Opinion The run to September, our ladder position after the H&A season?.

[Viceregal]

Have port re-signed Hinkley yet?

I don't know but it would certainly explode their board!

 

[Dalions]

It’s pretty reasonable for supporters to express reservations about how we’re travelling given we’re not exactly firing on all cylinders at the minute.

The fact that we are still in the hunt for top 2 and not playing near our best football is good cause for optimism.

 

[briztoon]

Have port re-signed Hinkley yet?

Caro reporting yesterday that it’s a done deal. 2 year extension with an unofficial handover to whoever his senior assistant currently is.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Fwiiw overall I find most of the stuff put up here to be mild compared to what some supporters say privately. They're experienced football people as well.

Then change their mind the next week when yesterday's villain is today's hero.

If you think AFL supporters are fickle try soccer. Or cricket. Or any team sport really.

"Experienced" footy people tend to be THE most critical, mainly because they believe they could do better. In my experience, a decent percentage are somewhat bitter that they never had the skill/nous/luck to get to the top level.

Also, it's far easier to be instantly critical and negative about thing rather than parking emotion and considering there are things they don't know about.

The last sentence is also true and says more about human nature than anything else.

 

[Brizzys Squizzy]

The luxury would be we win on the weekend dees and port stumble. Then if there are players carrying injuries we could rest them for the final game. Eg neale, Charlie, Payne

Got a week off before finals start , no resting players now.

 

[M Malice]

Caro reporting yesterday that it’s a done deal. 2 year extension with an unofficial handover to whoever his senior assistant currently is.

Josh Carr.

 

[p4p1]

Caro reporting yesterday that it’s a done deal. 2 year extension with an unofficial handover to whoever his senior assistant currently is.

Has this ever actually worked?

 

[dlanod]

Has this ever actually worked?

Roos to Longmire or Roos to Goodwin?

Sheedy to Williams, Malthouse to Buckley, Clarkson to Mitchell - all less so for one reason or another.

 

[martinson]

"Experienced" footy people tend to be THE most critical, mainly because they believe they could do better. In my experience, a decent percentage are somewhat bitter that they never had the skill/nous/luck to get to the top level.

Also, it's far easier to be instantly critical and negative about thing rather than parking emotion and considering there are things they don't know about.

The last sentence is also true and says more about human nature than anything else.

Well of course.

In high charged environments which watching a footy game can be most tend to shoot from the hip first and ask questions later.

You can park emotion and consider whatever else needs to be considered and still be critical and negative.

Some of the experienced footy people have played 100 plus games reasonably well. Generally they're phlegmatic and accepting of the randomness of the game , some go off like a firecracker at the smallest of things, just like supporters who haven't played any games and have no first hand experience.

 

[p4p1]

"Experienced" footy people tend to be THE most critical, mainly because they believe they could do better. In my experience, a decent percentage are somewhat bitter that they never had the skill/nous/luck to get to the top level.

Also, it's far easier to be instantly critical and negative about thing rather than parking emotion and considering there are things they don't know about.

The last sentence is also true and says more about human nature than anything else.

Experience also helps to see flaws in players and teams that while not glaring to us, are there but not all that significant in the scheme of things.

 

[p4p1]

Roos to Longmire or Roos to Goodwin?

Sheedy to Williams, Malthouse to Buckley, Clarkson to Mitchell - all less so for one reason or another.

I forgot about Roos. Not knowing the Hinkley situation though, the Roos ones worked because he didn't want to continue coaching. If Hinkley does then that will present issues.

 

[Grasshopper17]

Can anyone see a future where we beat Pies this week, only to **** the bed against a team we should beat comfortably in the last round to cost us top 2, or is that just me? Would be as funny as it would sad, given everyone just assumes we win this week, and we've locked it away,

Absolutely. Next week is right in our sweet spot of losing a game we should win simply due to not being adequately prepared. Like against Port, Hawthorn and Gold Coast.

