"Best team outside of the eight"

[M29]

Is a more patronising way of the media folk saying that a team is "The best of the sh*t group of teams, not to make the finals".

Who cares if a team is the best outside of the 8?

If I were a coach and someone said to me "Well, you're now the best team oustide of the 8. After today, bending over a hapless outfit of sh*t excuse for a football team for the second week in a row" after a game I'd tell them to **** off.

It's not an achievement to be proud of at all.

Unless you are Grant Thomas.

Same goes for dawks fans that were thinking that they were still a chance for the final 8 two to three weeks back.

 

[JUBJUB]

One coach,not Cornflakes this time,has been crapping on about how his team is the best outside the top 4.

So why aren't they in the 8 ?

 

[Au_Blue#24]

the saints for sure - they'd beat a few teams inside the 8 atm. They'll be a force next year for sure.

 

[aussierules0k]

Saints are the most improved and would possibly cause upsets in the finals had they made it. As a Sainter I'm more than happy with our very successful year.

 

[M29]

Originally posted by aussierules0k
As a Sainter I'm more than happy with our very successful year.

That explains alot.

 

[Macpie]

Originally posted by aussierules0k
Saints are the most improved and would possibly cause upsets in the finals had they made it. As a Sainter I'm more than happy with our very successful year.

as usual your theory wil not be tested as they played their best footy after the pressure of possible success was removed from them.

we can all see how happy you are - that's what is truly pathetic about all this crap

 

[Maguire#31]

the year has been succesful in terms of development, in relativ eterms collingwood finished 4th last yr with 13 wins, we may finish 10th with 12 this yr. their are clealry 11 good teams this season and 5 terribly ****e ones, we dropped a game against one of these (Melbourne and that will cost us a finals spot) which is terribly disappointing. we however played some bloody good football against a few sides, Adelaide, Brissy etc etc.. Hawks in the wet..... and our 4 match losing streak after beating brissy probably would be attributed to losin hudghton, penny hamill etc and having to play gumby scwarze on tarrant and co. but we didnt make the finals so we have to improve again.... which we uncdoubtedly will

 

[grayham]

Never happen, but what about a top 7 guaranteed finals, and then a "wildcard" team from the rest to make 8.
Wildcard is based on the last 5 rounds, and has a ranking system based on quality of opposition and winning margins.

Make the season more interesting for the lowly clubs.

 

[Macpie]

Originally posted by grayham
Never happen, but what about a top 7 guaranteed finals, and then a "wildcard" team from the rest to make 8.
Wildcard is based on the last 5 rounds, and has a ranking system based on quality of opposition and winning margins.

Make the season more interesting for the lowly clubs.

Stuff them! Let them figure out how to win enough games

 

[FlavaFlav]

Ahh Best team out of the eight, the caling cardl of the loser

 

[Joffaboy]

Originally posted by Macpie
as usual your theory wil not be tested as they played their best footy after the pressure of possible success was removed from them.

Not quite true, until last week the Saints were a chance to make the finals, game results went against them. However they did not make the finals so you take what you can from so late season wins. A little bit like preseason, great if you win, doesn't matter if you don't.

we can all see how happy you are - that's what is truly pathetic about all this crap

Pathetic to be happy about your team winning by more than ten goals for four weeks in a row? Why can't Saints supporters be happy about that?
Happy that they have won more games in 2003 than the past three seasons combined? Can't be unhappy about that.

Happy that their youngsters are combining well and will be bigger and hopefully better in 2004? Why not be happy about that.

Happy the team missed out on the finals? To be playing this well and miss out is very dissappointing, nobody is happy about that.

I am never even partly happy with my teams season unless they at least make the finals, relatively happy if they manage to win a final, marginally happy if they can get to a PF, very happy if they can make a GF, and delerious if they ever manage to win one.

 

[GOALden Hawk]

Originally posted by M29


Same goes for dawks fans that were thinking that they were still a chance for the final 8 two to three weeks back.

