Second Semi Final Norwood v Centrals Review

[Big Phil]

I'd disagree with 2010. You guys were clearly the best side for the year, perhaps lucky to hang on in the GF. Agree with 2009 though, Glenelg should have had that one in the bag!

With injuries etc you have had this year, I think if you pull this one off, it will be up there with the best of them.

The Dogs defeated Glenelg in the GF in 2008, it was the Double Blues they defeated in 2009.

[leggies]

Oops, correct... I meant 2008.

[Grahaml]

This is my take on all our Grand Finals...

Should not and did not win: 1995
Should not but did win: 2000
Should have but did not win: 1996, 2002, 2006
Should have and did win: 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007
Should not but did win (gifted by opposition teams in the finals or GF): 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010

I thought we were the better side in all 12 of our current GF streak bar 2006.

[The Apostle]

I'd disagree with 2010. You guys were clearly the best side for the year, perhaps lucky to hang on in the GF. Agree with 2009 though, Glenelg should have had that one in the bag!

With injuries etc you have had this year, I think if you pull this one off, it will be up there with the best of them.

I don't disagree with you there regarding us being favourites in last years GF. What i'm getting at there is at some stage during a GF or finals series we've pinched it from an opposition side despite being 2-4 goals down at some stage of the match (e.g. 1/2 or 3/4 time).

2005: Eagles were 19 pts up and had momentum during the GF.
2008: QF against Sturt. Then GF against Glenelg.
2009: QF against Sturt. 2nd Semi against Glenelg.
2010: GF against NWD.

[Grahaml]

I'd disagree with 2010. You guys were clearly the best side for the year, perhaps lucky to hang on in the GF. Agree with 2009 though, Glenelg should have had that one in the bag!

With injuries etc you have had this year, I think if you pull this one off, it will be up there with the best of them.

I don't disagree with you there regarding us being favourites in last years GF. What i'm getting at there is at some stage during a GF or finals series we've pinched it from an opposition side despite being 2-4 goals down at some stage of the match (e.g. 1/2 or 3/4 time).

2005: Eagles were 19 pts up and had momentum during the GF.
2008: QF against Sturt. Then GF against Glenelg.
2009: QF against Sturt. 2nd Semi against Glenelg.
2010: GF against NWD.

I thought the Eagles were never going to win 2005. They were just happy to be reasonably competitive it seemed.

[RB]

I'd disagree with 2010. You guys were clearly the best side for the year, perhaps lucky to hang on in the GF. Agree with 2009 though, Glenelg should have had that one in the bag!

With injuries etc you have had this year, I think if you pull this one off, it will be up there with the best of them.

I don't disagree with you there regarding us being favourites in last years GF. What i'm getting at there is at some stage during a GF or finals series we've pinched it from an opposition side despite being 2-4 goals down at some stage of the match (e.g. 1/2 or 3/4 time).

2005: Eagles were 19 pts up and had momentum during the GF.
2008: QF against Sturt. Then GF against Glenelg.
2009: QF against Sturt. 2nd Semi against Glenelg.
2010: GF against NWD.

I thought the Eagles were never going to win 2005. They were just happy to be reasonably competitive it seemed.

There was a time in the 2nd quarter of the 2005 GF where the Eags were up by a few goals and had the run of play. If they'd managed to pile on a few more goals when they had the chance, it might have been a different story.

[The Apostle]

This is my take on all our Grand Finals...

Should not and did not win: 1995
Should not but did win: 2000
Should have but did not win: 1996, 2002, 2006
Should have and did win: 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007
Should not but did win (gifted by opposition teams in the finals or GF): 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010

I thought we were the better side in all 12 of our current GF streak bar 2006.

I thought 2000 we were no chance and just happy to be there. Before the 2008 GF my thoughts were that Glenelg could strike back.

[Grahaml]

I'd disagree with 2010. You guys were clearly the best side for the year, perhaps lucky to hang on in the GF. Agree with 2009 though, Glenelg should have had that one in the bag!

With injuries etc you have had this year, I think if you pull this one off, it will be up there with the best of them.

I don't disagree with you there regarding us being favourites in last years GF. What i'm getting at there is at some stage during a GF or finals series we've pinched it from an opposition side despite being 2-4 goals down at some stage of the match (e.g. 1/2 or 3/4 time).

2005: Eagles were 19 pts up and had momentum during the GF.
2008: QF against Sturt. Then GF against Glenelg.
2009: QF against Sturt. 2nd Semi against Glenelg.
2010: GF against NWD.

I thought the Eagles were never going to win 2005. They were just happy to be reasonably competitive it seemed.

There was a time in the 2nd quarter of the 2005 GF where the Eags were up by a few goals and had the run of play. If they'd managed to pile on a few more goals when they had the chance, it might have been a different story.

