coast.

 

[ants]

Yeh the scheduling has really struggles hasnt it. Sydney play the Gold Coast for the second time this week in the NAB Challenge, its probably a good thing for the swans who get twoo decent looks at the new side in the comp before any sides even get one, but I don't think its really fair. Theres 15 other sides in the comp after all. I think St Kilda will beat Essendon, and Collingwood will beat West Coast, making it a pretty damn good Grand Final, a repeat of the GRanny from last year, Collingwood v St Kilda.

 

[Troy]

Yeah it wouldn't have been that hard for the AFL to schedule it so that teams don't have to play each other again during the NAB Challenge. I feel bad for the teams that have to play GWS since it isn't much competition and guess what this week North have to play GWS in Albury.

Saints vs Collingwood does seem likely and it would make for a great final.

 

[Aniking]

I am over the moon that my Bombers have made it to the final of the NAB Cup, and I will definitely be watching the final against Collingwood. I didn't get to watch the Semi-Final against St Kilda, but from what I read on the AFL website Essendon had the match under control after 1/4 time.

Hirdy has told Essendon fans not to have high expectations this season, but it's really hard not to when your team is playing so well. My fingers are crossed for pulling out an upset over Collingwood!

 

[Troy]

Essendon were great last week and I think that they have more to play for this week against Collingwood. I doubt Collingwood will play all their big names whereas Essendon will want to continue to prove that they are a serious threat this year. The team seems to have come together under Hird and it bodes well for the regular season.

 

[ants]

Well Maxwell is one pie that won't be playing after getting injured on Saturday night against the Eagles. I was very surprised by the Bombers, just looks like there style of run and taking on the game is working for them at this early stage of the season, they just seemed much more match fit than the Saints on Friday night.

As far as this week goes, surely they wont beat the Pies as well. But stranger things have happened. I'm looking forward to seeing how my Swans go against the Saints a week after that drubbing

 

[Troy]

Will need to see the teams to determine who should win the match. Supposedly Collingwood will be bringing back some of their big names for this match.

North play Bulldogs this week so we play another top team before the regular season. Can't wait for the actual season to start where the matches mean something.

 

[Troy]

I actually forgot that the final was on tonight. Collingwood defeated Essendon 1.15.9 (108) to 0.13.8 (86). Collingwood are clearly going to be the team to beat again this year since they won this tournament whilst resting a number of big names. At full strength they are going to be an awesome team and with such a young squad this could last some years. Very good signs for Essendon who will want to make the finals this season.

There was discussion again during the week about whether or not the finals system should change, from 8 to 10 teams, when there are 18 teams in 2012. I fully agree with Mick Malthouse's statement on this that if you extend it to ten teams it awards mediocrity. Finals should be for the elite teams and eight is more than enough even with 18 teams.

 

[Aniking]

I watched the NAB Cup Final from start to finish, and as much as I am disappointed that Essendon didn't win it we did have a pretty good showing. Collingwood are just an awesome side and they're gonna take some beating to not win the Premiership again this year. I don't think they were at their complete best tonight, so Essendon are probably a bit lucky the scoreline was as close as it was at times. We managed to pull it back to just a 3 point lead at the beginning of the 4th quarter, but Collingwood just have another gear they can go to when they're in some sort of trouble.

Now as for the finals system, I totally agree with Malthouse as well. I've always thought that having 8 teams out of 16 in the finals is too many, but I think when the competition increases to 18 teams, 8 in the finals sounds about right.

 

[Troy]

Carlton vs Richmond kicked off the season yet again but this time it was actually a close match. Richmond had the lead at three quarter time but couldn't get their hands on the ball in the final quarter and Carlton ran home strong to pick up the four points. Jack Reivoldt kicked six goals in an ominous sign of what is to come.

St Kilda vs Geelong was tonight and judging by the score it was a defense heavy match. Geelong won 48 - 47. St Kilda were leading for most of the game but choked at the end.

Collingwood vs Port
Adelaide vs Hawthorn
Brisbane vs Fremantle
Essendon vs. Western Bulldogs
Melbourne vs. Sydney
West Coast vs. North Melbourne
BYE: Gold Coast

To me the rest of the round looks pretty straight forward, the West Coast vs North match might be close but I am always going with my team North.

 

[Andrew]

Tipped St Kilda and they lose by 1.

Shattered Ling didn't fucking play, ruined my Supercoach the bastard! Scored so far 675 off 7 players... not too bad

 

[Troy]

Unforunately my internet went down so I couldn't place my first two tips. I would have tipped Carlton and Saints so I would have been 1-1. I expected a better showing from not only St Kilda but also Geelong. Six goals a piece isn't very impressive.

 

[Aniking]

Actually, in the defence of Geelong and St Kilda, I watched the match and it was a very hard fought game. Both teams struggled to gain possession and hold onto it for extended periods of the game and both team's defensive pressure was very strong, which is the reason why there were more behinds than goals. It wasn't the most entertaining game to watch, but it was a great example of why these two teams have been in the final four in the finals for the past few years.

Because I was sick for the past couple of days, I forgot to put in my tips. I would've picked Carlton to beat Richmond but probably would've flipped a coin or something for the St Kilda/Geelong game.

Collingwood vs Port
Adelaide vs Hawthorn
Brisbane vs Fremantle
Essendon vs. Western Bulldogs
Melbourne vs. Sydney
West Coast vs. North Melbourne
BYE: Gold Coast