Opinion AFL 2025 Round 23 - Weekend Wrap & Liked, Learnt, Hated

[Osho]

In form, or just looking good because they're playing weaker teams?

Last top 8(9..) team they played was GWS in rnd18, and they lost that. (their last win against a top 8 side was the Suns in rnd 13 at kitty litter park).

Yeah, you're right, they're not purring along.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Cats are the inform team, under the radar, not getting much attention. They'll like it that way for as long as it is possible.

Other favoured teams Crows and Brizzy have some issues. I think Brizzys best is the best, but can they string 4 wins in a row? Not sure.

I'm surprised we've moved into the top line on the premiership betting, feeling about as confident as I did heading into the finals last year (not very).

However, I'm not worried so much about the lead-in. Last team to beat St Kilda, then Sydney away was supposed to be a big test for us having won five out of six and fresh off beating Brisbane at the Gabba. I think the sceptics were expecting us to get rolled and now they're pretending it doesn't count. We were hearing the same stuff about a soft finish to the home & away season in 2022.

I definitely prefer Adelaide and Brisbane to us for the flag at this stage, but we're in the mix and obviously have a huge advantage heading into the final round that we'll almost certainly finish in second and we can't realistically finish lower than third.

 

[Osho]

I'm surprised we've moved into the top line on the premiership betting, feeling about as confident as I did heading into the finals last year (not very).

However, I'm not worried so much about the lead-in. Last team to beat St Kilda, then Sydney away was supposed to be a big test for us having won five out of six and fresh off beating Brisbane at the Gabba. I think the sceptics were expecting us to get rolled and now they're pretending it doesn't count. We were hearing the same stuff about a soft finish to the home & away season in 2022.

I definitely prefer Adelaide and Brisbane to us for the flag at this stage, but we're in the mix and obviously have a huge advantage heading into the final round that we'll almost certainly finish in second and we can't realistically finish lower than third.

Yep, winning form is good form, and very few injuries as far as I can tell. Blind Freddy can see they are going along nicely and are making adaptations within the team as they go. Cats are better than last year, clearly, and even then they were a kick away from the GF.

 

[blueiris]

Cats are the inform team, under the radar, not getting much attention. They'll like it that way for as long as it is possible.

Other favoured teams Crows and Brizzy have some issues. I think Brizzys best is the best, but can they string 4 wins in a row? Not sure.

Against the best Lions have no trouble especially on the road Cats would least likely want to play the Lions over anyone else

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Yep, winning form is good form, and very few injuries as far as I can tell. Blind Freddy can see they are going along nicely and are making adaptations within the team as they go. Cats are better than last year, clearly, and even then they were a kick away from the GF.

Yeah, the premiership favouritism seems a bit off to me, but I guess from the bookies' side it makes a bit of sense, as besides us and Adelaide, everyone else has some work to do to make top four. Brisbane has to beat Hawthorn. Collingwood, Gold Coast and Hawthorn need to win and hope other results favour them. The others would be hoping for a miracle.

Brisbane's an interesting one as I'd predict they'll jump above us in the betting if they beat Hawthorn, but if they don't they're looking down the barrel of an away elimination final.

 

[MisterMarcus]

Against the best Lions have no trouble especially on the road Cats would least likely want to play the Lions over anyone else

It's one of those weird seasons where every finals side has a "bogey team" or two, and would be favourites for the flag if they could guarantee they avoid those sides.