St Kilda have been impressive the last couple of weeks, particularly in attack, and I never thought I'd be saying that about a Ross Lyon coached team.

Really hoping they beat Geelong tomorrow and other results go their way so they have less to play for next week.

 

[Tom14]

Absolutely. Next week is right in our sweet spot of losing a game we should win simply due to not being adequately prepared. Like against Port, Hawthorn and Gold Coast.

St Kilda have been impressive the last couple of weeks, particularly in attack, and I never thought I'd be saying that about a Ross Lyon coached team.

Really hoping they beat Geelong tomorrow and other results go their way so they have less to play for next week.

I cannot see St Kilda beating us at the Gabba. Dees, Crows and Cats are the only teams to get within 2 goals there, and all have strengths that can trouble us - the Crows and Cats up forward, and Dees in the midfield and in playing after a 40 minute light delay.

Saints do not have a strong midfield and while their forward line has been better as you say the last few weeks they've only scored against Richmond and Hawthorn. In the last 7 games they've cracked 80 points 3 times against West Coast, Tigers, Hawks. They failed to even hit 70 points against the kangaroos (mainly due to inaccuracy).

 

[Scubaveg]

we're finally going back to where we belong.

Gladiator (2000) clip with quote we're finally going back to where we belong. Yarn is the best search for video clips by quote. Find the exact moment in a TV show, movie, or music video you want to share. Easily move forward or backward to get to the perfect clip.

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Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[M Malice]

Kane Cornes saying the Lions are now his favourites for the flag... said if he was Port he would rather play Demons or Magpies at the MCG than the Lions at the Gabba.

 

[Dalions]

Kane Cornes saying the Lions are now his favourites for the flag... said if he was Port he would rather play Demons or Magpies at the MCG than the Lions at the Gabba.

So they should just lose today then hey?

 

[ice444]

Kane Cornes saying the Lions are now his favourites for the flag... said if he was Port he would rather play Demons or Magpies at the MCG than the Lions at the Gabba.

I think it could be any of the top 5 (including carlton), it depends on the day - although if we do finish top 2 hopefully we can finally use it to make/win the gf...

 

[ice444]

With 1 round to go:
COLL
1st – Win or Lose and Bris Lose
2nd – Lose and Bris Win

Bris
1st – Win and Col Lose
2nd – Win and Col Win
3rd – Lose and Mel wins/port win both games
4th – Lose and Mel win and Port win both games

Port
2nd – Win both games and Bris Lose
3rd – Win both games and Bris Win
4th – Lose and Bris/Mel win

Melb
2nd – Win and Bris/Port Lose
3rd – Win and Bris Win/Port Lose or Port Win/Bris Lose
4th – Win and Bris/Port Win

 

[M Malice]

Demons and Port play on Sunday after our game on Saturday evening which is a good thing.... JUST WIN PLEASE!

 

[ice444]

Demons and Port play on Sunday after our game on Saturday evening which is a good thing.... JUST WIN PLEASE!

We should win against the saints....

 

[M Malice]

One round to go >

Magpies 68, 123.2% > Bombers(H).
Lions 64, 123.2% > Saints(H).
Port 64, 111.5% > Tigers(H).
Demons 60, 124.8% > Swans(A).
_____________________________
Blues 54, 116.1% > Giants(H).
Saints 52, 108.9% > Lions(A).
Swans 50, 111.6% > Demons(H).
Giants 48, 105.6% > Blues(A).
______________________________
Bulldogs 44, 107.6% > Cats(A).

Bombers on 44 points but their percentage is way too far back to have any chance.
__________________________________________
Amazing that going into the final round we can finish anywhere from 1st to 4th.

 

[M Malice]

What’s also interesting is that Melbourne are probably just as happy as staying fourth, which really is no different to them finishing first getting to stay at the MCG.

