West Coast are the real deal

[yyou]

I only have admiration for the eagles after last night. Their pace out of defence and willingness to run and spread was impressive.
Presumably they have a bye next week? I'll watch with interest to see how they manage that, clearly we did not!

reminded me of this

 

[the harry]

I only have admiration for the eagles after last night. Their pace out of defence and willingness to run and spread was impressive.
Presumably they have a bye next week? I'll watch with interest to see how they manage that, clearly we did not!

We get to go to Darwin after it to play Melbourne....... humid Darwin night against a Melbourne team that can drag most teams down to their level. Going to be interesting to say the least.

 

[rustyOfOz]

reminded me of this

heh heh mildly humorous as Sam would say. Well, enjoy the week off. We are heading north to play Sydney (yay?)

 

[StillAtLarge]

Some of their clearance work last night was superb, not the 'let's gamble that we'll win the footy and all charge forward' stuff but fierce pressure when richmond had the footy and a willingness to block, shepherd and create space when in possession.
I still think the eagles' blazing to the hot spot won't cut it against the very best but they'll no doubt work on lowering the eyes in the weeks to come. On track to make a prelim which would be a big tick for this year.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

We get to go to Darwin after it to play Melbourne....... humid Darwin night against a Melbourne team that can drag most teams down to their level. Going to be interesting to say the least.

Virtual home game for the Eagless

 

[Natho]

I think we showed alot of maturity last night. Normally we'd go to water once a team challenged us. The emphasis on doing everything as a team is showing strong. No individuals out there. Absolutely furthering my expectations so far.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

I wouldn't worry about losing Tigers fans, Scott Selwood is back in the middle for us, he'll get the job done for you.

Will probably poll in Richmond's B&F

 

[JackOutback]

Could be shades of 2011, when West Coast posted a great W/L record and made top four, but were undoubtedly the Ringo of the group that year (Collingwood, Geelong and Hawthorn were the top three). Still, it gave them three games of finals experience and if the team stays together and they have better luck with injuries next year, it could prime them for a serious crack.

I still think a PF exit would be West Coast's ceiling, at this point and that would be a fantastic result for them.

Poor Ringo

 

[The Falcon Strike]

How did you guys loose to us lol

Because you guys played an awesome game of footy

That game was one of the best of the year - we played well, you guys simply played better

Your two games against WC and Freo are both in the top 4 or 5 of the year

Bullies can be an incredible side to watch play footy

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Poor Ringo

He'll be ok.

http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/rock-stars/ringo-starr-net-worth/

 

[sey666]

Had you beaten them last week in Hobart, that may have been the game that gave you the Top 4 edge. But I feel that they'll catch up the 4 games required with their draw.

North could conceivably win all 11 of their next 11 games if they click, their only really tough match is against Fremantle, but even that one is in Victoria.

As for you guys, well I'd say the two contests against Adelaide are crucial. If you could win both of them, that could be enough to get you Top 4 as well, but I would expect you to go 1-1 with them, along with the 3 wins against the those Bottom 5 teams mentioned, plus an expected win against the Doggies, that will be the 5 wins that gets you to 14 wins.

I just can't see you beating Fremantle, Sydney, Hawthorn, or Collingwood at the G, or Adelaide at AO.

Essentially the two Adelaide clashes, and the Collingwood clash, are your "Top 4" games. If you win 2 of those 3, and win all the other expected ones, then you will deserve Top 4.

I just don't think it'll happen though, and until it does, declaring that you're a premiership threat, or the "real deal", seems premature to me. Just as declaring that Richmond was a contender after we beat Fremantle was premature as well.

You are right, I can't see us beating Collingwood at the G - the very winnable actual game is at Etihad this year.

Had you beaten them last week in Hobart, that may have been the game that gave you the Top 4 edge. But I feel that they'll catch up the 4 games required with their draw.

North could conceivably win all 11 of their next 11 games if they click, their only really tough match is against Fremantle, but even that one is in Victoria.

As for you guys, well I'd say the two contests against Adelaide are crucial. If you could win both of them, that could be enough to get you Top 4 as well, but I would expect you to go 1-1 with them, along with the 3 wins against the those Bottom 5 teams mentioned, plus an expected win against the Doggies, that will be the 5 wins that gets you to 14 wins.

I just can't see you beating Fremantle, Sydney, Hawthorn, or Collingwood at the G, or Adelaide at AO.

Essentially the two Adelaide clashes, and the Collingwood clash, are your "Top 4" games. If you win 2 of those 3, and win all the other expected ones, then you will deserve Top 4.

I just don't think it'll happen though, and until it does, declaring that you're a premiership threat, or the "real deal", seems premature to me. Just as declaring that Richmond was a contender after we beat Fremantle was premature as well.

You are right; it will be impossible for us to beat Collingwood at the G this year - that very winnable game is at Etihad.

 

[Spirit Level]

4th best team in the comp, hell might even be 3rd if Fremantle continue playing like they have the past few weeks

 

[Max zero]

I only have admiration for the eagles after last night. Their pace out of defence and willingness to run and spread was impressive.
Presumably they have a bye next week? I'll watch with interest to see how they manage that, clearly we did not!

