Mega Thread Elimination final opponent discussion

[Ashb23]

Last week's loss hurts. Reckon we could have pinched 4th if we'd gotten up

 

[mcwilrob]

I'm not as confident about C'wood beating WCE as earlier in the season....

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

I must be the most optimistic supporter there is. People are scared of norf, wet coke, and Carltank? Don't know where the lack of confidence in our boys comes from after the success we had. Why can't we all be over confident, cocky flogs like pies and hawks fans are? Surly we've earnt it by now havnt we? At our best we can beat any side any where. Last game in Perth we had half our midfield plus tomahawk missing and got within 5 points. If no one here can draw confidence from then some fans will always be pessamistic.

It's not that we can't beat those teams. Take an away final against West Coast for example. Playing a final at Subiaco is never ideal, especially when they'll have had an additional day's rest. Then, if we win (certainly doable), we either have to back up that trip against Hawthorn (who almost certainly won't be travelling in the first week of finals now) or Collingwood in Melbourne, or travel to Sydney or Adelaide. Win that one and we're only halfway there. It's going to be a cumulative effect and we want to avoid another Subiaco trip at all costs, or it will end up being damaging for our remaining games, in my opinion.

On the other hand, if we played West Coast or Freo at the MCG in an elimination final, then Sydney or Adelaide in the semi final, Hawthorn or Collingwood in the preliminary and Adelaide or Sydney again in the grand final, we're capable of winning the flag with that run, in my opinion.

 

[Vdubs]

I'm not as confident about C'wood beating WCE as earlier in the season....

Swan will be back, so will Pies. That loss will help them. Cloke and Dawes need to get beter delivery and start being more desperate, and they had less to play for this week, ? like our game vs Swans last year.

 

[SleazySimon]

It's not that we can't beat those teams. Take an away final against West Coast for example. Playing a final at Subiaco is never ideal, especially when they'll have had an additional day's rest. Then, if we win (certainly doable), we either have to back up that trip against Hawthorn (who almost certainly won't be travelling in the first week of finals now) or Collingwood in Melbourne, or travel to Sydney or Adelaide. Win that one and we're only halfway there. It's going to be a cumulative effect and we want to avoid another Subiaco trip at all costs, or it will end up being damaging for our remaining games, in my opinion.

On the other hand, if we playe West Coast or Freo at the MCG in an elimination final, then Sydney or Adelaide in the semi final, Hawthorn or Collingwood in the preliminary and Adelaide or Sydney again in the grand final, we're capable of winning the flag with that run, in my opinion.

Your right but, as the ladder is so even I think its too hard to predict even with only 2 games left. Who knows the eagles could even pinch 4th the way the season is going. All our players can do is only worry about what they can control and that's win the last 2, the rest will take care of itself. At least there is no standout favourite as in previous years.

 

[Tex_21]

I'd like to play GWS or Melbourne. Reckon it can be arranged?

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Your right but, as the ladder is so even I think its too hard to predict even with only 2 games left. Who knows the eagles could even pinch 4th the way the season is going. All our players can do is only worry about what they can control and that's win the last 2, the rest will take care of itself. At least there is no standout favourite as in previous years.

But what's wrong with speculating about which team we'd prefer to see in an elimination final (especially in a thread titled 'Who do we want to play in our first final?')? I'm unlikely to be playing in the games against the Bulldogs and Swans, so there's no danger of me getting ahead of myself. I don't think anyone on here would have the same feeling about playing an away game against West Coast as they would about having a home game against West Coast.

 

[Turbocat]

Hold on.
If we play NM week 1, could be at their home Etihad, and we could easily be caught out. We are good there, they are the best there.

Doubt it. I see playing finals at Docklands only if we play nonvic teams

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Best result is anyone in Melbourne. Freo the worst in Melb I reckon, followed by WCE. Would take North in Melb though if the alternative is WC 6th and us going to Perth.

 

[bulletproof]

West Coast in Perth and Carlton is who I would like to avoid.

 

[Big Fozza]

i disagree with most of the posters in here. i think north are a lot more dangerous that Carlton (by far) and WCE at Subi (by a little).

my preference would be carlton in melbs easy. they will crumble

 

[Selective Retention]

Looking at the ladder the pies and eagles game doesn't even matter that much really.

Eagles have 10% percentage advantage and a game in hand over North so if the eagles beat pies then they will finish 5th, not 6th.

If they lose to the pies, then hawks in melbourne, we need to beat Dogs and Sydney to overtake them.

We need the Hawks to beat them in Melbourne, otherwise it is in our hands.

