Brutally Honest - SA

I'm talking about the 'Mark of the Year' and the 'Goal of the Year'. I mean, Jay Schulz for example. He took an absolute screamer against the 'pies on the weekend, and it won't be looked at because it's in the finals? I mean, It's mark of the YEAR, not mark of the regular 23 round season.

Let's rewind back 2 weeks ago, shall we? Earlier in the week, Essendon captain Jobe Watson admitted to taking a banned substance. He was booed the following Friday by West Coast fans, as they were upset that even though he admitted guilt, he was allowed to play. The Victorian media then proceeded to RIP into the WA fans, saying they were pathetic and really need to take a look at themselves.

Fast forward 2 weeks. A player by the name of Stephen Milne has been ACCUSED of a terrible crime, but has profoundly denied any guilt for the last 10 years. He played this weekend, and was booed by the (Victorian) crowd every time he got near the ball. Yet the commentators are saying "This was expected".

Does this confuse anyone else? Or is it simply that the Victorian commentators are quick to jump at the WA fans at any given opportunity?

Really? I mean, the fans have paid their money to go to the stadium, and they can cheer or boo whoever they want in my opinion. If they are racist, sexist, homophobic or threatening then obviously it's crossing the line. But booing a guy who has admitted to taking illegal substances? And for some reason is allowed to still play? I don't think it's crossing the line. I think these precious Victorian commentators and journalists need to harden up a little bit. Are the fans allowed to boo one player, but not another? Are there going to be new rules introduced to the games, where the crowd can ONLY cheer, and no booing noises are allowed?

Congrats to the Lions for winning, they were the only undefeated team for the entire tournament, so they deserved it (And they deserved a home final, but that's a different story). I was watching a bit of it last night, and a commentator pointed out that the last 5 winners of the NAB Cup, ended up finishing in the top 4 in the same year. The lions do look good, but are they a top 8 side, or a top 4 side for that matter? Remember, last year when the Crows won the NAB cup, many people were saying that it doesn't count for anything, and as it turns out they were only a few points away from a Grand Final. So what should we take out of this NAB cup final?

Adelaide vs Essendon, at AAMI Stadium. The following night, Saturday night, it will be West Coast vs Fremantle. The week after that, it will be Richmond vs Carlton, and then the day after that, Geelong vs Hawthorn. These are the matches that have been released so far, for round 1 of 2013. It will be over 2 weeks, again. What do you think of Adelaide vs Essendon as the opening match?

Just btw, 2013 is going to be the last season that AAMI Stadium will be used, as 2014 and beyond, the Crows and Power will be using the Adelaide Oval.

I mean, it's been building up all year long, and only 5 days after the biggest game of the season has finished, the AFL's main website (www.afl.com.au) has next to nothing in regards to the Grand Final, and the winners. Do you think, that if it were Hawthorn who had won it (A Victorian team), that we would NOT be hearing the end of it? I've gotta say, isn't it nice living in a world with no arrogant footy supporters?

And it's pretty much a worst case scenario for fellow Crows fans. But I'm going to call it, and we'll see how it pans out in the coming weeks.

I'm predicting that Hawthorn will beat the Crows today, and pretty convincingly. I'm predicting that Kurt Tippett will not play his best football. And i'm predicting that in a few weeks, Kurt Tippett will sign with either Brisbane, or the Gold Coast. And then I'm predicting, that there will be a huge show of anger from Crows fans, directed not only at Kurt Tippett, but mostly at Brenton Sanderson - because he let Kurt play for us, even though he was going to sign with another team, and he (Sanderson) should've been playing forwards like Josh Jenkins, and Shaun McKernan instead, to look to the future of the club.

Please for the love of god, I am hoping that I am very wrong, but I've got this weird feeling.

Anyway, since this is a site where we have to ask questions, what do you think about this prediction? Have you got any predictions for what will happen with some teams after the Grand Final?

After the suspensions of Steve Johnson, Leigh Montagna and James McDonald this past weekend, I am now calling it; There will be NO contact allowed in AFL by 2013. Although these incidents would have been just a normal occurance just 10 years ago, nowadays players are getting suspended, because Andrew Demitriou does not want any player to get a bruise (it'll scare the little kiddies away from playing the game, you see). Also in the new rules, they are discussing putting players in zones before the ball is bounced up in the middle. If this does get through, then expect to see your footy heroes wearing skirts, and bibs with "C", "WA" or "GS". Are there any other rules that I haven't thought of yet, that will be introduced next season?

After tonight's win against West Coast, it has made me think; Who is the team that can take them out?

