nab Cup

[JK]

Well said LC ... I only managed to catch bits of the game but looked to me as though the Cats more than deserved their victory, and for mine this is a great result for the competition in general!

Great to see Cam Mooney continue on with his good form from the end of last season, had the pleasure of meeting him once and he came across as a really nice lad, one of the few "characters" left in footy these days and great to see him display the ability most have known he's always had!

I've been an admirer of Bomber Thompsons work for quite some time, and my own belief with the genuine contenders has always been one of "You're only as good as your last player picked" and Geelong cover this with an abundance of depth, perhaps without the standouts or fanfare of others (refer their unsuccessful 80's and 90's teams), across the park!

Appear mentally very strong and provided the health gods don't burn them this year should be very tough to beat!

[Lunchcutter]

I love my footy, and really abhor (sp??) those (fans, followers, chardoney set) or whatever else they are called... you know the crowd that jumped on to follow the team for all south australians (mainly after 1997, 1998) and all they do is bag their own players/team when they are down.. it is disappointing and really gets on my nerves that these type of people have the nerve to call themselves a football supporter (support my arse!)........ interesting that it's usually these types (sorry for putting labels on everyone) that will rub it in your face on Monday after they win a close one and who are not able to take it when the shoe is on the other foot .... sorry for the rant, this just really gets my goat....

[JK]

I very much know where you are coming from LC and totally share the same opinion on the matter ... Unfortunately though, I think EVERY club has varying numbers of so-called supporters who behave like this ... I know I have met Norwood supporters over the years who've believed it's our birthright to play finals (which we all know is BS) every year and many who have been silent throughout the good years are very vocal with their attacks when things aren't going the right way ... It's that whole bandwagon thing thats been oft discussed on SAFootySA!

Whilst you see many instances on here of people bagging one another and defending their clubs (including those at the wrong end of the ladder) these guys can at least call themselves true supporters for sticking by their sides through thick and thin and it's for more preferable to the snipers coming out of the woodwork to bag their own mob when the results are not in their favour!!

[Lunchcutter]

It is nice to have some-one reply to my post.... makes me feel all warm and fuzzy and not so stupid!

[JK]

LOL ... You raised a very valid point imho ...

[Lunchcutter]

and that my opinion is/may be appreciated.. thanks again

[MatteeG]

[JK]

LMAO ... The picture Nazi's always on the ball!!

[Lunchcutter]

I can't see that piccie was is it? are you having a go ....

[Rik E Boy]

LMAO ... The picture Nazi's always on the ball!!

There was a pic there? And here's me thinking that Matty was finally posting something profound..

regards.

REB

[Coorong]

Lunchie, Never considered you anything else but an SAFooty member. Might not always agree with your comments, as you dont always agree with mine. None the less a contributor you are.

[giffo]

Going to the game on Saturday night for my first Crows home game in a few years, I was reminded again of why I stopped going to AFL at AAMI(and no its not because you cant drink and Watch!). The atmosphere was none existent, 15,000 Doggies fans would drown 30,000 of that lot out no worries. Most struggle to name any players let alone 1st year players like Vince and their knowledge of the rules was none existent. To hear the blue rinse set, etc commenting on dropped marks and missed tackles you would think thet had played 300 games. Like some previous posters, I think their knowledge of football pre-91 to be non-existent. If players got reported, etc at the rate these experts want them written up, then the Gowans boys would never play again. LONG LIVE THE SANFL!!!

[sydney-dog]

I think it can be a little dangeous reading too much in to these pre-season games, sure it would of been nice to win the NAB cup but long term maybe a loss this time of a year is not such a bad thing.......

My thoughts has been focused on the Crows preperation this year compared to last year.

Last year, I think we scratched one win from the pre-season, Craigy basically tried to settle his side down from the first rnd of the pre-season comp and there was no obvious improvement in game plan.....
The boys basically improved with the more games they played together and very few injuries helped this process along....

