It's Almost Time

[Mobbsy]

Not long now till the big dance is on.
Although still quietly confident...is anyone else feeling a bit wary ?

If we play to the best of our ability we will beat all comers....but with Carltank, Hawks and the Cats having some big wins, and along with the Bombers and Saints running into late form, it looks like an interesting series is looming.

How do you see it panning out ?

I see us playing Blues, Hawks in preliminary, Cats in GF. (if all falls into place)

It will be tough, but back to back is in our grasp, and only a few games away.

 

[mwalker]

With some luck it will be WC in Melb first up. Prefer that over Carlton.

3 weeks now and I think things are about to get nasty for whoever plays us in 4 weeks.

 

[Swooop]

I think at our best, we'd beat anyone.

Umpiring decisions in tight games and injuries during the actual game are variables we can't control, yet can exert significant influence.

Re being at our best, we're getting there...sort of.

Injuries have been higher this year than last, Didak, Dawes, Tooovey and Maxwell, then Heater with his brainfade are all potentially making our team just a little rusty come finals time.

Not quite as well oiled a machine as perhaps would have been liked coming into cut throat finals.

Hawks and Blues ( Jamo, Waite) may be in same spot, but Cats are purring along, being beautifuly managed by Chris Scott.

I really rate the Saints and see them as a definite chance in the finals, and Hayes aside, they also have had a pretty decent run with injury allowing them to have a pretty settled side.

Given the Saints are a real threat now, i won't be surprised one bit if the coaches and medical staff have another look at Lenny with his knee, and just re-consider the risk/benefit ratio once again.

 

[lozza63]

I think at our best, we'd beat anyone.

Re being at our best, we're getting there...sort of.

Injuries have been higher this year than last, Didak, Dawes, Tooovey and Maxwell, then Heater with his brainfade are all potentially making our team just a little rusty come finals time.

Not quite as well oiled a machine as perhaps would have been liked coming into cut throat finals.

Hawks and Blues ( Jamo, Waite) may be in same spot, but Cats are purring along, being beautifuly managed by Chris Scott.

I really rate the Saints and see them as a definite chance in the finals, and Hayes aside, they also have had a pretty decent run with injury allowing them to have a pretty settled side.

Yeah Swooop agree about our lead in this year injury wise. Last year we had more or less the same 25 for the last 5 or 6 weeks iirc. Only had the odd bloke play here and there outside this squad.

This year we will be hoping that Toooves, Dawes, Heater, Dids and now Maxy can impact games almost from memory.

Think that Saints would also be missing Gwuilt.

Hawks and Blues have had some major injury issues.

Cats seem to have the charmed run this year - especially as guys such as Ottens, Chappy and Scarlo have barely missed a beat - excellent preparation as you say.

I just hope we can have those injured guys all together for the first final and not look too far past the first week of September.

 

[Shellz]

In terms of playing to our best, it's almost like Mick malthouse has his hand on the switch but only turns it on for parts of the game. Can't wait for us to truly hit 5th gear and take out the premiership

 

[Mobbsy]

In terms of playing to our best, it's almost like Mick malthouse has his hand on the switch but only turns it on for parts of the game. Can't wait for us to truly hit 5th gear and take out the premiership

With Bris, Freo and the dead Cats rubber looming, when will Micky flick the switch.
Surely now is the time to 4 qtr press it and get tuned up, or do we hold back and unleash the manic fury in the first final ?

 

[Shellz]

With Bris, Freo and the dead Cats rubber looming, when will Micky flick the switch.
Surely now is the time to 4 qtr press it and get tuned up, or do we hold back and unleash the manic fury in the first final ?

I've got a feeling we won't treat round 24 like areas rubber. It will be statement making time to geelong. 4qtr press where they will shot bricks like they did in the prelim

 

[rachhanley]

Does anyone else wish we had of taken at least 1-2 more losses this year? Our only loss has been to the number two team by three points.. (And really, we should have won because the ump should have called advantage in those last few minutes and allowed that goal..) I think I would feel a little more at ease without the pressure on us that we're pretty much expected to win the back to back flags.. Lol, probably sounds stupid to want to have lost more games this year but, don't wanna be the team who plays a near perfect season only to lose in the GF or something..

 

[Bay Pie]

I'm fairly sure we'll play WCE in week 1. Their last 4 games:

v Demons @ Etihad
v Essendon @ Patersons
v Brisbane @ Gabba
v Adelaide @ Patersons

I can't see them losing any of those games. carlton must also beat Hawthorn and St.Kilda in their last 2 games (have a bye) to have any chance in case of a WCE slip up.

All things being equal it'll be WCE in QF, Hawthorn in PF & Cats in GF.

There is normally one result each finals series which throws things out though.

Since the AFL era commenced in 1990, only 5 teams outside the the top 2 at the end of the H&A season have gone on to win the flag.

Eagles 1992 (4th)*
Crows 1997 (4th)*
Crows 1998 (5th)*
Lions 2003 (3rd)
Swans 2005 (3rd)

* The Eagles and Crows won their flags under a different finals format then the current day top 8 system.

 

[mattys123]

Almost certain we will play the Eagles round 1, and then we would obviously get the week off.

My finals are;

Week 1;

Pies vs Eagles
Cats vs Hawks

Sydney vs Stkilda (where this game will be played will be decided next week)
Carlton vs Essendon

Week 2;

West Coast vs Carlton (HAHA)
StKilda vs Hawthorn

Week 3;

Pies vs Hawks/Saints
Geelong vs Eagles

GF;

Pies vs Cats.

