If there's ever any doubt, there is no doubt

Last week Geelong went down to the Saints on a half free kick, they haven’t lost two games in a row since Henry Playfair was prominently involved and Freo haven’t played at the MCG ALL FRICKIN’ YEAR! I mean, really, did anyone, besides attention seeking assholes making the ‘anti’ pick, actually convince themselves of a Fremantle win?

The Semi-Final was merely a matter of getting through without injury and/or report (check, but close) and finding some form and confidence (double check). No, the test was always going to be the up-coming Prelim where Collingwood presents a very different, and to state the obvious, much more difficult challenge.

Here are some random thoughts on the Fremantle game, the up-coming Collingwood game and various other things.

• The Geelong forward line, nay, team looks 20% better with Podsy in it. When he started limping off in the 2nd quarter my heart needed to be manually restarted. Luckily someone at the bar had the correct iphone app.

• Interesting decision by Freo to play Aaron Sandilands. He was invisible up forward and around the ground he was moving slower than a Filipino SWAT team.

• I was pretty surprised about the dropping of Mackie but Muscles hasn’t been great for a while now. He’s like ‘Entourage’, trading on good form from two seasons ago.

• His replacement however, ‘Beans’ Lonergan, doesn’t exactly fill one with confidence. I mean, eventually even deer move out of the headlights, right?

• Just when Mark Harvey had most people fooled, he picks Des ‘Mirage’ Headland for the biggest game of their season, when he hadn’t played seniors since round four and a decent game since 2001. This was such a ridiculous, panic move that I can’t even think of a flimsy analogous gag.

• Did you see the shots of Max Rooke sitting in the stands? I think I would pay $2000 to spend a night drinking with him. I’m not even joking.

• I know Shaun McManus retired a couple of years ago but I didn’t realise that the Dockers had given his hair a new 3-year deal.

• Coming soon to Youtube: “The flying Wojcinski: part 3”

• Does anyone else get the feeling that Travis Varcoe is beginning to realise that, “hey, I might actually be good at this!”?

• Paul ‘Snapman’ might get the “Mr September” tag, but has ‘Tickets’ ever disappointed in a big game?

• Games like the Freo one always remind me just how deep Geelong run in the midfield. Ablett, Bartel, Selwood and Kelly were all outstanding, while Corey, Wojo and Varcoe were all extremely important. Not to mention Chappy and Steve Johnson, who went into the centre in the 4th quarter and actually looked good with some smart clearance work. (Oh, and how good was his no-look handpass? I don’t like showing opponents up after the game is all but over, but I did get a kick outta that.)

• The good thing about the Matthew Knights firing was that at least it didn’t come two seasons too late and after they’d given him a completely undeserved extension at over $800 000 a season… Oh, wait…

• The good thing about Brad Johnson’s retirement was that at least it didn’t come a season too late and after it derailed the Bulldogs season and forced his manager to make a ridiculous excuse like getting hit with a slow-moving golf-cart was the real problem… Oh, wait…

• Hey, did you guys know that apparently Brett Kirk was the “heart & soul” of the Sydney Swans? I had no idea!

• Joel Corey at halfback seems to be working out well (but who’s his match-up against Collingwood?) which means it’s harder to squeeze Mackie back in. If I were a Geelong nightclub bouncer I’d be on high alert.

• Lips has started early this week, calling Collingwood jealous of Geelong’s recent success. I believe Mick Malthouse responded with “are not!”

• I would like to unreservedly apologise for that last joke. Even ‘Lehmo’ would have left that one on the cutting room floor.

• Actually, ‘Lehmo’ would have run with it and followed it up with “then he ran home and told his mum” as the applause light flashes furiously in an attempt to drown out the sound of a lifeless mule getting flogged, Dave Hughes groaning and Mick Molloy pining for Tony Martin to save his career again.

• Good thinking by Mick Malthouse to launch his website this week, he’ll have plenty of time to update it after Friday. (Seriously, what is the point of it? The only thing I hope happens is that he uses it to continually undermine Nathan Buckley next season, which I wouldn’t past him.)

• Is anyone really worried about Chris Dawes? He sounds like an electrician. And is being described as “Koschitzke-like” supposed to be a compliment or insult? Have we decided this yet?

• And finally, Godspeed Big League readers, something tells me this one is going to 2007-esque. Better update that apple De-fib app.