2025 Ladder Predictions

[LuckyBounce!]

We got a Sunday afternoon game for ours. No need to waste a prime time slot for North

Although the AFL's alternative was probably Essendon so about as bad as each other

On the bright side we get to watch Carlton in many more prime games

 

[eddiesmith]

Lions have lost to Melbourne and drew with North

Yet I bet you haven’t said anything about them?

Teams have shock losses every year.
Cats lost to Saints in 2022 (Saints are our bogey team at Marvel) when they were missed Finals and then Cats won 16 in a row on the way to a Premiership.

Means absolutely diddly ****ing squat.
Quote what the Cats record against other top 8 teams is (hint it’s better than anyone else’s)

That’s what matters.

I don’t rate the Lions at all either and they may not even make the top 4, if they do it’s because of their pre bye win v their bunnies.

But if the cats are better against the top 8, then they could be in trouble. You can’t afford any more shock losses on the road home.

 

[Pistol Night]

On the bright side we get to watch Carlton in many more prime games

Something that brings us all together

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

I don’t rate the Lions at all either and they may not even make the top 4, if they do it’s because of their pre bye win v their bunnies.

But if the cats are better against the top 8, then they could be in trouble. You can’t afford any more shock losses on the road home.

The lions are the ones to watch out for.

 

[Pistol Night]

Lions have lost to Melbourne and drew with North

Yet I bet you haven’t said anything about them?

Teams have shock losses every year.
Cats lost to Saints in 2022 (Saints are our bogey team at Marvel) when they were missed Finals and then Cats won 16 in a row on the way to a Premiership.

Means absolutely diddly ****ing squat.
Quote what the Cats record against other top 8 teams is (hint it’s better than anyone else’s)

That’s what matters.

None of it means shit until it matters. We flogged Brissy by 9 goals at the GABBA but id still be nervous facing them next time. We nearly lost to Melbourne who are bottom 4. Victories against top 8 teams doesn't count for anything come the finals except Bigfooty arguments

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

None of it means shit until it matters. We flogged Brissy by 9 goals at the GABBA but id still be nervous facing them next time. We nearly lost to Melbourne who are bottom 4. Victories against top 8 teams doesn't count for anything come the finals except Bigfooty arguments

Yep. Lions got flogged twice by reigning premier Melbourne and lost twice the year before that yet in 2022 beat them at the G from 5 goals down in a semi. Things change. And only a fool would write off the Lions. Reigning premiers and second on the ladder ffs. Just beat Geelong in Geelong for the first time in 22 years.

 

[Mr Meow]

Victories against top 8 teams don't count for anything come the finals except Bigfooty arguments.

It won't determine a finals result but it shapes the finals more than other games.

If you beat a top 8 team it is worth significantly more because you also deprive them of the 4 points, i.e it's an 8 point swing. Same for top 4 if that's where you're aiming.

For example if Geelong beat GWS, St Kilda and Carlton, but lost to Hawthorn, Fremantle and the Bulldogs - they'd be in 7th (2 games behind 4th) instead of top 4 currently.

And despite what anyone says, nobody wants a flat track bullies tag heading into finals. Beating the best builds belief.

 

[Pistol Night]

It won't determine a finals result but it shapes the finals more than other games.

If you beat a top 8 team it is worth significantly more because you also deprive them of the 4 points, i.e it's an 8 point swing. Same for top 4 if that's where you're aiming.

For example if Geelong beat GWS, St Kilda and Carlton, but lost to Hawthorn, Fremantle and the Bulldogs - they'd be in 7th (2 games behind 4th) instead of top 4 currently.

And despite what anyone says, nobody wants a flat track bullies tag heading into finals. Beating the best builds belief.

Yeah i agree in a way but points don't look like being an issue for us

 

[Mr Meow]

Yeah i agree in a way but points don't look like being an issue for us

I wasn't talking about Collingwood. In fact the conversation you joined in on was talking about Geelong, so it's very relevant.

 

[Saints43]

To celebrate Norths 100th year

They get a five day break for their showpiece game of the year.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

North Melbourne were the team of the 90s along with WCE. good times. Not so anymore.

 

[Pistol Night]

I wasn't talking about Collingwood. In fact the conversation you joined in on was talking about Geelong, so it's very relevant.

Sorry, back to your Cat talk

 

[Pistol Night]

North Melbourne were the team of the 90s along with WCE. good times. Not so anymore.

Carlton were good then too

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Carlton were good then too

Lol. Yep. Forgot they also made 3 gf. Won one lost two.

 

[Pistol Night]

Lol. Yep. Forgot they also made 3 gf. Won one lost two.

Losing a GF would be epic for them now

 

[Mr Meow]

Sorry, back to your Cat talk

No please, I enjoyed your "Let me step in and say Collingwood don't NEED points against top 8 teams" routine. Carry on.

