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Post by hoskotafe3 on Aug 20, 2021 18:33:32 GMT
Some important games in the NRL today. Winner of Sharks/ Tigers will join the log jam of teams on 20 points. Knights need only account for the woeful Bulldogs to all but ensure a finals spot and we'll learn just how bad (or not) Parramatta are atm when they play the Cowboys.
Such an important win for Manly yesterday to keep them in touch with the 4. Penrith silenced anyone doubting their credentials as the #2 seed. The #1 seed, of course, just keeps rolling on. Titans are much improved on their mid season form though.
In the AFL today the minor premiership will be decided, Brisbane will have the chance to move to 4th by beating West Coast and GWS can seal a finals spot against Carlton.
Last night's Bulldogs loss was the biggest sporting fuck up since England on Tuesday morning. 15 points up with 8 minutes to go against an opponent who had been aiming for the side of their Grandad's barn, and missing it, all night? Almost every other team in the top 8 knows their way home from there. Not this lot. That's three straight losses now, the first two to Essendon and Hawthorn. If they do end up playing Essendon in an Elimination Final the Dons could well be looking at their first finals win since 2004.
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Aug 21, 2021 20:38:26 GMT
So Parramatta righted their season slightly, Newcastle scored a far from impressive win over the Bulldogs and Cronulla joined the 20 point log jam.
In the meantime the AFL is having an insanely absorbing round. Richmond scored 5 goals in 5 minutes to draw with Hawthorn with retiring Shaun Burgoyne just failing to save the last goal. GWS came from 13 behind to defeat Carlton and seal a finals berth. Brisbane rushed a behind with 15s left to leap frog the Bulldogs into 4th while Melbourne,who had trailed by 44 points, left it even later to seal the minor premiership: their skipper Max Gawn goaling after the siren to win the game.
So Melbourne host Brisbane, Port host Geelong, Sydney play GWS and Bulldogs play either Essendon or Fremantle.
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Post by weststigersbob on Aug 22, 2021 2:53:31 GMT
Tigers suck. That is all.
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Aug 22, 2021 21:30:33 GMT
Dragons showed a bit of fight after a poor start and then gave everyone a tribute show of the poor start towards the end. That Tupou's a brute isn't he? Just crashed into Ravalawa like he was nothing.
AFL trying to butter up Tassie with two finals first week. Premier's already made it clear that all their sports funding to the AFL is going to the new NBL team and the Hurricanes, which means no millions of dollars into North's coffers which will put the Kangas into a similar annual loss situation to St Kilda (3-5 million). Everyone knows there's two too many teams in Melbourne and it's pretty obvious which two need to go and Tassie has no interest in a relocated team. If North end up not existing I have zero sympathy for them. They should have relocated to the Gold Coast more than a decade ago.
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Aug 25, 2021 22:41:22 GMT
Fifita put on the bench for the Titans. GC trying to steel themselves for two big weeks.
AFL HOF last night. Chris Judd the headliner. What a freak that man was in his prime. I always put him in a combo with Adam Goodes as the best two players of the early 00s. I remember Salter having an irrational hatred for Juddy after he left Perth following the Meth Coast/ West Coke years.
Two legends of leagues that aren't the VFL were elevated to Legends Status: WAFL Legend Mervyn McIntosh and 10×SANFL Premiership coach (not a single one of those 10 with Port) Jack Oatey.
Nathan Burke was also inducted. Haven't heard of the other two.
And as much as I've hated his commentary over many years I do wish Brian Taylor all the best in recovery from a gas explosion in his house.
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Post by weststigersbob on Aug 26, 2021 15:46:46 GMT
Newcastle win a thriller 15-14 over Gold Coast. Unlucky for the Titans. Pretty decent game. I don’t think Parra will be looking forward to playing Newcastle, specifically Kalyn Ponga, in Wk1 of the finals at all.