Only difference for Dees is if we were to drop and Port win (which let’s be honest, they’re not losing to Richmond in Adelaide next week) they’ll finish third and and have to head to SA in week one, so I suspect they’ll be pretty happy finishing fourth as odd as that sounds.

Definitely be better for them to finish 4th and get a home final..... as long as we don't pass the Pies and finish 1st.

 

[Section 5]

One round to go >

Magpies 68, 123.2% > Bombers(H).
Lions 64, 123.2% > Saints(H).
Port 64, 111.5% > Tigers(H).
Demons 60, 124.8% > Swans(A).
_____________________________
Blues 54, 116.1% > Giants(H).
Saints 52, 108.9% > Lions(A).
Swans 50, 111.6% > Demons(H).
Giants 48, 105.6% > Blues(A).
______________________________
Bulldogs 44, 107.6% > Cats(A).

Bombers on 44 points but their percentage is way too far back to have any chance.
__________________________________________
Amazing that going into the final round we can finish anywhere from 1st to 4th.

Last year we could finish anywhere from 2nd to 6th.
Of course, it ended up being 6th.
Hope for a better result this time round.

 

[M Malice]

Last year we could finish anywhere from 2nd to 6th.
Of course, it ended up being 6th.
Hope for a better result this time round.

There is a massive amount of motivation/reward on the line against the Saints, win and we finish 2nd and our first 2 finals are guaranteed as being at the Gabba.

Qualifying Final(W) & Preliminary Final.

OR

Qualifying Final(L) & Semi Final.

 

[Section 5]

2. BRISBANE LIONS (16-6, 123.2%)

Round 24 game: St Kilda at the Gabba, Saturday 4:35pm

Win: Finish 2nd if Collingwood def Essendon, 1st if Essendon def Collingwood*

Lose: Finish 2nd if Port Adelaide (vs Richmond) and Melbourne (vs Sydney) lose, 3rd if one loses, 4th if neither lose

Analysis: After winning perhaps their biggest home and away game under Chris Fagan, the Lions are a step away from a much simpler path to their first Grand Final in his tenure - just needing to take care of business against St Kilda to ensure a top-two finish and home qualifying final. Given the Lions have lost one game at the Gabba in two years (we’re excluding last year’s Essendon game because half their team was out with Covid), you’d back them to get the job done, and then be in a prime position to stay home until the last week of September. But an upset loss could squander their good work and very likely sends them on the road, to either Adelaide or Melbourne, in week one of the finals.

Prediction: Finish 2nd, host Port Adelaide in a qualifying final

*Can stay 2nd despite a Pies loss/Lions win combo if the Pies’ loss is close and low-scoring, and the Lions’ win is close and high-scoring.

6. ST KILDA (13-9, 108.9%)

Round 24 game: Brisbane Lions at the Gabba, Saturday 4:35pm

Win: Finish 5th if GWS def Carlton, 6th if Carlton def GWS

Lose: Finish 6th if Sydney (vs Melbourne) and GWS (vs Carlton) both lose, 7th if one loses, 8th if both win*

Analysis: What a remarkable 24 hours that was for the Saints, ending Geelong’s season and then having a stunning upset by West Coast secure their place in September. We’ve been critical of their form but nobody can argue they don’t deserve a finals spot. A home final is a realistic possibility too, even if they lose to Brisbane at the Gabba (as most would expect). At worst, the Saints could slide down to 8th - they’re around nine or 10 goals ahead of GWS on percentage. So a five-goal loss to Brisbane combined with a four-goal GWS win would likely be enough to close the gap. Not impossible, right? Perhaps more importantly, they’d really like Melbourne to beat Sydney, because that makes it less likely they’d have to travel for their first final.

Prediction: Finish 7th, away to Sydney Swans in an elimination final


*Tie on wins with GWS would come down to percentage, with St Kilda currently ahead by around 9-10 goals

Every AFL team’s best and worst finish... and week one of finals predicted: The Run Home

Every AFL team’s best and worst finish... and week one of finals predicted: The Run Home

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