8 Point Games

[Robroy22]

When you're a middle of the road team it's obvious you play against a lot more sides that can take your spot on the ladder. Top 4 sides usually only play in two or three "8 Point Games" for their season and that lets them cruise through the season managing their lists and setting up their finals campaign. They don't have the constant pressure of having to keep coming up against potential rivals on a weekly basis. This year the Hawks have had a bad run with injuries that has seen them look more vulnerable than probably they should but the Swans, Freo, and Port are all on cruise control and only have to hold off an ageing Cats outfit to lock in their top 4 possies.

In the middle of the ladder it's much more "dog eat dog" and you seem to play a potential rival on a weekly basis. These "8 point games" can mean the making or the breaking of a season. Win a few close ones and you'll play finals, lose them and you'll have that frustration we all feel when we're close to something good but we just can't get there.

With the AFL's "draw" (and I use that word lightly) we've been unlucky enough to face "danger sides" like GC, and WB on their home grounds and when you only get to play them once it is a problem. I call them dangerous because they are like us, young and inconsistent and if you cop them on a bad day.....look out! The hawks got to play GC in Tassie....nuff said. At Metricon they have beaten Geelong and now us as well so its a lot tougher task up there. We've played the Blues in two super hyped matches and been lucky enough (good enough) to come out on top twice and now we do the same against the Bombers.

Some clubs don't have to play the dangerous sides twice.....

My point is: We're a young, inconsistent and developing side now. Our best is capable of beating anyone (Sydney for example) and we've been competitive with some very good teams (Geelong and Hawks) but the TOLL of playing so many 8 Point Games with the injuries we've had and the draw such that it is, perhaps we've just about reached the limit of what we're capable of this year.

Bucks isn't supercoach. Pendles, Beamer and the old men (Ball and Swanny) can't carry the can forever. Can we win a few of these danger games coming up and stay in it??

 

[ThisIsJake]

Had a terrible feeling about the Gold Coast game but i have a very very good feeling about this game.

 

[ottoman]

Had a terrible feeling about the Gold Coast game but i have a very very good feeling about this game.

geez I wish I could do that. Unfortunately I have a bad feeling going into every game.

 

[Robroy22]

So that's one FOR and one AGAINST.....typical BF!!

 

[jimmy35]

You'll see the mettle of this side over the next 2 weeks I suspect.

 

[frizzle]

You'll see the mettle of this side over the next 2 weeks I suspect.

Yeah I guess it's a case of which Collingwood will turn up. If we win these 2 next games I suspect we will play finals.
If we lose both we are gone.

 

[jimmy35]

Yeah I guess it's a case of which Collingwood will turn up. If we win these 2 next games I suspect we will play finals.
If we lose both we are gone.

I'm 2 up in my work tipping and I'll be picking them in both* weeks, I'm pretty confident.

 

[SuperSub17]

We will beat both Essendon and Adelaide. I'm confident. Heck I'm even optimistic that we can beat Port.

 

[Buena]

These next 2 weeks are huge. Both Adelaide and Essendon are playing some fair football at the moment. We will need to be better than we have been for the last month to beat either of them. Lose either, and I reckon it's curtains for 2014. With tough games against Port, Hawthorn, and a trip to subiaco ahead, we need wins. Plenty of wins.

 

[eddiebankbalance]

So that's one FOR and one AGAINST.....typical BF!!

No, it's the Ying & Yang of BF

 

[ThisIsJake]

geez I wish I could do that. Unfortunately I have a bad feeling going into every game.

You can borrow my good feeling .

Im telling you this this game will get our season back on track, I have absolutely no reason to believe this but i'm certain of it.

 

[Lefthanded]

Swans, Freo, and Port are all on cruise control and only have to hold off an ageing Cats outfit to lock in their top 4 possies.

The hawks got to play GC in Tassie....nuff said.

If Port are on cruise control than they have set it wrong - they've lost 3 of the last 4. Injuries to two key backs mean they are a bit vulnerable and whilst I suspect Cats are priming for finals, Port looked very good from the start. Have they peaked too early?

Hawks also played GC at Metricon and won by more than they did in Tas. Good teams get the job done.

