^Well hopefully your players will still feuding with each other off the field and remember what happened in your last home final!

Seriously though the Crows are looking good, the Eagles are back on track and Sydney has quitely gone about its business and is now fourth. The Victorian teams are indeed in a spot of bother.

Yes gone are the days of Victorian supremacay in the world of Australian Rules Football.

And anyway i think Niel Craig (one of the best coaches in the business) will be strong enough to keep tensions off the field.

And he will be good enough to win the coming showdown with Port Adelaide by at least forty points.

Gone are the days where the victorians played in victoria

If we had only a couple of teams, instead of the heap we currently do, we would be much stronger, however... the weaker clubs drag the others down, by taking the draftpicks and splitting the best players in the state amongst a heap of teams, unlike the other states who have very little competition.

.... Fitzroy would beat port at the moment

Anyhow, collingwood just couldn't get over the line... but comeing within a kick of the league leaders on their turf, and only a couple of kicks away from west coast in subi, is no mean feat

Freo FTW!

Damn straight, I could beat Port Adelaide and i have a broken arm.

It serves them right though for trying to usurp the strength of the Great Crows,

Now all sing with me:

a 1, 2, 3

We're the pride of South Australia
We're the mighty Adelaide Crows
We're courageous, stronger, faster
And respected by our foes
Admiration of the nation
Our determination shows
We're the pride of South Australia
We're the mighty Adelaide Crows

(Second Verse)
We give our best from coast to coast
Where the story will be told
As we fight the ruggered battle
The flag will be our own
Our skill and nerve will see us through
Our commitment ever grows
We're the pride of South Australia
We're the mighty Adelaide Crows


Ps Whats a scot doing discussing Aussie rules

Who says I'm a scot? Im a melbourne boy, born and bred... I just happen to live in Scotland

And I will never sing that song, unless at football park.. and wanting to get out alive...

Boo Hiss to all Victorian Football Supporters

Go the crows, and if they can't do it at least West Coast or Sydney will beat the Vics.

Chalk another one up for the Bloods, hopefully.

lol.... Such faith in non victorian teams.... Anyone would think your upset about having your state beg the AFL for an entry because the victorian competion was so much better...

Did you see the slaughter of the Brisbaine lions Sub? Like wow

Vic Contest was so much better????????

We joined because we wanted to teach you the REAL way to play AFL



We saw you playing and thought Hm that looks easy and in went the Crows, then we made a mistake and allowed the Port Power Weenies to join.

Its called AAMI Stadium in this day and age. Football Park is just SO last century.

Look at the Dockers go, I bet the Saint's didn't see that comming.

They will be 3 rd on the ladder when they finish this 4 th quarter. Who said %'s judges a teams proformance, I believe the winner of the game does.

Real? Last time I checked we victorians actually came up with the game, and had the first league.....

Have a look at the last few victorian state teams up against the south aussies and tell me that SA owned us lol

Sorry if I was in the last century.... Unlike most crow supporters who are still in BC (that was a joke, not meant to be taken seriously)

I must admit, the dockers are taking me by surprise... I am interested to see them against the eagles now.

Have a look at the premiers since the AFL started, not a whole lot of victorian sides in there really, particularly since the major part of the teams are vics.

Lets see just looking at the last ten years, lets look at the premiers,

2005 : Sydney Swans

2004 : Port Adelaide Power

2003 : Brisbane Lions

2002 : Brisbane Lions

2001 : Brisbane Lions

2000 : Essendon Bombers

1999 : Kangaroos

1998 : Adelaide Crows

1997 : Adelaide Crows

1996 : North Melbourne


So in the last ten years 7 grand finals have been won by non victorian teams, and this year it looks like it is on the way to number eight.

So once again i say that you vics should watch us if you want to learn to play footy

If you knew what you were talking about, you'd realise that when each team comes into the competition they have been given extra help by the AFL in the way of players and funds, giving them an almost immediate advantage over the other teams.... Given most of the non-vic teams took a few years to come together, its pretty obvious that the players they are "allowed" to put a hold on are the best players available.....

If Fitzroy was given the proirity and funds, that these teams had I would think they would have won a premiership by now... (coff brisbane)

All the teams that have one premierships that are interstate received a lot of help, minus the swans who just relocated and didn't receive much.... Look at the stats, sydney without the handout and bonus players took over 20 years for its premiership win... West Coast came in at the same time, but due to it being a "new" club was given more allowances by the AFL, and soon got a premiership.

So before you think your so much better then us, you should ask yourself how well you'd be now withoout being given those players, and extra funds, that the VIC teams do not have.

Well as St.Kilda look set to miss out on the top 4 I think I shall head on down to Olympic Park to watch the Melbourne Victory in the A-league.

So people what do you think, which team will win the WA Derby. Fremantle, or West Coast. My money is on Fremantle.