Could well be. Every GF the dogs have played in there were stages where it wasn't a foregone conclusion. 2004 first quarter Hopwood was ushered off incorrectly and couldn't return, Slade was lying on the ground clutching his leg and the Eagles seemed to be getting a bit of a run with a chance to kick a goal to get the score to 4 goals to 3 nearing time on. That's just the nature of footy. But over the four quarters I was happy we were good enough and if we managed to play to our pass standard then the opposition would have to do something extraordinary. 2006 aside, I felt the Eagles had to play poorly and us well for us to win. They didn't, they won.

[RB]

Could well be. Every GF the dogs have played in there were stages where it wasn't a foregone conclusion. 2004 first quarter Hopwood was ushered off incorrectly and couldn't return, Slade was lying on the ground clutching his leg and the Eagles seemed to be getting a bit of a run with a chance to kick a goal to get the score to 4 goals to 3 nearing time on. That's just the nature of footy. But over the four quarters I was happy we were good enough and if we managed to play to our pass standard then the opposition would have to do something extraordinary. 2006 aside, I felt the Eagles had to play poorly and us well for us to win. They didn't, they won.

I think you're right, except for '04. I don't remember exactly when Heath Hopwood went off in the 1st quarter, but Central scored the first 5 or 6 goals very quickly. Eags were never in the match. I think a Central win in that match was always a forgone conclusion.

[smac]

Hoppy never came on.

[FlyingHigh]

I'd disagree with 2010. You guys were clearly the best side for the year, perhaps lucky to hang on in the GF. Agree with 2009 though, Glenelg should have had that one in the bag!

With injuries etc you have had this year, I think if you pull this one off, it will be up there with the best of them.

I don't disagree with you there regarding us being favourites in last years GF. What i'm getting at there is at some stage during a GF or finals series we've pinched it from an opposition side despite being 2-4 goals down at some stage of the match (e.g. 1/2 or 3/4 time).

2005: Eagles were 19 pts up and had momentum during the GF.
2008: QF against Sturt. Then GF against Glenelg.
2009: QF against Sturt. 2nd Semi against Glenelg.
2010: GF against NWD.

I thought the Eagles were never going to win 2005. They were just happy to be reasonably competitive it seemed.

Actually have to agree with you Grahaml That was defintely the feeling as a supporter after the 2004 GF, but as Apostle pointed out, we should have done more after being 3 goals up just before half-time. A late goal, or the denial of, in any quarter of a final mean so much - Goodrem's goal on 1/4 time last week, CEntrlas last goal in the third quarter in last years GF, the few minutes before 3/4 time in the 2009 2nd semi

[FlyingHigh]

This is my take on all our Grand Finals...

Should not and did not win: 1995
Should not but did win: 2000
Should have but did not win: 1996, 2002, 2006
Should have and did win: 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007
Should not but did win (gifted by opposition teams in the finals or GF): 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010

I thought we were the better side in all 12 of our current GF streak bar 2006.

2000 would have been very interesting if it had been played on the warm October long weekend rather than a wet mid-september arvo. Fair to say Centrals proved themselves to be the tougher side that year, Eagles may have been quicker and a bit more skillful IMO F*****n Olympics
2001 was very disappointing from an Eagles POV. Perhaps Centrals were a better side, but at 1/4 time we were down 2 goals to 1 against the breeze and kicked an early one in the 2nd IIRC, and should have had the disappointment from the previous year burning inside us.

[FlyingHigh]

I'd disagree with 2010. You guys were clearly the best side for the year, perhaps lucky to hang on in the GF. Agree with 2009 though, Glenelg should have had that one in the bag!

With injuries etc you have had this year, I think if you pull this one off, it will be up there with the best of them.

The Dogs defeated Glenelg in the GF in 2008, it was the Double Blues they defeated in 2009.

2009 was definitely one the Doggies pinched. Sturt and Glenelg both blew leads they should have been able to hold on to in the Qualifying and 2nd semis respectively.
2008 was 50-50 Glenelg v Centrlas IMHO.

[Grahaml]

Hoppy never came on.

Not after he went off the wrong way. Hit his head and was a bit dazed, a trainer took him straight to the boundary 20-30 metres from the interchange area and another player ran on to replace him. Soderstrom interviewed him during the game later on and they had a chat about how Soders put money on him winning the JO. But Hopwood definitely played part of the game.

[whufc]

Im always just happy to make the GF's.

Sometimes things in a one off game dont go your way and become uncontrollables ala, bad umpiring, teams getting wind for 3 quarters, players get serious injuries early on, one bad bounce here one there, players not going through interchange bench etc etc.

All you can do is plan to make the day and then pick your best fittest side on the day and give it your all, if it doesnt happen on that one day then life goes on.