We can cherry pick some parts of the draw that have gone against us but there are others that have gone our way. We got to play Swans before they peaked and have played Carlton twice in what has been a very poor season for them. End of the day it's all about making finals and with Maxy & Elliott to come back in we should be good enough this week. Dons are where they are because they've been inconsistent (losses to Saints & Demons) and without Watson if we can't beat them coming off our loss than forget finals as we'd also lose to Crows (playing better than Dons), Eagles in Perth, Hawks and maybe Port.

Conversely if we beat Dons & Crows than we should make finals (with wins over Bris & GWS) and Port & Eagles not beyond us. IF Reid is fit for finals than we are a threat. Yes it's a big if but think how good it would be to put a mediocre year behind us with a good finals campaign. I think we need some finals wins this year to have the experience for a crack next year.

Maybe it seems like I'm putting too much on the shoulders of Ben Reid but I'm also assuming a reasonable run with injuries from here as it's needed for a reasonable chance. We all now Maxy brings leadership and a wealth of experience. How many know that whilst Pies are 9-6, Maxy is 6-3 or Fasolo 6-1? Depth is about coverage for injuries but also about pressure for spots when most are available.

 

[tehnoodnub]

I honestly feel like we're lacking desire at the moment. There are very few players without question marks over their heads in my opinion. As such, when it comes to games like this against teams also vying for a spot in the finals, I just feel like they will want it more and play like their hopes are on the line whereas we won't. I honestly can't see us beating Essendon this weekend and I'm not sure we will win more than three games for the rest of the year. We may well lose to Brisbane.

 

[Lefthanded]

I just saw that Goddard in MRP trouble (offered 2 weeks, down to 1 if plead guilty) so without their arguably 2 best players (Watson the other) I'm feeling more confident.

 

[iGNITER]

We will only lose one more home and away game this season - Hawthorn.

 

[Collingwoodity]

We will only lose one more home and away game this season - Hawthorn.

WOW

 

[Yidaki]

So it's fair to say that the last week and this week are one giant 16 point game........am I doin this rite?

 

[iGNITER]

WOW

Just a prediction. Probably more optimism.

 

[ottoman]

No Watson or Goddard. Thats good news.
Gives us a big advantage
To put it into perspective that would be like playing GC without GAJ........

 

[boxy99]

I hate to say it but we are not making the 8 this year!

 

[TradeDraft]

We have 2 8 Point games in a row vs Dons then Crows

 

[Robroy22]

If Port are on cruise control than they have set it wrong - they've lost 3 of the last 4. Injuries to two key backs mean they are a bit vulnerable and whilst I suspect Cats are priming for finals, Port looked very good from the start. Have they peaked too early?

Hawks also played GC at Metricon and won by more than they did in Tas. Good teams get the job done.

Thanks Lefty: you've reinforced my points for me.
Port can afford to cruise a bit because they started so well. And their 8 Point games are against Hawks, Swans, Freo and the Cats so they should safely get through from here. All the top 4-5 sides can because they play their rivals so infrequently.

The mid to low members of the 8 have to battle another 8-10 sides for their positions and some clubs (us) have to face quite a few of these in one off away games (GWS, GC, WB). Don't even start on the old chestnut that bottom sides always get "up" for their personal GF's against Collingwood, we're a young side playing either a "blockbuster" or a "danger game" every week!! (or so the press would have us believe.

I agree that the Hawks beat GC at Metricon. But as you pointed out they're a good side, they won the title last year so they are a very good side. But I'm guessing if they played at Metricon right now and faced a GC side with GAJ, they'd struggle to get the job done due to injuries and suspensions as well. We also had our injury problems against GC but because it's been happening all year (and for quite a few years actually) we've just accepted it.

I am bullish about this current crop of young pies but I would love to get a "soft draw" for once and have a full list to pick from.

ahhhhhhh Utopia.

 

[Lefthanded]

Agree I'm bullish on current crop. Not too fussed about a 'soft draw' as I don't think they give you the best preparation for finals. I'll be happy with having a near full list (with no key players missing significant chunks) and consistent performance. I think the rest takes care of itself with the systems we have in place.