^My money's on the West Coast. Fremantle have the skills going, but West Coast are also going well at the moment, and they have home-ground advantage

Melbourne Victory? Isn't that an oxymoron of some kind

I'm sorry if you felt is was being rude etc however it is a pretty basic tenent in SA and i assume in the rest of the non vic states that the most important thing in footy is to beat the Vics,

Yes i am sure there were handouts etc that helped the new clubs on their feet, so what, they still won nonetheless, So they recieved help from the AFL, the vic clubs had the benifit of many years of experience so that should be reasonably balanced

As to the WC verse Freo game, Go the Eagles because think that Judd is pretty amazing

Its just the way of sport, look at soccer... The clubs that are better off financially are always going to be a lot stronger then the rest..... The sooner a couple of teams move from victoria, the better off the stonger clubs will be.

I think that Freo has the edge over west coast on past encounters... well from memory.... so I have no doubt they can defeat them... but it should be a close tussle.

Well Sub, I am glad to see one supporter. As for home advantage well, it is there home ground too! But the Dockers are in their prime so watch out Eagles.

Hate to say we were correct

...Oh, and bad luck to Adelaide getting beaten by port today... lol

RIP Adelaide!
RIP West Coast!

Looks like the wheels have fallen off

well done freo . freo ftw 2006/07

I know, There is nothing worse then being a Crows supporter in Adelaide on the night after the Power wins a showdown. Especially if you made the mistake of wearing you crows scarf, Beanie, guernsey etc to the game.

However i freely admit that port played a much better game then Adelaide, Adelaide had the opportunity to take the game away from port in the first quater and they kept missing the goal, it was almost enough to bring tears to the eyes.

Anyway good luck to Port and thank god that WC also lost so the minor premiership isn't out of crows hands and once finals come i will be praying to God, Krishna and Satan that Brett Burton can be okay for the finals, he is one of Adelaides really great players and along with Ricciuto is capable of changing a matches outcome.

I was wondering who you people thought of as the greatest players of this great game.

I would like it if you were to say who you thought the best players ever were and also who is the best players of the current era.

I would like to start off by saying i think the greatest ever player medal is split between Gary Ablett and Wayne Carey (i truly cant decide) and that in todays game the greatest player is once again split between Chris Judd and Mark Ricciuto.

So who are your favorites, and also why would be a good question.


Any way over to you lot.

I've merged the topics, on the basis that theres only a few people who discuss Aussie rules, and since this is a general aussie rules thread there is really no need to have another thread on the subject.

I don't think anyone would argue with Chris Judd, he is an absolute champion already... and if he can continue playing this way he will be up with the best of all time quite quickly. As for Riccuto, he is a champion... who would be in the top group of players to be sure.... There is really a group its hard to seperate.... Buckley, Riccuto, Harvey.... amongst others, have been excellent players throughout their careers.

As for the best of all time, it depends on what you judge it on. Carey is hard to go past, Ablett... I would probably have down at 4 or 5..... Given he lacked a little in the mental stakes. Leigh Matthews comes to mind, he was outstanding.

I don't realy know. I don't know much about the history of AFL, and we don't hear much about any other team except the Swans in NSW. But to answer, I think there are too many criteria to decide the "best ever" player, in any sport. They usually give the award to the most creative, the most dynamic, the most influential player. But without the other guys in the team, he's just another guy. But from all reports, I'd have to agree with Wayne Carey and Chris Judd. Though back in the dark days of the 90's, Tony 'Plugger' Lockett single-handedly carried the Swans. He was a goal scoring machine.

Today, I'd also have to say Adam Goodes has been doing a lot of good work the past few years, and is probably better now than when he was joint Brownlow medalist back in whatever year it was (goes to show how much I know about AFL ).

Though as I said, we don't really get to hear much about any of the other teams and players out my way

Adam Goodes is playing well, but in my eyes you have to have a few consistant years to be considered a great player. Goodes has had a couple of good years, but hes not quite in that top group. I would of however put Paul Williams in that group, he has/was outstanding for a long time....

Well the season is over, its time for finals... Collingwood got its butt into gear finally in the last quarter with 10 goals.... Making us move up to fifth, and yes as I'm sure someone will point out... no vic team in top 4.

So Eagles vs Sydney, Adel vs Freo , Coll vs WB and St vs Mel. Should be some interesting matches there....

*whatever happens, don't mention the Top 4*
My opinions on next week's results:

West Coast vs Sydney - tough choice, but I think West Coast have sort of dropped the ball in recent weeks. Sydney in a close one.

Adelaide vs Freo - Fremantle by a long way.

Collingwood vs Bulldogs - Collingwood, easily.

St Kilda vs Melbourne - another tough one, but I think Melbourne have been too inconsistent to really trouble St Kilda.

My picks....

West Coast - They dropped the ball, yet they will want revenge on Sydney for last year....

Freo - Havent seen much of them (living in scotland) but I think Adelaide don't have the man power to get through with all the injuries...