The rest is incredibly important for us. I'm not worried about losing momentum because I think that the boys were running on empty and were trending down anyway.

I expect us to be better after the bye.

 

[Banker]

People in here laughed when I said WCE are the only threat to freo winning a flag. And that they have an elite midfield and forward line.

 

[JackOutback]

People in here laughed when I said WCE are the only threat to freo winning a flag. And that they have an elite midfield and forward line.

Elite might be stretching it, but Gaff and Shuey are having standout years, while Yeo is showing some real promise.

 

[ReaperX]

You are right, I can't see us beating Collingwood at the G - the very winnable actual game is at Etihad this year.



You are right; it will be impossible for us to beat Collingwood at the G this year - that very winnable game is at Etihad.

I didn't actually look at the ground, I just saw it was in Victoria and assumed the MCG because it's Collingwood!

Nitpicking!

 

[inbetween]

It is all opinion at the end of the day, Eagles are in terrific form, but it's a long season, and I just don't think they will be able to maintain the form required to win the 15 matches usually required for Top 4

FWIW, I believe North will click into gear and storm into the Top 4 at the Eagles' expense, whilst Hawthorn will replace the Magpies.

Given they're 9-3 though, the Eagles shouldn't finish any lower than 6th though, so you have probably locked up a home EF at the least with this win tonight.

Of the remaining 10 matches, with the teams you have to play, I can see you going 4-6, or potentially 5-5, and finishing 5th or 6th with 13-9 or 14-8.

The way you make Top 4 is if there are some teams in and around your position that drop a few easy ones to bottom teams, as your % should be quite strong at season's end. So if there's a couple of teams at 14-8 in those 4th-6th positions, that might sneak you into the Top 4.

But being a Top 4 team means making it to the Preliminary Finals, and honestly even if you sneak into 4th, I could see the Eagles going out straight sets much like Geelong and Fremantle did last year. You won't get to play a Bottom 10 team in a Semi Final.

So to declare you a premiership threat is a bridge too far for mine...

Right. North are more likely to finish top 4 because eagles lost to freo and have yet to play against hawks/swans according to your rationale.
Nevermind North have already been blown out by Dockers/Hawks. Its fine if you dont believe us to be premiership threats but your logic is flawed on so many levels.
"Im not ready to declare you premiership threats because of what you have yet to do this season but im more than ready to give North the benefit of the doubt despite failing to do the same."
Nice double standards there.

 

[Dr Awkward]

Looked pretty good against Richmond, midfield is very clean and good in the clearances. NicNat playing very well and Darling is a massive match up issue.

I haven't been convinced until this point, and I still don't think they can beat Freo/Syd/Haw in the finals but they're the next best.

 

[ReaperX]

Right. North are more likely to finish top 4 because eagles lost to freo and have yet to play against hawks/swans according to your rationale.
Nevermind North have already been blown out by Dockers/Hawks. Its fine if you dont believe us to be premiership threats but your logic is flawed on so many levels.
"Im not ready to declare you premiership threats because of what you have yet to do this season but im more than ready to give North the benefit of the doubt despite failing to do the same."
Nice double standards there.

North are more likely to make it because they've had all of their tough matches already, and they still managed to get out of it at 6-6, and their next 10 matches are all winnable.

North's final 10 matches are:

18th - Gold Coast (A)
10th - Geelong (H)
13th - Essendon (H)
17th - Brisbane (A)
16th - Carlton (A)
15th - Melbourne (A)
14th - St. Kilda (H)
1st - Fremantle (H)
9th - Western Bulldogs (H)
8th - Richmond (A)

Aside from the Fremantle match, North will start favourites in every single one of those matches, and could potentially win all of them, considering the Fremantle game is in Victoria.

West Coast's final 10 matches are:

15th - Melbourne (A)
7th - Adelaide (H)
4th - Collingwood (A)
2nd - Sydney (H)
18th - Gold Coast (A)
5th - Hawthorn (H)
1st - Fremantle (A)
9th - Western Bulldogs (H)
7th - Adelaide (A)
14th - St. Kilda (H)

That is a much tougher draw than North, and with the demands of a long season, combined with those long term injuries that you have at the moment (which haven't caught up to you yet, but they inevitably will at some point), I can only see you winning 5 of these last 10 games, whereas I can realistically see North winning 9 of their last 10.

I've bolded the games I think both teams will win.

With Fremantle and Sydney seemingly locked into the Top 4, and the expected rise of Hawthorn back into the Top 4 as well, that leaves one more spot, which I think will be contested between 3 or 4 teams, West Coast being one of them, and North Melbourne being the other major contender. I'd also say that Collingwood, Richmond, and Adelaide are all outside chances for that final spot in the Top 4 too.

If West Coast do indeed manage to finish in the Top 4, they'll certainly have deserved it, however I think they'll fall a game or two short.

 

[MKMatty]

Reality is that everyone is chasing Freo/Sydney/Hawthorn. They are clearly the three form teams. I don't know why us not being in that category invalidates our contention for top 4.