Who were they? Most Hawk fans wrote the season off Round 10, I know I did. It's only the media who have been saying we were a chance to play finals.

If there was a final 5 like there should be mediocre sides like Hawthorn and St Kilda wouldn't even be mentioned.

 

[Voice of Reason]

Re: Re: "Best team outside of the eight"

Originally posted by GOALden Hawk
If there was a final 5 like there should be we mediocre sides like Hawthorn and St Kilda wouldn't even be mentioned.

A very salient point - the current system is designed to reward mediocrity and keep as much public interest as long as possible as it is - so not even making that stage is not good.

Of course, it does partly depend where you're coming from. FWIW, I think Hawthorn have underachieved with their list this year.

St Kilda did pretty much what I expected them too. Next year, anything less than about 6th is underachievement considering the players Saints have and they could go Top 4 (as could Freo).

 

[Chris_Judd]

Ahhh the St Kilda bandwagon has well and truly rolled into town now hasn't it... They have won 4 in a row.. against power sides like Western Bulldogs, Carlton and Richmond... and everyone is proclaiming them as having arrived in the AFL.. "Watch out for next year" What a joke.

This is more a sad indication on St Kildas season... and the fact they have had a dream draw handed to them on a plate where the 6 of the 7 teams they have played twice this year were at the bottom of the ladder and an injured out of form West Coast in Melbourne. Given that they should have made the finals easily. I know a few other clubs in the AFL who would have loved that draw.

You only have to look at Richmond as a perfect example of a side who was doing well at the start of the year and the bandwagon getting into full motion.... and people talking finals and perhaps premierships.... I made several posts back then saying Richmond were nowhere near as good as everyone thought.. given that their draw was about as soft as it could get and had to be taken with a grain of salt.... and that they would get drawn back to the field.... and thats exactly what I will say about St Kilda now.

Its all good and well beating bottom sides at the end of the year... to me its just giving St Kilda supporters once again false hope. Oh and look who St Kilda have this weekend.... Geelong.... Another chance to beat up on a bottom 8 side.

I wish the Eagles could have had a Richmond ,Carlton ,Western Bulldogs, Geelong end to the year. Lets wait and see St Kilda go next year.

 

[FIGJAM]

Being "the best team out of the eight" is about as relevant as Collingwood being "Minor Premiers of the Victorian clubs"!

 

[Big Boss]

Originally posted by FIGJAM
Being "the best team out of the eight" is about as relevant as Collingwood being "Minor Premiers of the Victorian clubs"!

Or winning the Coventry-Lockett Cup

 

[Macpie]

Originally posted by Big Boss
Or winning the Coventry-Lockett Cup

yeah there's one for the Trophy room. A cup for beating the Swans!! Wow!

 

[kahuna71]

Originally posted by Chris_Judd
Ahhh the St Kilda bandwagon has well and truly rolled into town now hasn't it... They have won 4 in a row.. against power sides like Western Bulldogs, Carlton and Richmond... and everyone is proclaiming them as having arrived in the AFL.. "Watch out for next year" What a joke.

This is more a sad indication on St Kildas season... and the fact they have had a dream draw handed to them on a plate where the 6 of the 7 teams they have played twice this year were at the bottom of the ladder and an injured out of form West Coast in Melbourne. Given that they should have made the finals easily. I know a few other clubs in the AFL who would have loved that draw.

You only have to look at Richmond as a perfect example of a side who was doing well at the start of the year and the bandwagon getting into full motion.... and people talking finals and perhaps premierships.... I made several posts back then saying Richmond were nowhere near as good as everyone thought.. given that their draw was about as soft as it could get and had to be taken with a grain of salt.... and that they would get drawn back to the field.... and thats exactly what I will say about St Kilda now.

Its all good and well beating bottom sides at the end of the year... to me its just giving St Kilda supporters once again false hope. Oh and look who St Kilda have this weekend.... Geelong.... Another chance to beat up on a bottom 8 side.

I wish the Eagles could have had a Richmond ,Carlton ,Western Bulldogs, Geelong end to the year. Lets wait and see St Kilda go next year.

