Official discussion thread!
I was hoping Werribee would make it through for the good of the competition, as they still appear to be a club in their own right, whereas Box Hill really aren't their own club anymore with the jumper change, song change and name change etc.
Still it might bring a bigger crowd along or it could work against the VFL, with general supporters less likely to attend a 'reserves' Grand Final.
From what I saw of todays game, it's difficult to see the Hawks really challenging Geelong. I wonder what impact Friday nights game between the two clubs will have on selection.
In reply to Thats a grim assessment Billy by NorthPort
Might be grim but true.
What happens in the future when there are only AFL reserves sides in the top 4 or even worse the top 8 is made up of of say Collingwood,Geelong,Essendon,Footscray,Richmond and the almost AFL reserves sides in Carlton and Box Hill.
Does anyone realistically think a real standalone team will get to a GF in the near future?
The pathetic VFL salary cap puts paid to the standalone clubs having the bucks to pull some decent ex AFL players that are needed to now win a VFL flag even if they did have the money.
I just see this more and more disfunctional comp as having no soul and losing whatever respect that it had from the sporting public.
When a bullshit game like the hit and giggle Whitten game on CH 9 gets a bigger crowd than the supposed "best comp outside of the AFL" the VFL is in trouble.
We were lucky to have two AFL clubs plus the TAC Cup in the GF today as I suspect a GF with say Casey v Werribee would be lucky to pull more than 5000. All the well supported ex VFA clubs like Willy,Sandy and Port are now down to a few hundred fanatics lingering on.
I watched the game from Level 2 right on the wing.
Its difficult to support either side as a neutral supporter. My dad couldn't bring himself to barrack for Box Hill, as Camberwell supporters, his dislike of Box Hill goes back further!
In fact I almost barracked for them today. They came out early in Box Hill jumpers and seeing the big Mustang had almost swung me. Then they came out for the game itself in Hawthorn jumpers.
I was disgusted that the Box Hill jumper is now nothing more than a warm-up top...I thought it was a real slap in the face to those thst loved the Mustangs.
The first quarter was a high standard game, which was very open and the game was shaping up as a high scoring spectacle.
After quarter time the game closed down. I'm not sure how it looked on TV, but Geelongs skill level was very poor. They continually picked poor options, and coughed the ball up with poor disposal even on occasions when they weren't under direct pressure.
I thought the highlight was the Hawks tackling pressure. They were ferocious and relentless. I thought that won tgem the game and was very impressive. It was something that Geelong had prided themselves on during the season but were really shown up today.
All clubs feared Geelong all year.. They were nothing today. That class & run wasn't there.
I could only watch the last half but listened to to the first half on ABC radio who did a very good professional job
The Hawks just seemed more hungry for the ball - maybe having a chance to make the AFL GF side had something to do with it.The final score flattered Geelong as they kicked 3 goals in junk time.
Just goes to show the in a two horse race either team can win and quite often the outright favorite like Geelong were this year can get done.
Well now to next season and it will be quite interesting to see how the new make up works. Lets hope for the sake of footy that the standalone sides do ok and are not easybeats.
In reply to I watched the game from Level by NorthPort
Really good summary NorthPort.
I really enjoyed the game however my biggest concern was that how the Roosters can get to that level again.
I honestly don't think it's possible.
I'd be interested to know from other neutral posters whether in their opinions they thought the difference between the Roosters & Port premiership teams compared with Geelong & Box Hill.
I think Geelong came out mentally flat yesterday.
From my view, in the opening minutes they didn't seem 'on'.
I think the psychology of what happened in the AFL on Friday night certainly played into the mindset of both sides yesterday.
In reply to I watched the game from Level by NorthPort
As did NorthPort's father ( who of course, I knew), I didn't like Box Hill. I don't know why, but Box Hill was very low on my list of VFA clubs.
I couldn't support Box Hill. I was not concerned about either side winning this GF.
At least Geelong is honest about what it is.
Hawthorn was low on my (old) VFL "list", despite knowing some of its players, such as the Hay brothers. I would love for Hawthorn to lose next Saturday.
Box Hill far too good and much hungrier. Did the Friday night Preliminary Final between Geelong v Hawthorn leave the vfl cats flat or Box Hill pumped up ?
Anderson might be getting a recall and be part of 2 Grand Finals with a possibilty of 2 flags.
Here's some food for thought.
The Geelong v Box Hill grand final has 2,000 less spectators and around 100,000 less TV audience than last year's Geelong v Port Melbourne grand final!
In reply to Box Hill far too good and by vfa
It's hard to find, but write up and photos are on Geelong Addy site;
http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2013/09/23/373453_gfc.html