Prediction Do you think we make finals?

[ABAB]

Agreed. Our midfield is the worst in the top 8. Lets hope for Nicks and co an elite midfielder is top of our wish list.

Probably why we drafted Draper with pick 4 last year, I still think Curtin will eventually be a midfielder and chased Peatling very hard.

 

[Go the Guts]

Agreed. Our midfield is the worst in the top 8. Lets hope for Nicks and co an elite midfielder is top of our wish list.

We need Sid Draper to get 40-50 games under his belt...... so let's leave him in the SANFL..........

 

[1990crow]

We need Sid Draper to get 40-50 games under his belt...... so let's leave him in the SANFL..........

It's exactly this kind of short term thinking that kills us over and over.

 

[WeeBlake]

Rankine and Soligo need to regain form in the 2nd half to support Dawson against side with a quality midfield. Berry replacing Crouch has been a positive and Peatling has been our 2nd best midfielder after Dawson.

One way to look at it is that we have a lot of upside if our midfield can return to its best form

 

[hugecannon]

It's exactly this kind of short term thinking that kills us over and over.

And sticking Edwards on the HBF for the year after he had a strong season last year in the middle.

 

[Dangarman]

It's a pretty clear split down the middle of the ladder now. The bookies have the bottom 9 at $151 or worse; and rightly so. The 4 teams on 6-8 would have to go 7-2 from their last 9, which would be a massive form reversal.

So the real question is who will finish 9th? I'm guessing it won't be Richmond...

Next weekend is the last of the bye rounds, where the six playing top 9 teams play a bottom 9 team; then in R17 every top 9 team plays a bottom 9 team. Any slip ups there could be final 8 deciding.

Gold Coast are looking flaky again. Deja Vu...

 

[Redline]

It's a pretty clear split down the middle of the ladder now. The bookies have the bottom 9 at $151 or worse; and rightly so. The 4 teams on 6-8 would have to go 7-2 from their last 9, which would be a massive form reversal.

So the real question is who will finish 9th? I'm guessing it won't be Richmond...

Next weekend is the last of the bye rounds, where the six playing top 9 teams play a bottom 9 team; then in R17 every top 9 team plays a bottom 9 team. Any slip ups there could be final 8 deciding.

Gold Coast are looking flaky again. Deja Vu...

I think it will be GWS who miss. To me they look the least convincing of the top 9 sides but have found a way to win.

Collingwood, Brisbane and Geelong will all make it

A bit like us given their draw I just can't see how the Suns and Bulldogs miss. Freo and the Hawks should get to 14 wins.

Of the bottom 9 teams. Sydney, Port and maybe Kangaroo's are capable of the odd upset. None will make it but could help shape the top 8.

 

[Dangarman]

I think it will be GWS who miss. To me they look the least convincing of the top 9 sides but have found a way to win.

Collingwood, Brisbane and Geelong will all make it

A bit like us given their draw I just can't see how the Suns and Bulldogs miss. Freo and the Hawks should get to 14 wins.

Of the bottom 9 teams. Sydney, Port and maybe Kangaroo's are capable of the odd upset. None will make it but could help shape the top 8.

Definitely. Over the next 2 rounds there's 15 opportunities for a bottom 9 side to cause an upset. Unless I (and any other tipster not game to try to pick the upset) get two perfect rounds of tipping, there will be at least one.

Even if every favourite was a 95% chance of winning, then statistically there is only a 46% chance they all get up. (0.95^15). If you reduce that to 90%, then it is only a 20% chance.

Just hoping it's not us against Richmond or Melbourne.

 

[chazwazza]

Ever since 2017 I’ve never really looked at The Squiggle or put much faith in it, now I’m confused just how it rates Western Bulldogs so highly.

 

[kirky]

Ever since 2017 I’ve never really looked at The Squiggle or put much faith in it, now I’m confused just how it rates Western Bulldogs so highly.

Includes an umpire bias.

 

[BRL121]

The main interest for the rest of the year (minor round) is which of the top 9 is going to make the best play for 9th. I hope it isn't us!

 

[Freomaniac]

Need to compare the whole side though.

In 2017 we had a better ruckman & better high end midfield.

True.

Saying that, I said after the round 15 bye, the crows fixture opens up.

I see 3 away games winnable vs tigers, eagles and North Melbourne as all 3 are bottom 6 sides.

I just can see the crows collapsing like the dockers did late last season.

 

[Freomaniac]

Includes an umpire bias.

Also true.

I still hate Troy Pannell. Crows fans always complain about umpires. But now you can make a good point. Yep I am also talking about that hawks game too.

 

[TARANTULA]

It looks like percentage might decide 3rd through 8th. If we smash the bottom teams like we should, our pct might be the difference between top 4 or not.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

It looks like percentage might decide 3rd through 8th. If we smash the bottom teams like we should, our pct might be the difference between top 4 or not.

Our percentage is likely to prove very handy in finishing above a few teams given the squeeze.

 

[pjcrows]

Our percentage is likely to prove very handy in finishing above a few teams given the squeeze.

Need to increase it today.

 

[cleanhands]

Need to increase it today.

Watch Nicks work his genius

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Watch Nicks work his genius

We've absolutely pumped lower ranked teams all season to be fair

 

[I Lost My Keays]

I have my top eight as:
Pies
Lions
Crows
Cats
Suns
Dogs
Hawks
Giants

 

[kirky]

So facts are :-

Best % in the AFL after 16 rounds (15 games)
2nd best attack (Western Bulldog is no 1) and 2nd best defence (Collingwood is no 1)
We have won 45 of a possible 60 quarters - best in the league (the next best is Collingwood with 39-3-18)

Our return games at home against Gold Coast, Hawthorn and Collingwood will determine our ladder position.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

So facts are :-

Best % in the AFL after 16 rounds (15 games)
2nd best attack (Western Bulldog is no 1) and 2nd best defence (Collingwood is no 1)
We have won 45 of a possible 60 quarters - best in the league (the next best is Collingwood with 39-3-18)

 

[kirky]

I have my top eight as:
Pies
Lions
Crows
Cats
Suns
Dogs
Hawks
Giants

So we only lose one game until end of season. Who do we lose to?

 

[pjcrows]

So facts are :-

Best % in the AFL after 16 rounds (15 games)
2nd best attack (Western Bulldog is no 1) and 2nd best defence (Collingwood is no 1)
We have won 45 of a possible 60 quarters - best in the league (the next best is Collingwood with 39-3-18)

Our return games at home against Gold Coast, Hawthorn and Collingwood will determine our ladder position.

Top 4 entirely in our hands.

 

[Peter Doherty]

Surely there's only 9 teams still in it. With GC 8th and a game up their sleeve.

 

[Moonwatcher]

My worst case scenario ladder where we only win the Melbourne, Eagles and North matches from here has us finishing 8th on percentage equal with Freo in 9th.