How can any team be handed a 'dream draw' when, for about 14 teams in the comp, their form is an unknown quantity at the start of the year? Or can you see into the future now as well? Do you think Adelaide, Brisbane, West Coast and others we've beaten this year looked at a game against the Saints and said, 'look out, danger game!'? No, they would have thought, and rightly so, that st.kilda have been ordinary, and they probably will be again. Didn't turn out that way did it, genius?

 

[Chris_Judd]

Originally posted by kahuna71
How can any team be handed a 'dream draw' when, for about 14 teams in the comp, their form is an unknown quantity at the start of the year? Or can you see into the future now as well? Do you think Adelaide, Brisbane, West Coast and others we've beaten this year looked at a game against the Saints and said, 'look out, danger game!'? No, they would have thought, and rightly so, that st.kilda have been ordinary, and they probably will be again. Didn't turn out that way did it, genius?

No but you can look back in hindsight and see it is a easy draw and also see that they should have done a lot better.

 

[kahuna71]

Originally posted by Chris_Judd
No but you can look back in hindsight and see it is a easy draw and also see that they should have done a lot better.

but you just said we were handed a dream draw? how does your brain work? No team gets a dream draw, some have less travel for sure, but there are no certainties in 99% of matches. And hindsight is no argument at all. Please pick on a team with dumber supporters than the Saints, because we are all over your incompetent thought process like a cheap suit.

 

[Mr Q]

Originally posted by Chris_Judd
No but you can look back in hindsight and see it is a easy draw and also see that they should have done a lot better.

As much as I wouldn't normally agree with the _Dudd, on this he's spot on. For instance if you look at the Eagles draw, of our ten away games, we played all six non-Perth finallists plus the Hawks (9th) and Saints (10th), whereas we had a home draw dominated by visits from the bottom clubs. Reverse that, and with our supposed home ground advantage and we may have won one or two more games.

However that's just the luck of the draw (unless of course you're Collingwood). The Saints draw in hindsight looks pretty cushy, and they should be disappointed with not making the finals - although not getting in with (probably) twelve wins is somewhat unlucky at that.

 

[Outoftheblue]

No prizes for finishing out of the eight, but I would much prefer to finish as one of the best teams out of the eight than one of the worst. Hawthorn, St Kilda and the Kangaroos have all had decent seasons that will give them some confidence for next year.
Even the Cats are finishing the season in reasonable shape for next year.
But it's back to the drawing board for Richmond, Melbourne, Carlton and the Bulldogs - they have all been terrible.

 

[kahuna71]

Originally posted by Mr Q
As much as I wouldn't normally agree with the _Dudd, on this he's spot on. For instance if you look at the Eagles draw, of our ten away games, we played all six non-Perth finallists plus the Hawks (9th) and Saints (10th), whereas we had a home draw dominated by visits from the bottom clubs. Reverse that, and with our supposed home ground advantage and we may have won one or two more games.

However that's just the luck of the draw (unless of course you're Collingwood). The Saints draw in hindsight looks pretty cushy, and they should be disappointed with not making the finals - although not getting in with (probably) twelve wins is somewhat unlucky at that.

Yeah, that may be true (I haven't looked at everyone elses draw and can't be bothered, really) but you can't be handed something in hindsight now, can you?

 

[Chris_Judd]

Originally posted by kahuna71
Yeah, that may be true (I haven't looked at everyone elses draw and can't be bothered, really) but you can't be handed something in hindsight now, can you?

You can be "handed" a winning lotto ticket... you can be "handed" an inheritance that you didn't know you were going to get. You can get "handed" a lot of things in hindsight. St Kilda supporters aren't the sharpest knives in the draws are they. Who CARES if they knew before or not that it was going to end up being an easy draw. The fact is that it was and as a result St Kilda's position on the ladder is probably over exaggerated over some of the teams below them who ended up having harder fixtures.

 

[Maguire#31]

still managed to spank ur arses.... with out any sort of ruckman so dont play the gardiner card!