The race for the top 4

[MC Extra Dollop]

Fremantle are certain to finish Top 2.

Geelong struggled to beat Carlton & Essendon. They got wiped off the park by Sydney.

They aren't in the class of Sydney or Fremantle.

And beat Hawthorn, who wiped the floor with Fremantle. And Fremantle struggled to beat West Coast (difference between struggling to beat West Coast and struggling to beat Essendon?). And Geelong hasn't lost in Victoria in 2014. Agree wholeheartedly that Sydney and Fremantle are the standouts right now and I honestly don't think we can beat either, if we have to play an away final against the Swans or Dockers. But I think you're kidding yourself if you expect Fremantle to waltz into Simonds and take the four points without a big fight.

 

[Catsmaninamerica]

And beat Hawthorn, who wiped the floor with Fremantle. And Fremantle struggled to beat West Coast (difference between struggling to beat West Coast and struggling to beat Essendon?). And Geelong hasn't lost in Victoria in 2014. Agree wholeheartedly that Sydney and Fremantle are the standouts right now and I honestly don't think we can beat either, if we have to play an away final against the Swans or Dockers. But I think you're kidding yourself if you expect Fremantle to waltz into Simonds and take the four points without a big fight.

Freo will get done in geelong. They havent beaten Hawthorn in 4 years. And a fast free flowing Port will most likely beat them. They are no chance to finish top 2 imo. Gold Coast are the smokey. Good run home...

 

[estibador]

Dockers run home is no soda. Hawks, Port and Cats in geelong. Could lose all 3 of those. Easily.

Definitely. I'd be surprised if we didn't at least lose one.

Talk of a guaranteed top 2/prelim/GF for us is very premature.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Dockers run home is no soda. Hawks, Port and Cats in geelong. Could lose all 3 of those. Easily.

Sdney/Freo will come 1 and 2...just which order. Port will come 3rd. Hawthorn OR Geelong 4th, the other coming 5th. Collingwood 6th, North 7th. Adelaide or Gold Coast 8th.

 

[Bobby_]

Fremantle will get Hawthorn and Port Adelaide on their home deck in the re-matches. The easy draw means they can afford the luxury of rotating players in and out until those tougher fixtures roll along.

 

[ep2018]

Dockers run home is no soda. Hawks, Port and Cats in geelong. Could lose all 3 of those. Easily.

Would be surprised if they lose to Hawthorn at home. They have also had Geelong's measure the past few years and Geelong don't look too flash so far (though a loss here would not be too surprising). They should also beat Port at home and I have a funny feeling a situation will arise where they are better off to send a B team over to Perth instead and cop a loss.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Freo will get done in geelong. They havent beaten Hawthorn in 4 years. And a fast free flowing Port will most likely beat them. They are no chance to finish top 2 imo. Gold Coast are the smokey. Good run home...

Collingwood, Port, Ess(#), WC(away) are tough

 

[The Speaker]

Fremantle will get Hawthorn and Port Adelaide on their home deck in the re-matches. The easy draw means they can afford the luxury of rotating players in and out until those tougher fixtures roll along.

I'm not sure they'd be that interested in resting rotation, but what it does do is giving them a bit of breathing space if they get a few vital injuries.

For example, if they had to play Sydney last week instead of West Coast, would they have enjoyed playing Taberner against Franklin or Tippett?

 

[catstorm]

Cats have a dream run home. Only tough games are Hawks and Dockers - Dockers are at Skilled, and we wont lose that game again. And the Hawks are being crippled with injuries. Almost feel sorry for them! Cats to finish top 2.

North Melbourne at Etihad is a game i would call tough, even before tonight's result it was a dangerous game.

 

[Bobby_]

I'm not sure they'd be that interested in resting rotation, but what it does do is giving them a bit of breathing space if they get a few vital injuries.

For example, if they had to play Sydney last week instead of West Coast, would they have enjoyed playing Taberner against Franklin or Tippett?

Lyon did similar last year didn't he? Rested about 10 or more starters against St Kilda and they rolled up to Geelong fresh as a bloody daisy.

 

[The Speaker]

Lyon did similar last year didn't he? Rested about 10 or more starters against St Kilda and they rolled up to Geelong fresh as a bloody daisy.

