Can the dogs win the flag from 7th on the ladder?

[Doggies_2008]

GWS easily. I can't see the Bulldogs beating them in Sydney.

True, just like no one saw us beating west coast at subi or Hawks at the G aye?

 

[volcboy]

As a Geelong supporter, I'd love to see a Geelong/Bulldogs grand final. Selfishly because we match up well with them and would have a better chance of winning than against GWS. Unselfishly because, if we lost that game, I could live with it, having spent the first 34 years of my life watching Geelong get so close to a premiership only to fall at the last/second last hurdle, and remembering the pure joy of finally winning it all in 2007. The doggies supporters deserve to see their side win it all.

Good luck to them next week - the GWS tide will hopefully be held back for another year at least.

 

[ESKIE]

Dog are a chance definitely, GWS go in as deserved favourites but gee Dog are in it up to their necks, anything can happen, Dogs by 5 points

I hope !

 

[footyfan1978]

It's already been said, but this is a new situation with the bye before finals. The Dogs then also received a decent gap between Week 1 and 2 in the finals. And again have 7-8 days till the prelim. The physical difficulty in winning 4 finals has been lessened.

Also, the top 4 is usually a notch above the rest, and that simple fact is a large reason why one of them has always prevailed in recent memory. But this year there are no clear standouts in the last 6 (now 5) sides standing.

I wouldn't count the Dogs (or Adelaide) out based on what has happened in past finals series, this year could be that year which is different. I certainly hope it is anyway.

Yep, you have grasped the situation we find the season in right now.
Rare time a side from Elimination Finals has a realistic hope of not just making grand final but possibly winning too.
That bye before week one is crucial for them. Winning 4 cut throat finals with no break has proven way too tough in past.
This is the year to break the historical hold the Qualifying Finalists have held on the premierships chances for years.

 

[STeeLhawk]

I'm 32 years old, and regardless of what happens with the results of the rest of the finals, there will be a team in the GF that I've never seen play a Grand Final before...

Ditto; and though as a Hawks fan I'm sad about the loss, as a footy fan I'm totally thrilled to see the Grand Final this year, and reckon that the prelim this year should be an awesome game!

 

[chiwigi]

Worries me that they'll get there and then get belted like others have before them from similar positions.

Bloody hope so!

 

[00Stinger]

Nope

Sent from my SM-P555 using Tapatalk

 

[Costanza_]

The Dogs this year were always better than 7th. Injuries cost them a top 4 spot but with some personnel back for September they have made the 7th place finish irrelevant.

I dont see GWS getting stage fright, not on what they showed last week. They will start raging favourites at home. But if any team can beat them I reckon it will be the Dogs with their frenetic, attack at all costs style. Should be a cracking game.

 

[Gavin Excell]

As a Geelong supporter, I'd love to see a Geelong/Bulldogs grand final. Selfishly because we match up well with them and would have a better chance of winning than against GWS. Unselfishly because, if we lost that game, I could live with it, having spent the first 34 years of my life watching Geelong get so close to a premiership only to fall at the last/second last hurdle, and remembering the pure joy of finally winning it all in 2007. The doggies supporters deserve to see their side win it all.

Good luck to them next week - the GWS tide will hopefully be held back for another year at least.

Melbourne town will be rocking grand final week if Dogs can make it

Be fantastic.

 

[HolyWars]

I just hope they don't burn out next week. Their finals series has a lot of Hawthorn 08 about it.

Get em' Dogs!

 

[rhys_22]

I think the gws will play in the grand final i can't see the dogs beating them up at spotless but you never know.

 

[ArjenTheGreat]

I think this dogs side is close to and has what it takes to overtake the north side of 2014 to 2015.

You are much better than us....Wells would have been handy last year, but even still, we only beat Richmond/Sydney away.

 

[Rodney Dangerfield]

Oh, so a team has made it in from outside the top four but lost? Or is this under a different system?

Not sure about the top 4. Teams have won it from outside the top 4.
Crows twice.
I more meant just everything the dogs have been through this year really doing it the hard way to get there.
I hope not. I hope you win it.

 

[Rodney Dangerfield]

No team from elimination final has ever had this run though.
The others that made it like Collingwood in 1980, Essendon in 1983 and Melbourne in 1988 did not have a weeks break before 4 straight knockout finals. They meet other teams on grand final day that had earned a rest and were fresher and ready for them.
That will not be the case in 2016. Doggies had a rest before these four matches and given their young legs very hard to see them finding the 4th game in 4 weeks as tough as others did in 1980, 83 and 88. Those teams got crushed.

That's a great point. I just had their unlucky season in my mind.

 

[LeverPuller]

No bottom-half-of-the-eight side has made the grand final in the new system.

 

[Brunswick Trap King]

True, just like no one saw us beating west coast at subi or Hawks at the G aye?

Entirely irrelevant.

Or do you think Bulldogs will now win every match that they're tipped to lose in perpetuity?

 

[ArjenTheGreat]

No bottom-half-of-the-eight side has made the grand final in the new system.

Should really be be broken into what teams in the last 20 years have played
4 finals and become premiers (Hawks 2015, Pies 2010, Eagles 2006, Crows 97/98).

It's do able.

 

[demondavey]

GWS are absolutely box seated for next week, will be very hard to beat.

Stage fright wise they probably have as much finals experience as the Dogs anyway.

Great post. Stage fright not an issue as both sides are both inexperienced come finals. It really comes down to the fatigue Factor, which side brings the best intensity, and who can take stock of opportunity.

 

[BRWB]

Entirely irrelevant.

Or do you think Bulldogs will now win every match that they're tipped to lose in perpetuity?

Yep exactly.

Let your hate flow freely.

 

[WCE Wizard]

Geelong to win this year.

2017 will be the year of the Dog.

See I think once you are in a prelim you have to take your chance an win it look at Freo and WCE both made grandfinals and lost. You are not guaranteed to make a GF every year. That Hawthorn team is a once in a generation team. Both GWS and WB have to make it count and take their chance with 18 teams in the comp winning flags is dam hard.

 

[WCE Wizard]

The giants have a powerhouse forward set up with Lobb, Cameron, Patton throwing in their running machines of Smith, Scully, Ward, Conglinio, Green, Whitfield, Josh Kelly. However the doggies are contested ball beats with the Bont, Daniel, Dalhaus, Hunter, Mclean Macrae, Picken

Should be a ripper

 

[WCE Wizard]

lost 2 of their last 3 games there to collingwood and west coast. No stevie j, who usually does a number on us. They're gettable for sure.

Keep writing us off though.

They are gettable mate in a final anyone is gettable its a very even game if your boys play the way you did in the last two weeks you will be in it for for sure.

 

[Brunswick Trap King]

Yep exactly.

Let your hate flow freely.

I'm not sure that Bulldogs can get past the prelims either. Traditionally that's a tough ask for your club.

GWS by 40+

 

[Sully90]

Should really be be broken into what teams in the last 20 years have played
4 finals and become premiers (Hawks 2015, Pies 2010, Eagles 2006, Crows 97/98).

It's do able.

Sydney 05 as well.

 

[BRWB]

I'm not sure that Bulldogs can get past the prelims either. Traditionally that's a tough ask for your club.

GWS by 40+

Yes very insightful on the Dogs and Prelims. You could be the first person to mention it...

Not that it makes a difference but given your form on predicting the Dogs - you predicting us to lose, well it just feels like the last two weeks.

Playing on a cow paddock in front of 24k with a NAB cup atmosphere in a rugby/soccer town won't even feel like a prelim, so prelim form doesn't count. Not that they're a different team or anything though...