At this writing the Saturday Brisbane forecast is 15-24, partly cloudy, 20% chance of rain, winds SE 15-25kmh. If the rain hold off, it sounds like decent conditions for footy.
The game is a twilight one I think. Couldn't ask for anything better weather wise tbh. 20% chance, if it does, it will likely be light. At least it's not a blazing north or northwesterly wind, which would make the temperature soar. At least the weather will be decent for us. We need just one piece of luck here. What happens after that, fingers crossed.
How stiff was Marchbank to be penalised for a near perfect tackle on Smith?
Smith bent his knees and dropped his shoulder in the best Joel Selwood style and Marchy’s arm just crept over the top of his shoulder.
“BALL!”
The commentators were unanimous too. Saying it was a bloody free kick. Joel Smith learning from his namesake, Selwood or something. Richo and BT having forward player bias or something? WTF???
If we are to have any chance to win this week we have to make some hard calls. I fully expect both Doc and Acres will play. Pump them full of as much painkiller as is legally allowed. McKay and Martin will both come in and so they should. The big question is who comes out and that is where it's gets difficult. For me I think one has to be Cuningham who has just played too many average sort of games over the last month and the fact he was subbed out last Friday may be a definite tell. Personally I like him but as I say it's time to be ruthless. Second bloke out for me is Owies. Just doesn't do enough. I've never been a big fan and last Friday he was next to useless IMO. Kicked a goal from about 40 out, which in itself amazed me, but I think Kennedy, who has come back from a long layoff, achieved as much if not more than Owies did last Friday. Unfortunately can't see JSOS or Dow getting a role as Holands was pretty good as the sub. Only issue is will it work with TDK, Pitt, H and Charlie all in the same team? Maybe the weather will play a part in selection?
Brisbane's driest time of the year tends to be at this time of year. I haven't checked the forecast, but I reckon it'll be a dry game. McKay will come in and the two rucks won't be dropped either.
We need a target at CHF and and TDK goes ok as third tall deep in the forward line. Cunners and Owies not doing enough agree. Kennedy has to stay in as medium/small. Also concerned with Cincottas game against Pickett - Charlie Cameron, Zac Bailey are gun players Kennedy can rotate through the middle whereas Owies can't and Motlop is a smarter/classier player than Owies.
Pickett did almost SFA until late in the third quarter. He marked and goaled in the last and the person I saw on him was Saad. Fogarty was poor as well on Friday, but he does have the added benefit of being able to rotate through the midfield and has pace to chase and tackle, Owies, yes as mentioned, does not have midfield ability or speed. Yes, Owies certainly has been very poor this finals series. Kennedy was average at best, but he did chime in and play some role in an uncomfortable second tall forward position. Motlop definitely stays in, bar injury. The consensus seems to be Cuningham and Owies out, for Martin and McKay. Who am I to argue? I won't. Btw, definitely agree that TDK can play as a third/second resting tall forward. We saw that on Friday night.
Motlop, despite his low stats, with his chasing pressure and tackling, along with two clutch-goals. Newman, the everywhere man. McGovern, got a lot of the ball and had an insane high kick-to-handball ratio, he generally does. Took about all of the 17 kickouts and was near faultless at it. He was also at the contest in the goalsquare, at the other end of the ground, when Acres took the matchwinning mark and goal too.
I'm really struggling to see where he'll get Brownlow votes in his career. It's okay. It happens. There have been players who have had a long career with almost none of them. I mention the Brownlow, as he got a vote from me in the JP medal voting tally for his role on Gawn last night. He's an old-school type of ruck, he specialises largely in the tap-out department and getting it down to our midfielders first. Can't fault him on that. Credit where credit is very due, he was outstanding against an elite and arguably ATG ruck in limiting him around the ground with his defensive running. Took a telling mark, against Gawn's own kick, deep in defence. He's had a tremendous finals series, the miss in the dead rubber against GWS may have left him with some sort of fitness to move around a bit more. The only thing he's missed, twice in the last two matches, are holding on to his marks in the F50. He hasn't scored a goal in three years and those are ones he's missed out on to finally give himself a chance for a six-pointer.
