View Full Version : It AIN'T over.
To be honest, I still think there's a pretty good chance of making the finals.
Checking the ladder,we are in with a serious chance.
West Coast are on 10 wins, with a percentage of 97.04 and 40pts
Geelong are on 11 wins, with a percentage of 96.01 44pts
Melbourne are on 11 wins. with a percentage of 99.06, and 44pts
We have a winnable game next week against the injury depleted roos.
Geelong play Hawthorn, certainly not a gimmee, and Melbourne play St Kilda, who have been in pretty good form of late, whilst the Dees might be without Neitz from suspension.
If we win, and either one of those two teams lose, we'll be playing finals footy, simple as that. It sucks that our destiny is out of our hands, but all the boys can do is go to Manuka next week, do their damndest to win, and hope that the other results fall our way. To be honest, the part which worries me is whether we can beat north... There's a reasonable chance that at least one of the other two 50-50 games will fall our way, and give us an opportunity if we're good enough to snatch it. Interestingly enough, given that the St K v Melbourne and Geelong v Hawthorn clashes are on Friday and Saturday, by the time it gets to our match, we'll know what we're playing for.
TheRealBuzz
25 Aug 2002, 15:16
Friday night football!
Put some peroxide through your hair, stop shaving so you can get that designer stubble going, and cheer for those mighty Hawkers.
Go the Hawks ;)
Out of all of that tho, what worries me is that we still have to beat the Roos, and they always play well at Manuka
bunsen burner
25 Aug 2002, 19:35
Will Pickett get sited for that punch he threw? Will Gardiner get sited for that punch he threw? I saw Brent Harvey make an attempt at hitting someone near the groin region too. Will be interesting, although I don't think there was anything in them.
Playing on sunday, we will go into the roos game knowing whether we can make the finals as the two games which are important to us are on friday and saturday night. This is a two-edged sword:
1. if we were playing on the firday night and beat the Roos we would spend the weekend in the most nervy state possible awaiting the other results. At least this won't be the case - if we go into sunday's game knowing we can't make the finals, then at least it will save the tears from flowing at the end of the game if we lose by one or two points. Also, if we can't make the finals, then we can have a few late "injuries" and play players such as McDougall, Munro, Humm etc,.
but then.
2. if we go into the sunday game knowing we can't make the finals, then there is always a chance that the boys will take is easy and just let the Roos go all over us.
Au_Blue#24
25 Aug 2002, 20:57
Lets be honest , were not worthy of playing in the finals , and it wont make a scerric of difference if we do.
We've improved out of sight this year and we can look forward to having a serious presence in the top eight next year.
Personally, i would rather not risk any injury in playing in the finals - regrouping, having a ripper pre season and look forward to next year.
We are a very young side and Woosh still has a lot to learn. I can imagine him being the sort of bloke to really absorb coaching kudos from his experience this year and really improve next year.
Go the Mighty Eagles...
carneagles
25 Aug 2002, 22:26
Lets be honest , were not worthy of playing in the finals , and it wont make a scerric of difference if we do. Sorry, can't agree with that. Sooner or later, we've got to make the finals, and if we blood the youngsters in a finals game this year it's one less step we need to take next year.
Plus, we get another week of footy!
Originally posted by carneagles
Plus, we get another week of footy!
even if we get steamrolled i'm up for watching any finals footy that involves the eagles.
eagleskickass
26 Aug 2002, 00:50
Even if we only played 1 game of finals footy, the EXPERIENCE gained by all the young players who have not played in them before is unmeasurably important.
Originally posted by eagleskickass
Even if we only played 1 game of finals footy, the EXPERIENCE gained by all the young players who have not played in them before is unmeasurably important.
thats a really good point which no one has brought up yet. You can have all the experience during the home and away games, but you'll learn more in one finals game than you would in ten home and away games.
You can say 'but its just a hyped-up game of footy' but anyone that has played sport, knows that good players and good teams step up in finals no matter what sport it is.
I saw the Kangaroos game on TV and also went to the Eagles game.
IMO Kangaroos look a much harder and better structured side than the Eagles at the moment. I accept that the Eagles form loss is due to losing a few players and the season wearing on the younger players but the fact is that we have only beaten the spooners away from Subi and have lost five of our last six games which all adds up to having very little chance next Sunday even if a finals spot is up for grabs.
If we are to have a chance then we must travel a day earlier and play BB and Sierra with Haynes on a flank. Getting a forward structure is vital.
Originally posted by Frodo
If we are to have a chance then we must travel a day earlier and play BB and Sierra with Haynes on a flank. Getting a forward structure is vital.
McDougall has kicked 12 goals in 2 weeks?? Surely he should get a spot up forward.
I dont think its over just yet! The Saints were quite good against the pies this week and Hawthorn are notorius for playing well when the games counts for zipidy doodah! All we can do is go to Canberra and win the match. It has already been said on this thread but I'll repeat it again...even if we get bundelled out in the first week of the finals, it will still be good experience for the younger guys in our team!