The COVID matchup of the year. Swans v Giants, two Sydney teams, in an elimination final. In Launceston, Tasmania. Who’dve thunk it ?
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Aug 26, 2021 20:46:01 GMT
Newcastle win a thriller 15-14 over Gold Coast. Unlucky for the Titans. Pretty decent game. I don’t think Parra will be looking forward to playing Newcastle, specifically Kalyn Ponga, in Wk1 of the finals at all. The COVID matchup of the year. Swans v Giants, two Sydney teams, in an elimination final. In Launceston, Tasmania. Who’dve thunk it ? We might also see Essendon win their first final in 17 years, against another Melbourne team, at the same venue. I'm not game to make any predictions at all on what might happen Week one. Port are the only team with an actual home game so they should win. The other three are a deadset lottery IMO. Titans will be hoping for wins to the Broncos and Warriors this weekend. Game of the round is Rabbitohs v Roosters.
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Aug 26, 2021 20:58:04 GMT
And I should talk about a fucking joke Carlton are with the amateurish way they've handled David Teague's departure. Clarkson was never going to coach next year and the board didn't bother discussing Ross Lyon coming in so it came as a surprise when Lyon publicly put his hand up. Half of the board then came out against it, so he's unlikely to get the job.
Then they have Teague conduct exit interviews with the playing list in spite of him being in no position to make calls on anyone's futures. And then 2 days after these interviews (which likely would have consisted of G'day, how you reckon you went this year, any tips for the horses this weekend?) they sack him.
Why the hell would anyone experienced want to coach at such a shambolic hellscape? So they're back on the treadmill again. As one meme said this morning "Bad times are over Carlton fans! Now come Worse times."
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Post by weststigersbob on Aug 27, 2021 4:07:58 GMT
As a Wests Tigers fan, I feel for Carlton fans with the shambolic management they have. You’re right though - who in their right mind would want to go there ?
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Aug 27, 2021 12:34:53 GMT
Two pastings in the big games tonight. Souths put 54 up on the Roosters. With 20 minutes left it was 24-12!
Port easily accounted for a very poor Geelong. Off season recruits Aliir Aliir (7 marks) and Orazio Fantasia (4 goals) starred, but there were no bad players for Port. Geelong had few winners. Duncan and Henry in the back half. Danger and Selwood were very quiet. They're a real risk of going out in straight sets.
In the early game the Warriors led most of the way against Canberra but got over run late to go down 28-16. Big win for the Raiders, who move to 8th with that result. Sharks should take it off them as they're playing Brisbane tomorrow.
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Aug 28, 2021 8:01:00 GMT
Dragons just don't know how to win games at the moment.
Absolute ripper in the AFL: The Gints outlasting the Swans by 1 point. Toby Greene deliberately shouldered an umpire in the 3/4 time break. As great a player as he is the man's a jackass and will likely be missing more games.
On the stupidity late in the Roosters v Souths game: never happens in a knife edge game only in blow-outs. Lately Mitchell is a moron. When Gagai told the ref "You must be fucking joking," I thought it was a fair comment.
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Aug 28, 2021 11:30:50 GMT
Major upset in the NRL. Right when we thought it was a fait accompli that Parramatta would finish 6th, they snap Melbourne's record equalling winning streak and will move ahead of the Roosters, and ahead on Manly for now.
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Post by weststigersbob on Aug 28, 2021 15:09:56 GMT
Incredible showing by Parramatta. Got a sniff against Melbourne and just tackled their way to victory.
In the AFL - surely it’s the Dees to lose from here. As I heard on the radio on my way to work, there’s a sense of destiny about them.
