A lot has happened from my point of view. From the lows of the cats losing to the Bombers and Eagles in successive weeks and had to sit through a humiliating loss to Beno’s Swannies at the Pineapple Hotel just 2 weeks from the finals. On the extreme upside I witnessed a flickering football on Matty P’s plasma TV go through a Geelong goal 22 times to Collingwood’s 8 in the last round of the home and away series. I was so happy with that win. So many people put it off to be a nothing game but it was the win we needed to have and I honestly think if we didn’t win that game the way we did we may not have won the premiership this year.

So from that demolition of Pies all us boys flew down to Melbourne for the first week of the finals and saw 4 finals in 3 days, all in Melbourne. First time it has happened for a long time. Hawks/Cats was first up and it was unbelievable. The 3-5 goal burst (sorry my memory is a bit blank here) in the 3rd quarter was incredible. The other games were pretty good. Best finals intensity was definitely the Pies/Eagles clash. Lots of congestion, intense tackling. It was a pure finals game.

After that to sit through a comfortable open prelim was just what the doctor ordered. I had made a pact with myself this year that if the Cats made the Grand Final – I’m going. It didn’t matter what it would cost me I’m going. At the very least I would fly down to Melbourne for the week.So at 3-quarter time or about 5min into the 4th quarter with the game in the bag I booked my flights and accom to Melbourne. No grand final ticket as of yet…

Sunday came around and I was tossing up between gambling on a cats member that had succeeded with the GF ticket ballot that was not going to attend (I’m an interstate member, I can’t enter the GF ballot) or put some pretty pennies down and get one of those ridiculously expensive corporate packages. I think I was still a bit drunk at the time after celebrating hard the night before  (the cats are in ANOTHER grand final!) I was feeling great and was very happy. I just bit the bullet and bought one of those corporate  packages. I didn’t want to gamble. I wanted to fucking be there and after deciding not to go in 2009 I didn’t want to make that mistake again.

So I make the call to AFL ticketing offices and ask if they’ve got any tickets available. The lady on the phone, surprisingly didn’t sound as if she’d been getting calls like mine all day, said that I’d have to order my ticket and package online – there was no way of knowing what seat I would get. I told the lady on the phone if they had any premium seats left as online it seemed they were sold out. She said they did due to some cancellations and I just had to wait 10 seconds, refresh the page and it would show up. Again, I didn’t want to gamble on my seat. I figured if I was paying $1400+ already on the standard corporate package I may as well pay $300 more and guarantee myself about the best seat in the house. So I splurged and probably paid the most or equal amount of anyone that was at the G for my ticket. But it was totally and utterly worth it.

Sorry, this is turning out to be a bit of a Grand Final story. I’ll cut it short. The actual Grand Final story will come eventually. Went to the footy show, grand final parade, grand final function (GF eve), grand final – obviously. You can see Grand Final week videos and photos I took from the following links:

http://www.youtube.com/user/footyhighvideos#p/u

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29433163@N05/

I really wish I went in 2009. I’ve thought about it a lot and I still rank that grand final higher than 07 and 11. I think because in 2007 it was over early and we were clear favourites (apparently, I can’t really remember at the time). I know I was at 2011 but I was quietly confident we’d win, so to win wasn’t as big a surprise as 2009 was. 2008 hurt me so much – just ask Matty P and Beno. To beat the Saints who were in red hot form, they had NO excuses whatsoever on the day. They were favourites (I’m pretty sure) and to win in a close one was incredible. 2011 I was there and it was incredible. It all sort of built up though. I went into the year not really knowing what would happen but slowly near the end of the season we started gaining the momentum and it seemed the pies were on the decline. Especially after that round 24 game that no-one seems to rate but I really think it was significant. Not the margin so much as it seemed obvious they shut up shop after half time but they just didn’t seem to be able to beat us, just like in round 8. That prelim final from last year was a long distant memory after that round 24 game. I knew that the ‘prelim 2010′ wasn’t going to happen to us again, not this year and if we were going to face them at any stage in the finals that it was going to be a tight game and at the very worst we’d only go down by a couple of goals, not feel like we’re getting hammered by 10+ goals like in 2010. Chris Scott built Geelong to beat the Pies in 2011 and it worked perfectly, facing them in the Grand Final.

