Sturt vs Centrals Grand Final Review Thread

[Apachebulldog]

Commiserations to all Blues supporters on this site maybe next year for u guys and also kudos to the Blues supporters around us who were gracious in defeat and shook our hands well done.

What a team effort by the Red,White and Blue so desperate to win fantastic amazing unbelievable.

[fish]

Just got home from the after match celebrations.

IMHO the game was won in the first part of the second quarter when we absorbed the pressure from Sturt and did not allow them to score. From then on the result was pretty well a certainty but full credit to Sturt for battling it through to the end.

Chambers selection in the team was a big mistake it was comical watching him trying to get near the ball at times.

[purch]

A few people around me picked Goodrem, I would have gone with Sansbury or James Gowan.

Sorry, but the choice of Goodrem was a complete joke. I wish that the JACK OATEY MEDAL wasn't taken so lightly, but I feel that he was chosen because Delta was on the big screen so much throughout the day.

Sansbury was the best for mine..

[csbowes]

Just got home from the after match celebrations.

IMHO the game was won in the first part of the second quarter when we absorbed the pressure from Sturt and did not allow them to score. From then on the result was pretty well a certainty but full credit to Sturt for battling it through to the end.

Chambers selection in the team was a big mistake it was comical watching him trying to get near the ball at times.

Still think it was more to do with the poor delivery than his fitness or lack thereof... if he hadn't played and Herring was there, it may just have meant it was Herring who was seeing the ball go over his head etc.

[fish]

Probably the most boring game I've ever attended. Probably the worst SANFL GF, even worse than the 110 odd loss the Eagles had a few years back.

SANFL= Yawn fest.

Whoopoe Friggin Do.

You Norwood fans are a joke I don't recall any Centrals fans whingeing when you won all your flags back in the 18th century.

Winners are grinners and you two are just sore losers.

[csbowes]

You Norwood fans are a joke I don't recall any Centrals fans whingeing when you won all your flags back in the 18th century.

Winners are grinners and you two are just sore losers.

Hey... hey... hey... lets be fair... it was the 19th century!

[csbowes]

Geez... I seem to be getting a lot of flack because I haven't cracked a fruity on here about getting done like a dinner on Grand Final day, I just didn't realise it was part of the rules that I had to completely lose it... so for those of you out there who are annoyed and need me to start up some sort of flame war or whatever, here you go, I'll start ranting and raving on like a port chop... <clears throat>

Oh yeah... well we've won more flags than you... THIRTEEN... suck on that... in fact, we've won FIVE, count'em, FIVE in a row, how many have you won in a row, three? Well I spose that's kinda good, but its not FIVE is it <edited by mod> Oh and we've won more finals than you, been in more grand finals, won more bloody games, been around longer than you, won back to back flags 4 years apart, try and do that, that takes magic.... we actually won our flags against Port Adelaide when they were still kings of the league!

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! <-- NOTE this is my normal reaction to any mention of 1978!

<wipes mouth>

There you are... that should satisfy a few of the monkeys on here...

[johntheclaret]

Hey csbowes, I was having a joke, hence the

good rant though, sounds like a bit of sour grapes there (note the wink)

[Brucetiki]

Centrals did what they needed to do to win today's game and premiership. We jumped Sturt early and got the early lead. Whilst Sturt got a couple back, we then kicked on to take a 3 goal lead at quarter time (and could have been 4 if the siren went 2 seconds later).

Sturt started the second quarter strong, but whilst they had the play, we got the goal. We then took a stranglehold on the game kicking a further two goals, and keeping Sturt goalless.

Despite the 38 point lead, Sturt could still come back. Centrals were keeping the door slightly ajar with some misses, but a couple of goals and the lead was out to 52 points. From there I knew we were never going to lose it. Still, Sturt didn't capitulate and didn't go down without a fight, reducing the lead to 40 points at three quarter time.

The last quarter wasn't a pretty affair (bar the crossovers to Delta on ABCTV) with 1 goal each. Then the siren and we win our Grrrr8th premiership.

I'm sure Delta and Brian would have been delighted to see Trent win the Jack Oatey - a few other Doggies supporters would have agreed.

The crowd was fantastic. I know some people were only expecting 24-25 000 people, but I think even the SANFL were surprised with the 35 000 that turned up (a bigger attendance than several Crows and nearly all Power games this year), and the atmosphere was fantastic. The northen end looked fantastic in the final quarter with the area choc a block full of Centrals supporters (that's the fullest and most colourful I've ever seen that part of the ground for any game - including AFL).

One final thing - why did the SANFL play an older version of Sturt club song when the side ran out (they also used it at the parade on Rundle Mall yesterday)? It's not like they don't have a copy of the current version as it was used in the minor finals.

[Brucetiki]

Probably the most boring game I've ever attended. Probably the worst SANFL GF, even worse than the 110 odd loss the Eagles had a few years back.

SANFL= Yawn fest.

Whoopoe Friggin Do.

You Norwood fans are a joke I don't recall any Centrals fans whingeing when you won all your flags back in the 18th century.

Winners are grinners and you two are just sore losers.

What Fish said - but I'm not surprised at AdelaideHawk and NFC's reaction. AdelaideHawk and NFC tend to spend their time on here making bitter, snide remarks about Centrals dominance.

[cennals05]

Just got back from the club. Couldn't stay awake any longer. Good to see Delta Goodrem enjoying the party at Elizabeth.

I'm not having a go but did she seriously go to the club? I think that's great if she did but i'd be surprised. Once again i'm not having a go but most high profile people would have personal security wherever they go, did she? (this is not suggesting going to Elizabeth requires security, i'd be asking the same if she went to any SANFL club).

