Do you think Freo is a Premiership contender ?

[Swan4Life]

Good side and I wouln't rule them out.

But by geez they've had the softest draw in the history of the AFL by the length of the Flemington straight. They have played the top 5 teams (Geelong, Essendon, Sydney, Collingwood & Hawthorn) once.

 

[Sanecow]

Not in the next eternity.

 

[benfica]

Good side and I wouln't rule them out.

But by geez they've had the softest draw in the history of the AFL by the length of the Flemington straight. They have played the top 5 teams (Geelong, Essendon, Sydney, Collingwood & Hawthorn) once.

geez coming from a team who gets cost of living allowance even though perth is the most expensive city in australia and you get to play gws twice

 

[FrancisX]

Why must we bring umpires into this discussion"

 

[Darcy 2 Fyfe]

Good side and I wouln't rule them out.

But by geez they've had the softest draw in the history of the AFL by the length of the Flemington straight. They have played the top 5 teams (Geelong, Essendon, Sydney, Collingwood & Hawthorn) once.

Haha, you guys have been propped up more than Hugh Hefner's nudger by the AFL, and continue to be so.

 

[im_a_lazy_sod]

Good side and I wouln't rule them out.

But by geez they've had the softest draw in the history of the AFL by the length of the Flemington straight. They have played the top 5 teams (Geelong, Essendon, Sydney, Collingwood & Hawthorn) once.

This is probably the nicest draw we have ever had but I wouldn't call it the softest draw in the history of the AFL

We haven't played Hawthorn or Sydney at Subi consistently for donkeys years and it didn't change this year - if we had all of the top 5 teams at home then yeah, maybe you'd have a case

But at the end of the day you can only guage the softness of a draw by the quality of the opposition when the draw was made public

i.e. We have played Adelaide twice - a side tipped by many to play finals again this year. Carlton were also expected to play finals (still might) and we drew them... away from home. We had the Eagles twice as well, not that should count, but in the scheme of things they were tipped by many for the flag or at the very least the grand final, meanwhile you get GWS twice.

So yeah, no way the softest draw ever

 

[Schauermann]

Well, I think we are still in mix, but not favourites. No more and no less. When we get Pav and Sandi up and matchfit for finals and McPharlin is back then, we are a better team then anytime during h&a. But I surely is a bit of a worry we haven't beaten a team above us and have often failed to really put other teams away.

Drawn: From the teams we play twice a lot dropped below expectations: WC, Adelaide, Melboune, St. Kilda, only Richmond improved.

 

[seysearles]

Do you think Freo is a Premiership contender?

 

[shotgun_blues]

Hawthorn, Sydney, Geelong. It's a neck and neck 3 way race. No-one else has a chance.

 

[HowieD]

Hawthorn, Sydney, Geelong. It's a neck and neck 3 way race. No-one else has a chance.

I'm happy for this. Really hope these teams all think that, too. Ala Geelong 2012 Elimination Final.

 

[Wizard]

The losses against Hawthorn and Geelong from memory they didn't have 3 or more of their best players and against Richmond were missing their entire spine. Very impressive side and for a low scoring rugby side they still managed to kick 17 goals yesterday.

Don't let the truth get in the way of a good story though mate, your on the main board of BF at the moment remember.

 

[holy diver]

Good side and I wouln't rule them out.

But by geez they've had the softest draw in the history of the AFL by the length of the Flemington straight. They have played the top 5 teams (Geelong, Essendon, Sydney, Collingwood & Hawthorn) once.

The amount of travelling WA teams do EVERY season means we are perennially on the back foot with recovery due to other teams. It all evens out.

Don't see Sydney travelling over to play Freo much here at home much either.

 

[Bicco]

Good side and I wouln't rule them out.

But by geez they've had the softest draw in the history of the AFL by the length of the Flemington straight. They have played the top 5 teams (Geelong, Essendon, Sydney, Collingwood & Hawthorn) once.

We played 3 of those away, which means we would then be replaying them at home. So my question is, if at the start of the season you saw Freo v Swans at Subi, how would you pencil that in? Win, 50/50, or loss? My guess is 50/50, so that means neither of us can be sure it's such an advantage not to play you ( or Geelong Haw.) twice. Honestly, if we played Swans, Geelong and Hawthorn at home over the next 3 weeks I would think we would win two of those games. Where did Adelaide finish last year? We've beaten them and WC twice.