That's hardly rotating resting players.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

North Melbourne at Etihad is a game i would call tough, even before tonight's result it was a dangerous game.

North, Freo, Hawthorn are not gimmie's but the rest you will win. Win all 3, you come 4th...drop all 3, probably come 6th. Very close between 4th and 6th.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

North Melbourne at Etihad is a game i would call tough, even before tonight's result it was a dangerous game.

Without a doubt. When was the last time we won a proper game in our clash guernseys...2008?

 

[Lazar Goz]

The only real challenge to Sydney and the team that I thought would cause us problems with a full squad was Hawthorn. Fremantle will probably finish top 2 but If Hawthorn dont get in the way then Sydney will win the premiership

 

[estibador]

Swans fans on this thread are such a humble bunch.

 

[James44]

Big issue for Hawthorn is because of 2009, they were 'up' in the preseason.

Coupled with some injuries, they look fatigued. The grind of trying to finish Top 4 will take a toll come seasons end.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

That's hardly rotating resting players.

I think Sandilands, Pavlich, Mundy and Barlow all missed the trip to the Cattery in Round 14. From an outside perspective, it certainly seemed like the Dockers were actively protecting their big guns from taking too many interstate trips in the back half of the year.

 

[The Speaker]

I think Sandilands, Pavlich, Mundy and Barlow all missed the trip to the Cattery in Round 14. From an outside perspective, it certainly seemed like the Dockers were actively protecting their big guns from taking too many interstate trips in the back half of the year.

I'm presuming that rotating resting players is doing it from week to week.

 

[Bobby_]

I'm presuming that rotating resting players is doing it from week to week.

nah last year they were assured of a top 4 finish regardless of what happened in their final game so they played a bunch of newbies, that weeks rest gave them some extra zip in the game against us.
That's why I think they may do something similar again.

 

[The Speaker]

nah last year they were assured of a top 4 finish regardless of what happened in their final game so they played a bunch of newbies, that weeks rest gave them some extra zip in the game against us.
That's why I think they may do something similar again.

Possibly, although if a top two spot is in contention (which it wasn't really last year) I doubt they would.

 

[Bobby_]

wouldn't matter though as you get the home final regardless of finishing 1st or 2nd.

 

[Rod Stroker]

Cats have a dream run home. Only tough games are Hawks and Dockers - Dockers are at Skilled, and we wont lose that game again. And the Hawks are being crippled with injuries. Almost feel sorry for them! Cats to finish top 2.

So banking the 4 points against us already are you?

You play us at Etihad, where we have done well against the Cats in recent years.

 

[AstonSouffle]

And beat Hawthorn, who wiped the floor with Fremantle. And Fremantle struggled to beat West Coast (difference between struggling to beat West Coast and struggling to beat Essendon?). And Geelong hasn't lost in Victoria in 2014. Agree wholeheartedly that Sydney and Fremantle are the standouts right now and I honestly don't think we can beat either, if we have to play an away final against the Swans or Dockers. But I think you're kidding yourself if you expect Fremantle to waltz into Simonds and take the four points without a big fight.

Unsure if you saw the game, but the only time Eagles were in the game was when we clearly weren't stamping our foot down. Hence the Ross Lyon spray right after the game, as he was clearly having a go at laziness. It's something out of the ordinary that I wasn't worried in the slightest that Eagles were going to win despite making a 'comeback'. Might sound as if I lack grace and I apologise for that, but certainly Ross Lyon will be making sure they don't switch off again regardless of opposition.

Also in regards to both West Coast and Adelaide, the cross-town games were their Grand Final and that is something to consider for both Freo and Port.

It'll be a tough game at Simmonds, but Geelong lately have looked shakey by their own standards... but we all know that could turn round as easily as of this weekend.

 

[The Speaker]

wouldn't matter though as you get the home final regardless of finishing 1st or 2nd.

Fremantle won't get a home qualifying final if they finish third. The season does not currently look like panning out in such a way that Fremantle would be guaranteed a top two spot by round 20, or even round 22.

 

[SA HAWK]

Fremantle won't get a home qualifying final if they finish third. The season does not currently look like panning out in such a way that Fremantle would be guaranteed a top two spot by round 20, or even round 22.

Might come down to the last game v Port for a top 2 spot.