Prediction Walking the tightrope - The Run Home

[TripleB]

No way is losing the first final a "dream scenario".

Agree totally.

Losing the first final may not be the end of the world, but it's far from the preferred option.

'Dream scenario' may not be the most bizarre thing written this week, but it's in the final with a good lane draw...

 

[Ticky009]

The peoples mod left off the list

I was thinking more along the lines of a human definition of Dwayne's chaos ball

 

[Dan87]

Oh dang,

Crows Vs. Swans well sold out

Keep me in mind if you need to move on your tickets because I don't have my tickets (x3)

:O :O :O

 

[Grongey]

I think we finish 6th - unless we can somehow beat Adelaide on Friday night. If you saw the Crows play last night, you'll know just how difficult that will be.

But 5th and 6th both get home finals, so it's not so bad.

No real incentive to finish 4th - would only have to travel to Adelaide Oval again for the first final.

 

[The King!]

I think we finish 6th - unless we can somehow beat Adelaide on Friday night. If you saw the Crows play last night, you'll know just how difficult that will be.

But 5th and 6th both get home finals, so it's not so bad.

No real incentive to finish 4th - would only have to travel to Adelaide Oval again for the first final.

Double chance?

 

[The King!]

Be nice if collingwood can win today, i know going interstate will be a differebt experience for them

 

[The King!]

Can freo beat richmond even at home?

 

[The King!]

Think we get 5th and play gws in a prelim

 

[mtooler]

Think we get 5th and play gws in a prelim

Yeah I think thats our best case scenario, play GWS at ANZ in a prelim. We're 50/50 on winning that game. Also think Freo will lose to Tigers, we pretty much need cats or tigers to lose the next two games.

 

[MF]

I think we finish 6th - unless we can somehow beat Adelaide on Friday night. If you saw the Crows play last night, you'll know just how difficult that will be.

But 5th and 6th both get home finals, so it's not so bad.

No real incentive to finish 4th - would only have to travel to Adelaide Oval again for the first final.

Double chance with a shot at either a home prelim or home elimination final would be nice. Can't see us finishing top 4 now though. The required results are too unlikely.

 

[The King!]

I dont think it matters too much, just focus on us, we are good enough to win 4 finals if needed

 

[Tedeski]

I think we finish 6th - unless we can somehow beat Adelaide on Friday night. If you saw the Crows play last night, you'll know just how difficult that will be.

But 5th and 6th both get home finals, so it's not so bad.

No real incentive to finish 4th - would only have to travel to Adelaide Oval again for the first final.

Which we should win & go straight to the Prelim.

 

[Tedeski]

Think we get 5th and play gws in a prelim

At the SCG!

 

[Tedeski]

I dont think it matters too much, just focus on us, we are good enough to win 4 finals if needed

So tell me King.
Our game plan stands up hey?

 

[Tuco]

So tell me King.
Our game plan stands up hey?

Always did. Just needed a tweak. And personnel needed a refresh. Pointing that out is no crime.

Horse said as much. What was his exact quote podt the Hawks game, "We need to work much harder when not in possession". Something like that.

The gameplan and forward structure only got a serve after the GWS game and Carlton game exposed us so badly. And resurfaced when the Hawks did us again.

 

[Kirkswan]

Can freo beat richmond even at home?

No, but Richmond are 50/50 to choke and lose!

 

[The King!]

No, but Richmond are 50/50 to choke and lose!

Richmond should surely get it done

 

[The King!]

So tell me King.
Our game plan stands up hey?

Who said it didnt


Ohh you did against hawthorn and gws

 

[caesar88]

I hope the last two spots in the eight are taken by Melbourne and West Coast, rather than Bulldogs and Essendon. Demons aren't ready, and Eagles are putrid. The other two scare me if only because of the umpires.

 

[scaryness]

Heading to Melbourne v saints.

Should be a cracker. Think Saints will win.

 

[caesar88]

Always did. Just needed a tweak. And personnel needed a refresh. Pointing that out is no crime.

Horse said as much. What was his exact quote podt the Hawks game, "We need to work much harder when not in possession". Something like that.

The gameplan and forward structure only got a serve after the GWS game and Carlton game exposed us so badly. And resurfaced when the Hawks did us again.

