Expectations for September

[BotsMaster]

...a holiday.

 

[Just do something]

The way i see it we will be playing 5 tough games in a row with Sydney last game at KPark if we are to go all the way. I just hope we have the legs to get us through to a preliminary final.Im more inclined to see how hard and tough each game is and how much petrol we use. I think we need to somehow get an easy win(if this is possible at all) in one of our finals.

There will be some very nervous moments over the next 5-6 weeks from an expectation point of view. Lets hang on for the ride i say.

 

[Clawfinger]

No Varcoe, no Menzel, ruck issues, a reasonably tough draw, getting some proper game time into the new boys..... I'd say we've done pretty well already. An EF win would be a pass mark. I can't help feeling there's more to come though.

 

[Senatorguesty]

I've just done some sums and correct me if I'm wrong but this is a possible finals series and I think our best chance.
Freo in melb week one, win.
Adelaide away week 2 after they lose to the hawks.
Pies in the prelim since they keep up their swans hoodoo.
Other prelim is swans hawks at the g.
We can beat the pies and likely play hawks in gf.
That match up turns me on and at the same time scares the shit out of me.

 

[fpm84]

I'll be disappointed if we don't make it past week one. But, assuming we have a fit list available and don't completely drop off a cliff before then, I think we'll beat whoever we play.

Anything beyond that is a bonus. I certainly don't expect to make a prelim or GF but at the same time, I'm confident that we are capable of beating every other team in the top 8. It's a huge ask, though, to win 2 or 3 finals in a row especially given the likelihood we'll have to travel in week two.

A lot depends on Hawkins' goal kicking (so much improved!), the likes of Bartel and Scarlett hopefully turning it on in finals, West continuing his good form, and shutting down these mental lapses we seem to have for entire quarters at a time. I also feel that if we can get Varcoe back in the side and if he can have an impact in September, it will be a huge bonus. We have a lot of kids who've never played finals - Smedts, T Hunt, Guthrie, Murdoch, Walker, Motlop, Simpkin, Sheringham - and you'd expect at least a couple of them will this year. How will they handle the pressure?

 

[supahoops]

I really think Christ Scott and the coaching group can have a big September, we'll be the hunter rather than the hunted and have so many players that are able to play different roles now, sometimes 2-3 within the one game. Throw in a full list bar Cowan and menzel, the x-factor of varcoe and vardy, scarlo when every game could be his last, and who knows?

Ok we won't get the week off as in previous years, but that may not be a bad thing hitting the ground running in a prelim, I don't think we've quite mastered that week off yet anyway. And if we make it to the big dance, well..

 

[Strangled Cat]

I think we can win it all as long as we get a relatively easier run of it. What I don't want to happen is to get to the gf cooked and face a fresh hawthorn. I don't think I could deal with losing to them in another gf.
So for mine, we an win the flag but par for me is a prelim.

Surely we couldn't lose to Hawthorn in another GF could we? What a cruel twist of fate that would be, to beat them 9 times straight including a final since that GF only to lose to them in the big dance. Having your last 2 losses out of 11 games to a team both being Grand Finals makes the other 9 wins a joke. I don't think I could sleep all week leading up to that Grand Final but fcuk it would be epic whoever wins.

 

[iameviljez]

Will win the flag. Seriously. What team can we not beat?

We're not as good as Sydney, Hawthorn, a full-strength West Coast, or Collingwood. We can beat them but only if absolutely everything - I mean everything - goes right.

Some poster mentioned that our best is better than everyone else's - I don't think that it's true any more. This to me was evident in the Hawthorn game - when the Hawks moved up a gear, we couldn't stay with them and it was that huge jump that we got on them that saved our bacon (plus a bit of skill and luck at the end).

The one thing that we do have, however, is the best key position duo in the competition - Lonergan at FB, and Hawkins at FF. That, for me, is the wildcard.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Just on North Melbourne, it's shades of St Kilda in 2009...they'll only play one game at the MCG before the finals and just scraped home in that one against Richmond. They've been great the last two weeks, but I'm getting the feeling that this week's game against Freo might be a letdown game.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

We're not as good as Sydney, Hawthorn, a full-strength West Coast, or Collingwood. We can beat them but only if absolutely everything - I mean everything - goes right.

Some poster mentioned that our best is better than everyone else's - I don't think that it's true any more. This to me was evident in the Hawthorn game - when the Hawks moved up a gear, we couldn't stay with them and it was that huge jump that we got on them that saved our bacon (plus a bit of skill and luck at the end).

The one thing that we do have, however, is the best key position duo in the competition - Lonergan at FB, and Hawkins at FF. That, for me, is the wildcard.

We came within a bee's of beating West Coast at Subiaco in a game where you could argue that nothing went right. Same deal with Sydney when we only played two thirds of a game. And while the games this year against Hawthorn have been exhilarating, I don't think they'd be confused with perfect games, by any stretch.

Agree with the rest of what you've posted.

 

[vinum coupe]

I agree with others. Winning 1 final would be par.

But I know one thing for sure, I'll change my expectations if we win the first final.

 

[Senatorguesty]

I think our best is second only to hawthorn to be honest. This year more than any I think it will come down to the brilliance of a handful of players. I've said elsewhere on this board that if we win the flag it will be on the back of selwood Hawkins and Stevie. I will double that and add jimmy scarlo and varcoe. If those 6 fire it might give us the edge required. (I said a few weeks ago that tv would play, ppl disagreed but I still stand up it).