 

[inbetween]

North are more likely to make it because they've had all of their tough matches already, and they still managed to get out of it at 6-6, and their next 10 matches are all winnable.

North's final 10 matches are:

18th - Gold Coast (A)
10th - Geelong (H)
13th - Essendon (H)
17th - Brisbane (A)
16th - Carlton (A)
15th - Melbourne (A)
14th - St. Kilda (H)
1st - Fremantle (H)
9th - Western Bulldogs (H)
8th - Richmond (A)

Aside from the Fremantle match, North will start favourites in every single one of those matches, and could potentially win all of them, considering the Fremantle game is in Victoria.

West Coast's final 10 matches are:

15th - Melbourne (A)
7th - Adelaide (H)
4th - Collingwood (A)
2nd - Sydney (H)
18th - Gold Coast (A)
5th - Hawthorn (H)
1st - Fremantle (A)
9th - Western Bulldogs (H)
7th - Adelaide (A)
14th - St. Kilda (H)

That is a much tougher draw than North, and with the demands of a long season, combined with those long term injuries that you have at the moment (which haven't caught up to you yet, but they inevitably will at some point), I can only see you winning 5 of these last 10 games, whereas I can realistically see North winning 9 of their last 10.

I've bolded the games I think both teams will win.

With Fremantle and Sydney seemingly locked into the Top 4, and the expected rise of Hawthorn back into the Top 4 as well, that leaves one more spot, which I think will be contested between 3 or 4 teams, West Coast being one of them, and North Melbourne being the other major contender. I'd also say that Collingwood, Richmond, and Adelaide are all outside chances for that final spot in the Top 4 too.

If West Coast do indeed manage to finish in the Top 4, they'll certainly have deserved it, however I think they'll fall a game or two short.

Oh? Just curious. What have you seen from North that makes you think theyll be comfortably win or be favorites against Geelong? Bulldogs? Richmond?
Not hating on North but somehow you've pencilled in wins that even the most biased of North supporters would be concerned about.

 

[ReaperX]

Reality is that everyone is chasing Freo/Sydney/Hawthorn. They are clearly the three form teams. I don't know why us not being in that category invalidates our contention for top 4.

Again, it depends on how you define "real deal"

In my definition, being the real deal means you're a genuine chance for the premiership, and on that criteria, West Coast are NOT the real deal.

Even though I don't ultimately think that they'll make it to the Top 4, the fact that they're 9-3 means they're a chance for it. But whether they make it or not, I can't see them genuinely contending for a premiership in 2015, or even really in 2016 tbh.

Earlier in the thread I said I think West Coast's true position is an 8th to 12th team, and I do stand by that theory. I think that they are overachieving at the moment due to a softish draw, and that they are playing above themselves. I feel that when they face more stern opposition in the 2nd half of the season, that this will be shown.

Just an opinion though.

 

[ReaperX]

Oh? Just curious. What have you seen from North that makes you think theyll be comfortably win or be favorites against Geelong? Bulldogs? Richmond?
Not hating on North but somehow you've pencilled in wins that even the most biased of North supporters would be concerned about.

I feel North have a more talented list than Geelong at the moment, and that even when they didn't in the past, they generally were one of the teams who gave the great Geelong teams some trouble.

I shouldn't need to explain why they're favourites against the Bulldogs, nor against Richmond. Both teams have been North's bunnies of late.

 

[MKMatty]

Again, it depends on how you define "real deal"

In my definition, being the real deal means you're a genuine chance for the premiership, and on that criteria, West Coast are NOT the real deal.

Even though I don't ultimately think that they'll make it to the Top 4, the fact that they're 9-3 means they're a chance for it. But whether they make it or not, I can't see them genuinely contending for a premiership in 2015, or even really in 2016 tbh.

Earlier in the thread I said I think West Coast's true position is an 8th to 12th team, and I do stand by that theory. I think that they are overachieving at the moment due to a softish draw, and that they are playing above themselves. I feel that when they face more stern opposition in the 2nd half of the season, that this will be shown.

Just an opinion though.

I get that.

I said at the start of the year that I'd be ecstatic with a 6-8 finish and that's where I think we will be long term for the next season or so. But I think as things stand now, we are playing good, consistent team footy and should rightfully be considered for a top 4 finish. Are we premiership quality? Hell no, and chances are our backing will tire and the young guys in the middle may run out of puff. Buf I think we're playing better than those below us ATM, and not as good as the top 3.

If we dropped any lower than 6th from 9-3 at the mid-point of the season I'd be disappointed.

 

[inbetween]

I feel North have a more talented list than Geelong at the moment, and that even when they didn't in the past, they generally were one of the teams who gave the great Geelong teams some trouble.

I shouldn't need to explain why they're favourites against the Bulldogs, nor against Richmond. Both teams have been North's bunnies of late.

Right, the good ol' "I feel it so theyre going to win," line. You'd think you'd determine a favourite based on actual form.
Well, tell me, if somehow the WCE are normally an 8-12 team, and only sit 2nd due to a soft draw. By seasons end what do you consider North to be? Since they look to have a comparable draw. If they finish 4th, they'd certainly have overachieved based on your logic.