It’s hard to say really all the premierships have their pros and cons. 2007 was the first in 44 years or so, 2009 was our redemption and 2011 well they called us too old too slow, we were just too good on the day.

There was just more on the line in 2009, more to lose if we had have lost that game than if we lost to the Pies in 2011.

Having said that, I start to look at bigger and better things now. There’s been lots of comparisons with Cats and Lions being the greatest teams of the modern game and people asking which was better? Historically 3 in a row will always look better looking back on it. But I’d want to be living through the way the cats have done it. Obviously I’m biased but we’re not done with yet, we’ve had a better win/loss ratio than the lions. Our ride has been so up and down. Again, this is why I rate 2009 so much that loss to the Hawks was the worst, to bounce back and win a premiership the year after felt so good. I honestly would have content with the Cats not winning another premiership for 10+ years but now they’ve gone out of their way, surprised us all, even supporters of the Cats and won another one in 2011. As I said before I’m looking for bigger and better things now and would love to be compared if not eclipse that of the hawks from the 80s and to win back to back premierships in my lifetime would be awesome. I’m looking forward to 2012 with much more ambition than I did in 2011.

The Cats have shown me that no matter what anyone says or what the current trend says that if you make a few slight adjustments, manage your players well, have the right people working at your club that already has a great culture than anything is possible. Losing Yablett and Bomber was the best thing that happened to the club. I said it when Bomber decided to leave that him leaving now was the best thing that could happen to Geelong than him sticking around to complete his contract when his heart wasn’t in it. I just didn’t expect a premiership right away. I thought maybe a year or 2 down the road.

I keep writing but I’m not going to edit this mega post. The main reason I started writing was to review my goals I made from earlier this year and start drafting out some goals for this year.

So what were my goals for 2011?

• Attend the first week of the finals in Melbourne – Did it, 4 games in 3 days. Cats blitz in the 3rd quarter was unbelievable.
• See a blockbuster Cats game – I saw my team win the Grand Final AT THE MCG! Can’t top that.
• Get a Geelong membership – Got an interstate membership
• Post on Footy High once a week (at least) – failed. I got off to a good start though.
• Pick a clever dream team and have good reasons why for each player chosen – I did that and wrote a post about it. I came close but Matty P once again is too good lucky
• Reach $150 in the $100 Challenge – total fail. Will have to be smarter next year. Too many exotic bets and not enough big bets on sure things.
• Complete Tipping Comp – did this. I won the tipping comp out of us boys. Actually tipped every week and reminded the boys to tip. No excuses. I’m the fucking back to back tipping champ!
• Get a full dream team this year – We had a full league this year! No strangers. Next year though we might look to make our league a bit more challenging.
• Write a TON of prediction posts – I think I wrote quite a few? More than last year I’m guessing.
• If Cats make a Preliminary Final or even Grand Final I’M GOING! – I didn’t go to a prelim but I had my reasons. I went to the Grand Final though! YOU BEAUTY!

So a bit of a draft on some of my footy goals for next year?

Go to Geelong for a game, in Geelong – maybe the unfurling of the flag. Will go standing room. The game I went to in 2006 I think it was when Stokes came of age was unreal once we got in the standing room. Pity we were sitting in the Fred Flanagan room for the first 3 quarters.

I also really regret now not going to Geelong on Sunday after Grand Final day. Although I probably wouldn’t have seen much at the park where all the Cats guys went on stage, being around Geelong and going to the pubs would have been pretty awesome.

When in Geelong visit Billy and Ling’s pubs, stay the night in Geelong. Visit the Beach. I really haven’t done much stuff in Geelong

Go to a new city – Perth or Adelaide or somewhere else (canberra, NT but I doubt we’d play there). Obviously only if Geelong are playing there but no doubt we’ll play someone there.

Maybe buy an AFL membership (maybe). I need to toss up if it’s worth it and how much it is. It all rides on what the fixture looks like for next year. I am counting down the days till fixture day (9 days to go!). I’m seriously as excited about the fixture coming out as I am about week 1 of the finals. I just want to be able to plan what weeks I go to the footy and see if Geelong have a good draw or not. Will be very interesting to see which teams play Gold Coast and GWS twice next year also. Will the AFL put the money making games away (ie cats vs gold coast twice) or will they make it fair? Very keen on the draw for 2012!