If it all plays out that way, our hardest final would obviously be the prelim, but I'd rather face a side like the Hawks coming off a one week break, and with them coming off a hard fought win over the Saints, then playing them week one of the finals when all teams are basically equal in terms of rest.

 

[captain peanut]

at our best we are unbeatable this finals series. but so were geel heading into the 2008 series. as long as we are not complacent and don't get decimated injuries the flag is ours. however if something goes wrong on GF day the cats have the hardened finals veterans to take advantage of it and get over the top of us

 

[Knightmare]

Week 1;

Collingwood vs Carlton
Geelong vs Hawthorn

St Kilda vs Sydney
Eagles vs Essendon

Week 2;

Carlton vs West Coast
Hawthorn vs St Kilda

Week 3;

Pies vs Hawthorn
Geelong vs Carlton

GF;

Hawthorn vs Geelong

Winner = Geelong


Still having nightmares about Hawthorn knocking us out - and they could well if they get a couple more players back. But right now Geelong's form is as good as anyones and they could easily go all the way. Looking ominous. The two danger teams.

Just hope the boys take it out for Mick's final year.. Not as certain that it is a sure thing as others are though and we will need our whole list fit and ready to go. Even if on paper we are the strongest side going around.

 

[mattys123]

How does Carlton finish 4th Knight?

Are you saying West Coast are going to lose to either Melbourne, Essendon, Adelaide (both in Perth) or Brisbane.

Just curious as I have the Eagles down as near certainties for a top 4 finish, no matter what happens to Carlton or Hawthorn.

 

[HFF]

Carlton v Hawthorn next week is massive. With only half a game in front of WCE and with the Eagles having a game in hand with the Blues coming towards a bye, a loss next week for the Blues all but rules them out of top 4 contention.

Whilst it is "almost" time, there's still plenty of time until it all comes around.

 

[Mobbsy]

How long since the Cats have beaten Hawthorn in final ?
If the Cats get the Hawks in final one, I wouldn't put it past the Hawks upsetting the cocky felines.

 

[danielnajdek]

Hope we play Geelong in a Prelim again

Same result as last year with all the Cats supporters having a cry

 

[Mobbsy]

Hope we play Geelong in a Prelim again

Same result as last year with all the Cats supporters having a cry

I work in GTown ...if we lose I'm gonna have to leave town for a bit

 

[wmvaux]

Collingwood is going along like last year, ready to go full on in the first final. They are saving themselves already. I expect a 3 or 4 goal win over the Cats in the last round with still plenty in the tank, and Geelong to get another rude awakening in the finals when we meet them.

 

[micksolo]

Anything can happen in finals, one off day and you're toast. I hope we get Carlton in a preliminary, would be just great to smash them and knock them over.

But then again it'd be nice to see them finish 5th then get rolled by essendon in the first week of finals

 

[Knightmare]

How does Carlton finish 4th Knight?

Are you saying West Coast are going to lose to either Melbourne, Essendon, Adelaide (both in Perth) or Brisbane.

Just curious as I have the Eagles down as near certainties for a top 4 finish, no matter what happens to Carlton or Hawthorn.

Quite right. Didn't account for Carlton's bye. Will surely lose to one of Haw/St.K.

Would take WCE @ MCG anyday over Carlton r1 finals.

But don't think either side is a real threat either way.

Only premiership relevant teams will be among those top 3.

 

[TheFreshBanana]

Tbh I'm extremely nervous, I thought we'd be running into the finals a bit better than this.

At our best theres no denying that we can beat anyone, it just depends if we decide to start hitting 4 decent quarters in the finals but I trust our boys on that.

I think the worse thing about it this year compared to last, is that there seems to be an expectation to win it this year.

 

[Angelus512]

I've got to say all of you who believe that Mick is holding something back and its simply a matter of saying ok boys 4 quarters of press.....lets turn it on now.

I think if it hasn't happened so far we are roughly doing about as good as we are going to do and there isn't like some massive 50% improvement left. Hope I am wrong but I think the time to start turning that on would have been now basically....

 

[mattys123]

I wouldn't be worrying too much about our form going into the finals, all you have to do is look at the way we finished off the home and away season last year.

After we beat Geelong, then thumped the Dons in round 20, we basically put the cue in the rack until the finals, and played 2 very ordinary games against Adelaide and Hawthorn.

Compare that to this year, and we have just thumped Port by what was a record margin, then beaten a side who I think should have finished top 4, on their home ground with several of our key players till missing.

Once we add Dawes, Toovey, Shaw and a fit and firing Didak to this side, and hopefully get Maxy back for the finals, we will steam roll through to the prelim, don't worry about that.

 

[10571z]

Do people actually do any research. West Coast will finsh 4th unless there is a massive upset.

We will play west coast. I wouldnt be surpised if we faced hawks, blues or saints in the prelim though

 

[Bay Pie]

Do people actually do any research. West Coast will finsh 4th unless there is a massive upset.

We will play west coast. I wouldnt be surpised if we faced hawks, blues or saints in the prelim though

If carlton finish 5th, we can't play them in a PF. If we got upset by WCE and they won we'd play them in the SF. If we win, they'll go to the other side of the draw and play WCE @ Subi then winner of Geelong & Hawthorn.

As it sits now, we'd play Geelong, Hawthorn, St.Kilda or Essendon in the PF.