Coll - I think this will be a close match, due to collingwoods not so good form... So it could go wither way.

St K - Melbourne are somewhat of a joke lol

I am going to back the WC who if they play well are quite close to unstoppable

The Crows though they are very weak. And it looks like Riccuito might be permanantly out of the game.

A Crows finals without Riccuito, McLeod possibly no Hentschal, Benny Hart not playing to well, Its incredibly bad luck as the Crows were the inform team this year until the Injuries came in. But i think their beating of Melbourne proves they still have the depth just so long as they can be consistent.

Collingwood should win but it would be great if the Bulldogs could because Grant deserves some finals.

St Kilda should make easy work of Melbourne

I suppose they funny thing about this final series is that each club... if playing at its best.... can play outstanding football, and all 8 of these teams played very good football at some point of the year.....

They fact that the victorian clubs have to travel in the second week, to either sydney, wa or adelaide... will be a huge obsticle for them to overcome.... Especially if either of the other teams plays well... but its not completely beyond them. Collingwood, for example, got within 2 kicks of the eagles at home this year.. and 1 kick of adelaide at home.. and I believe we beat sydney.... (cant remember) ....

I just hope every team plays well, and regardless of the results we get 100% from all players involved.

^Collingwood defeated Sydney by 13 points back in round 12 at Telstra stadium, just after the Sainters had beaten them by a point the week before.

As much as I would like to believe that St.kilda could win it this year, their chances are not good and if the premiership doesn`t go to an interstate team again this year it will be a miracle and a bloody big surprise!

Rumors say that Ricuitto and Burton might be able to play by the prelimanary finals.

I only hope that the seriously depleted Crows can hold on that long.

Go Freo, they rock.

Boo Hiss Boo.

Carn the Crows.

Well the Eagles will be without Kerr and Embley for their clash with Sydney but I would still be betting on them at home against the Swans.

The Saints have opted to leave out Ackland and Brooks for our match with Melbourne tonight due to the forcast weather conditions which will not favour a team loaded up on tall ruck-men. Here's hoping it doesn't backfire.

^Well if the refs cheat again and give all the free kicks to West Coast, then it's very likely they will win. If there's some modicum of impartiality, Sydney will win.

I wouldnt be complaining, its much the same in every state for the home team

Well... I will wait till tomorrow to discuss the final thats been played, giving those who want no spoilers time to watch the game.

CARN THE CROWS.....

What a great game that was. And they won!!!!!!!!!

I celebrated all night after that.

And BOTH the WA teams lost. That was a surprise.

That Sydney and West Coast game was a real cracker and not caring who won made it just that much easier to watch and enjoy. Seeing O`loughlin give the WC cheer squad a nice spray nicely completed that game for me.

Although I`m no fan of Collingwood's I dont simply barrack against them for the fun of it. Yesterday I simply had to barrack for the Dog's though as I wanted to see Rohan Smith get to play his 300th match next week. And well I do love to barrack for the underdogs!

^Being a swans fan, it was most definitely difficult to watch. That I was changing between channel 9 and 10 for the NRL finals made it a little more bearable, but only just, though both those games were decided with half an hour to go, so I spent 95% of my time with the AFL, only changing just on the off-chance someone was making a come-back.

THe O'Loughlin spray was classic, they got the perfect camera angle for us to view it too.

Too bad about St Kilda and Collingwood, though something tells me it won't matter anyway - Freo and West Coast'll be in teh semi's. I can't see'em losing two in a row. But I'd love one of the teams to prove me wrong.

Doesn't matter. IT will be a Crows vs Swans final with the Crows winning by a small margin. And you can take that to the bookie

AR

True, but up until Freo's recent string of wins they had been a pretty ordinary team and for all we know this one win could send them spiralling back to their former form, hopefully not although I couldn`t really care less. I just want to see the Dog's pull off another upset and remember they did beat the Eagle's earlier this year at Subiaco!

..... Im pretty happy with this year from collingwood. We started our way up the ladder again.. and although our final was disappointing, I think the future is pretty bright.

Anyhow, I must admit I sat listening to the sydeny west coast game, and was pretty glued to it.... Must say Im not suprised West Coast lost... I think in one of the first posts in the entire thread I said West Coast don't have a forward line... and when they are under pressure they seem to prove me right lol... Oh well, I thought they might have fixed it... but I was proved wrong.... Just like ALL my predictions...

Anyhow I'm happy the bulldogs went through... I hope against hope they make the prelim... but I expect an all interstate prelim round.

I do not know what happened with Freo against the crows, but I beleive they will not be set back by this defeat. They will rock on.

Well Grant Thomas has been given the sack after leading the Saints to not only three consecutive finals appearances but also two consecutive preliminary finals. Considering the injuries that plagued the club throughout those years to do as well as they did was remarkable. Yet to those in charge it simply wasn`t good enough, they expected at least a Grand Final appearance apparantely.