Well there it is, another year, another season of the Freo enigma wrapped in a bow and delivered neatly to history's door step. Now things start to get very interesting don't they.
Wednesday's Wiz Watch has officially begun. Will they or won't they give him another year? I hope they do.
The Carr Conundrum is also going to keep it interesting too. I, for one, don't understand all the hand wringing going on about this. We got 66% of his best years and now he wants to go. He won't be the loss some are saying on the main board, nor should he be the object of scorn. He was a big part of the group that, let's face it, let us and themselves down on so many occasions. It's not all his fault but if he doesn't want to be part of the solution then he is a part of the problem..."SEEYA!".
Last week I promised that I would comment on what I believed we needed to fix in order to rise up quickly again next year. The truth is not many, if any, would be interested so I'll break that promise. I can hear the disappointment
This week I have graded each of the bottom 8 sides (on the ladder, not on my rankings). Not much point in grading the finalists as they are still working on their results. On with the final version for 2008...
1(1) SURPRISE!! Just a lovely gift from them to us to finish the year. Although he looks 55, Gablett is only 24. He's not much younger than the rest of his influential teammates either. That is a little intimidating is it not?
2(2) Hawks. Hope and pray that these guys don't have a Shannon Motlop moment and choke in the early finals. They are our only hope for a contested GF. Great to see Buddy's 100 celebrations on the weekend, I loved the guy who ran out with a sign that read "F**k the AFL" too.
3(3) Bullies. These guys will make some of the other finals fun to watch. Although the blushing and mincing Braddy Johnson annoys the bejeesus out of me at times (usually when playing against us) it will be nice to see him playing in some games that really matter.
4(6) Saints. Hard to keep them out of the top 4 in the middle of, or at the end of this impressive run of form. I guess it's not too surprising that come the end of the season the actual top 4 and the Dolphin top 4 look the same.
5(7) Richmond. Now this is a surprise. A totally meaningless surprise to Tigers fans but it is impossible to argue that on current form, these guys aren't in the top group. Let us all hope we see Polly begin preseason with them. Seasons Grade B+.
6(9) Adelaide. A big rise after last week's big drop. Do you really think they'd be that upset about not playing Geelong in Melbourne this week? I know it makes the second week of the finals more difficult but at least if they win they go on with some momentum. It would seem to make the GF impossible though.
7(4) Roos. That game should not have surprised us too much. It did give Laidley a chance to give a totally ridiculous blame shifting speech afterwards. He has risen past goose status this year. He is now a top deck $%^&.
8(5) Collingwood. Man those blokes are average. We have it tough as supporters of Freo, but consider this. Imagine life as a Collingwood fan, not only do you have your horrible life to wake up too as your wife/sister/cousin lights a dooby in bed and kicks the kids out of the van for the morning shower under the neighbor's sprinklers. However you also have to rely on the floppiest bunch of ponces imaginable to bring you finals glory. Cloke? Thomas? Fraser? RShaw? Goldsack? Good luck with that.
9(10)Sydney. We've all seen vision of a marathon runner who is doing a drunken break-dance due to sheer exhaustion as they stumble across the finish line. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the 2008 Sydney Swans.
10(8) Carlton. A very average finish to the season but a season that they will rightly see as a success. Hopefully they make a hard play for Warnock. Robbie's going to be a very expensive backup for us, where a pick and a player may be much better value in the long run. As long as that player is not Cloke. Who then? You're right. Make it 2 picks. Season Grade B.
11(13) Freo. Much better 2nd half of the season which gives the annual ray of hope to those of us amongst the chosen. This ray may be more substantial than those in the past as the number of positives and potential is spread across more than a few areas. It will be an interesting off season. Bring on the drafts. Do we gamble on Nattman? How late can we pick up Ballantyne? Season Grade D+.
12(14) Port. Great result on the weekend. Thanks to them from the Dolphin family because they came through big for me on my Freo-Port-Hawks-Adel "All-up" at the TAB. Now if the rumors about Krakouer wanting to come home are true then the Carr situation will be even more interesting. Straight swap? I'd take that. Season Grade F.
13(11) Lions. They lost plenty of games in the latter part of the season and now they apparently have lost their Premiership coach. Could the Toast "recruiting coup" last all of 1 month? Vossy to Brissie anyone? Season Grade C.
14(12) Essendon. What a spectacularly limp finish to the year. Not the proper send off for Ramma. By contrast, splinters on the butt as his team gets crushed was a perfect end to another season of Lloyd flopping as a Captain. Season Grade C-.
15(15) Dees. In any other season since Fitzroy they would have been the AFL's worst. I can't help but like Dean Bailey. Good bye to Jeff and Adam, I guess you'll be missed. It is a long way back for this club. Season Grade D-.
16(16) Worst Team Ever. I have had a few cracks at this mob this year. Some I've enjoyed, some have come from anger. Maybe I went too hard too early but I really have nothing left for them. Suffice to say, let me now thank the 2008 Scumbags, you and your knob-less, characterless coach have given me and many others so much pleasure this year. On the field you have performed with all the heart of the guys who play the Harlem Globetrotters every night and off the field you have turned cynical diversion in to a sickeningly regular event. If you can climb back up the mountain and become simply a goofy bunch of losers by the middle of next year, you will have travelled far. Season Grade F-.