Any Side can Make the eight

[nut]

Luck with injuries I think that there is not one side in the comp that cannot make the eight.

Richmond have improved there list
Doggies were not that far out last year after a very poor start
Geelong tripped at the last hurdle
Freo have a home ground advantage
Sydney can improve
Carlton has been overhauled
Saints have an improved young list
Hawks made the prelim the year before.

And the side that made it last year are also a good chance you would think.

 

[robbieando]

Of course every team at the start of the season can make the 8. Having said that most years you see the 5 teams in the 8 from last year, 2 teams who just missed out and 1 team who shocks everyone.

 

[Portia]

I reckon even Port might make the eight this year.

 

[Kenny_01]

Originally posted by Porthos
I reckon even Port might make the eight this year.

You think?

 

[Ausgard]

Originally posted by Kenny_01


You think?

Port should still take it one game at a time though

 

[Portia]

Originally posted by Ausgard
Port should still take it one game at a time though

Yes indeed. In the context of the season, each game is just as important, but some are more important than others, but they're all worth four points, and in the end, you're happy to get the four points.

 

[hotpie]

Carlton will not make the eight
Essendon will likely slip out of the eight
The Bulldogs will get the wooden spoon (if they last that long financially).

 

[daicos4ever]

Richmond - need to find some hardness at the ball. Richo needs to pull his finger out.
Bulldogs - will struggle again, but I'd be more than happy to be proven wrong.
Geelong - should make the eight.
Freo - need to win away from home.
Sydney - Possible. Roos seems to know his stuff. Depends if his troops are on the same wavelength. Maybe not in 2003.
Carlton - not this year. 16th again is more likely.
St Kilda - in terms of talent and potential, they should make it. Anything less would be underacheivement. This is St Kilda though...
Hawthorn - same deal as Richmond. Crawford seemed to carry the whole club last season. They need solid contributers. Lekkas will improve again. Jury is out on whether Everitt will add anything worthwhile to the team.

Having said all that, some teams need to drop out of the 8....

Port - Will make it in a canter.
Brisbane - Twice as easily as Port.
Adelaide - with so much attention on Carey, he'll need to be something special if the Crows are to have a good a season as the last. Should have no trouble in making the finals, but top four will depend on Carey.
Collingwood - Set high standards last season, and will need to live up to them next year. A poor start may see a disappointing season. Should make the finals, but having said that....
Essendon - May well struggle. In a rebuilding phase and not going to be anything exception. May even miss the finals all together. Hird will need to be injury free, Lloyd will need to be on target and Lucas will need to step up. Having said that, their dominance is clearly over.
Melbourne - maybe, maybe not. Surprising last season so will ned to repeat that. Losing Woewodin will hurt.
North - Very doubtful. New coach, young team, rebuilding. I personally hope they make it but I can't really see it happening.
West Coast - Should continue to improve but took everyone by surprise last season. Now they are expected to perform it will be interesting to see whether they can repeat last season's exceptional performance.

I can't see any more than 3 teams dropping out of the 8. I expect Geelong, Hawthorn and St Kilda to be fighting for those three spots.

 

[knuckles]

Making the 8 means diddly. It's making the top 4 that matters. My nominations, BL, PA, then out of 'pies (taking a huge risk in not addressing the ruck ), Crows, WC, Bombers, and a roughy, Saints.

Can't stand the final 8 system. No idea why the 9th worse team should be rewarded.

 

[Port1978]

I'd like a final 5 system like they have in the SANFL

 

[Portia]

Originally posted by port1978
I'd like a final 5 system like they have in the SANFL

Had. I thought I read somewhere they're going back to final four next year, is this correct?

 

[Port1978]

Originally posted by Porthos
Had. I thought I read somewhere they're going back to final four next year, is this correct?

I hadn't heard that, has anyone in Adelaide heard anything about it? I hope they don't change it.

 

[MagpieJoel]

Originally posted by nut
Luck with injuries I think that there is not one side in the comp that cannot make the eight.


Carlton has been overhauled

Since when?

 

[Goldenblue]

Originally posted by knuckles
Making the 8 means diddly. It's making the top 4 that matters. My nominations, BL, PA, then out of 'pies (taking a huge risk in not addressing the ruck ), Crows, WC, Bombers, and a roughy, Saints.

