6th Place?

[muckypup]

Don't forget, even if we win against Melb we can still potentially finish 8th if North beat GWS more than we beat Melb. So we really can't get too far ahead of ourselves.

Exactly, as far as the team is concerned they just need to focus on being professional, hard at it, and beating Melbourne. The rest will take care of itself.

As far as us supporters are concerned we can dream away to our hearts content!!!
I'm really hoping for 6th if only to stuff it up the Ducks.

 

[13then7]

Totally agree with the "Anywhere Anytime" war cry but which ever way it pans out playing at Subiaco is preferable. Travelling twice across the nullarbor (or 4 times to be pedantic) in 10 days would not be advantages. Take 8th and move on.

Should Hawthorn do the right thing of course.

Edit: I do realise if we go deep into September/October this will be inevitable but stay in Perth as long as we can.

 

[free at last]

I'm with Clay. Bugger a derby final, in fact, who wants to share a 50/50 game with them first up when it's not in our best interests and there are better options for us? Best case scenario for us is we make it to 6th, and get a home final against North (which we would, of course, presumably win).

And extrapolating further - then it would be good if:

1. WCE made it to 4th, lose the QF and get a home semi.
2. Geelong def Collingwood in the EF, making Geelong the lowest placed winner, and then they would play the loser out of the 2/3 QF, while we would play the loser out of the 1/4 QF - meaning...
3. We would get another home game for the SF as we would be playing WCE. This would then be a 50/50 home game, and it means we wouldn't have travelled for the past 2 weeks, while WCE would have travelled both of the past two weeks. We would have the decided advantage in their home semi.
4. Beat them and we find ourselves in a Prelim, and from there anything is possible.

Ah - it's fun to dream...

With the cats v swans and Roos v GWS having played before us, we'll know what is required to clinch sixth.
If the cats beat the swans then sixth is gone,I can't see us playing like there is no tomorrow against Melbourne when there actually is a tomorrow.A comfortable victory over Melbourne will do me fine,which will probably see us playing a home final even though we finished 8th.

 

[Arcassius]

With the cats v swans and Roos v GWS having played before us, we'll know what is required to clinch sixth.
If the cats beat the swans then sixth is gone,I can't see us playing like there is no tomorrow against Melbourne when there actually is a tomorrow.A comfortable victory over Melbourne will do me fine,which will probably see us playing a home final even though we finished 8th.

If we cant clinch 6th, then I'd love to see the team implement the 'kick it to Pav' gameplan - and get him up for the coleman

 

[Proud Bogan]

Just win. Anywhere. Go as deep into September as we can and then load up for our first real crack at a flag next year.

 

[Nickos66]

Personally, I'd love for us to win comfortably over Melb (say 8 goals), North to thump GWS by 100 pts and Hawthorn to beat the ducks. That'd make for a fun build up next week.

 

[Arcassius]

 

[free at last]

If we cant clinch 6th, then I'd love to see the team implement the 'kick it to Pav' gameplan - and get him up for the coleman

Pav might get rested again though.I'm sure his aches and pains would respond well to having a couple weeks off.

 

[Arcassius]

He just has to stand in the goal square ... the rest of the team can do the work to get it in to him.

Park him next to Sandi - Sandi can take the mark, handball to Pav - kick a goal.

 

[Outshined]

He just has to stand in the goal square ... the rest of the team can do the work to get it in to him.

Park him next to Sandi - Sandi can take the mark, handball to Pav - kick a goal.

We also have to take into account the fact we're playing Melbourne. They'll probably be "accidentally" kicking the ball to Pav themselves.

Back on topic. I agree with most of the sentiment here, "anywhere any time" dictates that we should go as hard as possible this week to maintain the momentum we've built over the last two months. If we end up with Geelong in Melbourne, so be it. The experience we'd gain from a match like that would be just as valuable as a derby final which we'd have a higher probability of winning. Obviously 6th would be the primary goal, but the result of Geelong Sydney shouldn't alter how we approach Melbourne.

All this finals talk is such a great change to the atmosphere that's usually around here in late August.

 

[tripple1zero]

Not so sure about this lowest place winner thing? Isnt the finals structure fixed, ie the loser of 1 v 4 plays the winner of 5 v 8. Based on the assumption the highest placed team wins.

Anyway, I reckon we shouldnt flirt with form, just let it work itself out. Obviously the best thing for the club is to finish 6th (with Pav getting the Coleman), but if Geelong win, I'd prefer to play West Coast than travel east to play the Roos. I think the benefit of not travelling for a final can't be underestimated. Not sure why a derby final would be too much harder on the players - they should have the same desire to win against anyone. Not travelling would cancel it out.

 

[tacopavlich]

Pav might get rested again though.I'm sure his aches and pains would respond well to having a couple weeks off.

Playing Melbourne is basically having the week off. He may as well wrap up the Coleman in the process.

 

[Frigate]

I agree with the sentiment that we should be good enough to win anywhere anytime. But the reality is some matches are harder and more tolling than others and it is not like we will be getting a week off apart from this week.
Preference 1 - North at home
2 - WCE at home
3 - North away
4 - Geelong away

Given that we have got ourselves into a position to have an element of control over our finals campaign, I think it would be stupid to simply win by as much as you can when the outcome will be less desirable than another possibility.

If there is no chance at a Freo home final we should aim for WCE if possible, as this would give us the greatest chance of winning and going through to the next round.

I am in no way suggesting the team aims to lose against Melbourne or deliberately cough the ball up. Perhaps just hold possession a bit more, and try a few experiments with younger players.

