AFL 2022

[Zzzptm]

Interesting that Spurs also play with an extra man on defense... one more similarity to work with.

Yes Sydney can bring the pressure like Collingwood does - and Sydney also seems to be vulnerable to that pressure, as well, given how they had to hold on as the Pies kept knocking down their lead.

And if they press too far forward, they'll be off-balance when Geelong launches the ball down the field - I expect more than a few big gashes from Geelong.

[Jack the Stripper]

Geelong are ranked #13 for their pressure which is quite low but their pretty much ranked #1 in all other important facets of the game. Another thing Sydney do well is they lower their eyes when kicking inside 50 rather than dump kick it in which Geelong will pick off all day. So vitally important Geelong brings extra pressure up the field to not give that Sydney player kicking inside 50 the time and space to hit up a player inside their forward 50.

Sounds like you’re leaning towards Spurs Z. Great choice.

[Jack the Stripper]

Weather should be fine for the game tomorrow. Cloudy with a top of 14c. Maybe a light shower or two early morning.

Holmes is 50/50 to play. His hamstring injury was neural rather than a tear. Hasn’t trained much at all this week but had a fitness test this morning which they say he got through. My gut feeling is they won’t take the risk and he won’t play.

Butterflies have started to kick in. I’m gonna be a nervous wreck tomorrow come game time.

[Zzzptm]

Yeah, it's the Grand Final, excitement is expected and understood!

[Jack the Stripper]

Game day has arrived. Heading off in about an hour to do the organised March to the MCG with fellow Cats supporters at 11am from Federation Square in the City. Beyond pumped!

[Zzzptm]

GO CATS

[Jack the Stripper]

We saved our Masterpiece until last

16 wins in a row

Fuck yeah CATS!

We did it Z!!!

[Zzzptm]

Ah, it wasn't a true win until Selwood got his goal in, am I right? The emotion of that one... and wasn't that the Geelong Song I heard in the stands right before he sent it in?

I popped out of bed, got my Geelong kit on and squinted hard as I went to load the video. But before doing it, I had already decided that Geelong had won, most likely in a close match. Even though there were several clues tipping that perhaps Geelong might have done rather well, nothing set me up for them being over Swans by 81.

E I G H T Y - O N E   P O I N T S ! ! !

Stengle's a great story there, for sure, but what about Danger handing his goal shot off to Jezza? Better story there, these Geelong Cats winning with such heart. It was like they were playing a massive game of footy to celebrate their win over the Pies in the first round of finals and simply couldn't tell the difference between the Lions and the Swans, they just rolled over everything in their path with exuberance and excellence.

Swans got to be in the big match after being a bottom-4 team two years ago and I know there's some agonizing in Sydney after that fell apart, but I can't join in with that. Geelong won, and I'm going to be a bit insufferable about it for the rest of the day.

 

[Jack the Stripper]

On my 5th time of watching the replay while I spent the day recovering from the day/night before.

I’ll cherish the memories of being there yesterday with my son and daughter forever

Great article
https://www.theroar.com.au/2022/09/24/afl-grand-final-focus-dads-army-wins-the-war-heres-how-chris-scotts-cats-produced-their-masterpiece/?fbclid=IwAR088Bwhw2BffmiLGNcRGyW93dpqi_JEIGzRlBYmg1v0r5rCP-lobmVIIk0

[Zzzptm]

Loved that article, thanks for the share. "Dad's Army", indeed!

Back when Geelong edged Richmond, I thought, all right, they are back to form after a rough start. Then, two weeks later when they beat the Dees by a comfortable margin, that's when I thought OH WOW THEY COULD DO IT THIS YEAR. The only close games after that were with Port Adelaide and Collingwood.

With sports medicine as it is, Tom Brady is going to be less of an outlier as athletes are able to prolong their careers, making that experience good for something more than just coaching.

[Jack the Stripper]

Speaking of Dads Army.



Traditionally AFL teams have a Mad Monday which is when a teams season is over they get together for end of season drinks on the Monday after their season is done and Geelong have made an art form out it. They started the dress up many years ago which other teams have tried to emulate but it just comes of as lame and a poor copycat which for the most part goes unnoticed unless there’s  are drunken incident. But every year at Geelongs Mad Monday a huge media throng rocks up because they know how well Geelong do it, and they didn’t disappoint this year 

Check out some photos and videos here Z. It’s Gold.

https://twitter.com/superfooty/status/1574202589692178433?s=21&t=wC_9etTAKM9er43n726JJw

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/geelong-cats/afl-grand-final-2022-geelong-cats-mad-monday-costumes-best-pictures-and-video/news-story/b2eb3da819b93c3287f1d0019825ea42

[Jack the Stripper]

Quick summary of the GF
https://www.afl.com.au/video/851884/the-cat-nobody-can-stop-shell-shocked-sydney-s-anthem-nerves?videoId=851884&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1664151213001

Just also want to point out just how amazing Geelong have been the last 20 years

The Top Four sides of the 21st Century so far in terms of wins (2001-2022)

1) Geelong - 349 wins from 522 games(four Premierships)
2) Sydney - 308 wins from 520 games(two Premierships)
3) Collingwood - 292 wins from 516 games(one Premiership)
4) Hawthorn - 283 wins from 508 games(four premierships)

Coach Chris Scott has a winning percentage of 70.3% from 286 games in 12 years of coaching Geelong. Only missed finals once. This amazing record is despite never having a draft pick better than pick #10

As their song says. They really are “The Greatest Team Of All”


Is there anyone in the NFL that has a similar record Z?

[Zzzptm]

12 seasons and over 70% wins, you're looking at guys like George Halas from the pre-Super Bowl era and Don Shula from more recent years. Bill Belichick is sitting at .667 and Andy Reid at .634. Lombardi and Madden have the %, if not quite the seasons. Coach Scott is in a thin crowd of coaches for sure!

100% LOVE the Mad Monday photos, I was already a fan, now I love 'em off the field, as well.

[Zzzptm]

Gonna need one for Jezza!

[Jack the Stripper]

^And Stengle 


So our fearless leader hung up the boots today 


Joel Selwood is a true legend of the Geelong Football Club and Australian rules football.

– 355 games(club record)
– 175 goals
– 4x premiership player(Most of any Cats player)
– 1x premiership captain
– 6x All-Australian(3x as Captain)
– 3x Best & Fairest
– 1x AFL Rising Star(aka Rookie of the year)
– 4x AFL most courageous player
– No.1 most games as captain by any player in the history of the game(245)
– No.1 most wins as captain
– No.1 most finals played of any player(40)
– No.1 winning % of any player in the history of the game(72.96%)

Won a flag in his first and last year

Sums him up as a person
https://twitter.com/afl/status/1573622288192192513?s=21&t=Itde5SeYeW4bftkKvvQ_5A

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/geelong-cats/afl-grand-final-2022-geelong-cats-mad-monday-costumes-best-pictures-and-video/news-story/13dab4cd53ca41fe14bd34924de8b755?fbclid=IwAR03hZm_DPz1uGIKIsBTpl0oJMz2wZKVF_gtqDIpQvrFAfHHtCqMrOgXklY