The race for the top 4

[Bigeasy]

I thought we were talking about this year's top 4.

 

[Tazmania]

Who seemed to have forgotten who the swans we're forced to field that night. Yous played great there is no doubt, my point is that had you had to play our best 22 that pressure wouldn't have been as great, the media madeit as if you out Sydney'd Sydney, when Sydney didn't have a quarter of its cattle to choose from, that's what the media forgot an seems so did your supporters.

We the supporters didn't forget it. The media is not us supporters.

 

[MinerBoy]

I thought we were talking about this year's top 4.

Same thing

 

[QuietB]

Que? You said -



- and yeah that game against Sydney was 'truly manic' just about every reasonably minded person agrees.

Did Freo play that well in the GF? No. Case closed, you can thank me later.

Of course they called it manic. They were hardly going to call it beautiful.

 

[clogged]

Who seemed to have forgotten who the swans we're forced to field that night. Yous played great there is no doubt, my point is that had you had to play our best 22 that pressure wouldn't have been as great, the media madeit as if you out Sydney'd Sydney, when Sydney didn't have a quarter of its cattle to choose from, that's what the media forgot an seems so did your supporters.

Which "quarter" was missing? You played a side as experienced and as old as Freo's.

 

[CharlieG]

Which "quarter" was missing? You played a side as experienced and as old as Freo's.

Tippett, Reid, Goodes, Mattner, Johnson, Roberts-Thomson and Mitchell might have been some handy ins.

 

[clogged]

Tippett, Reid, Goodes, Mattner, Johnson, Roberts-Thomson and Mitchell might have been some handy ins.

You do realise Mattner retired, right?

Only three of those players would have been definite ins - and you still would have been utterly crushed through the middle in the first half.

 

[Faysals Swans]

Which "quarter" was missing? You played a side as experienced and as old as Freo's.

Alex Johnson, LRT ( AT the time, not anymore), Sam Reid, Adam goodes, rhyce Shaw, Kurt tippet, Tom Mitchell ( can't get a game now). An in the team at the time we also had Harry Cunningham who had only played 3 afl games, an Shane Biggs who had only only played 1 before Fremantle. How about we replace 7 of your best 22 with a a couple of players who played a couple of games? An while we're at it why don't we bring in a player who has been injured all year (Lewis jetta) underdone. An once again this year injuries haven't been kind to us, but we're still winning because

 

[CharlieG]

You do realise Mattner retired, right?

Only three of those players would have been definite ins - and you still would have been utterly crushed through the middle in the first half.

Mattner retired due to a season-ending, degenerative injury, my friend. He was on the long term injury list. I missed Shaw, too, btw.

You seem to have developed a little red and white chip on your shoulder. Any reason why?

 

[clogged]

Sorry but if you're going to list those players I'd start citing Clancee Pearce and Garrick Ibbotson.

Except they aren't vital to victory. The contest was won in the middle with Fyfe, Mundy and Barlow dominating. All of Jack, Kennedy and Hannebery were available to Sydney, with both rucks to choose from, and they were still smashed in contested ball and clearances.

 

[clogged]

You seem to have developed a little red and white chip on your shoulder. Any reason why?

I think the entire competition can answer that for you.

 

[CharlieG]

I think the entire competition can answer that for you.

Winning streaks do tend to get people off-side, I understand.

 

[clogged]

Winning streaks do tend to get people off-side, I understand.

Yeah, totally. Discontent over the assistance Sydney gets only started in the past couple of weeks.

 

[CharlieG]

Yeah, totally. Discontent over the assistance Sydney gets only started in the past couple of weeks.

Actually it started in about 2002 (riding on Brisbane's coat-tails), dissipated almost entirely in 2007 and then started up again in 2012. Do a Lexis Nexis search if you don't believe me.

 

[MinerBoy]

We didn't have Leigh Matthews or Peter Knights available last year but still did ok.

 

[clogged]

Actually it started in about 2002 (riding on Brisbane's coat-tails), dissipated almost entirely in 2007 and then started up again in 2012. Do a Lexis Nexis search if you don't believe me.

Funny that it reached its peak in late 2013 forcing the AFL to roll back the concessions. I wonder why?

 

[Spoken4]

Who seemed to have forgotten who the swans we're forced to field that night. Yous played great there is no doubt, my point is that had you had to play our best 22 that pressure wouldn't have been as great, the media madeit as if you out Sydney'd Sydney, when Sydney didn't have a quarter of its cattle to choose from, that's what the media forgot an seems so did your supporters.

Game was won and lost in the midfield. You had your best midfield against ours.

 

[Faysals Swans]

Sorry but if you're going to list those players I'd start citing Clancee Pearce and Garrick Ibbotson.

Except they aren't vital to victory. The contest was won in the middle with Fyfe, Mundy and Barlow dominating. All of Jack, Kennedy and Hannebery were available to Sydney, with both rucks to choose from, and they were still smashed in contested ball and clearances.

