Post GF. Pies pipped in GF thriller - All comments please.

[tbaker]

[Magpietothemax]

[lanstro]

Day 3, and I'm now close to coming to terms with it. When it's just 5 measly points, there are just so many what ifs and buts. No doubt the umpiring could have been a bit friendlier to us, no doubt a few of our stars could have done a little bit more, no doubt the ball could have bounced a little more kindly for us, no doubt the rain could have come a little earlier and harder for our benefit, and no doubt I'd have loved to have seen how we'd have done with Moore or Reid in. I'm a bit disappointed that after a fantastic season, we failed to take our chances on the most important day yet again. I've accepted that overperforming in the finals and then losing in the granny is just part and parcel of supporting this team.

At the end of the day though, it was a cracking game and it was a fantastic year. WC were the better team for most of the day and they deserved the win. Apart from getting the jump on them and the first minute of the last quarter, we were outplayed. Their defence and their grit all day were supreme. They beat us 3 times this year. I'm disappointed that we didn't manage to pull this premiership heist off, but I'm close to accepting the loss. I'm sure the club leaders will do a proper post mortem and identify how they can improve next year. In time I will remember this year with the same fondness as 2002.

The two highlights for me this year has firstly been the massive improvements almost across the entire playing list, particularly in our second tier players like Crisp, Langdon, Cox, WHE, Mayne, Adams, etc etc. I have been pleased to see so many of the whipping boys step up and play so well in the finals. Secondly the mental strength of the group in overcoming all the injuries through the year and making it this far gives me real hope for continued improvements in the next few years. How good is it to watch the footy knowing that even if we were to lose, you are still guaranteed that the boys put in everything and left it all out on the field? It's not always like this.

It gets better. We'll be back next year. Go pies!

[Mr Miyagi]

Luck luck luck. The ball just scraping Jetta's shin made it 5-2 instead of 5-1 at the Q1 break.

[RudeBoy]

While we suffered due to our deficiencies in the big man department, the fact is our midfielders got beaten, particularly in the last quarter, as they have each time we've played the Eagles. This was disappointing, as it was the key area where I thought we would dominate.

I put this down to Pendles not being fully fit, and Sier being unable to play games out. Hopefully next year, Pendles will have a relatively injury/illness free season, Sier will be stronger and fitter, and we will be able to use De Goey more in the midfield, where he is best suited.

[HAL]

I can wait. I am a very patient .

[daics aka the ruckman]

At the end of the game I texted mates "Not Happy - but Happy". Sure, we lost but we gave it a bloody good go. Better than three previous grand finalists.
We were beaten by a team that had previously beaten us twice and we narrowed the margin in the third game.
I am still happy about our year of achievement and the growth of our coach and players.
Given that West Coast lost in 2015 and won in 2018 I can see a rosy future for the pies.

[MagpieWhisperer35]

Its gone. The part of you that dies in a Grand Final loss, let alone a typical Collingwood style heart breaker, the grief is ripping through every cell in the body.
Starting to seriously question the legitimacy and integrity of the AfL after seeing so many bullsh*$#t decisions, and yet aren't we the kings of giving an opposition enough of a sniff to allow these painful outcomes.
As soon as we got 5 goals up, that old familiar fear arrived, and I knew and started praying.
Bucks and the players and the club must be congratulated however the penny is starting to drop, we are the bunnies of the AFL, they want us in it, but not winning it.
Yes we are suckers all right.

[Ev5Magpies]

I still feel sick thinking about this loss. Even worse when the final result was based on an umpires error. We shouldn't have let it get to that point though.

In saying that, who knows if we had iced the game in that last 2 mins... So many if & buts..

I'm not as sour as I was yesterday, but will burn for a while yet like most on here.

[Flag_It]

It was an amazing effort to make the GF and get within 6 points of a Premiership given it wasn't meant to be our year due to injuries, poor umpiring, etc. The team showed more spirit and determination than the rest of the comp this season.
I do wish the AFL was not so accepting of umpiring errors, because it may have cost Pies 2 flags now (1979, 2018).

[think positive]

[think positive]

[RudeBoy]

[BazBoy]

Mr September Steele Sidebottom snare,s the Gary Ayres best finals player

Sidebottom 23 votes

Tay Adams 18 votes

Jack Redden 17 votes

[5 from the wing on debut]