Go to a Prelim if the Cats make it - I didn’t go this year as I was hanging out for a Grand Final if we made it. They say prelim week is the purest supporter week in football so I’d really like to experience. If Cats aren’t in it but the games seem good and I’m into the teams that are in it, I’d still consider going and maybe staying the week and living up Grand Final week in Melbourne again but not go to the game (unless I can for $300 or less). Go to fed square and watch.

Buy a good cats collar shirt that fits - Hopefully they change the logo or maybe I can find an old GFC logo collar shirt. I’m really not a fan of the current Cats logo.

Take more photos/videos – I took heaps on Grand Final week but I didn’t take much the other Melbourne trips. I’ll put more effort in.

I worked out that I’ve roughly spent $5000+ on football related things in 2011. That includes memberships, tickets to games, merch, flights, accom, some spending money if I’m away on a footy trip etc, drinks, online betting etc. Note that I blew $700+ on betting against the cats and spent $1700+ on my grand final ticket alone. 6 flights, 10+ nights accom + spending money, total of 16 attended AFL games, it doesn’t seem all that bad.

I’m not going to make any Footyhigh.com goals. Apart from enable Winchy to post here I don’t want it to feel like a chore to post here. I won’t badger Matt and Beno to write here if they don’t want to. Just if you feel like talking footy like I am tonight, post here. We’re just mates that enjoy footy. I just like the aspect of having something to look back on. See the silly bets we make, see the photos/videos memories of the footy years gone past. I know I’ll probably look back on this post or especially my Grand Final 2011 post if I ever make it in a few years time.

More competitive Dream Team League. Sorry Philby, you’ve been demoted down a league. I think we’re going to implement a new policy for next year. You need to at least spend 10minutes on your dream team each week or you’re out. If you’re not going to pick a captain for the year and don’t really know who players are then you’re not worth being in our league. We need more competition!

Final one. Pick a new sporting bet site for the $100 challenge in 2012. The current one we use. Sportingbet.com.au is a bit limited it seems on what other sites offer. So we’ll see what else is out there in the off-season and give another site a go and let you know. There’s nothing wrong with sportingbet.com.au . In fact they got themselves a mobile site during the year which was ever so helpful when we were at a pub or game.

• What grinds my gears part 3: excuses for messages sent that don’t get the response they were after…. Friend stole my phone etc..
• What grinds my gears: part2: people who don’t give thankyou waves on the roads.
• WGMG.p8: guys self portraits of themselves with their tops off in their profile pictures, not cool unless your batting for other team

Anyway. Round 2 has just passed and it’s time to get my vent on and rant and rave about what grinds MY gears from Round 2 of the AFL season in 2011.

1. #WGMG – Gold Coast Comparisons To Other New Team Debutantes

Everyone kept talking throughout the week about how some of the other debut teams had a win, but no-one takes into consideration at how young and immature the Gold Coast bodies are. The team that was out running (that’s about all it looked like) along side Carlton the other night had 10 players LESS than 21 years of age.

Let’s have a look at the other teams that have debuted in the last couple of decades and see how many players debuted sometime during the whole FIRST year (not just their first game) that were under 21.

• Adelaide – 3 (Win first game)
• Brisbane Bears – 3 (Win first game)
• Fremantle – 10 (out of 41 players that debuted that year, and note they lost their first game)
• Port Adelaide – 10 (out of 34 players that debuted that year, note they lost their first game)
• West Coast – 4 (Win)

So there seems a case that mature bodies certainly do help. For those that thought they were going to have the measure against the Blues.. what are you thinking?! It’s going to be a long season for Gold Coast and their supporters but tough it out, there are some good signs there and you’ll be a force in a couple of years.

Also note they’ve come into what I would say is one of the toughest year where apart from maybe the Cats and Saints each team is expecting a significant improvement from their list and hoping to rise up the ladder, more than years before. And there’s no way you’re going to see Cats and Saints dropping lower than Gold Coast. Sorry GC, spoon for you

2. #WGMG - Hawthorn All Of A Sudden FLAG CONTENDERS

No!! We fell for this last year. We all saw them smash the Dees round 1 2010 and we thought they were back after an injury riddled 2009. We gave them that excuse and thought, ok we’ll let 2009 slide, they’ve just come out and belted the Dees, all their guns seem in good shape.. they’re back!! NO! After they belted the Dees they then LOST their next 6 games. Yes they lost their next SIX GAMES!

