AFANA Footy BBS

I enjoy he NFL here in the States but I usually skip the preseason and wait for the first "real" game. Not only are the preseason games full of no name players (most starters are rested), but the preseason seems to have no bearing whatsoever on the outcome of the official season.

So being an Eagles fan, while it is great to see them whipping it up preseason, will it give any indication of how they will do in the regular season? Any historical data from the last few years?

One early predicition for the Eagles (from my limited point of view), would be - with a healthy Ruckman Gardenier would be a top 4 finish, without would be a 5-10 finish.

Nice to see good old Carlton dig themselves out of the hole they used to be in!

Any thoughts?

Bill

You're probably right and it is the wrong end of the season to be in form.

However, having said that I am an Eagles fan as well and I am going to enjoy it while I can. I just bought tickets for my 9yo son and myself to be at Telstra Dome on Saturday night. It is only his second live game after I took him there a couple of years ago to watch the Eagles down the Pies.

Lets hope when we're in Utah in September the Eagles will be at the MCG.

Stretch

> I enjoy he NFL here in the States but I usually skip the preseason and wait for the
> first "real" game. Not only are the preseason games full of no name
> players (most starters are rested), but the preseason seems to have no bearing
> whatsoever on the outcome of the official season.

> So being an Eagles fan, while it is great to see them whipping it up preseason, will
> it give any indication of how they will do in the regular season? Any historical
> data from the last few years?

> One early predicition for the Eagles (from my limited point of view), would be -
> with a healthy Ruckman Gardenier would be a top 4 finish, without would be a 5-10
> finish.

> Nice to see good old Carlton dig themselves out of the hole they used to be in!

> Any thoughts?

> Bill

> So being an Eagles fan, while it is great to see them whipping it up preseason, will
> it give any indication of how they will do in the regular season? Any historical
> data from the last few years?

I did a quick search for the last three years.

• 2004
  
  • Wizard GF: St.Kilda def Geelong
    
  • St. Kilda: 3rd on final ladder
    
  • Geelong: 4th on final ladder
  
  
• 2003
  
  • Wizard GF: Adelaide def Collingwood
    
  • Adelaide: 6th on final ladder
    
  • Collingwood: 2nd on final ladder
  
  
• 2002
  
  • Wizard GF: Port Adelaide def Richmond
    
  • Port Adelaide: 1st on final ladder
    
  • Richmond: 14th on final ladder
  
  

  -- RW "KC Swan" Lipp

> I enjoy he NFL here in the States but I usually skip the preseason and wait for the
> first "real" game. Not only are the preseason games full of no name
> players (most starters are rested), but the preseason seems to have no bearing
> whatsoever on the outcome of the official season.

> So being an Eagles fan, while it is great to see them whipping it up preseason, will
> it give any indication of how they will do in the regular season? Any historical
> data from the last few years?

> One early predicition for the Eagles (from my limited point of view), would be -
> with a healthy Ruckman Gardenier would be a top 4 finish, without would be a 5-10
> finish.

> Nice to see good old Carlton dig themselves out of the hole they used to be in!

> Any thoughts?

> Bill

Hi Bill -
I have to disagree in part on your opinion regarding the preseason. For one thing, it gives teams a chance to have a serious hitout before the season proper, as well as giving coaches a chance to try out new players - be they draftees or acquisitions from other clubs. Then there is the prizemoney for those who advance in the Cup comp - over $200,000. For clubs who need money - like Carlton - this is a serious injection of cash. Not only that, clubs that do well in the Wizard Cup also have a chance to boost memnbership sales, which is another source of revenue.
As for the Eagles, they are in redhot form and always seem to do better when Gardiner is out on the paddock. They should be serious finals contenders this year, but their finals record in Melbourne - barring their premierships in 1992 and 1994 - is crap.
As a Carlton supporter, I am ecstatic to see my boys in a final of any kind again and I would love to see them take home the cup. It would be a major morale and confidence boost heading into the season proper.

