Half Way Report Cards

[Pessimistic]

Media Rags have recently posted their revised final eights for the end of the season.

Most are fairly OK but in my opinion the current top 13 still have a chance (exclude Freo,StK and PtA)

I fail to see what commends Brisbane to be a top four side when they have been really disspointing this year (lucky to win on saturday against a team which cannot win at home)About the only logic is that there are 8 of 11 remaining games at the Gabba but guess what ? in the 1999/2000 AFL if your form's bad you lose at home also. There is no evidence to suggest they might improve any more than Collingwood, Geelong, Hawthorn or Sydney.

I said at the beginning of the year that the 'form' of the last three seasons has a 1999 top four side missing the finals (looks like brisbane or perhaps the Doggies at this stage) and a team from the lower quartile joining the top four (Richmond or Melbourne look good)

In any case home ground advantage has diminished (except perhaps at carlton) compared to 1996-1998 so Brisbane have a lot to prove.

 

[Dave]

Brisbane had a fairly horrific draw early with more travel then any team in recent history. Based on their 1999 form in the last half of the season you could reasonably expect them to be pretty tough to beat at home.

 

[Pessimistic]

eleven weeks in I think we should judge them on 2000 form rather than 1999 form. I think the lions won a few a way in 1999 as well. On their 1998 form they will lose the lot

On 1999 form I reckon Shane Crawford will start to Kick ass, win the brownlow again and Hawks for top 4 ! Just as credible.

Crawf was very quiet in early 1999 also (injury stopped his pre-season)

 

[gocatsgo]

Hawthorn aren't that good, they thought they played well against Geelong, and it was a good win... IT WASN'T.

Richmond are the surprises this year, who would have thought that, Melbourne aren't far behind but if their form against Adelaide is a prelude to the last part of the year then they are in trouble.

I think Brisbane will improve, but won't finish top four.

Essendon, Carlton, Richmond and North seem to have that covered, the rest between 5 and 13 could finish anywhere

 

[Pessimistic]

Actually GocatsGo I was being sarcastic. If Brisbane can make the top 5 then Hawthorn can.

I agree with you on the Hawks-Geelong game. Cats blew it big time and If I ever worry when the game is close I look at the geelong fans - thy know their team better than I do.

 

[Dave]

Pess, that maybe so, but what I've seen of Brisbane so far this year makes me think that they are far more likely to reporduce their form of late '99 in the second half of the season that either Crawford or the Hawks are!

In the end I think with 8/11 games at home and WHO they play they're likely to win enough games (8 or 9) to possibly sneak into the top four.

Time will tell.

 

[Roylion]

I think a top four berth is beyond Brisbane for this year, but 7 out of the next 11 wins with eight games at home most probably see them finish between 5-8. Like a few other clubs Brisbane injuries and suspensions have been greater than last year with Ashcroft, Brad Scott, Keating, Akermanis, Leppitsch, Hueskes, Kennedy, McDonald, Lambert, Lynch, Champion, S. Carey, Lawrence and Notting all missing two or more games. Chris Scott missed one game last week as well. Matthews has a stated policy of playing no more than three rookies (first and second year players) at a time, when he can However most games this year he has had to play five and sometimes six rookies in a game, including Bolton, McDonald, Brown, Rusca, Picken, Headland, Shattock and Cupido and one or two others, (all players with less than 20 games experience.) Add a horror draw and it would be difficult for any team to play well. However the horror first half of the season is coming to a close and with it the injury list appears to be shrinking with only Keating and Notting not returning in the next two weeks. Some of the young rookies will be 'rested'; and the team should take on a more settled look. For these reasons, barring a largish injury list, the Lions should make the finals. 9 wins from the next 11 games and possibly 5th position is a realistic goal for the Lions.....and achievable.

 

[Pessimistic]

Even worse, last night on the game one of them picked brisbane to get ino the grand final. (I think it was Jason)

Realistically this means they will have to get in the top four and beat one of Essendon, North or Carlton in melbourne. even on '99 form they won't do that