You’re all foolish to go jumping on their bandwagon yet again right now.Wait till the hawks string together a month of wins against some serious opposition then maybe, just maybe we can call them a legitimate TOP 4 chance. But flag chance? They’ve got a lot to prove first.

3. #WGMG – Sandilands Cleans Out Steve Johnson

They ran into each other! If you look at the vision, the bump hurt Sandilands just as much at Steve Johnson. Sandilands went down as well, and Steve Johnson got up before Sandilands did. It just looked bad cos Sandilands is a freeking tree! But obviously, if you look at the vision closely, Steve Johnson is the toughest man alive.

4. #WGMG – The Pronunciation of Podsiadly

It’s Pods-ee-ADD-lee NOT not Pods-ee-ARRD-lee, Dwayne Russel!! (And a lot of other commentators)

http://www.pronouncenames.com/pronounce/podsiadly

5. #WGMG – I Just Can’t Take A PUNT!

My $100 AFL Betting Challenge is going woeful. Laid down what I thought were a handful of very reasonable bets on the weekend but still a few points off the margin. I’ll get a win eventually.

So what’s grinding your gears this week after Round 2? Umpires? Your Team? The Sub Rule?

Give us the lowdown on What Grinds Your Gears in the comments below or vent them on twitter using the hashtag #WGMG

So here goes the AFL POWER 17 for Round 1 2011

1. Collingwood – I actually thought Port did quite well against the Pies. To demolish a side by 75 points in what looked like a pretty good contest is scary prospect put forward by last years premiers.
2. Essendon – NAB Cup form was no hoax, Essendon showed the football world they’re the real deal demolishing what most expect to be a top 4 team in the Bulldogs by 55 points. Can they keep up the momentum?
3. Adelaide – To come back from 30 points down near half time to win by 20 is a huge achievement over the Hawks that many expect to be a premiership contender.
4. Geelong – The underdogs showed true grit to overcome Saints footy to get them over the line in the dying seconds. Showed the footy world they can still compete with the supposed top 4.
5. West Coast – A few men down near the end to get over the line is a great start for a team that many had placed in the bottom 4.
6. Carlton – A win many expected them to have. Goal-less in the 3rd term but a strong finish gets them over the line against a more spirited Richmond outfit.
7. Fremantle – Pace got them over the line as the competitive Lions were outrun by injuries and a few questionable umpiring decisions going their way.
8. Melbourne – A great fight back to secure a draw. I think they’d be more happy about taking the 2 points than Sydney.
9. Sydney – Sydney had the game won but shut out Goodes in the last half. Sydney then became no Goodes.
10. Brisbane Lions – Were brave. Injuries and questionable umpiring decisions struck hard. They really should have won. I don’t expect them to just drop away as many predict. They have some exciting kids coming through.
11. Richmond – The most spirited performance for the opening game by the Tiges in the last few years. Disappointing to let their momentum and lead slip dramatically in the last term but the Tigers spirit is there. Am expecting a much closer encounter against the Saints tonight than many are predicting.
12. Port Adelaide – Scoreboard aside they were very competitive against the reigning premiers. Let slip in the last 40min of the match but signs aren’t bad at all down at Port.
13. St Kilda – Another ‘Saints Footy’ display was on show on Friday night. They need a better structure pushing up forward, continually targeting Riewoldt against the Cats never works.
14. North Melbourne – They’d be disappointed not to get over the line when West Coast were a few men down after having a slight lead heading into the final term.
15. Hawthorn – Should be bitterly disappointed not to take home the 4 points after seemingly having the game under control being 30 points up near half time. Do we rate Hawks too highly? Hypothetically if they didn’t win the Grand Final in 2008 would we be expecting them to win all these games? Disappointment after disappointment.
16. Western Bulldogs – All the talk this week is about the Bombers. On the other end of the spectrum it’s the Doggies being belted by a team not many would have in the top 8 this year. They need to have a real hard look at themselves and produce a massive game this week against the Lions for all to see if they’re genuine contenders this year or not.
17. Gold Coast Suns – Haven’t made a name for themselves yet. This is their big week.

Think I’ve placed teams in the wrong spot? How would you rate the 17 sides after round 1? Leave your comment below!

