Preliminary Final: West v North - Sunday 30 September 2012 @ AAMI Stadium

Congats Westies!!!

Great to see 2 sides in a Grand Final that have not been in one for a while.

Makes a nice change.

Im going as a neutral but will be going for Westies. Need a few more voices to cheer them on.

Hoping for a good contest on the day.

Good luck to both sides.

With the boring style these teams play and with west having a small supporter base I anticipate a crowd of 24 to 26 k . I can't believe Bassett saying about how defensive west are. Norwood are defensive as well . He might just want to pull his head in a bit. Some if his comments this year have been very arrogant . If he goes to the AFL his head and mouth will get ripped off and spat out. A lot to learn imo.

I think a crowd over 30k will be there. For once in a very long time, it's a GF that doesn't involve Central and that may get a few more neutrals out to Footy Park. Norwood has a good supporter base and West will experience a serge in supporters on the day.

I don't mean to disrespect Bulldog supporters, but I think there may be some families out there that don't go to Grand Finals involving Central because of the overriding, unsubstantiated stereotype about Central fans. They may be interested in attending this one.

Well done West! A disappointing way for the Roosters to bow out playing one of their worst games for the year, losing by a margin coincidentally similar to the 3 goals Willits kicked from questionable frees in the time on period of the 1st quarter, which aroused some puzzled looks and comments in the coaches' box. The Roosters seemed to lose their momentum and focus after those frees, as they have done throughout the year. 3 frees to half time again is difficult to understand. West played their close down style, but I can't see West getting close to Norwood next week if they can only beat us by 21 points after the way we played. I would hope that they have umpires in the GF who are competent - 2 of those today clearly weren't.

Waddayamean, Interesting comments you make there, and I'd like to join in ... after the Grand Final is played. I don't feel the time is right for me to discuss the coach when we're looking for unity as a club to play in a GF.

Are you talking about the 1/4 time interview? If so, he was merely making a comparison between West and North, I didn't think he was necessarily deriding West for it, just saying how his tactics and personel would be different depending who they would play in the GF.

Interesting post MP, perhaps if you watch the replay you might change your mind about the three frees. Miles certainly caught Nat Caruso high after he kicked it and the other two were there too. Roosters were only 4 points down at that stage, not able to come back from that deficit with three quarters to play? Roosters certainly had much the better decisions after halftime

i was there as a neutral & the umpires had nothing to do with the result, those frees that were mentioned i thought were fair enough decisions & i'd say the worst 'decision' missed was Fergusons mark in the first 30 seconds of the last term

bayman wrote:i was there as a neutral & the umpires had nothing to do with the result, those frees that were mentioned i thought were fair enough decisions & i'd say the worst 'decision' missed was Fergusons mark in the first 30 seconds of the last term

Sorry Bayman, watching on TV, the umpire clearly called "touched, play on" three times while the ball was in the air. Correct decision.

Always thought you were a good judge Bayman

I've seen them and I'll stick by my comments and I know the coach was not happy with how soft they were in the context of the game, considering what was not paid later in the game for similar incidents. We weren't playing well enough to win as the game went on, but in the context of a final, either let the game go OR pick ALL the frees. It has been a problem all year with certain umpires, 2 of whom were here today.

Adelaide Hawk wrote:

bayman wrote:i was there as a neutral & the umpires had nothing to do with the result, those frees that were mentioned i thought were fair enough decisions & i'd say the worst 'decision' missed was Fergusons mark in the first 30 seconds of the last term

Sorry Bayman, watching on TV, the umpire clearly called "touched, play on" three times while the ball was in the air. Correct decision.

fair enough, i didn't notice the call or signal so in that case i was wrong on that call, however i think the umpires did a very good job as they (imho) were hardly noticed by me

mp, isn't footy great as we all see things differently

ps, i thought the umpiring when the 'spot fires' were going late in the game was spot on, i was thinking one or two of these players could end up missing the grand final if it got any worse

Adelaide Hawk wrote:Waddayamean, Interesting comments you make there, and I'd like to join in ... after the Grand Final is played. I don't feel the time is right for me to discuss the coach when we're looking for unity as a club to play in a GF.

Are you talking about the 1/4 time interview? If so, he was merely making a comparison between West and North, I didn't think he was necessarily deriding West for it, just saying how his tactics and personel would be different depending who they would play in the GF.

No mate ,I heard him the radio before the game .I didn't hear the quarter time interview.I also add my thoughts are on his comments over the year not any stand alone comment.Good luck for you this week mate. Enjoy the week and the day .

That was a good NON flooding win by the Bloods

Does anyone know why Ben Fisher missed today? The toughest, most loyal and underrated blood, i assume unless he has lost a leg or two he will play next week in his 100th game. Lookout.

Where's CC?? I wanted her to bring back her 'who deserves it more' theory...

howthewestwaswon wrote:Where's CC?? I wanted her to bring back her 'who deserves it more' theory...

Surely thats simple HTWWW, we finished above norf so we deserved the win. We are in the Grand Final.

i am going to enjoy this week
we are doing something that 7 other clubs arent

blacky wrote:i am going to enjoy this week
we are doing something that 8 other clubs arent & that is to win the flag

edited for accuracy

Yep, Norwood have no chance at all. Not sure if we'll even turn up.

not into a bit of frivolity there AH ?

I guess I'd just like to see someone other than myself actually acknowledge the fact that Norwood have won 19 games, were minor premiers, won the 2nd semi by 44, and actually give us some chance of winning this week.

Adelaide Hawk wrote:I guess I'd just like to see someone other than myself actually acknowledge the fact that Norwood have won 19 games, were minor premiers, won the 2nd semi by 44, and actually give us some chance of winning this week.

Couldn't agree more. There was a reason West looked a bit better Sunday , they played a side weaker than Norwood. Norwood have lost 2 games all year ,mind you fortunate in a few they , and have and are the best team. I think Norowood are also more skilled and composed than West .I hope West decide to attack because if they don't they are no chance.

It should be Norwood by 5 or more goals.

Mongrel Punter wrote:I've seen them and I'll stick by my comments and I know the coach was not happy with how soft they were in the context of the game, considering what was not paid later in the game for similar incidents. We weren't playing well enough to win as the game went on, but in the context of a final, either let the game go OR pick ALL the frees. It has been a problem all year with certain umpires, 2 of whom were here today.

I agree. Two of the three frees that resulted in goals to Willits were soft, especially when one saw the treatment that Alleway was getting at the other end and he never got one free for the match. Having said that North still would not have won but I believe that these decisions have cost two of the umpires any chance of umpiring the Grand Final.

bullydog wrote:

Big Phil wrote:

Scrappy wrote:Happy 65th Birthday today to the greatest North Adelaide footballer Ive seen in my lifetime

Barrie Robran?

I heard that barry is struggling with very bad illness. can any north folk confirm this.?

Barry might be struggling with a very bad illness, but South Australia's greatest ever footballer, Barrie Robran is very well. I saw him at the footy yesterday and also the week before. He had just returned from a 4 week holiday in New Zealand and is in very fine form. He thought that last week against Central was the best he had seen North play in many years and at half time yesterday he thought that it was the worst he had seen North play in a long time.

There was a similar malicious rumour about Barrie's health way back in 1983, I don't know why people spread such rumours!