AFL 2023
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I don't know what the fuck happened at Carlton. They sucked, and their coach was getting sacked. They couldn't score, and they were out of finals contention
Then they got handed Gold Coast on one of their frequent off days, pumped them, then used the bye to sort their shit out. They've had a soft draw for the last couple of months, but they have also beaten the top 2 sides. And they are kicking scores.
In this weird fucking season the odds are probably the same for them making the GF or finishing 9th.
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@mariner4life said in AFL 2023:
Buddy retires. Sad end, probably played a year too long.
A true great of the game, and that contract was worth every penny for Sydney despite no flags.
The scenes when he kicked his 1,000th goal were awesome.
2 Flags
4 Colemans
8 All Australians
Goal of the year twice.Freak
sad when things peter out like this, deserved to sign off after a finals run yeah, probably should have done it after the GF last year, i think a GF and his 1000 goal last year revived a bit of passion his body just coulnd't back up
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@mariner4life said in AFL 2023:
I don't know what the fuck happened at Carlton. They sucked, and their coach was getting sacked. They couldn't score, and they were out of finals contention
Then they got handed Gold Coast on one of their frequent off days, pumped them, then used the bye to sort their shit out. They've had a soft draw for the last couple of months, but they have also beaten the top 2 sides. And they are kicking scores.
In this weird fucking season the odds are probably the same for them making the GF or finishing 9th.
I don't think they were as bad as the losing streak suggested. Their accuracy in front of goal was atrocious, and all that needed was a slight boost to get things moving. And their defence has really improved, as well as their tackling and intensity around the contest.
The talent was there, and finishing 12th or worse would be a huge underperformance. So it's nice to see them on a run, but it's also where they should have been all along I think.
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@barbarian I don’t know, during that run of losses they had absolutely no speed across halfback and the midfield.
They have found a new gear and their confidence with a guy kicking bags has been contagious.
Not a huge Blues fan but I’ve always liked Vossy
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this season is either amazing or retarded, i can't work out which
Collingwood lose to Hawthorn but stay top
Port lose to the Cats and fall to 4th
Brisbane sneak past Freo to stay 3rd
Melbourne forced to work v North but win and jump to 2ndGold Coast and Richmond drop out of finals contention
Sydney jump back in to contention by winning v GWS
Carlton cement 5th by getting past the SaintsFinals should be pretty fucking good, i can't see anyone running rough-shod over everyone else this year.
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its awesome, so many teams still in contention this late in the season and even if not in the running for finals...almost anyone can scrape a win over anyone else....about as far from a procession as can be
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watching the Lions last night was painful! goal for goal in the 4th, and we were never comfortable. Every friggen week is like that.
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I wonder if Collingwood are going to suffer a similar fate to what Melbourne did last year. Red hot first three months, then gradually run out of steam as injuries take their toll.
No idea who wins the flag but I think Melbourne probably look the most stable at this point in time. I'm skeptical about Brisbane and Port.
Weirdly Carlton look red hot, was a really good win vs St Kilda after looking pretty out of it in the second quarter. I'm starting to think they might not fck this one up completely. Because at their best they can beat anyone.
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this year finishing in the 5th-8th bracket may not matter, it's so even you can easily win that extra game. The issue is, they've had to go on an extended run of form to get this far, and that's generally not ideal prep for September.
Even i don't believe in the Lions, unless the prelim and the GF get moved the 'gabba we're no fucking hope. We're hanging around because everyone else is as flawed as we are.
Melbourne have elite talent, and i would not be shocked to see them as the top dogs at the end of the season.
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Cotchin retires, not surprising now that Richmond are done for the year
I expect Jack Riewoldt to follow.
Dusty surly won't be far behind, unless he has a semi-retirement at the Suns first.
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few club stalwarts going this year, the retirement parade for the GF will have some guns
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There are a few near the end , grimes and vlastun won’t be far behind .
As a supporter I like how they let them go out as one club players if that’s was their choice , I know a few hawks supporters who didn’t enjoy Clarkson moving theirs on .
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personally i loved it as it got my favourite player to the Lions
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with 3 games to go, this weekend is pretty big
Tonight Cats v Pies. Geelong lose they are gone. Geelong win and the Pies are looking very shakey
Sydney have to beat the Suns or they are gone
Brisbane hosting Adelaide. Crows lose and they are gone. Brisbane have to win to keep top 2 hopes alive (their only hope of doing anything this post-season)
Carlton v Melbourne. Carlton to prove they are legit against the current form team, Melbourne are hunting top spot
Saints and Bulldogs have tough games that they have to win
Port v GWS must-win for both.State of play will be a lot clearer Monday morning
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i did read an interesting theory that the top 4 are in a slump at the moment as they are in the middle of a huge "preseason" training load for the run to finals.
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I love that one, because it's always rolled out when a team has a few losses. Wallabies have been using it lately.
It's a lovely thought as a losing fan, to think these games are being deliberately sacrificed to obtain greater riches down the track.
'Actually, winning these games is the sucker play. The true smart operators lose, and have their momentum grind to a halt right before finals/the World Cup'.
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i don't understand elite sport enough to know if it's even a real thing. I always imagined early wins allowed a certain amount of freedom at the back end, and training loads to be real.
If it is true, then i expect this weekend the top 4 to be flying again, as you wouldn't want to wait too long to build your momentum. If it's bullshit it will be very easy to tell.