Perhaps I’m being a little melodramatic, but the events that took place the evening  of March 26 at the Gabba were truly a disaster for the Brisbane Lions. We had a rough off-season – we had to sack two players for disciplinary reasons, our best and fairest winner and two other senior players walked out on the club, and the whole time our coach, our players and our whole club were getting bashed by all the goobers in the football media and most opinionated punters agreed with them.

But for Lions supporters there was always hope – Losing Fev was a blessing and Proud, Brennan and Sherman were inconsistent hacks who would never reach the potential the footy public seemed to think they had. A 2011 season in which Adcock, Maguire, Merrett, Drummond and Patfull didn’t miss extended periods would see our defence back to our 2009 best and in the three Rs (Rich, Redden and Rockliff) we have three of the most talented and underrated young midfielders in the business, and we still have Black and Power to guide them.

There was plenty of positive talk whispered between Lions fans under all the trash-talk from elsewhere, but it all came with one proviso: we NEED Browny. He was the one to kick the goals, straighten us up and steer the ship. When his nose got inverted into his head and his face was buried in the Gabba turf, you could hear 20,000 Lions supporters collectively yell ‘aw f—!’

To make matters worse we lost Staker as well. The one guy we could point to and say ‘See! Vossy’s not a complete nutbag! He can make a good trade!’ Feels bad man. After the rubbish we’ve been through this off-season, we really needed a win. To lose it in those circumstances was devastating. I haven’t seen a crowd that disappointed since the 2004 Grand Final.

It wasn’t all bad though. It was a gutsy effort for an inexperienced team to fight as hard as they did despite the injuries and kids like Bewick and Beams showed some goods. I also heard that when Browny headbutted the Earth, the whole planet shifted a fraction further away from the Sun, effectively solving that whole global warming thing. So thanks for that, Browny, and up yours Carbon Tax!

In just a bit over 24 hours season 2011 will be underway but before the first bounce I’m sure everyone will be making those last minute changes to dreamteam (I know I will), putting in their tips and getting the beers ready for a weekend of footy but I’d thought I would take some time out to give you my thoughts on how season 2011 will pan out and look back at the end of the footy season and see how all the predictions go, so here is my prediction:

The Final Ladder

1. Pies

2. Saints

3. Cats

4. Hawks

5. Swans

6. Dogs

7. Blues

8. Dockers

9. Bombers

10. Demons

11. Suns

12. Crows

13. Roos

14. Lions

15. Eagles

16. Port

17. Tigers

Brownlow: Dane Swan

Coleman: Lance Franklin

Rising Star: Gary Rohan

AA Captain: Luke Hodge

Norm Smith: Dale Thomas

Bradshaw Games/Goals: 16/Over 50

Dale Thomas Top 10 for Brownlow: I’ll say yes

First of all I’m going to address my tip for Bradshaw on how many games he will play and how many goals he will score as I’m sure the boys will give me a hard time about this but while he won’t play the first round it’s just going to be a week by week thing to see how he pulls up but I’m sure once he gets a few games under his belt his knee will be able to handle the workload.

Alot of people have the Gold Coast Suns coming 17^th but I think the chances of that happening are very unlikely, I believe while they will not come last they will not make the top eight at the same time.  I think that they will string a few wins together this year and I have placed them to come 11^th this year but over the next few years I think they will become an extremely good team.

For the other boys 2011 predictions check out the following:

• Sarge’s Ultimate Prediction Post for 2011
• Matty P’s 2011 Crystal Ball

The pre-season is finally coming to an end, so we can stop talking about schoolgirls, player managers and Fev’s darkest days and we can turn our attention to the real important stuff. The usual banter has been flying around amongst the boys and of course we’re all talking up our sides and predicting big things (this is particularly difficult this year as a Lions supporter), so like last year we’re making a point of documenting just how we think things will pan out for the 2011 season. Come season’s end we can look back and see how right or (much more likely) how wrong we were.

The 2010 crystal ball was a bit hazy for me, and thinks didn’t go precisely as  I thought, so this year I’ve given it a good polish. I can confidently say that everything I predict here comes with the Matty P guarantee – you can put the farm on these calls.

