Which of the top team's are you most/least worried about?

[Harper_Hawk]

The top team I worry about most is Hawthorn. The Hawks at their best can take any team, anywhere, any time. Our destiny is in our own hands, the question is, will we take control of it?

I think this is one of the posts of the year. It resounds with me so well. I know its in the past. Last years prelim sums this scenario up. It was in our hands, we let is slip through. Lets take control and finish this year.

 

[Cynic]

Sort of - forget 'the' or 'our best' - as you say, it is inquantifiable.

My expectations are, at this point, if we play to the level we have become accustomed of late, I do not see any team capable of beating us unless we show up with less committment and desire, ie: our worst.

Now that makes more sense

 

[H2F]

Sort of - forget 'the' or 'our best' - as you say, it is inquantifiable.

My expectations are, at this point, if we play to the level we have become accustomed of late, I do not see any team capable of beating us unless we show up with less committment and desire, ie: our worst.

I take my earlier comments back.

This is the post of the year.

 

[Bosk]

I think the two hardest teams to beat will clearly be West Coast in WA and Collingwood.

Adelaide is a basically a pretender that doesn't belong in the top 4.
Essendon lack finals experience and their list/gameplan is largely unproven in big games.
Geelong don't look like they'll make the top 4 this year, and even if they did they're not what they used to be.
Sydney will be very tough to beat at the SCG but we should account for them at the MCG quite easily.
St.Kilda are old and finished and will simply be making up the numbers.
Carlton are now an injury depleted rabble.
Norf are shit and inexperienced and hardly any threat.
Richmond already blew their wad against us, next time we'll know what to expect.
Freo.... are Freo.
The rest are cannon fodder.

I could very well be mistaken but I feel as if this year's flag can only be won by one of Collingwood, West Coast, us, or Geelong. West Coast would have to play at their absolute peak to win a GF at the MCG against a Victorian club, Geelong look like their best is behind them, and Collingwood? Well 10 in a row speaks for itself. To me they deserve to be favorites though West Coast will make it almost impossible for anyone who plays them at home to make it to the GF.

Our dream run would be to play Adelaide at the G in the first week, while the Pies lose to West Coast over in Perth. Somehow I don't think we'll be lucky enough for that to eventuate however!

 

[Rowie6]

Geelong and Collingwood and hopefully we don't have to play West Coast or Adelaide at home in the finals.

 

[hk89]

Sydney in Sydney.
Geelong due to mental aspect rather than form.
West Coast if we have to play them out west during finals.

Would rather play Pies than any three of the above scenarios.

Not sure about Bombers, leg speed might worry us. Not too worries about Adelaide, even in S.A.

 

[macdaddio]

All those saying the Pies are a threat well last night proved they are not. They haven't belted a side all year apart from GCS, they don't have the same goal kicking capacity as they did have last season with both Dawes and Cloke a shadow of their 2011 form.
Jolly is no longer a force in the ruck and their back line is suspect to small forwards.
We have the side to take it all the way provided we don't lose any more games and keep up the momentum and our ATTITUDE is to play to win at all cost remains.

 

[Spanish Sahara]

All those saying the Pies are a threat well last night proved they are not. They haven't belted a side all year apart from GCS, they don't have the same goal kicking capacity as they did have last season with both Dawes and Cloke a shadow of their 2011 form.
Jolly is no longer a force in the ruck and their back line is suspect to small forwards.
We have the side to take it all the way provided we don't lose any more games and keep up the momentum and our ATTITUDE is to play to win at all cost remains.

I disagree, I still think the Pies are a big threat. Yeh Cloke and Dawes arent in great form right now, but Cloke is a danger come finals time. Their midfield has great depth (being tested right now due to injuries and suspensions), if the Pies win the flag their mids have totally dominated. They rely on them to kick goals, thats where you can stop them.

Harry O always has good smalls cut him up

 

[macdaddio]

I disagree, I still think the Pies are a big threat. Yeh Cloke and Dawes arent in great form right now, but Cloke is a danger come finals time. Their midfield has great depth (being tested right now due to injuries and suspensions), if the Pies win the flag their mids have totally dominated. They rely on them to kick goals, thats where you can stop them.

Harry O always has good smalls cut him up

You are right and that's the only thing we would need to worry about them. Cloke wont be back to his best until he re-signs and that wont happen till after the season is done. Dawes plays too much in the ruck now and is not coping with playing both in the ruck and up froward and is massively out of from.
We win in the centre clearances and we win the game...

 

[Dipper]

I think the two hardest teams to beat will clearly be West Coast in WA and Collingwood.

To me that is it in a nutshell, and with Collingwood losing to Carlton we can see their vulnerability.None of the rest frighten me at all from a Hawthorn perspective but we have to be sure that the Richmond and Sydney games were abberations based on a hard run of games added to not having our gameplan quite right.

 

[macdaddio]

To me that is it in a nutshell, and with Collingwood losing to Carlton we can see their vulnerability.None of the rest frighten me at all from a Hawthorn perspective but we have to be sure that the Richmond and Sydney games were abberations based on a hard run of games added to not having our gameplan quite right.

I think our biggest test of the year will be when we play the Cats again to see just how far we have come and if those two games highlight was just that.
The Cats are done and if we cant beat them this time round then there will always be this cloud of doubt hanging over us..

 

[KOLOKOTRONIS]

We must internally believe that we must finish top of the league to have any chance. Sick of having to rely on other results due to our early failings. I cannot remember the last time that a stretch of matches will determine whether we finish top or completely destroy our chances. What an enormous opportunity for the club to define who can take the heat and who must be dismissed at season's end. Could not have asked for a more perfect situation.

KOLOKOTRONIS

 

[Hollins]

West Coast in WA is a very tough match as is the Adelaide Crows in Sth Oz. I'll be nervous if we play either of them in finals at their home.
Richmond too worries me. Historically they have a habit of upsetting us. Earlier this season they shredded us against all expectations, too.

 

[SNAITHY]

Have said it all year and wil say it again we will win the flag in one of the most closely contested sesons ever recorded.
For mine, the Cats game is an absolute must win, not for the supporters, no for the media, not even for the 4 points, but for one reason.....the belief of the playing group. Imagine how tall they'll be walking if the can beat these guys, whom they have not beaten since we all know when......leading into the finals. They'll be unbeatable.
I reckon they can finally do it.
Geelong, by far.

 

[Rowie6]

Geelong and Collingwood and hopefully we don't have to play West Coast or Adelaide at home in the finals.

I will now add Sydney to this list and take out West Coast due to injuries.