AFL 2011 Finals Series

[SuBMiSSioN]

[SammerTX]

FAIL1_Epic_Fails_and_Wins-s550x414-59464-580.jpg

[Tay_]

Is footy on live tomorrow night?

It's a couple of days away still. It will depend on ticket sales and what Ch 7 wants to do with its beloved Better Homes & Gardens.

Gastro puts Lance 'Buddy' Franklin in quarantine

HAWTHORN last night dismissed growing speculation about Lance Franklin's availability against Collingwood on Friday after the star forward spent time in hospital.

The Hawks declared Franklin's suspect right knee was 100 per cent and said an attack of gastro was easing. Franklin has been quarantined from teammates as a precaution against the virus spreading.

Hawthorn was forced to admit the Coleman medallist had visited Cabrini Hospital after he failed to train yesterday.

Franklin also missed Monday's All-Australian function, where he was named at full-forward.

Franklin was administered anti-nausea medication at hospital.

He raced the clock to recover from a jarred knee and bone bruising before kicking four goals in Friday's semi-final win against Sydney, but Hawks football manager Mark Evans said he was unconcerned by Franklin's second successive unconventional preparation

"His knee is fine. He had a bit of a walk today and he did meet with our doctor and took a bit of medication this afternoon," he said yesterday. "We expect he will train (later this week).

"He will play Friday night. It is gastro but he should be fine."

Franklin's knee pulled up well from the semi-final, with the spearhead running the day after. The Hawks believe it will have improved even more by Friday night.

Key pair Ben Stratton and Paul Puopolo will also play despite not finishing on-field in the victory over Sydney.

Stratton was subbed off to rest his knee, while Puopolo hobbled off with a severe hamstring cramp.

"It was always our plan that Stratton might only play three quarters, all things being equal, and then we would give him a rest," Evans said.

"Puopolo looked really awkward with the way he cramped high in the hamstring and groin, but he's fine so there are no dramas."

Franklin's teammate Jordan Lewis said the Hawks were "just managing" the full-forward's preparation, adding that no other player had been affected by the Buddy bug.

"That's why they wanted to keep him inside - it's one of those illnesses that tends to spread, but he's on top of it now and ready to go," Lewis said.

"I think he's made friends with the toilet bowl the last couple of days, but he's fine. There's no doubt he'll play this week."

Franklin looked little or no chance to play this time last week before confounding all to take the field against Sydney and kick four goals

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/af...-1226142191050

[Tay_]

Hawks don't lose Grand Finals.

Let's hope they get there first! They'll need a huge improvement from last week to get over the Pies.

[Tay_]

Yep its live...Better Homes & Gardens has been moved to Saturday night

[carol_au]

My Predictions

This week
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW9z7NVgXyI&NR=1

Next week

http://youtu.be/FDwRKNjmUYo(turn music down)

[SammerTX]

Let's hope they get there first! They'll need a huge improvement from last week to get over the Pies.

Yes of course, I was just saying history has shown when they make it to the GF with a full side, they don't let the flag slip.

As for Friday's game, it should be a great contest.

[Abu Dujana]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbGsN7Jvzds

An eagle can see the fine print of a newspaper 1.5km away! with the option of viewing in black & white only. Also has 8 times the clarity of the human eye... one word - subhanAllah!

[carol_au]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbGsN7Jvzds

An eagle can see the fine print of a newspaper 1.5km away! with the option of viewing in black & white only. Also has 8 times the clarity of the human eye... one word - subhanAllah!

Thanks brother.. I shared this with my sons.. they may have seen it.. they are really excited and have great seats to watch the game on Saturday.. win or lose.. the team has done so well this year..

Love that clip btw.. the eagle is such a majestic bird.

[Tay_]

LANCE "Buddy" Franklin will resume training with Hawthorn tomorrow, having shaken off a stomach bug.

Franklin was quarantined from his team mates on Monday and Tuesday after he was hit by a bout of gastro.

The bout of illness followed Franklin staging a remarkable recovery from a knee injury to play in Hawthorn's semi-final win over the Sydney Swans last Friday night

Hawks football manager Mark Evans said the club's medical staff swooped in quick to ensure the star forward would bounce back from another set back.

"It's no longer a concern for us," Evans said.

"What tends to happen when a player gets something is that you react very quickly so the recovery is quick.

"If it's right at the front of the week then it's normally no big fuss or drama and we've been low fuss about it for all off the week."

Franklin visited Malvern's Cabrini Hospital yesterday after he failed to train with the team. He also missed the AFL All-Australian awards on Monday night.

Evans said Franklin did some light training in isolation on Tuesday, but had recovered to do more vigorous exercises today.

"Today's a players day off for us, so he did his training session this morning and he will be back in tomorrow," Evans said

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-new...#ixzz1YaaGMhQl

[Fringe]

Quiet a few "Birds" in the footy finals this year....Eagles, Hawks & Magpies. A coincidence?

I am wondering if a certain bird will "swoop" down as it is the swooping season for some - or for the birds to pluck each other and claim the title "TheBird of Prey".

It could all mean nothing if the "big bad cat" decides to eat all the birds.

[carol_au]

Have to laugh. . they have two Eagles protecting the MCG tonight from Seagulls so the Magpies and Hawkes can play safely

[Sammi]

Go hawks!!!

[Abdraheim]

hawks in front 65 to 61!!!!!! yessss

[Abdraheim]

noooooooooooooooooooooooo woods 67 to 65

[Abdraheim]

p68 to h65 =((

[Abdraheim]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOO

full time~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! magpooos 68 hawks 65 =(

[Tay_]

That was an unacceptable performance from Hawthorn; the whole year went to waste. They copped some terrible umpiring decisions in the last quarter, but that aside, they let Collingwood in the game.

Also the Ch 7 commentary team need to understand the game a little better. 53 seconds left in the 2nd quarter, and they were talking about Collingwood getting the lead...they were 8 pts down at the time. Did they really think Collingwood would score 2 goals in 53 seconds or was that them being bias? oh well...

Geelong to be premiers.

[SammerTX]

Yeah bodgy free kicks on both sides though Tay. Burgoyne should have been penalised for a throw and they let it go. Hodge, clearly around the neck, should have gotten that too but that's footy.

Seriously, I've said all year Shoenmakers is an absolute 7umaar.

He cost the Hawks the game by dropping a chest mark an 8 yr old can take.

Buddy kicks a miracle goal to put them in front, 2 mins to go and the hack drops the mark with no Collingwood player even spoiling him, Pies end up scoring and its all over, hahah.

I laughed at the sheer stupidity of that guy.

[Tay_]

Yeah bodgy free kicks on both sides though Tay. Burgoyne should have been penalised for a throw and they let it go. Hodge, clearly around the neck, should have gotten that too but that's footy.

Seriously, I've said all year Shoenmakers is an absolute 7umaar.

He cost the Hawks the game by dropping a chest mark an 8 yr old can take.

Buddy kicks a miracle goal to put them in front, 2 mins to go and the hack drops the mark with no Collingwood player even spoiling him, Pies end up scoring and its all over, hahah.

I laughed at the sheer stupidity of that guy.

Shoenmakers was woeful tonight overall. He completely messed things up

The other terrible non decision was the bear hug that Gibson was given in the goal square with the ball sailing over his head. All that was left was for the Collingwood player to give him a kiss, because he was all over him otherwise and he didn't have the ball. Imagine if Razor Ray was umpiring!

Again shame on the Hawks for letting this game slip