The Final Ladder (including finals)

1. Pies

2. Cats

3. Dogs

4. Hawks

5. Saints

6. Freo

7. North

8. Carlton

9. Swans

10. Lions

11. Port

12. Bombers

13. Crows

14. Eagles

15. Dees

16. Tiges

17. Suns

Brownlow: Luke Hodge

Coleman: Barry Hall

Rising Star: Jared Polec

AA Captain: Luke Hodge

Norm Smith: Dale Thomas

Bradshaw Games/Goals: 6/14

Dale Thomas Top 10 for Brownlow: No (Sarge and I have a wager, just making it official)

It may be a bit of a cop out just picking the reigning premiers to take it out again this year, but I really can’t see who is going to get over the top of the Pies in 2011. Late last year Collingwood looked just about unbeatable – the performance in the prelim against the Cats was just awesome, and to come back in the GF replay and blow the Saints away like they did shows they’re made of the right stuff. With the exception of Presti they really haven’t lost much in the off-season and they’ve got a bunch of younger guys who are only going to go forward in their development.

The cats at 2 might surprise a lot of people, but I’m expecting good things from them. If Bomber was as jaded as he says he was at the end of 2010, it can’t have been good for the club – I think a new coach and a fresh outlook will revitalise Geelong and they’ll still be thereabouts this year.

I’m tipping the Saints to slide a bit this year. They’ve proven to be just short of the mark for the last couple of years now with a team built around the likes of Riewoldt, Hayes, Goddard and Dal Santo. These guys are still great footballers, but they’re past the age where we can expect to see any improvement from them – I think 2011 is the year where we’ll start to see some of the younger sides catching up to the ageing Saints.

They’re probably no surprises at the other end of the ladder. The Suns inexperienced list will struggle at AFL level, and it’ll take them a while to find cohesion amongst the group. I think they’ll be waiting a while for their first win.

I think Captain Hodge is going to kick things up a notch this year. Obviously he’s already rated as one of the best in the business, but I think 2011 will be the year he stamps himself as one of the greats. Polec is a bit of a roughie for the Rising Star, but he’s a classy kid who’ll get games in the Lions struggling midfield. Besides, Brisbane has got to win something.

Once again, Sarge and Beno the challenge is issued to make your own predictions. If anyone disagrees with me feel free to comment and let me know why and I will tell you why you are wrong.

For the other boys 2011 predictions check out the following:

• Sarge’s Ultimate Prediction Post for 2011
• Beno’s 2011 Predictions Post

1. Collingwood 5W 0L
2. Hawthorn 4W 1L
3. Essendon 3W 1L 1D
4. Adelaide 3W 2L
5. Sydney 3W 2L
6. Carlton 3W 2L
7. Western Bulldogs 3W 2L
8. West Coast 3W 2L
9. Geelong 3W 2L
10. St Kilda 2W 2L 1D
11. Port Adelaide 2W 3L
12. Brisbane 2W 3L
13. North Melbourne 2W 3L
14. Melbourne 2W 3L
15. Gold Coast 2W 3L
16. Fremantle 1W 4L
17. Richmond 1W 4L

Now before you get your knickers in a knot I know NAB cup means nothing, just look at how Carlton performed when they won the NAB cup in 05 and 07 (claiming the wooden spoon and 15th spot those years). Having said that, I think it’s pretty safe to say that Collingwood aren’t going to win the spoon this year and there’s a fair chance that Richmond and Gold Coast will probably be looking at the bottom end of the ladder. In fact the last 7 teams in this NAB form guide I’ve created, apart from maybe Fremantle, will probably miss the 8 this year.

Worrying signs based on preseason for mine would be – Fremantle, Melbourne and Richmond. To a lesser extent St Kilda and Geelong.

Good signs based on preseason form would be – Essendon, Hawthorn and Adelaide.

Winning form is good form, preseason or not. I bet a lot of people will be putting Essendon a bit higher on their predicted ladder than where they had them 2-3 months ago. Even Ross Lyon is getting a worried about the Saints form heading into the regular season.

Will the form of the NAB cup alter your predicted ladder for 2011? Or will you dismiss it entirely? Personally I think there are some things we can read from it but you may have to dive deeper than a form ladder to find it.

As a cats fan in Brisbane I rarely see any cats game live. I’d much rather see my team playing every week on TV, even if it is a practice match than this preseason knock out competition. Apart from reading articles I’d like to be able to give my own opinion on the kids we’re blooding and get a feel for how we’re traveling in the lead up for round 1. The majority of clubs can’t do this with this knock out format. They care about how THEIR team is traveling.