Lisa Albergo
AFANA

>
>
> I did a quick search for the last three years.
>

• 2004
  >
  • Wizard GF: St.Kilda def Geelong
    >
  • St. Kilda: 3rd on final ladder
    >
  • Geelong: 4th on final ladder
  
  >
• 2003
  >
  • Wizard GF: Adelaide def Collingwood
    >
  • Adelaide: 6th on final ladder
    >
  • Collingwood: 2nd on final ladder
  
  >
• 2002
  >
  • Wizard GF: Port Adelaide def Richmond
    >
  • Port Adelaide: 1st on final ladder
    >
  • Richmond: 14th on final ladder
  
  >

Hi Lisa.
Just to clarify my point about preseason, I was talking about the NFL here in the States. While I am sure it is extremely important for the coach and players trying to make it into the NFL, the rest of the team is just trying to stay healthy and avoid injury. It makes the NFL preseason extremely boring from a fan's point of view.

As for the AFL, I see the Eagles rotating star players in/out each week, again trying to avoid injuries. Hopefully they will field a full side for the final. I have not lived in Perth for the past 12 years, but back then the preseason really was not considered very important (I can't even remember a preseason). It seems the Wizard Cup has lifted things quite a bit.

>They should be serious finals contenders this year,
> but their finals record in Melbourne - barring their premierships in 1992 and 1994 -
> is crap.

Don't even get me started on the topic of the infamous MCG final games, where the Eagles were robbed TWICE, having to play in Melbourne, even though they had the higher ladder position - where is my Valium when I need it!!!

Thanks for the review of the past few seasons guys.

May the best team win Lisa (even if has to be played in Melbourne)

> Hi Bill -
> I have to disagree in part on your opinion regarding the preseason. For one thing,
> it gives teams a chance to have a serious hitout before the season proper, as well
> as giving coaches a chance to try out new players - be they draftees or acquisitions
> from other clubs. Then there is the prizemoney for those who advance in the Cup comp
> - over $200,000. For clubs who need money - like Carlton - this is a serious
> injection of cash. Not only that, clubs that do well in the Wizard Cup also have a
> chance to boost memnbership sales, which is another source of revenue.
> As for the Eagles, they are in redhot form and always seem to do better when
> Gardiner is out on the paddock. They should be serious finals contenders this year,
> but their finals record in Melbourne - barring their premierships in 1992 and 1994 -
> is crap.
> As a Carlton supporter, I am ecstatic to see my boys in a final of any kind again
> and I would love to see them take home the cup. It would be a major morale and
> confidence boost heading into the season proper.

> Lisa Albergo
> AFANA

> Hi Lisa.
> Just to clarify my point about preseason, I was talking about the NFL here in the
> States. While I am sure it is extremely important for the coach and players trying
> to make it into the NFL, the rest of the team is just trying to stay healthy and
> avoid injury. It makes the NFL preseason extremely boring from a fan's point of
> view.

> As for the AFL, I see the Eagles rotating star players in/out each week, again
> trying to avoid injuries. Hopefully they will field a full side for the final. I
> have not lived in Perth for the past 12 years, but back then the preseason really
> was not considered very important (I can't even remember a preseason). It seems the
> Wizard Cup has lifted things quite a bit.

> Don't even get me started on the topic of the infamous MCG final games, where the
> Eagles were robbed TWICE, having to play in Melbourne, even though they had the
> higher ladder position - where is my Valium when I need it!!!

> Thanks for the review of the past few seasons guys.

> May the best team win Lisa (even if has to be played in Melbourne)

hi Bill -

Yeah, Woosha has been rotating players through the middle, but that seems to be the MO for most teams these days with the speed of the game making it a very tough ask for a midfielder to run out an entire game, unless they are superfit like Judd, Crawford, and a few others.
As for the Eagles and finals in Melbourne, blame the AFL for not having the foresight to see a time when interstate teams would be serious contenders and signing that deal with the MCC. You can also blame the MCC for their intransgience on the issue.
GO BLUES!!
Lisa

Sounds like it was a good match with plenty of interest for a preseason game/final.

Congrats to your boys Lisa.

Bill

> Sounds like it was a good match with plenty of interest for a preseason game/final.

> Congrats to your boys Lisa.

> Bill

Hi Bill -
thanks, and it was a great match, got up at 2AM to listen.
If they keep and show that sort of form during the season, they could see finals action.
Lisa