AFL 2012

[Troy]

Another great final. Fremantle flew out of the blocks like normal but Adelaide kept fighting and managed to get in front in the third quarter. The lead changed hands quite a few times in the next twenty minutes but Adelaide finished the game off stronger and were too good at home. Walker was fantastic for Adelaide with five goals. Adelaide now have the massive task of playing Hawthorn next week.

 

[Troy]

Collingwood managed to beat West Coast by 13 points tonight. Was another tough close final based on contested football and there were plenty of momentum changes. The key moment in my mind was in the last quarter when Embley made two turnovers by foot. First he kicked it out of bounds on the full near the wing right at a time when West Coast were pushing forward and were up by two points. Second he had the ball at CHB and was streaming forward when he kicked it but managed to stub his boot leading to the ball just dribbling along the ground which lead to a Collingwood goal. That was the crucial moment and Collingwood never looked back as they kick another goal soon after.

Hawthorn vs. Adelaide
Sydney vs. Collingwood

It means that yet again the top four have made it to the final four.

 

[Troy]

After all the great matches that we have already had so far this finals series tonights match between Hawthorn and Adelaide managed to top them all. Fantastic game to watch and the drama at the end was great. I laughed when the reversal was given to Porplyzia in Adelaide's forward 50 after a Hawks player bumped him in the back after Porps had taken down Hale hard and given away the free. As soon as it happened I called a reversal but I doubted it would be paid, stupid of the Hawks player to do it. In the end Adelaide simply ran out of time, Walker didn't help near the end taking his time lining up his kick that managed to put them 5 points down with 16 seconds left. Awesome game and Hawthorn were deserving winners in the end.

Last night Sydney proved to be too good for Collingwood to win by 26 points.

Hawthorn vs. Sydney is going to be one hell of a grand final.

 

[Troy]

So Jobe Watson won the Brownlow medal last night. He did have a great season so he did deserve it, was a clear winner in the end with 30 votes. From a North perspective very surprised Swallow only got ten votes even though he was clearly North's best player and we did win quite a few matches. Umps don't seem to like him

THE TOP TEN
1. Jobe Watson - 30 votes
2. Trent Cotchin - 26
Sam Mitchell - 26
4. Dane Swan - 25
Scott Thompson - 25
6. Gary Ablett - 24
7. Patrick Dangerfield - 23
8. Dayne Beams - 19
Lenny Hayes - 19
Josh Kennedy - 19

 

[Andrew]

Well deserved for Jobe.

Looks like it's time to throw up the trade talks here over the next few months!

 

[Troy]

Looks like there will be plenty happening in the first season with free agency. Plenty of players have already nominated that they will test the market and see if any other clubs want to pick them up.

Can't wait for the GF though, less than three days away. It is meant to be 14 and thuderstorms that day though so that could be interesting.

 

[Troy]

So the big game is tomorrow and the forecast has eased up a bit and there are only meant to be a few showers.

For the game my predictions are a tough close contest with Hawthorn eventually winning by 17 points. Jack Gunston for first goal and Sam Mitchell for the Norm Smith.

 

[Troy]

ants must be over the moon right now.

Was a great game and it truly was a game of four quarters, that breeze to the one end played a massive role and changed the flow of the game each quarter. Hawks started strong only to be swamped by the swans in the second, then in the third hawthorn fought back and took the lead early in the fourth only for swans to run away with it in the end. Great close game to watch and I can't believe that a Canadian international rugby player and Mitch Morton now have premiership medals. Excellent way to finish the season.

 

[ants]

Hungover as anything, best feeling ever, AGAIN

 

[Troy]

Looks like Brendan Goddard will be going to Essendon, he has supposedly been offered a contract by them and Saints have three days to respond. Would be a massive get for the Bombers and would improve them quite a bit. They desperately need more midfielders to help take the pressure off Watson, Goddard can play that role and play it well.

 

[Andrew]

Goddard signed to Essendon - Great move for them.

In other news, Port Adelaide continues to be the joke of the AFL.

More players expected to leave and Kochie's the President now

 

[Aniking]

Fucking stoked to have Brendan Goddard at the club. Quality signing and glad that it was done so quickly.

Forgot to post about the Grand Final. Great game, Hawthorn's inaccuracy at goal from the start cost them, but not as much as the mid-game fadeout across the 2nd quarter and start of the 3rd where they conceded about 8 consecutive goals. They did great to get back into it, but over the course of the game I'd say Sydney were just the better team.

 

[Troy]

Port have signed most of their young stars, they just need a new fitness coach to ensure they can get on the park. Losing Pearce isn't that big a blow for them, he will be a better player when surrounded by more talent but wasn't giving Port that much. It is one of those deals that will benefit both teams. Kochie as president will at least give them a hell of a lot more publicity.

Goddard to Essendon is massive, excellent pickup and it is exactly what they needed. Watson will be breathing a sigh of relieve that he will have a mature body in the midfield with him to take some pressure off.

Chris Knights has signed with Richmond as well. He played eight seasons at Adelaide but was rarely used this year. He had a couple of awesome seasons as a HFF a few years ago but had fallen out of favour. Another good pickup for Richmond.

I am surprised that so much happened on day one, normally with trade week everything happens in the last hour.

What do you guys think about a 2013 thread? Should we wait until the fixture is announced?

 

[Andrew]

2013 Thread would work [MENTION=2]Troy[/MENTION]

Fixture is out end of the month but we can discuss the trades. I hope Bulldogs don't give away Pick 5 & 6 for some 17 year old flog from GWS... I'll be so angry.