Sparrow should have got 2-3 weeks for slamming Walsh head first into the boundary fence, the AFL want to protect the head but that must apply only when you are in play. It was a really dangerous act and even Sparrow looked shocked at what he had done afterwards. The whole MRP needs an overhaul and the penalty system simplified...our blokes should have sorted Sparrow out as well, if that was Nick Daicos with his head rearranged it would have been a full pile on from the Pies.
The umpire blew the whistle for a free kick to us, hence the probable no remonstration or over remonstration to it. Someone got in his face, can't remember who. He certainly should have been on the books for that. Just unnecessary stuff. It's okay to be intense and in your face in a big match. But it's not alright to endanger a player and especially their head through what's on the side of the boundary line.
Gutless Christian, really weak. If you want to stop Pickett doing stupid things, then punish him appropriately. One week? F off you idiot.
The colour of our jumper is the only reason. This really is a blight on the game. One person decides, who played for one club, is the policeman. The Roger Rogerson of the AFL.
Good game plan from Voss to upset Gawn with Pittonet shadowing him all game and pushing him around and Id be doing the same with McInerney who is a key driver for Brisbane in the middle. Cripps will get Dunkley for company and Id expect Acres to get J. Berry as his dinner date as he has been doing some jobs for Fagan and is a physical player with the size to match Acres. Going to be a great game tactically imho with lots of good even matchups and I just hope our blokes have the run in the legs to play 4 intense quarters in what could be warm conditions.
Andrews will go to Curnow, he's a very dangerous counter-attacking defender who can also close down his man. They have two wins towers down in their forward line, Weitering probably goes to Daniher. Hopefully it's a night match, it probably will be. Hopefully a Saturday night, we need the extra day's rest. The 'Gabba is a big ground and we need to chase and tackle as much as we can.
Up there, Brisbane are on another level ahead of everyone else this year. Win the thing in the middle, convert, use the spaces and then...hope, then believe???
One on cripps, the other on mcgovern. You can't swing an arm and hit an opponent high even if he is bumping you.
To be generous to McGovern, that was a block and a shepherd only. God Pickett was a flog last night. Just a couple of the silly things he did last night. With four umpires, there's really no excuse to miss those two things, despite the other frees and two, yes, two fifties he gave away.
The sling into the fence and whatever Viney did on the side opposite the camera (sly elbow?) were also pretty average Thry. Lot of high, late, scruffy.....and totally unnecessary stuff.
Totally right, but I think it was Tom Sparrow, not Viney.
Deservedly so, there is enormous praise for Acres and his endeavour, playing through pain and delivering the goal that put us in front. Spine-tingling stuff.
However... I'd like to add 2 other incredible last qtr goals. 1. Walsh at the beginning of the final qtr goaling would have been an enormous lift for the boys and a message that we're in this to our eyeballs. 2. Motlop kicking a brilliant snap to reduce the margin to one kick... again, lifting the boys. 2 other great moments.
Walsh is made for this stuff. No. 1 pick in his draft, looks like the best of them. Seemed a bit rusty at times this year, with his injuries, his absence was noted by me. Now back to his awesome best. As I tried to note with Acres, this man belongs. All heart and effort, playing with a surging confidence. All at the price of a McDonald's ice cream of the past! Or near enough. With experience and a designated role for him, being the wing, there is much more consistency to his game now. You take the good with the bad. On the latter, no out of bounds on the full this time, but Blake, mate, as I tried to note, take a breath, don't rush the damn thing. Perhaps instinct works for him better than overthinking set shots. Oh and Motlop. He's a creame de la creame player (excuse spelling, French is not may native language). Getting better all the time. Two beautiful goals, along with lots of chasing and tackling, despite the low stats. Will only get better with more experience and as he builds his body and tank more.
