Cracking grand final and congrats to our eagles supporters. After a big day on the sauce, I’m slowly coming back to my senses and catching up on everything. I don’t actually remember these 2 incidents but they were potentially impactful on the result considering the final margin. There’s lots of these sliding door moments of course but interesting viewing nevertheless.
Amazing game of footy, felt like 2005 GF when we were clawing back all day although it did feel we would get this one.
There was at least 10-20 free kicks between both sides not paid that could have influenced the result, between Eagle running into I50 getting tripped, Pies players running into protected space and Eagles tackles on Pies players without ball (Rioli twice) Then there was several free kicks to Pies when forward (incl holding the ball by Shuey without control) which nearly result in goals and some not paid in Pies def to them that could have been costly.
It is natural to think umpires are against you, however, first time I thought they were against both sides, although maybe a little biased to Pies
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re the Willie, two players with body contact on each other about to contest the mark and Sheed drifts back to mark. Not sure that is a block despite commentators calling that. Only saw about one block paid all day.
re Pies runner getting in the way of their own player leading too Yeo goal. This is not the first time a runner sit on the top of 50m arc of opposing side to create a perception of congestion so the ball is not centred. Not suggesting this is why he was there, however, there is ZERO reason for him to be in the space or anywhere near the ball. Expect this to be a rule changed and restrictions put on runners.
Great game and Pies supporters whilst feeling the pain should be proud of their team, battled hard all day and like the Eagles defied predictions.
Many were calling for Buckley and too a lesser extent Simpsons head, like Hardwick at one stage. How hard is it being a coach, lose you job so easily and then what do you do. Job security awful. Fantastic to see these coaches proving everyone wrong.