 

[beckhamsam69]

Agreed, Hawthorn's best is better than everyone else in the comp's. If they don't play us, then I think they will probably win the GF. We are the only team that can beat them I reckon, something in their minds just starts to freak out when they see the blue and white hoops. If it is a Cat's-Hawks GF, it will not be a question of 'can Geelong win it' it would rather be 'can the Hawks lose it'. And thats a very dangerous mindset for the Hawkers to have going into an important game.

 

[iameviljez]

Agreed, Hawthorn's best is better than everyone else in the comp's. If they don't play us, then I think they will probably win the GF. We are the only team that can beat them I reckon, something in their minds just starts to freak out when they see the blue and white hoops. If it is a Cat's-Hawks GF, it will not be a question of 'can Geelong win it' it would rather be 'can the Hawks lose it'. And thats a very dangerous mindset for the Hawkers to have going into an important game.

They won't be tanning their undies as much as I will in the lead-up week...

 

[_Me_]

our best is awesome
against the hawks they took the foot off
and they did the same against the saints

varcoe is a key - and vardy give you the feeling of something from far left influencing a game

we can win it - just need a bit of luck

particularly if there is a hawks pies prelim

 

[fpm84]

We're not as good as Sydney, Hawthorn, a full-strength West Coast, or Collingwood. We can beat them but only if absolutely everything - I mean everything - goes right.

I'm a bit more confident than you. I don't know if our best is still the best, but I know our best is good enough to match any other team and give us a realistic chance to win. I feel that Sydney are a class below Hawthorn and Collingwood. West Coast are unlikely to be at full strength any time soon and I can't see them going deep into the finals. We match up really well against Hawthorn hence our good record against them - they're a contested ball team with a couple of deficiencies (pace and the ruck) and a dominant forward. Sound familiar? I'm worried about the Pies though, I wouldn't want to play them in a semi final.

As for everything needing to go right, we almost beat West Coast despite nothing going right (from our players missing to Hawkins getting concussed to Stevie J's brain snap at goal...) and there's plenty of upside in us from our Hawks win too (West and Corey return, Pods not as rusty).

 

[Pollywaffle]

We're not that great this year but which of the others is a standout?
Everyone in the eight is well and truly beatable. I dont buy in to the hawthorn hype..... Buddy is off the boil and their backline is suspect. I think we let them get back in last time we played. That won't happen in a final
North could be a problem for us if they can sustain their form and play a running style that comes off on a good day. Nothing to lose.
An away final, especially in Adelaide may also be a danger
Its up for grabs No doubt.
We have solid finals experience which counts for a lot.
Whatever goes down we owe these guys nothing its bonus time

 

[iameviljez]

Overall, though, I'm happy with how the season has gone. Just do not lose to Hawthorn in the finals and everything shall be ok.

 

[Cosmic Energy]

I was just having a look at the ladder predictor, still hard to work out who we will play in the first week. Probably North. That worries me a little, all teams do one way or another though. I think there is even some chance we could play West Coast in Perth if they lose both games, we lose to Sydney and North beat Freo. But winning the first final would be nice.

I also think we can beat everybody in the mix, we've either done it or got close enough this year already, but it does seem like a task to go all the way. Either way I wouldn't like to see Hawthorn or Collingwood win it. I like the 3 to 1 gap the way it is Of course 4 to 1.....and life is all good.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

We're not that great this year but which of the others is a standout?

That's the other thing. Every other contender has had multiple shocking performances this year. No team has been anywhere near as dominant as we were in 2007/09/11. That's just a fact. If you're looking for a team with a bulletproof case that they will win the premiership this year, you're not going to find one. Sydney probably comes the closest, but they've got two big tests coming up and haven't exactly set the world on fire at the MCG.

 

[Stig_90]

I'll only be disappointed if we lose in the first week of finals, or lose to Hawthorn, OR get blown out in a final.

 

[Belisarius]

A dose of history says we will find it hard to win 4 straight finals - and win the Premiership.

Of course it has been done once before (Adelaide I believe has done this). So the possibility lingers.

On our day - yes we can beat any side - however that could be said about a few teams.

The question has been asked what is the pass mark for the 2012 season ? I think 2 finals wins.

Now being GFC supporters we all want another flag - and we know it can be done. Just do not think it will be as anywhere as easy as in past seasons. No Ling, no Ottens. Great players in big games like finals for us.

We would need West to be outstanding, SJ to have a brilliant finals series playing in the guts, Scarlett and Jimmy to set up and a fair few young guys to play good footy. In other words we need more to go right than we have in the past to win the GF this year.

 

[vinum coupe]

Bel, even Adelaide didn't win 4 straight finals.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

Just on North Melbourne, it's shades of St Kilda in 2009...they'll only play one game at the MCG before the finals and just scraped home in that one against Richmond. They've been great the last two weeks, but I'm getting the feeling that this week's game against Freo might be a letdown game.

I think North are a four goal better team at Etihad as opposed to the G. However their recent form is a concern for us as their midfield now has some serious grunt and pace to burn. Still think we can beat them but it certainly won't be an easy game.

 

[fpm84]

I'm convinced Collingwood and Hawthorn will both win in week one whether they play interstate or in Melbourne. Which would mean that if we beat whoever we play in week one, we're likely to travel to Sydney or Adelaide for a semi-final. Definitely winnable if we play like we have been. It would be an advantage to play Sydney at ANZ as well, they're nowhere near as formidable there as they are at the SCG.