So is that a real game between GWS and Sydney or not? Because if it is, then we don't kick off anything in Round 1.

Finally been looked after - great draw, except the 3 consecutive games between round 6 - 8 @ the carpark following the Western Australia trip. Must try and get through unscathed, which will be tough on the bodies.

2012 TURPS ANALYSIS

Well the AFL really have a vendetta against us. Not since the salary cap fiasco have I felt so cheated, like the AFL is trying to grind this great big navy blue club into the dry concrete step of the outer.

In 2012:

13 midstrength events - A staggering and quite frankly unforgivable number. Adrian Anderson should resign immediately over this.
5 of these midstrength events are non turpsings - on a Thursday, Sunday twighlight or Monday with no back up public holiday.
5 Home turpsings - watching interstate games. One of these on a Thursday night - again a non-turpsing.
3 Full Strength games - one on a Sunday with no public holiday back up.

Leaving just 2 bona fide, full strength, quality, turpsings for the year. Both against the scum.

It is like the AFL just do not want us to turn up to the football. I am appalled and outraged.

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A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject - Winston Churchill

https://savemidownload.com. Authorised Game and Software retailer.

In my book Thursday night is OK for a turpsing!

Could just go and get tanked at the pub before and after the match.

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Premierships: 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1887, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995.

"GIBBS."

There is a seat at both Holliava and Saint and Rogue with my bum print

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A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject - Winston Churchill

https://savemidownload.com. Authorised Game and Software retailer.

The AFL favour the draws to who they think we be up in the to end of the ladder, hence our favourable free to air appearances. I have estimated no less than 17 wins.
Now no crying with the middle of the draw rounds.
If you want to be the best you have to beat the best.
I would prefer playing the previous top 8 twice, but that's just me.
You learn and grow more by playing the best in the competition than you do by giving a hiding to lower side, even though you do need thoes sort of wins.
We have grown to new levels over the last few years in form and consistency. From a surprise win against a top side a couple of years ago and first final appearance to this year, consistent wins against lower sides and competitive games against the top ones.
Next year we expect another step to regular wins against top sides.
So does the AFL.
Our PREMIERSHIP window is now open

Yeah, you conveniently catch the 24 hr flu to miss work the next day and be in tip top shape for the rest of the round

It was open last year. We just didn't take advantage of it. Win the draw vs Essendon* and loss to Cats and it would have had us inside the top 4. Beat WCE at home and then it's anybody's.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

We finished effectively 3 games adrift of WC....

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

Whilst I dont agree with Sombrero that our window was open last year (you cant go from never winning a final to a flag) three games adrift does sound a lot, but as mentioned a kick here and there and the Essendon* game, and Geelong game are ours.

The last game was irrevelant against St Kilda as well. Just glorified match practise until the Saints got a run on and we shut up shop.

I generally dont like 'would of's', 'could of's', but I'm just saying that it will only take a slight improvement, rather than a list overall (providing that the improvement is greater than those at the same stage) to get from say 14.5 to 17 wins.

With no 'best 22's' retiring, no-one walking out during trade week, no-one coming off a 12 month injury in 2011 that will set them back for 2012, and hopefully no-one having any December/January surgery that might impact throughout the year this should be realistically achievable.

I know all clubs will be doing this, but barring Scotland who would be excused for dropping back a step, there is nobody on our list that shouldn't be able to improve or at the very least maintain their standard from 2011 in 2012.

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"They're [REDACTED]'

Certaintly was. History shows us you don't necessarily have to be the best team for the year to win the premiership, which implies that if your playing at your best in the finals and with a little luck with injuries, you can win it. Proviso being you finish top 4. I think this is the key. The problem is everyone is now fixated with the "Malthouse Clock" syndrome.

Flag has come from Top 3 since the new Final 8 system.

Even if we finished 3rd, we would have limped in with the injuries we had.

Common belief is that Hawthorn 'pinched a flag' or got in a year early, but even they were at least 2nd after the minor round and had a similar 2007 to our 2011.

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"They're [REDACTED]'

our window was open if we had everyone on the park and playing at our best, which is pie in the sky stuff, geelong would have smashed us in the prelim, get over it boys, next year is a different story, the draw is ok , anyone could tell u who we were goin to play, so obvious....

yeah but you can't count the "after half time tank" against the Ainters, as it was a dead rubber for us.

I agree with your view, slowly building. All I'm simply saying is there has been and should be steady improvement over some seasons. This way your players grow and mature to be regular contributers and teams grow together and play cosistentley to their potential. We all thought and hoped for the best this year but if you only come close consistently you will usually not beat the highest class in pressure finals. I understand we had injuries and what ifs, but if you cannot cover your losses with players coming in to make an instant impact you will stuggle in one final or another. This is why our window is open.
We struggled with injuries and depth. As our young players grow to hold down key positions and we can cover a loss or two we become a very good side that can not only match it with the best but make them worry about playing us. We are a reasoably young side with great improvement in the future, as long as we can keep our core group together.With the recent re-signings and hopefully with a couple more to go we have a sound grounding for next year.

Disagree with the "Geelong would have smashed us comment".
Had we had Waite, Kruezer, Gibbs, Russell, Hampson, Bower (get my drift) as Geelong did - we would have not got smashed, on the contraray - we could and probably would have won. Things didn't work out in the end for us but lets not be so negative, we where not that far away from the top 2.

Well this will be fun.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/m ... 1ms3y.html

The prattling of McGuire and the drone of Hall.

Bullsh1t, no excuses for any stadium we play!!!

We are good enough to win against anyone, anywhere. I for one will not accept a "get through unscathed" mentality from our players and thankfully so does Ratts.