That's alright its not like yous won a flag after, an we got you back this year once again without our best team, there's a reason Fremantle doesn't phase me it's because I believe our best is too good for yous

 

[OK Computer]

Freo record against top 4 teams doesnt merit their reputation

 

[clogged]

That's alright its not like yous won a flag after, an we got you back this year once again without our best team, there's a reason Fremantle doesn't phase me it's because I believe our best is too good for yous

"Yous".

OK.

 

[Cobbler]

That's alright its not like yous won a flag after, an we got you back this year once again without our best team, there's a reason Fremantle doesn't phase me it's because I believe our best is too good for yous

This sentence highlights the need to listen in Year 5 at school.

 

[QuietB]

Freo record against top 4 teams doesnt merit their reputation

I don't think Freo care. Their plan is top 2 and they don't give a shit who they have to beat along the way to get there - just as long as they get enough wins. Finish top 2 and they get a dream ride into the grand final - home final - home prelim with their opponent both times making the toughest road trip in football.

 

[The Swans Blog]

Freo record against top 4 teams doesnt merit their reputation

Agreed.

Premiership Contenders

Pos|Team|vs Top 8|vs Top 6| vs Top 4
\1|Sydney|5W, 2L|4W, 1L|3W, 0L
\2|Fremantle|3W, 4L|1W, 4L|1W, 2L
\3|Hawthorn|3W, 4L|1W, 4L|1W, 2L
\4|Geelong|4W, 3L|2W, 3L|1W, 2L
\5|Port Adelaide|3W, 3L|2W, 3L|3W, 1L
\6|North Melbourne|4W, 3L|4W, 1L|3W, 1L

Table says: Sydney, North & Port play the best against fellow premiership contenders, Hawthorn & Fremantle do not. All of Fremantles top-table clashes have been at home, as well as Sydney and Port. North has won their clashes away from home, except for Hawthorn and Port Adelaide.

Table also says that Sydney has the best record vs top 8 teams, with North 2nd and Port 3rd. Geelong has a better record against top 8 teams than Hawthorn and Fremantle, yet are widely expected to fail to make a grand final, let alone a preliminary final.

I think Fremantle are being talked up quite a lot because of supposed, easy run into the finals, but they still play the Hawks (H), Cats (A) & Port (H) in the final 4 weeks. They're potentially overrated because of their last 7 games being against teams outside of the 8, with 5 of those games being against teams who were in the bottom 6 at the time of playing (4 of those in the bottom 4). If they didn't make any ground while playing those opponents, they may well have not even played this year. They're currently on an 8 match winning streak, but I can't see it lasting until the end of the year.

Compared to Sydney, who are on a 12 match winning streak, which started against Fremantle (H) and has included wins against Port Adelaide (H), Hawthorn (H), Geelong (H), Essendon (A) and GCS (A). They still have to play Hawthorn (A) and Port Adelaide (A) again. Since round 13, which included a run of 5 games that had them play the other top 4 sides, as well as GCS and Essendon away, the Swans have played 4 teams in the bottom 8.

 

[estibador]

We save our performances against top 4 teams for the real season.

 

[Pegasaur]

Agreed.

Premiership Contenders

Pos|Team|vs Top 8|vs Top 6| vs Top 4
\1|Sydney|5W, 2L|4W, 1L|3W, 0L
\2|Fremantle|3W, 4L|1W, 4L|1W, 2L
\3|Hawthorn|3W, 4L|1W, 4L|1W, 2L
\4|Geelong|4W, 3L|2W, 3L|1W, 2L
\5|Port Adelaide|3W, 3L|2W, 3L|3W, 1L
\6|North Melbourne|4W, 3L|4W, 1L|3W, 1L

Table says: Sydney, North & Port play the best against fellow premiership contenders, Hawthorn & Fremantle do not. All of Fremantles top-table clashes have been at home, as well as Sydney and Port. North has won their clashes away from home, except for Hawthorn and Port Adelaide.

Table also says that Sydney has the best record vs top 8 teams, with North 2nd and Port 3rd. Geelong has a better record against top 8 teams than Hawthorn and Fremantle, yet are widely expected to fail to make a grand final, let alone a preliminary final.

I think Fremantle are being talked up quite a lot because of supposed, easy run into the finals, but they still play the Hawks (H), Cats (A) & Port (H) in the final 4 weeks. They're potentially overrated because of their last 7 games being against teams outside of the 8, with 5 of those games being against teams who were in the bottom 6 at the time of playing (4 of those in the bottom 4). If they didn't make any ground while playing those opponents, they may well have not even played this year. They're currently on an 8 match winning streak, but I can't see it lasting until the end of the year.

Compared to Sydney, who are on a 12 match winning streak, which started against Fremantle (H) and has included wins against Port Adelaide (H), Hawthorn (H), Geelong (H), Essendon (A) and GCS (A). They still have to play Hawthorn (A) and Port Adelaide (A) again. Since round 13, which included a run of 5 games that had them play the other top 4 sides, as well as GCS and Essendon away, the Swans have played 4 teams in the bottom 8.

The only game we've lost at home this year was against North, so of those 4 losses obviously only one was at home. Research.