2008 League GF review

[goraw]

got a gun?

[purch]

Hats of to Central yet again. They showed the entire comp what it REALLY takes to win premierships.

In terms of the game itself...as a neutral supporter it was a great contest up to the 10 min mark of the 3rd quarter...after that it was very predictable. Almost worth just switching off and watching the news reports. Umpiring was pretty good overall although there were a few shockers that went against the Bays. Obviously these had no impact on the outcome although who knows what it did pschycologically. Bays played their GF last week in a scintillating display.

A few Centrals players did look old & slow in the first half - it makes you wonder whether their strategy is to just stay in the contest and conserve energy until half time and then let rip in the 3rd and 4th. That seems to be the pattern, as observed in the Qualifying and 2nd semi finals. Centrals will always be strong at the crunch. Laird..brilliant...Time for him to look for AFL opportunities, or for AFL clubs to seriously look at him. MiSchell was used well both forward and back...keep the opponent guessing. BOG for mine was O'Hara, although Buckets did have a big influence after half time.

Well done to the Bays for making it there. They deserved to play off in the GF given an excellent season. Commiserations on the result...your GF performance record continues. I'm glad my Club is one of those that has played the Dogs in a GF and hasn't been beaten. If the SFC were up against Centrals today they would have been beaten as well such was the Dogs' ruthlessness. Also hats off to Bode and Forrest who battled hard all day and gave their all.

I just wish next season was starting tomorrow. Hurry up 09!! Let's end this dynasty once and for all!!

[centrecirclelegend]

congrats to Centrals.....

however from what I was told today from someone who would know.....

its one thing to be beaten by a better team......

but its not a level playing field when teams are put together by clever accountants!

perhaps the SANFL has been too soft in this regard?

[mighty_tiger_79]

the MACHINE rolls on

well done doggies

[NFC]

How awesome.

[Pseudo]

Fxxxing rat's cxxxs

I'd love to blame that loss on the umpires, the weather, bad luck, the alignment of the planets and daylight savings.

But I can't, 'coz quite simply the dogs were good; very very good. There can be no question that the best team won today. Congrats to Central Districts and its fans, enjoy the win.

Roy Laird, Buckets MacKenzie and Paul Thomas were all gracious in victory. I for one appreciated their kind words to to GFC. 100% class.

Now I'm off down the Bay to drink myself into next week...

[NFC]

Fxxxing rat's cxxxs

I'd love to blame that loss on the umpires, the weather, bad luck, the alignment of the planets and daylight savings.

But I can't, 'coz quite simply the dogs were good; very very good. There can be no question that the best team won today. Congrats to Central Districts and its fans, enjoy the win.

Roy Laird, Buckets MacKenzie and Paul Thomas were all gracious in victory. I for one appreciated their kind words to to GFC. 100% class.

Now I'm off down the Bay to drink myself into next week...

And 100% rubbish too. Buckets, "As hard as I've worked for a win". Yeah right.

[Tassie Blues]

great club great team great winning run but i still have port more would love to see a few port v central grand finals

[Macca19]

What? Was he playing?

Another shocking GF.

A shocking GF? But let me guess...Crow rookie Moss shoulda been given the Jack?

[hawkseye]

Looks like my old man the port supporter was right. "To win a flag you just play the Bays"
CMOOOON!!

[NFC]

What? Was he playing?

Another shocking GF.

A shocking GF? But let me guess...Crow rookie Moss shoulda been given the Jack?

You thought it was a good game? Was so boring. Over by 5 minutes into the 3rd quarter. Even the first quarter, was tight at the end an the FiveAA were pumping it up, was boring.

Moss? Yeah, cause I'm that biased. But Williams? He was average, I bet Giles was good too?

[Macca19]

What? Was he playing?

Another shocking GF.

A shocking GF? But let me guess...Crow rookie Moss shoulda been given the Jack?

You thought it was a good game? Was so boring. Over by 5 minutes into the 3rd quarter. Even the first quarter, was tight at the end an the FiveAA were pumping it up, was boring.

Moss? Yeah, cause I'm that biased. But Williams? He was average, I bet Giles was good too?

Misunderstood what you meant. I thought you meant Williams played a shocking GF.