This year, focus has been on young players, Jericho, Vince, Knights, Maric and Van Berlo have all played considerable minutes, other players that have struggled either due to form or fitness such as Massie and Bode have been given there opportunity to impress. Most importantly Craig has added more flexibility to the structure with Mattner playing more across half back, Burton across HF and the younger group through the Midfield.

Lets take a moment to forget about the GF or the win loss ratio of the past four weeks and consider the bigger picture.

Im sure if winning the NAB cup was the main focus, Craigy would of shown more of his hand and considered benching a couple of players during the course of the game, gaining experience was the key theme

I am confident the Crows are much better prepared for season 2006, whether this means they have a better season, well time will tell.

One thing I found very interesting, when the Crows beat the Pies in 2003, not much fuss was made of the victory from the club and supporters, while the Cats, you would of thought they had just gone back to back.......

My hats off to the cats, congrats but lets keep it all in perspective

[Rik E Boy]

One thing I found very interesting, when the Crows beat the Pies in 2003, not much fuss was made of the victory from the club and supporters, while the Cats, you would of thought they had just gone back to back.......

My hats off to the cats, congrats but lets keep it all in perspective

Here's some perspective for you Sid. This NAB Cup final win and the joy it generated throughout Geelong and it's supporter base had little to do with the winning of the pre-season premiership. What this win has done has realised a lot of the tension and heartache that has come from nearly 20 years of going to the well and coming up empty EVERY TIME. As an Adelaide fan it is of course a source of wonderment that Cat fans got excited about the NAB as the Crows (to their credit) have had little heartbreak of their own to speak of.

If the Crows had been without any silverware in it's history, rest assured the reaction in Adelaide (and 5aa ) would have been similar. As we (yes Geelong too) well know, the NAB cup final is only a stepping stone to the ultimate objective. But the win was a sign that at last Geelong is on the right track. The good thing about the NAB win was the list of players who weren't there rather than the list of players who were. See you in September.

regards,

REB

[MatteeG]

Great post REB!

My Geelong mates are over the moon- and rightly so (none of them have seen a flag of any sort in their LIFE)

Crows fans have had it easy- bring on more final disappointments!

[Rik E Boy]

Cheers LouteeeG. We'll see you in September as well.......in Round 22 heh heh.

regards,

REB

[Wedgie]

I hate how the paper and ignorant people claim that Geelong haven't won any silverware since 1963.
We won the VFL Premiership about 3 years ago and that's a hundred times more important than any preseason trial game.

[Booney]

I hate how the paper and ignorant people claim that Geelong haven't won any silverware since 1963.
We won the VFL Premiership about 3 years ago and that's a hundred times more important than any preseason trial game.

Type "Clutching at straws" into google,the above will be pick number 1.

[Wedgie]

Type "Clutching at straws" into google,the above will be pick number 1.

I know you're stirring me Booney but I rate SANFL and VFL flags as a much more important event than some preseason AFL comp.
The image of Tim McGrath lifting the cup will live with me for a long time.
If I wanted to clutch at straws I'd be doing somersaults over the nab cup which I'm not.

[sydney-dog]

REB

From memeory, I cant recall one side that has gone on to win the double, so I am not convinced that the NAB Cup is a strong guide that your boys will experience the ultimate success.......

I don't take nothing away from the cats win, but i think people get a little too excited about a four week knock out comp, where teams do not start on level footing, some clubs have 6-8 weeks extra preperation, others use the comp as an opportunity to blood kids, while others that are either starved for success or financial reward go full bore to win it.........

No doubt the crows would of love to win it and all credit goes to the cats but lets not kid ourselves, all clubs are measured by Sept Success and history shows that the pre-season form guide is no guide to sept action......

Most of us have picked Syd, St Kilda and Eagles in our top 5, in 12 pre-season games they won one game between them, in addition can someone tell me how many sides have done the double, won both cups in the same year, my guess not many.

Lets not kid ourselves, come Sept, when the Cats are playing in a Prelim Final, the monkey will still be there and the football public wont let him off the back of the GFC until ultimate success has been achieved

That is the harsh reality