Can't stand the final 8 system. No idea why the 9th worse team should be rewarded.

I liked the final six. 7 & 8 are not worth rewarding.

 

[Portia]

Re: Re: Any Side can Make the eight

Originally posted by MagpieJoel
Since when?

Since their extensive trading period.

 

[SCRAY72]

Originally posted by hotpie
Carlton will not make the eight
Essendon will likely slip out of the eight
The Bulldogs will get the wooden spoon (if they last that long financially).

Essendon are still an awesome side and with a decent ruckman will be in the mix.
Carlton with Ratten, Kouta and Whitnall back will improve sharply.
The Dogs have Brown,Darcy,West,Johnson,Smith,Bandy,Giansiracusa,Murphy and a few other handy players and would be the best team ever to win the spoon if they did so.
The money problems are old news and have been around for 30 years. If they were the only team struggling financially then it would be a problem. But there a half a dozen other teams struggling to make ends meet then it is a League problem.
I was gutted when you guys were beaten in the GF,I was cheering you on and you have my respect.
B***s**t posts like the one above will erode that respect pretty quickly.

 

[hotpie]

Originally posted by SCRAY72


Essendon are still an awesome side and with a decent ruckman will be in the mix.
Carlton with Ratten, Kouta and Whitnall back will improve sharply.
The Dogs have Brown,Darcy,West,Johnson,Smith,Bandy,Giansiracusa,Murphy and a few other handy players and would be the best team ever to win the spoon if they did so.
The money problems are old news and have been around for 30 years. If they were the only team struggling financially then it would be a problem. But there a half a dozen other teams struggling to make ends meet then it is a League problem.
I was gutted when you guys were beaten in the GF,I was cheering you on and you have my respect.
B***s**t posts like the one above will erode that respect pretty quickly.

Money problems being old news doesnt make them any less serious. Other teams having big problems makes the situation more of a crisis for teams like North and the Dogs, not less of one.

Apart from finances I don't think the makeup of the Dogs team provides a lot of hope. You have no height in your forward line or your backline, and you rely too much on your half dozen midsize players who admittedly are very very good. Also, take out Darcy and God help you.

My post was a genuine opinion - sorry you didn't like it but it carried no spite.

 

[shiva25]

I think Melbourne and North could miss the 8 next year with probably Hawthorn and Richmond to take their place

 

[MarkT]

Originally posted by Porthos
Yes indeed. In the context of the season, each game is just as important, but some are more important than others, but they're all worth four points, and in the end, you're happy to get the four points.

All cliches aside, the games at the start are worth the same 4 points but have far less bearing on the season. Plenty of teams have started the season well and made the finals with no form. This was widely percieved to have been the case with Collingwood. IMO it wasn't but that's another story. WCE in 91 (I think) were unbeatable early but were very beatable later. Adelaide won back to back flags tioming their campaign. I think Blight learnt from his time at Geelong hat 120 point wins in round 2 mean nothing come September.

 

[MarkT]

Originally posted by daicos4ever
Collingwood - Set high standards last season, and will need to live up to them next year. A poor start may see a disappointing season. Should make the finals, but having said that....

Expect another poor MM pre season. Practice matches are for practicing. If they can be right for round 1 this year I'll be midly surprised and quite pleased. A lot depends on pre season operations for all teams also. The finals are made in winter. That's when the games must be won.

 

[The Spornstar]

Re: Re: Re: Any Side can Make the eight

Originally posted by Porthos
Since their extensive trading period.

We'd be stupid to trade when our players are worth nothing after a spoon. And trading our top draft picks is even sillier.

 

[Asgardian]

For those guys that wanted to know, YES, the SANFL will revert to a FINAL 4 system from season 2003 onwards

 

[hotpie]

Originally posted by Porthos
Yes indeed. In the context of the season, each game is just as important, but some are more important than others, but they're all worth four points, and in the end, you're happy to get the four points.

Showdowns are more important.

 

[nut]

Re: Re: Re: Any Side can Make the eight

Originally posted by Porthos
Since their extensive trading period.

And getting one of the best coaches around. He will have an impact.
See fisrt year as north senior coach. Also first year as Ess res coach.

 

[Port1978]

Originally posted by Asgardian
For those guys that wanted to know, YES, the SANFL will revert to a FINAL 4 system from season 2003 onwards

THat sux.....don't think there was any reason to change it!