Well done to the Dogs again. Just an amazing footy club.

I can confirm that Delta was definitely at the club, saw her with my own two eyes. One of my Dads friends (so a man well into his 50's) acted like a little school girl and got her to autograph his shirt. Made his night!

[gadj1976]

I thought the umpiring was alright today.

Agree the umpiring was superb today
As for the judges voting on the Jack Oatey Medal ??????????????????????????????

Not 1 person discussing the winner b4 the announcement thought Trent would win it
Most people had thought it was Eddie Sansburys medal b4 and after
For a guy to kick about 25 % of the goals in the match you would think he must have been close to winning the JO medal

Personally i thought James Gowans was best on ground. Sansbury, Slade then Mckenzie next in that order. Goodrem did his job but he wasn't BOG. Good luck to him though. It did give us another camera shot of Delta so it was probably justified

I thought McKenzie dominated! His positioning around the ground was superb. Clearly outpointed our guys and for mine, was best.

I was very disappointed with Herring being left out and Chambers included. Norman would've been on a hiding to nothing putting Chambers in because he needed to kick 6 for us to win, and him justify his inclusion.

I haven't seen much about 'best players' but I thought Coad was best for us. Coad should've been switched to defence earlier in the second quarter for mine.

Personally I don't really see the need for firecrackers and flares at the footy - call me old fashioned but that can stay up the road at Hindmarsh Stadium for mine.

Overall, I think we had a pretty good year. I had us finishing about 5th or 6th this year, so a great result. I knew going to the game today that we needed everything to go our way - it didn't. Kudos to the Dogs.

[SnappyTom]

I think the fact that so many here have named a series of players (J Gowans, Goodrem, Sansbury, Buckets et al) shows how even the performance was. On the way out of the ground I heard two other names, and their stats which surprised me a little - Slade and Thomas, the co-captains.

In all fairness the JO Medal could have been raffled (not saying it's worthy of a raffle ticket result!) to one of half a dozen players - all equally deserving. While I thought Sansbury set it up with a brilliant 1st quarter, and the last goal of the game may have sealed it, couldn't be disappointed with the choice of Delta.

ST...

[SnappyTom]

Goalspread: CCSSCCSCCCCCCCSSSCSC

Started and finished well did Sturt, and probably ended up with more disposals, inside 50s and all that other stuff than Centrals, but those middle stages by the Dogs were sheer brilliance.

Significance in that string of goals are the quarter by quarter breakdowns: CCSSCCSCC/CCC/CCSSSC/SC

We kicked the last goal of each quarter ("late goal are great goals", says Chinever...), and with the exception of the lack-lustre 'shut-down' style of the last quarter, we kicked the first goal of each one as well. In the first and second quarters Sturt kicked the opening 2 points in a dominant 5 minute period, only to have the effort thwarted by a goal at the other end of the ground. Set the tone for the day...

ST...

[sjt]

who actually votes for the medal?
i must have been at a different game it was either gowans or sansbury as bog.

I think Dutchy votes for it

Wow, well done Doggies. Still can't believe it. Commiserations to Sturt.
I thought losing Sully, would be a decisive loss, especially given his great start. Hope he recovers quickly. Fortunately the whole team stood up.
Well done Sladey a champion in every sense of the word. Eight premierships, co-captain, local lad, you've been brilliant for the club.
Eddy, Schelly, Evil, Hayesy, Buckets, JC etc etc awesome.
I went with about twenty five others. A few neutral ring in friends. A couple of them (only really follow the crows) couldn't believe the atmosphere and the passion at the ground. I think they're now SANFL converts. Fantastic atmosphere, looking forward to watching replay to see how it came across on t.v.


P.S After ten years James could have still won the Jack Oatey. I think the talk of the Gowans boys "demise" after the Unley game may have been a "bit" premature.

CCCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNTTTTTTTTTTTTRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[Dutchy]

Probably the most boring game I've ever attended. Probably the worst SANFL GF, even worse than the 110 odd loss the Eagles had a few years back.

SANFL= Yawn fest.

Whoopoe Friggin Do.

You Norwood fans are a joke I don't recall any Centrals fans whingeing when you won all your flags back in the 18th century.

Winners are grinners and you two are just sore losers.

[Dutchy]

Yes Sansbury did suprise me how clean and efficient he was in the last 2 finals, never seen him like that, he even snapped goals hey UK Fan? I did have have a friendly crack at him when he went past me after the game...

In all seriousness I think part of the Dogs success comes from getting the most our of players that havent made it in the AFL, they continually get them to improve their game where as a lot of returning AFL players at other clubs have peaked and tend to go thru the motions and rely on their natural ability....

[JK]

Enjoyed a top day at Footy Park yesterday, thought the crowd was excellent and the nature of all the fans I encountered was fantastic.

Congratulations to the Dogs, the 8th wonder of the world - From a neutral perspective they really are great to watch.

Commiserations to Sturt - Im not a big Blues fan (nor any club other than my own rabble), but they earnt plenty of respect this finals series, as someone mentioned to me yesterday morning they are a club with soul, and there can be no denying that.

Spent most of the day in the bar and have to say that the spirits of both sets of supporters and how well they got along was as good as Ive ever seen and really is how it should be.

IMHO it was an excellent day to close the season off with.

[sjt]

Doggies supporters don't forget the family day today 11:30am-1pm.

[redandblack]

Some random thoughts on the game on the SAFooty Journal thread.

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