No, they’re probably not all willing to travel to a country town for a practice game but given the opportunity to watch their team play live in the comfort of their own home – sure!

Big kudos to those clubs that were able to stream the footy live online for the Nab Challenge games. A step in the right direction! I’m sure the AFL could figure out a way to make some advertising dollars by showing games live/replay online also while improving the online live coverage of online games in future.

Also just on the numbers for the NAB Cup. Yes, the numbers may be down a bit on previous years (didn’t help charging $20 for entry, even for NAB Challenge games) but surely we would have been competitive still with the NRL on a regular season?

Get people in for free and have booths inside selling merch, club and AFL memberships! Get people going to the AFL (hey it’s free why not) if they like what they see they may consider going back during the regular season or even buying a membership.

Final answer to your question where would I like to see my team on a Friday night? Answer – If not within a reasonable distance from where I live, then LIVE on TV!

Now to answer Sarge’s prediction that Sydney won’t make the 8, Sarge you need to learn a few more things about footy because you are way off the mark with those little boy comments, but i accept your challenge and i propose that when the Swans make the 8 at the end of the footy season that you pay the bill for my Sydney Swans membership for 2012 and that’s not all you must forego your cats membership for 2012 and be a Swans member that year and the same will go if they don’t make the 8 i will pay for your cats membership and i will also become a member, but I’m so confident that we will make the 8.

Outside of my team’s performance it was a cracker of a season. We saw the rise of Collingwood, the fall of Essendon, the continued middle-of-the-road blandness of the Kangaroos. Some young guns came through, and some old dogs went out. So many great moments, but I’ve boiled it down to a top five best moments, be warned there’s a bit a Brisbane slant:

5. Browny blowing Carlton away - To see the contrast between Carlton fans huffing and puffing about Fev before the game then crying about Browny tearing them a new one (again) in round 2 was beautiful. 21 touches, 12 marks and 7 goals. The man is a legend.

4. Melbourne Collingwood draw - I will always remember this game. One of the greats. Collingwood play an entertaining, free-running style of footy and they were so close to being beaten by a young Melbourne side at their own game. There’s no neutral supporter’s when Collingwood’s involved and this one was heart-breaking for 90%  of fans.

3. Goddard in the drawn grand final - Tough, gutsy and brutal, but also pure class in probably the most intense game I have ever seen. How he did not win Normie I have no idea. Not that I’m complaining – I made a pretty penny on Lenny.

2. Sydney getting their pants pulled down by Melbourne - I’m just happy I could be a part of this one. Could not have asked for a better game to sit by my good friend Beno. Watching Sydney suffer their biggest defeat under Paul Roos and Benson’s reaction was priceless.

1. Fev’s 4 second half goals to sink the Pies - Home and away games do not get better than this one. A packed house at the Gabba, our star recruit kicks a bunch of assy goals to steal victory from the bad guys, snapping a five game losing streak in the process. All I could think after this game was ‘this is why I love footy’.

The Dizzying Highs

On a personal level, 2010 has been a huge success for Matty P. Dream Team was a huge focus for us Footy High boys this year, although I’m not sure why. It was and always has been a foregone conclusion that I would be the premier. I paced myself in the lower half of the eight all season, just biding my time – building the ultimate team of Septemer (or August) specialists. The mighty Mashers pulled an Adelaide ’98 effort winning the flag from 5th, bundling Sarge’s zeros and Beno’s Wangstaz out of the finals in the process. How sweet it is.

But that’s not my only huge success. The final tally in the $100 betting challenge looks a little something like this:

Matty P – $195.41

Sarge – <$1

Beno – DNF

I am truly a legendary punter and I’m going to pull a Joe Namath and guarantee victory in this same contest next year.

The Crushing Lows

It wasn’t all roses though. If we look back in time my start of season predictions were not so super.

Premiers: WRONG

Brownlow: WRONG

Coleman: WRONG

Rising Star: WRONG

Norm Smith: WRONG

AA Captain: WRONG

Well if there’s one thing a Lions supporter has learned from 2010 is that you can’t win them all.

I’ll admit I have an asschin the footyhigh experiment, while a bunch of fun has been a bit inconsistent. I’ll make a few posts in the off-season, just to keep my fitness up, but next year it’ll be back and I promise better than ever. More impassioned opinions, biased rants, putting shit on Beno and most of all, more footy!