GoEagles
26 Aug 2002, 17:07
Still in with a chance, very Slim (Jim) chance, but we get still sneak into the 8. The important question is, do we make drastic changes and bring back the T-Train from injury and give McDougall his debut in the most important match of the season? Lynch is definately not suited to wet weather football, we needed a Taylor, Haynes or Munro on Saturday night.
Voice of Reason
26 Aug 2002, 17:37
It ain't over till it's over.
We must do the best we can for reasons of pride, irrespective of other results.
Originally posted by GoEagles
Still in with a chance, very Slim (Jim) chance, but we get still sneak into the 8. The important question is, do we make drastic changes and bring back the T-Train from injury and give McDougall his debut in the most important match of the season? Lynch is definately not suited to wet weather football, we needed a Taylor, Haynes or Munro on Saturday night.
Yeah I think we need to change our forward line around a bit. Lynch needs to be dropped and we need t-train back and some more hard marking forwards.
Maybe if the Kangaroos are fixed in 5th spot they might tank it so they get us in the first week of the finals. Of course that requires Essendon to lose to Carlton.
If we make it whoever finishes 5th would be looking ahead - Eagles in Melb followed by Collingwood (wobbling more by the week) and you're in a prelim. Hmmmm..
Mr Eagle
26 Aug 2002, 20:49
Originally posted by Mr Q
Maybe if the Kangaroos are fixed in 5th spot they might tank it so they get us in the first week of the finals. Of course that requires Essendon to lose to Carlton.
I was just thinking the same thing - pity Ess v Carl is on at the same time or I could really see Pagan playing his benchwarmers so he could gift his best 22 a warmup final in Melbourne versus the Eagles...
I'd like to see the odds on Carlton beating the bombers. I for one would put some money on Carlton because
1) They've been not to bad in the last couple of weeks! They beat the bulldogs and kept Port close by all day. There improving
2) Essendon and Carlton have a huge rivalry- after the season that the navys have had Id think theyd like to go out on a better note by denying their cross town rivals a spot in the finals series.
I honestly think we can do it- we will just have to sit patiently and wait till late saturday afternoon before we can see what pans out!
I think McDougall deserves his shot with 12 goals in 2 games. Plus our inept forward structure we had against Port. Wilson should also come back in, played well in the WAFL and should replace Lynch. I hope Fletcher is alright to go.
mentalgrind
27 Aug 2002, 06:50
There is talk going around that Doug's is going to make his debut next round, I'm hopeing it's true. I'm looking forward to this bloke makeing sabre eat his words.
McDougall's kicked hauls of:
3
7
5
since coming back from injury.
Personally, I'd like to give him a go because his WAFL season ended last week as Perth did not make the finals. Play McDougall at CHF and Willo at FF. Drop Lynch and someone else.
Good I will look forward to seeing how he goes although the way Worsfold has coached this year I think it unlikely. Not one to take big chances. Remembering that Lynch had his first game against cellar dwellers Carlton I don't think that a first gamer will play in such a crucial match unless the finals are already out of reach. More likely Willo to come back in to add soem muscle.
Originally posted by dogboy
Good I will look forward to seeing how he goes although the way Worsfold has coached this year I think it unlikely. Not one to take big chances. Remembering that Lynch had his first game against cellar dwellers Carlton I don't think that a first gamer will play in such a crucial match unless the finals are already out of reach. More likely Willo to come back in to add soem muscle.
yup, i would agree with that.
the only definate out so far would be embley who i would like to see replaced with prior. showed some form last week in the WALF. i still belive that there is a place in our team for him.
pickett got one week. he is out for the eagles game.
:D :D :D :D :D
everything is falling into place for our first away win(i don't count the carlton one cause it was a ***** poor effort).
theBlueCardinal
27 Aug 2002, 19:25
the fat lady is close to singing and there are too many "what ifs" but hopefully the team gives it their best shot regardless...next year is looking very promising!
steve_rat
27 Aug 2002, 22:10
good stuff bout pickett
so without archer and pickett
maybe we're being sent a message
we're getting all these chances
now if we muck it up we have only us to blame
also wouldn't it be ironic if we smash em and we're all happy but its already over coz the other two teams won. that would suck
GO HAWKS!!!!!!
steve rat
Originally posted by steve_rat
so without archer and pickett
Add Stevens and Rocca to that list.
McDougall deserves a shot but im not sure he will play considering how important the game is.
Goldenblue
28 Aug 2002, 13:09
Originally posted by jod23
McDougall deserves a shot but im not sure he will play considering how important the game is.
I would add him to the squad. Over the past 3 games our FFs have done nothing, so I can't see a problem with McDougall having a go.
He may surprise us and kick 6...:)