03-05-2018, 06:30 AM
(03-05-2018, 01:37 AM)PaulP link Wrote:Finding a way to win is the sign of a good team. A team that has just won a flag is never "not that good." Whether you perceive them as blue chip or blue collar is not relevant.
If they have as many plonkers, plodders and b-graders as some suggest, then their recent flag entitles them to more respect, not less.
When a team with too much talent wins a flag, that gets poo-pooed because well, of course they're going to win with so many A graders - even I could coach team X to a flag with that talent. When a team of plonkers win a flag, then it's because they got lucky, competition was average, GF opponent had an off day etc.
Winning a flag is incredibly hard. Any team that does so is very good. Period.
While i don't disagree with the majority of what you wrote, i think you (and some others) have missed the major reason the Tigers won the flag.
They had basically ZERO injuries all year.
Cotchin (25)
Martin (25)
Grigg (25)
Rance (25)
Rioli (25)
Astbury (25)
Castagna (25)
Ellis (25)
Grimes (25)
Nankervis (24)
Lambert (24)
McIntosh (24)
Riewoldt (23)
Butler (23)
Caddy (22)
Prestia (22)
Houli (21)* Missed games because of suspension for KO'ing Lamb from memory
Edwards (20)
That is 18 players that played 20 or more games from their grandfinal side. Half of them, played all 25!
Doing the maths, it means that only 4 players from their Grand Final side played less than 20 games for the year.
That is simply unheard of.
So yes, they got lucky.....because they didn't get any injuries!