GF Eagles v Central

Post away

woohoo we r in

Will be there to support the boys on their way to Premiership glory on Sunday. Won a double pass to the Grand Final from the SANFL Facebook page this morning.

The reason made the thread up about the mental side of this match, is because I don't want any player to head into the match thinking it will be the same as minor round meeting. So that belief would be "oh, lets up our intensity against them a little, and we will come out on top". No, you need to be as intense as humanly possible.

I also am concerned that the week gone was treated as the Grand Final - as being satisfied with "revenge" for last year. While no-one would say that, is it deep down inside? Or is that hunger still there for the win that really counts?

And one more thing. Above all, the following players in contention for a place in the side have not played a final against Central:

Jarred Allmond
Aaron Day
Patrick Giuffreda
Matthew Goldsworthy
Ben Grieger
Christopher Hall
Travis Lane
Scott Lewis
Craig Parry
Phil Raymond
Jarrad Redden
James Rimington
Angus Rowntree
Lee Staple
Luke Thompson
Stephen Tiller
Jimmy Toumpas

They don't know what it's like to play Central in a final, let alone a Grand Final. The knowledge of how to meet and beat them needs to be fully realised well before the first bounce. It is easy to say you are up to it, but in the depths of your mind, are you fearful? From the bottom of your heart, do you think it will be too hard and you will eventually be run over ala 2005? The other six players were part of the Premiership side and the only six to have played a final against Central. Those players will say "It isn't impossible; it needs total commitment."

Can't wait til 3.20 Sunday....weather looks a bit dodgy based on tonight's forecast but footy is a winter sport!! Have posted some pics of 2006 in the photos thread.... http://eagles.niceboard.org/t351-grand-final-2006 ....here's hoping we can do it all again!

The other words that come to mind is "controlled aggression". Aeries' comments on SAFooty remind me of this.

It is imperative not to be sucked in to anything by retaliating - the aggression is needed at the footy and legal tackles. I do hope that players like Parry and Treeby are not going to be thinking along the lines of "it's next year (or even my last game re Treeby) so it doesn't matter". How do you think people remember Steven Sims, David Granger and even Sam Jones? Sure, two of them are multiple premiership players, but when those names come to mind, I'm sure people aren't thinking about premierships!

There is the "Send Off" rule available to Umpires in only GFs to stop retiring players from running amok clobbering everybody so I wouldn't worry about that. Treeby will be more worried about getting a kick and putting in a good performance. No doubt they will target Jim Toumpas early.

Centrals do most things better than other teams but their blocking of opponents from chasing their team-mate is superb. Eagles have improved that in the latter part of the season but have been a bit slack with that against Norwood and South in the finals. We know what we're going to get from Cicca, Powell, McKenzie, Jarrad and others but Grocke ( the X factor)hasn't fired lately and he has the potential at his brilliant best to be the X factor to lift us up to the next level

If Rowntree and Grieger are fit are they automatic inclusions? I would say Rowntree definitely and Grieger would be if Havelberg plays. Probably would be anyway as if Havelberg is out they'll have Sutherland down there a fair bit I'd imagine and we need a gorilla to take him on.

I thought Hall was very good in the Prelim so I'd keep him in the side. Tiller was also very good so it would be hard to drop him. Would hate to be a selector this week, but good news for the Eagles that we are pretty much at full strength.

Giuffreda or Thompson to tag Callinan? He needs to be stopped somehow. The smaller backmen should get a tape of Ryan Potter's game in the '06 GF to see how it's done.

The Eagles under Godden play a much higher possession game and rely on their skills to pin point targets. Centrals are a little less precision and more bullocking. I hope the Eagles can adapt to a hard slog if the game gets closed down and trust our forwards to win one on one if we can move it quickly enough.

Now is the hour Eagles
The Grand achievement is there for the taking.
Do not let this opportunity escape

Interesting comparing this Eagles side with the 2006 Premiership team eg

Paul Lindsay vs Craig Parry Hier vs Greiger
Skipworth Vs Lewis
Potter Vs Raymond
Passador Vs Staple
Pedlar Vs Day and so on
Of course, Grocke, Cicollela, McKenzie, Jarrad played in both.

Perhaps 2011 hasn't got the unpredictable marking skills from our forward line smalls (Rimington, Goldsworthy, Lane) that the 2006 side had (Inkster and Westbrook). Otherwise, 2011 compares well with a better defence, less options in attack and an even mid-field.

2006 GF was hard, ugly football - the 2011 side can play both types if necessary. Godden mentioned how Parry is such a competitive "animal" (in a nice way) and that he is really enjoying this finals series. A huge game by him and Grocke playing one of his "blinders" with continued team performances and we'll take the Cup.

5 long years in the wilderness WE ARE BACK not getting carried away just yet lmao

Will Godden have a different plan in mind should it turn out to be greasy conditions? There's no way we can overuse the ball in the wet. I don't think it will matter so much the contested ball i.e. matching or getting the ball with the forecasted conditions, it's a matter of what is done with it. Nothing fancy.

spell_check wrote:Will Godden have a different plan in mind should it turn out to be greasy conditions? There's no way we can overuse the ball in the wet. I don't think it will matter so much the contested ball i.e. matching or getting the ball with the forecasted conditions, it's a matter of what is done with it. Nothing fancy.

Very True Spelly

I really hope too, that the intensity is as high as it can get. This is what I'm fearful of the most - underestimating what it takes.

Today's the day. Bring that cup back where it belongs, Eagles!

spell_check wrote:I really hope too, that the intensity is as high as it can get. This is what I'm fearful of the most - underestimating what it takes.

Well I hope they understand that Spelly .I'm nervous as hell

We did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eagles - SANFL Premiers for 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations Eagles, well done on the win.

To Colin, Spelly, Chris, PhilH, Mickj and all those Eagles folk I haeve spoke with throughout the year, well done guys.

Enjoy it, you deserve to be Premiers, played the better footy today.

Thanks Big Phil
just got home and still amazed - what a day what a win - Eagles flying high!!

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Congratulations to everyone involved in this fabulous result.
The players, the coach and coaches, the Board, the administration, the office, the support staff and the supporters. ENJOY

NEVER IN DOUBT - LEAD ALL DAY!!!!!

Big Phil wrote:Congratulations Eagles, well done on the win.

To Colin, Spelly, Chris, PhilH, Mickj and all those Eagles folk I haeve spoke with throughout the year, well done guys.

Enjoy it, you deserve to be Premiers, played the better footy today.

Cheers Phil.....nice to get another one back on the Dogs, as is the case most times what a cracking game!

I'm a very HAPPY boy at the moment. Thou still in a state of shock, will all sink in soon. Nobody was picking us, Well done guys....No 1 again.

Big Phil wrote:Congratulations Eagles, well done on the win.

To Colin, Spelly, Chris, PhilH, Mickj and all those Eagles folk I haeve spoke with throughout the year, well done guys.

Enjoy it, you deserve to be Premiers, played the better footy today.

Thanks Phil
Well what a game it was .And Phil pass on my wishes to the dogs faithful very many of shook my hand on their way out !!!

Made it to work and lasted 8 hours .The fact I made it in surprised many I can assure everyone !!!