 

[Hobbes]

I will have a go

1. Hawthorn (P)
2. Western Bulldogs (RU)
3. Fremantle
4. GWS
5. Sydney
6. Collingwood
7. Gold Coast
8. Adelaide
9. Brisbane
10. Geelong
11. St Kilda
12. Essendon
13. Port Adelaide
14. North Melbourne
15. Carlton
16. Melbourne
17. West Coast Eagles
18. Richmond

OK, the placings within the top 10 are all over the shop, and you have Sydney up there, but there are 9 teams in contention for finals and you had all of them in your top 10. Impressive.

 

[Hobbes]

1. GWS
2. Geelong
3. Hawthorn
4. Fremantle
5. Footscray
6. Brisbane
7. Collingwood
8. Adelaide
9. Gold Coast
10. St Kilda
11. Sydney
12. Essendon
13. Carlton
14. West Coast
15. Port Adelaide
16. North Melbourne
17. Melbourne
18. Richmond

Wow, just wow. With nine teams in contention, you nailed all nine of them.

 

[Rank]

So no rebuttal on the Crows choking?

"Gumby park" is the wittiest thing you've ever come up with. That's not a compliment.

Remind me again who Adelaide have beaten away from home again? Geelong have Adelaide, Collingwood and Hawthorn on the list of scalps. Adelaide have Richmond, Sydney and Essendon at least.

Geelong at the MCG on a dry day with a full 7 day break could very well be the away win against a top 4 team the Crows get.

The Crows were 5 goals up gather round before Geelong getting a little bit of help from the umps just before half time.

The Crows then tired in the 2nd half after playing Gold Coast in hot conditions only 5 days earlier.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Geelong at the MCG on a dry day with a full 7 day break could very well be the away win against a top 4 team the Crows get.

The Crows were 5 goals up gather round before Geelong getting a little bit of help from the umps just before half time.

The Crows then tired in the 2nd half after playing Gold Coast in hot conditions only 5 days earlier.

Conveniently ignoring the fact that Geelong were missing Stewart, Henry, and Kolodashnij in defence.

Opening Gather Round, against a forward line as dangerous as Adelaide’s, that’s about the worst possible time to be decimated down back...and they still couldn't get it done.

I really rate what the Crows have done this year, but if you’re putting together a shortlist of Geelong's preferred finals opponents, they'd be near the top of the tree on that alone.

 

[Rank]

Who are the top 7?

Because GWS at their best are one of the best teams in the comp, and they're currently 9th.

Dangerous team who would worry any team, anywhere in finals.

They had both grand finalists on toast last year before their last quarter fades.

 

[Rank]

Conveniently ignoring the fact that Geelong were missing Stewart, Henry, and Kolodashnij in defence.

Opening Gather Round, against a forward line as dangerous as Adelaide’s, that’s about the worst possible time to be decimated down back...and they still couldn't get it done.

I really rate what the Crows have done this year, but if you’re putting together a shortlist of Geelong's preferred finals opponents, they'd be near the top of the tree on that alone.

Defence is definitely an area where the Crows have improved most as the season goes on.

Its only a matter of time before those close losses against top teams turn into wins, opposite goes for the older teams where the close wins turn into losses.

 

[Mr Meow]

Geelong at the MCG on a dry day with a full 7 day break could very well be the away win against a top 4 team the Crows get.

The Crows were 5 goals up gather round before Geelong getting a little bit of help from the umps just before half time.

The Crows then tired in the 2nd half after playing Gold Coast in hot conditions only 5 days earlier.

Of course, of course, it was umpires. I seem to remember Dangerfield, Cameron, Holmes and co. doing embarrassing things to Adelaide when the whips were cracking.

At least you have a secondary excuse with the short break.

No doubt a 3rd, 4th and 5th would be available if requested. If I had to guess they would be: "young list", "made mistakes we usually wouldn't" and "just didn't take our chances early".

 

[Rank]

Of course, of course, it was umpires. I seem to remember Dangerfield, Cameron, Holmes and co. doing embarrassing things to Adelaide when the whips were cracking.

At least you have a secondary excuse with the short break.

No doubt a 3rd, 4th and 5th would be available if requested. If I had to guess they would be: "young list", "made mistakes we usually wouldn't" and "just didn't take our chances early".

Nah no 3rd 4th and 5th excuse,
Just the little kick start from the umps and the short break didn't help.

None of that will matter anyway should we meet in finals.

 

[Mr Meow]

None of that will matter anyway should we meet in finals.

Liked your post for finally adding a reasonable comment.

People will go to any length to deflect from their team's losses. Sometimes the team you play is just better on the day - 5 times for Geelong so far.