 

[Kayaz]

so its kinda win win situation, if wce beat pies next week, then they keep 5th position surely given they also beat port today and have a % adv over north, if pies beat wce next week, then surely hawks will beat them the week after and we can overtake them and they will be 7th? can anyone correct me if im wrong

 

[Selective Retention]

so its kinda win win situation, if wce beat pies next week, then they keep 5th position surely given they also beat port today and have a % adv over north, if pies beat wce next week, then surely hawks will beat them the week after and we can overtake them and they will be 7th? can anyone correct me if im wrong

It is unlikely Eagles would win a game and lose a 10% adv over North, but it is possible.

If they beat pies by a point, get smashed by hawks, roos beat freo by 10 goals, roos beat gws by 100 points. Maybe something like that would skew it, can't be bothered working something like that out though.

 

[Topper]

Couldn't give a rats toss bag who we play, we're capable of beating all the teams in the 8, i don't see the point of looking for the easiest path to a GF

 

[Commando]

Whoever plays geelong in the finals will be half beaten before the match even starts, i am of the belief only injuries/susp will stop us. We have come out of our tough run as the inform side in the comp, we are six wins from back to back premierships, we are geelong.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Looking at the ladder the pies and eagles game doesn't even matter that much really.

Eagles have 10% percentage advantage and a game in hand over North so if the eagles beat pies then they will finish 5th, not 6th.

If the Eagles beat the Pies, they could finish fourth, which could set us up for a semi final at Subiaco.

 

[Kayaz]

Couldn't give a rats toss bag who we play, we're capable of beating all the teams in the 8, i don't see the point of looking for the easiest path to a GF

yes but are we capable of travelling to perth, then sydney then playing a fresh collingwood or hawthorn? im not too sure we would win

 

[fusion]

Hold on.
If we play NM week 1, could be at their home Etihad, and we could easily be caught out. We are good there, they are the best there.

I've done the ladder predictions and the most likely scenario seems to be North and Geelong as the only final in Melbourne. The game will be at the MCG. We'd love it to be at Etihad and you'd prefer Kardinia Park - a neutral venue is fair. We've only played at the G once this year, but if we are to learn to become better at the "big games" we need to be able to win at the G. Should be a cracker of a game. Both teams have the talent to scare any of the teams in the top 4 and if we can't win it I'll be barracking for Geelong to win the flag from 6th or 7th and create history.

 

[Senatorguesty]

I've done the ladder predictions and the most likely scenario seems to be North and Geelong as the only final in Melbourne. The game will be at the MCG. We'd love it to be at Etihad and you'd prefer Kardinia Park - a neutral venue is fair. We've only played at the G once this year, but if we are to learn to become better at the "big games" we need to be able to win at the G. Should be a cracker of a game. Both teams have the talent to scare any of the teams in the top 4 and if we can't win it I'll be barracking for Geelong to win the flag from 6th or 7th and create history.

Good post and I tell you what, for your young guys development playing this Geelong side at the 'G in a final would be HUGE. You couldnt replicate that experience anywhere.

 

[Banj]

I have us playing either hawks or pies in the prelim.

 

[Turbocat]

North V Geelong in the first final , my imagination makes a comparison to the that last few scenes in the Natural when the young blonde Pitcher steps up to take on Hobbs. A young mirror of himself.
North have assembled a team that reminds me of us in back when. Hopefully a final will be a good intro for them to their era but for us I hope there is more in the tank of the old champ yet.

 

[fusion]

Good post and I tell you what, for your young guys development playing this Geelong side at the 'G in a final would be HUGE. You couldnt replicate that experience anywhere.

Yep - we need that experience as our last finals games have all been thrashings. Many on the North board see parallels between the 1993 North team and this year. We were booted out week 1 of the finals that year before winning a final in 1994 (and famously losing to your mob). We probably need to make the finals a few years in a row to become a serious challenger.

 

[darrenmorgan]

ive got us playing north, then adelaide, then collingwood in a prelim, and then beating hawthorn is the granny. its gonna be beautiful.

 

[supahoops]

North V Geelong in the first final , my imagination makes a comparison to the that last few scenes in the Natural when the young blond Pitcher step up to take on Hobbs. A young mirror of himself.
North have assembled a team that reminds me of us in back when. Hopefully a final will be a good intro for them to their era but for us I hope there is more in the tank of the old champ yet.

My imagination sees Taylor hunt screw a floater from the forward pocket to the top of the square, Hawkins out-bodies scotty Thompson then slots one from 15 out after the siren. Cats by a goal.