Contenders and Pretenders 2019 ( edited - Page 32 current discussion ) Are Richmond now the team to beat?

[Old Stuckup]

Contenders: Geelong, West Coast, GWS, Collingwood, Richmond
Smokies: Port Adelaide, Brisbane, Essendon, Hawthorn, Melbourne
Likely mid/lower sides: Western Bulldogs, St Kilda, Fremantle, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Sydney, North Melbourne, Carlton

 

[Black Saab]

Naaah

We have no reason to fear you this year. I get your backline probably won't be in dissaray in round 17. Hartwig really blinked against us though and it's hard to turn around a big loss in the H/A season. It doesn't often happen.

Huh? What do you mean it's hard to turn around a big home and away loss?

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

Huh? What do you mean it's hard to turn around a big home and away loss?

Pretty clear I would have thought.

 

[Black Saab]

Pretty clear I would have thought.

Nah, go ahead and explain. Cite some examples.

 

[dean33]

Pretty clear I would have thought.

Do you mean that because the Giants beat the tigers by 49 points it will be hard to turn that around the next time we play at home 3 months later? Surely not?

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

Do you mean that because the Giants beat the tigers by 49 points it will be hard to turn that around the next time we play at home 3 months later? Surely not?

That's exactly what I mean.

 

[dean33]

That's exactly what I mean.

Cool just wanted to make sure as it’s a ridiculous thing to say.

 

[OhhDeledio]

That's exactly what I mean.

what makes you say that? because it makes no sense

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

what makes you say that? because it makes no sense

Really

 

[Candiru]

GWS made a statement today. Fantastic win.

How many premiership points are statements worth?

 

[Candiru]

Reckon Geelong and West Coast have stamped themselves as contenders.

The reigning premiers are contenders? Don't get crazy.

 

[Zoom]

Do you mean that because the Giants beat the tigers by 49 points it will be hard to turn that around the next time we play at home 3 months later? Surely not?

Lol I agree, it was a stupid comment. We have turned around big losses to Adelaide twice in the past two years. Collingwood turned it around with us last year as well. Would’ve thought it actually happens quite regularly. St Kilda in 2017 with us is another example.

 

[dean33]

Lol I agree, it was a stupid comment. We have turned around big losses to Adelaide twice in the past two years. Collingwood turned it around with us last year as well. Would’ve thought it actually happens quite regularly. St Kilda in 2017 with us is another example.

One of the more ridiculous things I’ve read on here, be a bit different if you are playing them the following week although that’s been known to happen but weeks or even months later at a different ground? The previous meeting would have little to no bearing on the outcome.

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

How many premiership points are statements worth?

4

 

[Max zero]

Also you can begin to see strength of schedule now. While it's still early every single game WCE have played so far has been against current top 8 sides. Now some might well drop out (Brisbane or Freo) but at the moment you would consider them at least decent sides.

 

[tim_saints]

Contenders: Geelong, West Coast, GWS, Collingwood, Richmond
Smokies: Port Adelaide, Brisbane, Essendon, Hawthorn, Melbourne
Likely mid/lower sides: Western Bulldogs, St Kilda, Fremantle, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Sydney, North Melbourne, Carlton

Not sure how you can have essendon as a smokie and not St Kilda when they beat you with about 5 of their top 10 players out.

 

[Scotland]

Essendon could win all of their remaining games and make the GF and I'd still call them a smokey. The gap between their best and worst is something to behold.

 

[Bald]

Not sure how you can have essendon as a smokie and not St Kilda when they beat you with about 5 of their top 10 players out.

Because Essendon have a far, far deeper list than St Kilda. Sure, you beat them, but nobody is buying that St Kilda are a better chance at winning the premiership than Essendon are, except perhaps St Kilda supporters.

 

[tim_saints]

Because Essendon have a far, far deeper list than St Kilda. Sure, you beat them, but nobody is buying that St Kilda are a better chance at winning the premiership than Essendon are, except perhaps St Kilda supporters.

Well that’s a perception whether it’s fact or not is yet to be seen, essendon haven’t done anything with their list that show me they are a premiership contender and until they do I’m not sure they can be a smokie.... I’d be more inclined to drop them down to the mid table teams at the moment to be honest!

 

[Bald]

Well that’s a perception whether it’s fact or not is yet to be seen, essendon haven’t done anything with their list that show me they are a premiership contender and until they do I’m not sure they can be a smokie.... I’d be more inclined to drop them down to the mid table teams at the moment to be honest!

Which comes from a place of 'why them and not us?' as opposed to looking at Essendon in isolation.

Their list makes them a smokie regardless of what they have or have not done. I don't like it either, I hate the Bombers, but I need to accept that they tick a lot of the boxes.

 

[JackOutback]

Opinions on whether a team is a premiership contender is about more than wins and losses this early in the season, or which team has beaten which. Some teams will have a good start to the season, but the general consensus may be that the list simply isn't strong enough. Gold Coast are 3-1 for the season, but I bet most pundits would still have them outside the top 8.

Early analysis of lists definitely had Essendon as finals chances and St Kilda as likely bottom eight. It takes time to change perceptions.

 

[tim_saints]

Which comes from a place of 'why them and not us?' as opposed to looking at Essendon in isolation.

Their list makes them a smokie regardless of what they have or have not done. I don't like it either, I hate the Bombers, but I need to accept that they tick a lot of the boxes.

Don’t get me wrong on paper their list looks good! But coaching, structure and playing style all comes into it, their best is great and their worst is horrible... a really good side doesn’t have such a gap between their best and worst in my opinion, that’s why jury is out on them for me! Just my opinion.

 

[Old Stuckup]

Don’t get me wrong on paper their list looks good! But coaching, structure and playing style all comes into it, their best is great and their worst is horrible... a really good side doesn’t have such a gap between their best and worst in my opinion, that’s why jury is out on them for me! Just my opinion.

Which is exactly why I and many others consider us a smoker and not a genuine contender.

 

[Alphonse_]

We all got sucked in by The Crows, expecting them bounce back after a terrible 2018 season.

Why isn't Pyke playing kids like Greenwood and Fogarty, I'll never know, there seems a rigid staleness to their squad right now, he gotta start giving the kids a go, I don't think The Crows have to bottom out or rebuild at all, just do a slight list renovation for a couple of years (bit like what Buckley did at the Pies)

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

Which is exactly why I and many others consider us a smoker and not a genuine contender.

Freudian slip?