 

[JackFlash]

The Swans have a tough run home which might actually be better for them in the long run, Fremantle might just rue not having a real hard hit out before finals time? I expect Fremantle to be there on preliminary final day along with Hawthorn, Sydney and the Tigers, if Ross Lyon is the great coach everybody else thinks he is besides me then they will play off this year! Wouldn't surprise me at all if we had an all interstate Grand Final.

 

[Banyo Bloods]

They are a very good team and have stepped up this year for sure. A week is a long time in footy so any of the current crop of teams could look unbeatable or questionable. Freo likely to finish in a strong position with a home final a real chance in week one, puts them as very much a contender and not a pretender this year IMO

 

[Rusty Brookes]

From what I saw on Saturday night, I'd say yes. Very even and tough side. No dependence on any one player which I think was the case in the past with Pavlich. It might have even been a blessing for them in disguise with him missing so much football.

 

[Wizard]

From what I saw on Saturday night, I'd say yes. Very even and tough side. No dependence on any one player which I think was the case in the past with Pavlich. It might have even been a blessing for them in disguise with him missing so much football.

Undoubtedly, because he goes from being the cake to the icing.
We have proved we can win without him so we won't be one dimensional with him in, he will be fresh as a daisy leading into September as well while last year he was hobbled and severly dinged up.

 

[Black Flag]

nope. couldn't believe we were near level at 3/4 time given the number of passengers we had on the ground. top 4 sides would have buried them.

beating a bottom 8 side in the manner they did was hardly impressive.

 

[Riccardo11]

Realistically, no. They are a very well drilled team (Ro$$ Lying tends to do that), but I think the lack of experience playing in big finals will tell, as it did with St Kilda in 2008 when we were in a strikingly similar position.
This year is not their year. Maybe, in fact probably, next year if they can maintain the rage. I just think talk of a flag is a tad too premature at this stage.

 

[benbanjo]

Yes they are a contender, but they have to finish top 4 or they are no chance.

 

[JackFlash]

Yes they are a contender, but they have to finish top 4 or they are no chance.

They play the Giants, Demons, Port and St.Kilda so a top 4 place is now assured, whether this is the ideal preparation remains to be seen, but they will get a double chance in September. They could actually finish 2nd as the Swans have a tough run and the Cats are wobbly.

 

[Spoken4]

nope. couldn't believe we were near level at 3/4 time given the number of passengers we had on the ground. top 4 sides would have buried them.

beating a bottom 8 side in the manner they did was hardly impressive.

With comments like this, no surprise you have no credibility. Let's put things into perspective as you seem incapable of doing so. Carlton were playing for their season. They had very close to their best side on the field and were playing in Melbourne (not Subiaco). This is the same Carlton side that nearly defeated Hawthorn and Essendon a few weeks ago. The "passengers" as you refer to them as were your many players that simply couldn't match the hardness or physical intensity that Freo puts on other teams. What you obvious bias won't let you see was a very strong, even side missing its two best players in Pavlich and McPharlin that can still get the job done.

 

[imperial_oz]

They play the Giants, Demons, Port and St.Kilda so a top 4 place is now assured, whether this is the ideal preparation remains to be seen, but they will get a double chance in September. They could actually finish 2nd as the Swans have a tough run and the Cats are wobbly.

In my view, to be a realistic chance, we actually need to finish top 2 to get both home finals. Having to travel between finals takes a lot out of a playing group and I'd rather it was taken out of somebody else. The travel factor was significant in our loss to Adelaide last year with that game just 6 days after a very gruelling match against Geelong.

Lets face it, you need everything to go right when you are playing finals against the best. Anything less than that makes it pretty tough

 

[imperial_oz]

They play the Giants, Demons, Port and St.Kilda so a top 4 place is now assured, whether this is the ideal preparation remains to be seen, but they will get a double chance in September. They could actually finish 2nd as the Swans have a tough run and the Cats are wobbly.

In my view, to be a realistic chance, we actually need to finish top 2 to get both home finals. Having to travel between finals takes a lot out of a playing group and I'd rather it was taken out of somebody else. The travel factor was significant in our loss to Adelaide last year with that game just 6 days after a very gruelling match against Geelong.

Lets face it, you need everything to go right when you are playing finals against the best. Anything less than that makes it pretty tough

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Absolutely they are premiership contenders. Good run home shoudl guarantee top four. Will probably get a first up road trip to Melbourne but likely that game will be at Etihad so that will suit them. Win on the road in that QF and get a week off and a home PF and after that anything is possible.