AFANA Footy BBS

Despite the kicking innacuracies on both sides, it was the best Grand Final I have ever seen.

I just wish Fox would have shown more of the pregame entertainment. I really missed hearing Waltzing Matilda before the game.

Sunday
25 Sept 05
10:19 p.m. CDT

I finally got the watch the tape on Sunday afternoon after listening to the game on with Rex Hunt, Clinton Grybas, Garry Lyon and Gerard Healy on 3AW via the internet.
I thought 2 WCE clangers in the first quarter really turned the tide in favor of the Swans. Poster by Michael Gardiner and out on the full by Daniel Chick (both at or near the goal square) killed all the momentum that Judd tried to bring about. Then Drew Banfield's poster didn't help any comeback.
The Norm Smith was probably already voted on before Leaping Leo's mark at the siren. If Staker would have marked instead, he probably would have hit the woodwork after the siren.
It was a good game, just makes me think that if Nick Davis wouldn't have had his miracle fourth quarter vs. Geelong, that could have been my Catters with the cup. I still haven't got to watch Sydney-Geelong to see those goals by Davis, been busy. I have it on tape, hope to watch it this week.
BTW, congrats to KC Swan. Your boys won it, nobody elses did.
BBay

> The Norm Smith was probably already voted on before

> Leaping Leo's mark at the siren.



And a good thing too. I would have hated to see Leo handed the medal as a reward for that one play. Judd earned it, and congratulations to him for it.



> If Staker would have marked instead, he probably would

> have hit the woodwork after

> the siren.



I was begging somebody to wake up the timekeeper so he could blow the siren. I knew, with all my heart, that the Eagles were going to kick the game winner after the siren. When Leo took that mark, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I was sure that I was going to see an official come running in, penalize somebody for a push in the back, and award a free kick for the game winner.



And not because I suspect some umpire conspiracy behind the tendency for the Swans to give up many more frees than they received. I think it is true that both Plugger and Barry Hall have been victimized in Sydney by a subconcious belief that big men can take care of themselves. But the frees at that end of the field tend to come about because the Swans often find themselves at a height disadvantage. Add in that desperate men do desperate things.



Plus, after all these years for the Swans... Plus I'm a Royals fan; what have I had to believe in since '85... Plus I'm a Chiefs fan; the Indianapolis Colts have won more playoff games in Arrowhead than the Chiefs have...



> It was a good game, just makes me think that if Nick Davis wouldn't have had his

> miracle fourth quarter vs. Geelong, that could have been my Catters with the cup.



There was a stretch when I was wishing all the Abletts were in Geelong.

  -- Red&White "KC Swan" Lipp 

> Sunday
> 25 Sept 05
> 10:19 p.m. CDT

> I finally got the watch the tape on Sunday afternoon after listening to the game on
> with Rex Hunt, Clinton Grybas, Garry Lyon and Gerard Healy on 3AW via the internet.
> I thought 2 WCE clangers in the first quarter really turned the tide in favor of the
> Swans. Poster by Michael Gardiner and out on the full by Daniel Chick (both at or
> near the goal square) killed all the momentum that Judd tried to bring about. Then
> Drew Banfield's poster didn't help any comeback.
> The Norm Smith was probably already voted on before Leaping Leo's mark at the siren.
> If Staker would have marked instead, he probably would have hit the woodwork after
> the siren.
> It was a good game, just makes me think that if Nick Davis wouldn't have had his
> miracle fourth quarter vs. Geelong, that could have been my Catters with the cup. I
> still haven't got to watch Sydney-Geelong to see those goals by Davis, been busy. I
> have it on tape, hope to watch it this week.
> BTW, congrats to KC Swan. Your boys won it, nobody elses did.
> BBay

I've got to agree with you. All of those behinds and full misses really hurt West Coast (granted Sydney had theirs later in the game). If half of those would've been goals the whole tempo of the game changes and maybe the Swans get themselves in more trouble trying to stay within reach. It just seems though that Sydney got better throughout the Finals at toughing it out in close matches. When the games got 'dirty', so to say (not implying anything un-sportsmanlike), Sydney was able to man up and take advantage of those fleeting opportunites to kick the goals they needed. Throughout the season West Coast played wide open creating big leads by using most of the field to space it out and get those good fast paced runs at the goal. They were used to having large leads and being in a close match really got to them I think. So often they would open up that 4-5 goal lead and just sit back and watch the opposing side make desparate mistakes trying to catch up while getting more goals because of it. Sydney didn't do that. If I could compare the 2 teams in any way it would be the difference between a boxer and a wrestler. West Coast liking to keep their distance and then strike fast while Sydney would work on you up close and personal. Wearing you down and then exploiting it. Of course this is just my observations and I am a newbie.....

> I just wish Fox would have shown more of the pregame entertainment. I really missed
> hearing Waltzing Matilda before the game.

You and every fan who agrees with you should let the AFL and FSC know that. It was greatly disappointing that FSC choose to skip most of the pregame entertainment. A real insult to fans here. Something we want the AFL to keep in mind as they negotiate future coverage.

-Rob de Santos
AFANA Chairman

AFANA TV page