The race for the top 4

[Bobby_]

Agreed.
What I like is, just as we were "overrated" based on early results, I now reckon we'll be "written off" based on recent results.
Which answer prevails will be interesting to say the least.

the only worry I'd have as a Power supporter is the game style as it looks like a lot of teams have studied you guys and began breaking things down so can Hinkley work up something very different and will it be right to play in the finals or is it simply a manor of getting back those two injured blokes and trust that all the hard work in the off season pays off?

 

[Rioli magic]

As at the end of round 17:

• Sydney 3rd for offence and 2nd for defense
• Freo 5th for offence and 1st for defense
• Hawks 1st for offence and 9th for defense
• Geelong 7th for offence and 7th for defense
• Port 2nd for offence and 5th for defense

I think generally the premier is top 4 in both, so it looks like Sydney are clear favourites based on that.

*this year is perhaps a little odd with some ultra negative games (Melbourne) distorting the points against totals.

 

[Tas]

Agreed.
What I like is, just as we were "overrated" based on early results, I now reckon we'll be "written off" based on recent results.
Which answer prevails will be interesting to say the least.

People love to shit on good stories. I think Port have been good this year and built well on last year, in a bit of a slump atm but it is one of the lessons of maturing.

 

[PowerForGood]

the only worry I'd have as a Power supporter is the game style as it looks like a lot of teams have studied you guys and began breaking things down so can Hinkley work up something very different and will it be right to play in the finals or is it simply a manor of getting back those two injured blokes and trust that all the hard work in the off season pays off?

They have worked us out somewhat what encourages me is that our average losing margin in our 5 losses this year has been 11 points. Today's loss hurt more than all the other 4 combined, it's the one we will regret come Sept.
Edit. Last year we were 5-3 for matches decided by less than 2 goals. This year we are 0-3.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Port regardless of their last few weeks are still having a very very good season, well above expectations.

 

[The Speaker]

As at the end of round 17:

• Sydney 3rd for offence and 2nd for defense
• Freo 5th for offence and 1st for defense
• Hawks 1st for offence and 9th for defense
• Geelong 7th for offence and 7th for defense
• Port 2nd for offence and 5th for defense

How did you manage to spell offence and defence differently?

 

[The Swans Blog]

I think generally the premier is top 4 in both, so it looks like Sydney are clear favourites based on that.

*this year is perhaps a little odd with some ultra negative games (Melbourne) distorting the points against totals.

Hawthorn have slipped defensively but there's a few reasons for that, especially missing key defenders. However, I think they've been quite lucky with that because they've missed them when they've been wining, it's only recently that the Hawks have dropped a game and look a bit shaky that it's really having an impact. One thing I noticed in the last 3 games is the very strong offensive running and spread, much like what Port do, but a lack in defensive run, almost laziness. Adelaide cut the Hawks to pieces on a few rebounds when it was open end-to-end and North were far more ruthless the previous week.

Oh well, the game in a fortnight will tell us who should be favourites this year. Too bad I'll be sitting in Athens international airport, probably watching a movie, reading bigfooty and waiting for my flight to Napoli.

 

[The Swans Blog]

As at the end of round 17:

• Sydney 3rd for offence and 2nd for defense
• Freo 5th for offence and 1st for defense
• Hawks 1st for offence and 9th for defense
• Geelong 7th for offence and 7th for defense
• Port 2nd for offence and 5th for defense

How did you manage to spell offence and defence differently?

It's quite possibly one of the most common misspellings in the Australian/British English dictionary/vocabulary. 'se' is American while 'ce' is British.
Then of course there's the one 'definitely' rubbish; I've seen people spell definitely as defiantly or defnitely, defanitely even.

 

[SA HAWK]

As at the end of round 17:

• Sydney 3rd for offence and 2nd for defense
• Freo 5th for offence and 1st for defense
• Hawks 1st for offence and 9th for defense
• Geelong 7th for offence and 7th for defense
• Port 2nd for offence and 5th for defense

Surprised that Geelong are ranked 7th for both thought they would be higher especially for defence.

 

[The Swans Blog]

Surprised that Geelong are ranked 7th for both thought they would be higher especially for defence.

It's just points for & against divided by games played. There's more sophisticated ways to measure strength of offence & defence, but the PF/PA columns give a pretty accurate indication of how a team generally performs.

 

[The Speaker]

It's just points for & against divided by games played. There's more sophisticated ways to measure strength of offence & defence, but the PF/PA columns give a pretty accurate indication of how a team generally performs.

Such as that of Mr S. Quiggle.

 

[footy75]

if Hawks can somehow knock off swans we could have a 4/5 way tie for top spot.....

to be honest i think the Hawks will

 

[Rod Stroker]

Port regardless of their last few weeks are still having a very very good season, well above expectations.

Huh?
They finished 6th last year, they're 5th now. When you say "well above expectations" you sound as though people were expecting them to plummet, Richmond style.