Williams played well. Giles was meh.

And yeah the game didnt really live up to any great heights. Was a carbon copy of the 2nd semi.

[NFC]

What? Was he playing?

Another shocking GF.

A shocking GF? But let me guess...Crow rookie Moss shoulda been given the Jack?

You thought it was a good game? Was so boring. Over by 5 minutes into the 3rd quarter. Even the first quarter, was tight at the end an the FiveAA were pumping it up, was boring.

Moss? Yeah, cause I'm that biased. But Williams? He was average, I bet Giles was good too?

Misunderstood what you meant. I thought you meant Williams played a shocking GF.

Williams played well. Giles was meh.

And yeah the game didnt really live up to any great heights. Was a carbon copy of the 2nd semi.

Ohhh not, I meant the game not Williams. Williams was okay, had a few neat handballs in close which got his runners free. Giles did nothing, while I think he's okay and is probably worth another year, his ruckwork has to be a concern. He's okay as a forward and moves well enough, but hs just doesn't have a clue how to ruck, would be eaten alive at AFL level.

[Aerie]

Central just too good. A combination of belief, want, hard work, skill, footy smarts. They are better at the package than any other club.

The best era of any club in SANFL history? If not already, a year or 2 more of this, then definitely.

Bad luck Glenelg. Just not enough staying power. Two big games against Central and the same result - 2nd half fade outs. Aren't the first and probably not the last club to be on the end of that from the Bulldogs...

Well done CDFC. A class act. Catch them if you can...

[baysman]

"To win a flag you just play the Bays"

Absolutely spot on. From memory 15 G.F. appearances and only 3 wins in my lifetime. Absolutely sh*thouse once again !

[am Bays]

well done to teh CDFC we were smashed around the ball today their ability to gets arms free know when to release the ball and most important;y hit targets was sensational.

Once again they set the benchmark with what you need to do to win flags.

My boys tried but today we got a lesson in what we need to do to win a flag.

Hopefully it makes us stronger for next year.

Hats off to mcKenzie, he looked rooted everytime he came off but he just kept willing himself to teh next contest and his work once there was sensational. A worthy JO Medalist.

[csbowes]

I was amazed that yet again the form team of the competition put up such an insipid performance in the Grand Final. I didn't actually think Central Districts were that impressive today. They were workman-like in the first half and certainly put in a commendable third term and thoroughly deserved the victory, but I can't help but feel Glenelg's complete lack of ability the entire match was the major reason why the premiership cup remains at Elizabeth this season?

I don't mean to play down the Bulldogs performance, I don't want to focus so much on them, as I do on Glenelg. How does a team go into a Grand Final brimming with confidence, yet dish up such a sad case effort?

It frustrates me as a Sturt supporter, because likewise my side went into a Preliminary Final brimming with confidence and yet dished up a sad case effort. Cries of "if we were there, we would of smashed Centrals" ring in my mind.

Its just so disappointing that Glenelg now joins North Adelaide, West Adelaide and West Torrens as complete tossers in Grand Finals, not even really making the Bulldogs work for their flag.

When are we going to get a Grand Final where the Bulldogs are at least pushed?

or beaten again?

I don't think we will see it. Unfortunately I think we'll just see Centrals pass to one side a la the mighty Port Adelaide side of the late 1980's and 1990's, no one did them over, they just faded of their own accord.

Sadly, I think Glenelg joins Sturt and South Adelaide as the biggest losers for 2008...

Meanwhile the Bulldogs are smiling and laughing yet again and certainly cement themselves as one of the all time greatest teams of an era, up there with Port Adelaide of the 1950's and 1980's/1990's and Sturt of the 1960's/1970's.

[johntheclaret]

NFC. Apologies for a couple of weeks back. You were spot on. Predictable outcome never in doubt.

Didn't listen on line today, clocks went back over there and I just couldn't be arsed to get up at 4:00am to listen to a foregone conclusion.

So I'll just join in with the rest of the "congratulations to Centrals, commisserations to Glenelg". Reality, men against boys again. I could say maybe it's a psycological thing now, but that would just be an excuse.

[NFC]

Great post csbowes.

[Mic]

Are we going to get an SANFL GF that is a close game this decade? I don't think there has been one.