I think another thing which is still underappreciated IMO is how our midfield's changed. I can honestly say I have not noticed Kennedy's absence one bit the last two weeks. But even with Kennedy, it's far less reliance on him and his All Australian cohorts. Horse is rotating Jack, Heeney, Hewett, Papley, Jones, Lloyd, Towers and Newman on the ball at times. It's just so much more of an even spread. If you told me we'd be 12-2 over the last three months without any one of our star mids being dominant, I would never believe it. Gotta give Horse credit, haven't liked some of his coaching this year but he's developed a midfield that's deeper and more reliable than we've had in years. I was absolutely calling for this over the preseason after we lost to sides like GWS and the Bulldogs who had colossal numbers around the ball all the time compared to us. I think it's our number one edge on nearly every other team, our midfield giant that's just growing legs with each new gem that rotates through it. It even closes the gap between us and GWS.

 

[The King!]

I think another thing which is still underappreciated IMO is how our midfield's changed. I can honestly say I have not noticed Kennedy's absence one bit the last two weeks. But even with Kennedy, it's far less reliance on him and his All Australian cohorts. Horse is rotating Jack, Heeney, Hewett, Papley, Jones, Lloyd, Towers and Newman on the ball at times. It's just so much more of an even spread. If you told me we'd be 12-2 over the last three months without any one of our star mids being dominant, I would never believe it. Gotta give Horse credit, haven't liked some of his coaching this year but he's developed a midfield that's deeper and more reliable than we've had in years. I was absolutely calling for this over the preseason after we lost to sides like GWS and the Bulldogs who had colossal numbers around the ball all the time compared to us. I think it's our number one edge on nearly every other team, our midfield giant that's just growing legs with each new gem that rotates through it. It even closes the gap between us and GWS.

They were great without kennedy, but i think he has been crucial this year, and wouldnt want to play a good side without him, i dont rate geelong without dangerfield as that difficult, but i agree the midfield depth is there

Jack and mcveigh back in form helps too,

Would still like mills to get into the rotation eventually

 

[caesar88]

They were great without kennedy, but i think he has been crucial this year, and wouldnt want to play a good side without him, i dont rate geelong without dangerfield as that difficult, but i agree the midfield depth is there

Jack and mcveigh back in form helps too,

Would still like mills to get into the rotation eventually

I still don't see Mills as a midfielder. Maybe my eyes are deceiving me but he seems small and fragile in terms of his build. Got the courage and hardness though so wouldn't be surprised if he did well in there

 

[The King!]

I still don't see Mills as a midfielder. Maybe my eyes are deceiving me but he seems small and fragile in terms of his build. Got the courage and hardness though so wouldn't be surprised if he did well in there

Could bulk up a bit i guess, but he has good height, good grab in the middle, would be good on the outside,

 

[Tuco]

I think another thing which is still underappreciated IMO is how our midfield's changed. I can honestly say I have not noticed Kennedy's absence one bit the last two weeks. But even with Kennedy, it's far less reliance on him and his All Australian cohorts. Horse is rotating Jack, Heeney, Hewett, Papley, Jones, Lloyd, Towers and Newman on the ball at times. It's just so much more of an even spread. If you told me we'd be 12-2 over the last three months without any one of our star mids being dominant, I would never believe it. Gotta give Horse credit, haven't liked some of his coaching this year but he's developed a midfield that's deeper and more reliable than we've had in years. I was absolutely calling for this over the preseason after we lost to sides like GWS and the Bulldogs who had colossal numbers around the ball all the time compared to us. I think it's our number one edge on nearly every other team, our midfield giant that's just growing legs with each new gem that rotates through it. It even closes the gap between us and GWS.

Agree. We've had a pretty dependable (and predictable) set of anchor-mids for a long time now.

Teams just came in with a plan for Hanners or Parker or JPK or Kizza and things ground to a halt.

But as you say Papley, Heeney, Hewett, Newman (and cameos from Jones, Lloyd, Towers, Macca and even Mills etc) have really opened up our midfield.

Some have criticised Hanners and Parker for dropping their possession numbers...but there's a reason for that. We're spreading the load.

The coaches' ability to add those rotations is an underrated impact on on our season and our turnaround. No doubt.