 

[catstorm]

Surprised that Geelong are ranked 7th for both thought they would be higher especially for defence.

If it is of just F/A they should be equal 6th in attack, he must have put them behind Gold Coast for no apparent reason rather then equal.

 

[BlakeyNoFlakey]

Surprised that Geelong are ranked 7th for both thought they would be higher especially for defence.

After getting spanked by Sydney by over 100 points, 7th is good. Our backline has been poor lately.

 

[Copernicus]

After getting spanked by Sydney by over 100 points, 7th is good. Our backline has been poor lately.

I would say they've been a good bit better the last few weeks. Definitely had some down games during that 5-6 week period of struggle though.

 

[PowerForGood]

Huh?
They finished 6th last year, they're 5th now. When you say "well above expectations" you sound as though people were expecting them to plummet, Richmond style.

Many had this year as a reality check year plus a harder draw for finishing top 6. Also remembering we finished 8th at end of h&a round in 2013.

If we hold a top 4/5 position and win a final , It's Been a good consolidating year to push on in 2015.

Haven't given up on the dream this year quite yet however! !!!

 

[Spoken4]

How did you manage to spell offence and defence differently?

I like to mix things up.

 

[BlakeyNoFlakey]

I would say they've been a good bit better the last few weeks. Definitely had some down games during that 5-6 week period of struggle though.

I agree, but they base that 7th best attack and defence on the “for” and “against” on the ladder, so it's going to reflect the poor performances we've had more at this stage.

 

[KillaKanga]

actually you won't finish higher then 5th.
to make top 4 you cannot lose anymore then 1 game (and you won't beat the hawks) once that happens
you need Sydney to have 3 more losses (which could very well happen GWS,HAWKS,PORT)
you need Geelong to have 2 more losses
you need Collingwood to have another loss.
You need the Sun's to have another loss.
and even then it would come down to percentage, of which your currently behind Sydney, Geelong and Collingwood.

you will finish 5th.

I know these are predictions but how can people be so confident to say 'you won't win' or 'top 4 locked in'

Hawthorn will beat you by 5-10 goals. There will be 45k at the game and 35 will be Hawthorn supporters, hardly a blockbuster. You blokes are making up the numbers! 5th at ABSOLUTE best. Pea hearts like Carlton.

Guess we'll see Friday night hey.

 

[bringbackbucky]

Port's top 4 aspirations are cooked. We could still find some form at the pointy end and cause some headaches in the finals though...

 

[JackFlash]

Well, i would rather finish 3rd or 5th currently. Whoever cops the Swans first up will be smashed in Sydney.....The Cats are 4th, but i know we are not good enough to really match it with either Freo or the Swans, but given a choice then give me the Dockers. It looks like Port have cooked their goose and they have some tough matches before the end of the year, they might only finish 6th? North will be pushing them all the way. If the Pies lose this week, then they are Gornnnnn

 

[captain peanut]

Well, i would rather finish 3rd or 5th currently. Whoever cops the Swans first up will be smashed in Sydney.....The Cats are 4th, but i know we are not good enough to really match it with either Freo or the Swans, but given a choice then give me the Dockers. It looks like Port have cooked their goose and they have some tough matches before the end of the year, they might only finish 6th? North will be pushing them all the way. If the Pies lose this week, then they are Gornnnnn

hawthorn can beat sydney in sydney. so can freo

the trip to avoid is freo in perth. let's be honest, with their draw in the final 6 weeks, freo are 2 home finals at the subiaco fortress away from another GF. they are as good as there, it is just a matter of who they play - syd or haw

 

[JackFlash]

hawthorn can beat sydney in sydney. so can freo

the trip to avoid is freo in perth. let's be honest, with their draw in the final 6 weeks, freo are 2 home finals at the subiaco fortress away from another GF. they are as good as there, it is just a matter of who they play - syd or haw

Unless they finish 4th they won't get the chance to play the Swans until a preliminary, whoever finishes 4th will be toast by half time against the Swans. Freo just don't have the guns to stop the Swans unless Ross the Boss let's his players off the leash, he is going to have to take a risk if the Dockers want to win the Flag. The Swans have too much firepower. The Hawks will need their absolute best side on the park to come close this year...forget the rest.

 

[fool]

Unless they finish 4th they won't get the chance to play the Swans until a preliminary, whoever finishes 4th will be toast by half time against the Swans. Freo just don't have the guns to stop the Swans unless Ross the Boss let's his players off the leash, he is going to have to take a risk if the Dockers want to win the Flag. The Swans have too much firepower. The Hawks will need their absolute best side on the park to come close this year...forget the rest.

Don't forget last year too quickly, freo showed the swans why they are the best defensive team of this era, I can't remember a game with so much relentless pressure... sydney couldn't do anything to that, regardless of firepower.