Now, fellow YA members, I have done a little bit of homework. It is known that Geelong are the team which have the best record in recent years against them. And let's just say that the ladder ends up as follows (which is most people's predictions)

Hawthorn

Adelaide

Sydney

Collingwood

West Coast

Geelong

North Melbourne

Fremantle

First matchup would be Hawthorn vs Collingwood. If Hawthorn win this match, then they will eventually play against Geelong in the Prelim finals (giving that Geelong win all their matches)

Where as if Collingwood were to win that match, the potential Hawthorn vs Geelong match can only happen in the Grand Final

Still a long shot, but I'm predicting a Hawthorn vs Geelong, and Adelaide vs Collingwood in the prelims. What are your predictions? http://www.afl.com.au/bailey%20ladder%20predictor/...

And of course, who, if anyone, can beat the Hawks?

And if you are disabled, have you ever used the other toilets?

Would you go along with her? or do you think 13 is too young?

Rumour has it, that the reason Lance Franklin didn't play today against the Gold Coast Suns, was because he received his 3rd and final strike. As in he's been caught for the 3rd time with illegal drugs. As in he will be banned from the AFL for life. faaaaairly big news, if it's true.

My work colleague brought this to my attention, and also said "There's no way the AFL would let this become public news, he's one of the main draw cards in the AFL". Do you believe the AFL would go out of it's way to make sure that this story never sees the light of day? (If it were true)

People say Adelaide have a soft draw, because they get to face GWS and Gold Coast twice each this season. I don't think they realise that North Melbourne also face GWS and Gold Coast twice this year, and have pretty much the same exact draw. So i'm wondering, why is it that Adelaide are copping it in the media for their 'soft draw', yet North Melbourne have not gotten 1 mention?

So if i were to watch your team, who's a name I should be looking out for? With Adelaide, i'm not sure if people outside of SA will have heard much about him, but Brent Reilly is the pick for me.

Since no-one here is even bringing it up, i thought i might aswell. Did anybody see the decision made in the St Kilda vs Collingwood match, in the dying seconds last night? It was paid a free kick to Harry O'Brien, because of an apparent 'chop of the arms'. but upon closer inspection, i can't seem to see it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE2pbD0dghY&feature...

Can you see it?

For a while now, i've been asking 'how can Geelong keep Hawkins in the side?'. In my opinion, he was playing terrible footy, and was only getting posession of the ball because of the awesome midfield his team has. BUT, it looks as though i've been proven wrong, as Hawkins dominated the Grand Final last year, and has picked up 'All Australian' form in the last few weeks. I hate admitting i'm wrong, but it looks like i was.

Can you name a player that at first you didn't rate highly, but as the years went by, made you do a 180, and make you think of them as a genuinely good player?

Amazing match tonight (Geelong vs Hawthorn) btw

I'm referring to the North Melbourne vs Richmond game. I'm a Crows supporter, so I was watching this match sorta going for North (due to the way they've been playing lately). But some of the umpiring decisions in the first half were absolutely dreadful. So bad, it got to the point where i was actually feeling sorry for Richmond, and ended up barracking for them! In a match which was decided by only a few points, the umpires played a HUGE role in this match. What did you think of the match? i'd like to hear some unbiased opinions, but richmond and north fans of course are welcome to answer.

my BQ, Channel 7 commentator Bruce McAvaney (sp?) was so frustrated with the umpiring, that even he said that the ump should be sacked. he literally said that during the game, after the umpire made yet another terrible decision. Will Bruce get a 'please explain' by the AFL? Or is that only restricted to people associated with footy clubs?

Since the AFL are fining people left right and center for speaking their minds, AFL coaches and players are now scared to speak their mind. Brenton Sanderson for example, the other day was asked about what he thought about Jack Ziebel's suspension. he stopped for a second, then said "it's a tricky one because obviously i can't comment, we're somewhat gagged a bit as senior coaches to be able to make a comment on decisions".

How great would it be, if the AFL grew up and learned how to take criticism? And imagine the build up to matches, if players and coaches were allowed to actually speak their mind? The day of the characters in AFL are gone. Who's a character in the AFL? I can only think of Ivan Maric, and that's because he's got a bloody mullet! What's your opinion on all of this?

I mean seriously, name one match involving Fremantle, that would get your interest? i mean unless they're playing my side (Adelaide) i just find it useless.

...And not Chris Judd... how many weeks would you reckon that guy could get? I mean, let's face it we all know that Judd's gonna get off easy, because, well he is Chris Judd. Oh and it should be noted, that the north melbourne guy already had strapping to his shoulder, and had to go off the field soon after this incident. So if this armlock was done by a player who is NOT a protected species in the game, how many games do you think he could get?