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Aug 28, 2021 20:10:43 GMT
Incredible showing by Parramatta. Got a sniff against Melbourne and just tackled their way to victory. In the AFL - surely it’s the Dees to lose from here. As I heard on the radio on my way to work, there’s a sense of destiny about them. I'll see your Melbourne's "sense of destiny" and raise you Port's "close last year, better this year," but yes, very hard to see anyone else winning it aside from those two. Never forget it's a Melbourne-centric league and commentariat. And Parra will have to do it all again next week against Penrith or hope the Raiders can beat the Roosters or they'll be right back where they started in 6th. Manly have the Bulldogs and Cowboys to come. Looking at the fight for 8th: Sharks play Melbourne, Raiders v Roosters and Titans v Warriors. GC will need a 30 point win and the favourites to get up.
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Aug 29, 2021 0:42:36 GMT
There's a parallel dimension somewhere where Geelong beat Melbourne last week, easily accounted for Brisbane last night and are in the box seat for the premiership, while Melbourne lost away to Port in week one and look a mile off the pace. Very thin margins.
Not as thin as 1964. With less than 30s left in the last Home and Away game of the season Hawthorn led Melbourne by 3 points. The live ladder showed Hawthorn top on 54 points, Collingwood, Essendon and Geelong all on 52, and Melbourne on 50 points and out of the finals. Hassa Mann kicked a freakish goal, Melbourne went top and the defending premiers Hawthorn were out. Melbourne won the premiership that year.
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Aug 31, 2021 7:21:56 GMT
Pies have a new coach: 3x Lion Premiership player Craig McRae. Been in the system for a long time. Sure he knows what he's doing. Carlton remain a shambles interviewing head hunting a new CEO without informing the current one their job's in jeopardy. Apparently trying to get someone in the CEO chair who can tempt Clarkson. Why the hell Clarkson would go there I have no idea.
Latrell copped his 6 week ban. Wise decision. No chance of getting off and 9 weeks would eat significantly into next year. Toby Greene got 3, but I'd be very surprised if the AFL didn't appeal given they wanted 6.
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Sept 1, 2021 18:43:01 GMT
Raiders need to beat the Roosters tonight to be any chance of play finals. If they lose they'll need the Titans to lose to the Warriors and the Storm to beat the Sharks by 48+ whatever Canberra loses by.
Storm are resting some stars.
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Sept 2, 2021 18:23:09 GMT
Raiders bow out. Thrashed by Roosters. Lyon bows out of Carlton schemozzle. Blues still think they can get Clarkson. Also spoken to Brad Scott and Nathan Buckley.
Win and in for Cronulla tonight against an undermanned Melbourne. If they lose Gold Coast had a 24 point differential to turn around and are playing the Warriors.
Parra are apparently happy with 6th, putting out their reserves team to play Penrith. Sportsbet is offering $11 for the Eels in a two horse race.
Cats should thrash GWS tonight. Heads will roll if they lose that one.
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Sept 3, 2021 11:05:53 GMT
Titans will need to win by 12 tomorrow. If you took Parra at $11 you'd be feeling a sneaky chance at half time with Panthers only leading by 6.
Hogan's last minute injury really cruelling the Gints chances here. Playing all right in defence and the midfield but nothing to kick it to going forward.
There'll be conspiracy theories about piped crowd noises for GWS. I think it's as simple as a decent percentage of the WA crowd cheering against the Victorian team. I'm reasonably sure that if the grand final is Port vs a Victorian team it will sound like a West Coast home game for Port.
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Sept 4, 2021 22:11:44 GMT
Wonderful game last night with a brilliant finish as the Bulldogs knocked off Brisbane by 1 point.
So we end up back where we were 3 weeks ago with Melbourne v Geelong and Port v Bulldogs for our prelims. If either game is near as tight as Rd 23 it's going to be a fun couple of games.
St George were horrible. Absolutely horrible. And then randomly scored 3 tries while Maguire was in the bin to only lose by 4. Manly waited pretty late to run away from the Cowboys 46-18. Sealed a spot in the top 4.
There's some too clever by half nonsense going around that you'd rather finish 5th then 4th. This is BS. If nothing else you get a far easier semi final match up if you finish top 4. If Parra beat Newcastle they then have to play Penrith or Souths. Not a very clever theory...
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