 

[Clay Davis]

Don't agree with that sentiment at all.

 

[teamex]

I like everyone else have done the sums and while a derby final would be amazing, it's just not in our best interest. Especially, given the way WC won the clearances Saturday.

I would back Pav to play this weekend regardless of results. Firstly, to win the Coleman. He deserves it. Secondly to give ourself the best chance at claiming 6th. A 60 point win for both us and North, combined with a 30-odd point sydney win seems like the most likely way this will happen, meaning we play North, at home.

This seems like the best way of seeing a purple september. If we limp in to the game against melbourne, we will likely limp in to the finals and go out the same way imo

 

[Nickos66]

I agree with the sentiment that we should be good enough to win anywhere anytime. But the reality is some matches are harder and more tolling than others and it is not like we will be getting a week off apart from this week.
Preference 1 - North at home
2 - WCE at home
3 - North away
4 - Geelong away

Given that we have got ourselves into a position to have an element of control over our finals campaign, I think it would be stupid to simply win by as much as you can when the outcome will be less desirable than another possibility.

If there is no chance at a Freo home final we should aim for WCE if possible, as this would give us the greatest chance of winning and going through to the next round.

I am in no way suggesting the team aims to lose against Melbourne or deliberately cough the ball up. Perhaps just hold possession a bit more, and try a few experiments with younger players.

Are you saying you'd prefer to lose against Melbourne??

 

[TheLastCall]

I am in no way suggesting the team aims to lose against Melbourne or deliberately cough the ball up. Perhaps just hold possession a bit more, and try a few experiments with younger players.

I wouldn't experiment, keep the structures going. Do not mess with the players head a week before finals.

Play the game like any other. If we end up higher on the ladder, so be it. Keep the game plan going...

 

[teamex]

I wouldn't experiment, keep the structures going. Do not mess with the players head a week before finals.

Play the game like any other. If we end up higher on the ladder, so be it. Keep the game plan going...

I'd imagine this mirrors RTB's sentiment

 

[tacopavlich]

Go in, go hard, every game. Would be dissapointed if the players were told anything different. Tbh I would rather our players take the challenge of playing Geelong, than take the easy option by tanking. We aren't Melbourne.

 

[StingBitten]

I'm not sure why everyone prefers the Derby option to Geelong/Collingwood.

- Eagles are a different side: Even though the derby was just a few weeks ago the Eagles are a changed side; they will be prepared for us this time especially in front of over forty thousand of their more obscene supporters.
- Travelling is not a major factor: This year for the Dockers has seen 3 wins at Etihad and 1 at the MCG, not to mention other signficant away wins. We can travel and beat any team, anywhere.
- We are better than Geelong and Collingwood: Collingwood are falling, and we are harder and more effective with the ball than Geelong. This is not going to be like the 2010 final, our defensive structure is tight and our forward pressure is becoming momentous.

6th place is the best result, we will absolutely dismantle Melbourne and pending the Geelong vs Sydney game, we will finish 6th or 7th.

 

[caterina]

The worst of both worlds would be to play our full side yet try and tank to a narrow win over Melbourne to deliberately finish 8th
We should either do a round 21 2010 and make it patently clear we are having a rest, or play our full side and go 100% with the attitude that we don't care who or where we play.

 

[malpaso]

The worst of both worlds would be to play our full side yet try and tank to a narrow win over Melbourne to deliberately finish 8th
We should either do a round 21 2010 and make it patently clear we are having a rest, or play our full side and go 100% with the attitude that we don't care who or where we play.

Bolded = Lyon Mantra

 

[malpaso]

I still think 2-3 changes will be made, Subcliffe and Sheridan to get a run. I don't think that's too harmful to the continuity.

 

[ImperialPurple]

I'm not sure why everyone prefers the Derby option to Geelong/Collingwood.

- Eagles are a different side: Even though the derby was just a few weeks ago the Eagles are a changed side; they will be prepared for us this time especially in front of over forty thousand of their more obscene supporters.
- Travelling is not a major factor: This year for the Dockers has seen 3 wins at Etihad and 1 at the MCG, not to mention other signficant away wins. We can travel and beat any team, anywhere.
- We are better than Geelong and Collingwood: Collingwood are falling, and we are harder and more effective with the ball than Geelong. This is not going to be like the 2010 final, our defensive structure is tight and our forward pressure is becoming momentous.

6th place is the best result, we will absolutely dismantle Melbourne and pending the Geelong vs Sydney game, we will finish 6th or 7th.

I agree with this. Playing the weags would be worst possible outcome IMO. No better than going to the MCG to face Geelong. WCE are not the same team we played a few weeks back and they would come out with a very serious score to settle in front of a split crowd of half us and half them. It would be a completely different game from a month prior. I am confident we could take care of North here or in Melbourne; Geelong here and 50/50 over there; but the weags here I would put at no more than a 50/50 either. 6th and a home final v North is our best outcome.

 

[StingBitten]

I agree with this. Playing the weags would be worst possible outcome IMO. No better than going to the MCG to face Geelong. WCE are not the same team we played a few weeks back and they would come out with a very serious score to settle in front of a split crowd of half us and half them. It would be a completely different game from a month prior. I am confident we could take care of North here or in Melbourne; Geelong here and 50/50 over there; but the weags here I would put at no more than a 50/50 either. 6th and a home final v North is our best outcome.

Cheers. Not to mention the potential loss of momentum if we 'aim for the narrow win' or rest half the squad. Contrary to popular believe, coming in extremely hard and reaping a smashing victory will not wear us down and set us up for a future loss.