AFL 2022

[Zzzptm]

WOW Brisbane fought like, well... LIONS and came out with a win to knock Melbourne from the finals competition. I still say Geelong can do the job next week.

[Zzzptm]

Dockers gave up another early lead like they did against Western Bulldogs, but the Pies are not ones to let those leads erode. Pies had it all the way through, very dominant in their play. Well done Collingwood.

Collingwood-Sydney, I'll go with the Swans, and it'll be a tough match. Very excited for the next round of finals.

[Jack the Stripper]

Freo couldn’t handle Collingwoods heat, and their slow kick mark possession style footy only played in Collingwoods hands.

Brisbane will not be an easy opponent for Geelong, they have a lot of weapons and are full of confidence atm and recent games against them have been close affairs.

Same for Sydney, Collingwoods pressure is elite right now and they’re ball movement is quicker than anyone’s.

Both games could go either way.

[Zzzptm]

Well I shall have my Geelong jersey on Friday when I watch the replay of the match. No spoilers!

[Jack the Stripper]

Wow Z! You’re all in.

I love that you have taken to our unique game. Do you think you’re right across rules and fundamentals now? And what is it you enjoy about AFL the most?

I might sound biased but I think it’s one of the most skilful games played by the fittest athletes of any football code in the world.

[Zzzptm]

Oh yeah, no question I got the game understood. I even explain it to people here in North America and spell out how it's *not* "just like rugby". Show 'em a speccy and they immediately realize this is a truly different sort of beast, and the action is fantastic.

Best part of the game for me is when someone makes a mark. Whether the guy is clean and away with no opponent for miles around or it's in the middle of traffic, something about that catch is just great to watch. Next up is when players make unselfish passes in order to improve chances of making a shot. Sure, you got a pretty good chance of making it where you are, say, but if you handball it over to your mate on the right, your team has a sure thing. Love to see plays like that.

[Zzzptm]

Just saw the match... such a disappointment...

For Brisbane.

Wow, it was only close at the start, owing to the fact that both teams start with 0 points. I did not expect Brisbane to run out of gas and have to push it to the side of the road and wait for a tow truck. Geelong, meanwhile, decided to have a goal derby, pretty much half the team taking a turn making 6 points. Brisbane had terrible production on their inside 50s and poor performance on disposals. Geelong stayed close to their season averages on contested and uncontested marks, Brisbane just fell down on those numbers, no where near their season averages. 71 point smashup by the end of it all and the Cats are through to the final.

[Jack the Stripper]

Just got home from the game. Was a destroyation after 1/4 time by the Cats. Danger had his best game for the season and the defence was unbelievable all night. Just a great all round performance really.

Only dampener on the win was that it looks like Holmes has done his hamstring and will miss next week. Feel gutted him. He’s been playing so well and has become such an important player for us in the 2nd half of the season with his speed and endurance. Hoping for a miracle and he can get up to play.

[Zzzptm]

I'd love for all the Cats to be healthy come the final game. Hoping for Holmes.

And the Cats' defense... WOW... complete in the way they shut down practically everything the Lions threw at them.

Loved seeing Danger get 2.

[Jack the Stripper]

So my beloved Geelong Cats will play the Sydney Swans in the grand final on Saturday.

Expecting a fierce hotly contested and very tight game with both teams in ripping form, Geelong having won 15 games in a row and Sydney 9 in a row. We really do have the two best teams of the season playing off.

Surprisingly, they’ve have never played off in a grand final against each other before, even when the Swans were South Melbourne for 100 years before relocating to Sydney in 1982.

Was lucky enough to score great seats to the game and are very excited to be taking my son and daughter which will be my 8th grand final attended for hopefully my 4th win.

Hope you can find somewhere to catch it live Z.

[Zzzptm]

Starts at 11:30PM my time on Friday, but I'm sick right now, so I'll likely have to pick it up Saturday morning.

But I'm stoked for the Cats and a ripping good competition!

[Jack the Stripper]

And this is what they’re playing for
https://www.afl.com.au/video/847285/a-brief-history-of-the-afl-premiership-cup?videoId=847285&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1663630683001

[Zzzptm]

Great film, hoping Danger gets to hoist the cup in a few days!

[Zzzptm]

I liked Riles Macca back when he was posting excellent edits of recent games, but kept following him for his really strong commentary after the AFL told him to take down his edited match recaps. He got them up faster and better and was taking eyes away from the AFL's own channel.

Anyway, I really enjoy his breakdown of things and he makes a good point about the final in his pre-game analysis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKlc0puwCtc

Geelong's kryptonite is opponent pressure. Sydney is ready to play a high-pressure game, so this Grand Final should be a game that goes down to the last seconds, and that's exciting. Thing is, though, he's also right in saying that Sydney has to do everything right to win - everything. Geelong will be taking advantage of every Swans mistake. The game is going to be won in the midfield battles, I believe.

[Jack the Stripper]

Yep Sydney is the no 1 pressure side in the comp. Really important Geelong cope with it and stay with them like they did Collingwood(who were the no 2 pressure side in the comp) and finish over the top of them. Be interesting to see what Sydney do with Geelongs spare player in defence. Geelong like to have one less player at the stoppage to have a spare behind the ball. Sydney will have to make a decision to man up the spare behind the ball or go with the extra player at the stoppage. I think they might choose to man the spare as a big part of Geelongs game is having the intercept player in defence and launching their attacks off half back.