Season defining game.

[Ferris_rules]

Make no doubt about it, this week is a season defining game of major epic proportions for the AFC.

I really do not fancy our chances of beating Brisbane interstate should we play them in Week 1.

Cast your mind back to earlier this year and a few thought that this game may shape our ability to play in the 8. Well we have progressed far as a club this game dictates our chances to a degree of a mathematical chance of the 4 and definite chance of a home game.

Im sure Craigy would know that this is our only chance to play a home game so winning on Saturday is paramount in giving us a chance to proceed to Week 2 of the finals.

Best case scenario for our club which Im sure Craigy would know is that we win on Saturday and play a Buddy-less Hawks in week 1. It gives Bock another much needed week off to tackle IMO the bullies/pies.

Im backing my club to deliver in this important game, Crows by 17.

 

[Damp Squarie]

We should win but Bock wont be back.

 

[jenny61_99]

And even if Hawks have Buddy, they still have to beat Essendon. Yes it's an important game, but no more or less important than the following one. It's nice that there's a "safety chute" in that we could still have a home final even if we lose - if Brisbane loses too. But we don't want to be relying on other results or we'll get bitterly disappointed. Win this one is the first step - worry about next weeks game next week.

 

[fryingpan]

I think we will get a home final regardless of a win or a loss. I cannot see Brisbane travelling to Sydney & winning without Bradshaw. Not only are they horrible travellers but they also have to deal with the Sydney crowd, and the fact that everyone in Sydney wants to give Micky O, Leo Barry & Crouch a huge send off. Just can't see it happening.

Think the Hawks will get over Essendon .. if it was at the dome I'd probably swing the other way but the Hawks don't mind playing at the G .. and Franklin isn't guaranteed to be out should we meet them in the first week of finals .. here's hoping his appeal is thrown out for good!

We can beat Carlton. They have some huge outs with Betts, Gartlett & Cloke to miss - and apparently Hampson is also injured so they'll be another big man down. If we bring our A game we'll win but if we take our foot off the pedal and let the likes of Murphy Judd & Gibbs run riot then we could be in strife. Hopefully a win and hopefully no injuries!

 

[Potent37]

I was watching Sunrise yesterdat morning when I seen on the news ticker on the bottom of the screen;

"Bryce Gibbs out for 2 to 3 weeks"

I thought they would definetely struggle without him.

Wasn't until I seen the whole thing that I found out that it was about an NRL player.

 

[birdmanptr]

It sure is a season defining game and after we win next week will become

CLUB defining game if we lose another home final against a team like Hawthorn or even easier opponet Essendon considering we lost last year to a very poor Collingwood side then we are in similar trouble to that of our little brother across town.

 

[jenny61_99]

It sure is a season defining game and after we win next week will become

CLUB defining game if we lose another home final against a team like Hawthorn or even easier opponet Essendon considering we lost last year to a very poor Collingwood side then we are in similar trouble to that of our little brother across town.

YOu can't be serious???? Even IF we lose our first final, we are nothing like them. It will be disappointing but it won't be the gut wrenching filth their team has served up at various times since the 119 point flogging.

Our team is on the up - rebuilding, playing youth, refining a game plan and getting better and better on the execution of said gameplan. IF we lost the first final it won't be from lack of trying. Personally I think we are a much better team than we were last year or the year before. Craig should be absolutely congratulated for - yet again - achieving above expectations regardless of the final outcome.

 

[amer]

The Collingwood game at AAMI was the first of our season defining games and we blew it. Here's hoping we get it done this week.

 

[jackster83]

Agree with the OP. Finals start a week early this year!

 

[PCORF]

We've been an unlucky team when it comes to terms with our Finals draw such as playing Collingwood at AAMI last year and Hawthorn not at the Docklands during the day the year before. So a win this weekend will give us a much better advantage in our Finals draw where we will play either Essendon, Hawthorn or Port at home. A loss will send us to Brisbane because the Lions will be desperate for a Home Final regardless and I think Brisbane will thump Sydney. If we end up going to Brisbane well the bad luck of our Finals draw is set to continue. So lets get a win over Carlton... then we can concentrate on finally winning a Final. It could give the team huge self belief.

 

[PCORF]

It sure is a season defining game and after we win next week will become

CLUB defining game if we lose another home final against a team like Hawthorn or even easier opponet Essendon considering we lost last year to a very poor Collingwood side then we are in similar trouble to that of our little brother across town.

Very poor Collingwood side, heh! - There is never a poor Collingwood side at AAMI. Their home away from home!

The advantage to us is that if we get a home final, it will not be against Collingwood!

 

[fartass]

Very poor Collingwood side, heh! - There is never a poor Collingwood side at AAMI. Their home away from home!

The advantage to us is that if we get a home final, it will not be against Collingwood!

I thought the season defining game was more when we lost to collingwood a few rounds back. we had the opportunity to secure a top 4 spot....

don't get me wrong though, this one is now just as important.

 

[sworc]

Very poor Collingwood side, heh! - There is never a poor Collingwood side at AAMI. Their home away from home!

The advantage to us is that if we get a home final, it will not be against Collingwood!

The only reason its their home away from home, is that it is the shortest interstate trip for a vic club. 13 interstate games in the last 3 years how many at AAMI. Go the pampered pies!!

 

[Sir Vlado]

To be honest, I would be very disappointed if we lost to Carlton. Sure, they may be a spot above us thanks to percentage, but I have always thought that we are the superior team.

 

[Ferris_rules]

To be honest, I would be very disappointed if we lost to Carlton. Sure, they may be a spot above us thanks to percentage, but I have always thought that we are the superior team.

yeah i agree while I accept (not happy with) that we are not a Top 4 team by winning tomorrow we tell the AFL world we are a Top 5 team and watch out in 2010 !

Losing this game will take on mammoth proportions esp if the Lions win.

Our season is really defined by this game, 2009 will be remembered for our performance in this game IMO as our credibility to becoming a genuine top 4 side next year will be decided on Saturday.

 

[taylor_walker_13]

Crows by 28pts and me to paint Etihad Stadium Red/Blue and Gold

 

[CrippsonBlue]

This game is pretty season defining for both teams in a way - finishing 5th would be a huge platform from which to build their 2010 campaigns, not to mention that the winner would be a big chance in week 2 to make a Prelim.

Have to quote this post for sincerity though.

To be honest, I would be very disappointed if we lost to Carlton. Sure, they may be a spot above us thanks to percentage, but I have always thought that we are the superior team.

Fancy that!

 

[birdmanptr]

YOu can't be serious???? Even IF we lose our first final, we are nothing like them. It will be disappointing but it won't be the gut wrenching filth their team has served up at various times since the 119 point flogging.

Our team is on the up - rebuilding, playing youth, refining a game plan and getting better and better on the execution of said gameplan. IF we lost the first final it won't be from lack of trying. Personally I think we are a much better team than we were last year or the year before. Craig should be absolutely congratulated for - yet again - achieving above expectations regardless of the final outcome.

Lets not beat around the bush our finals record is hopeless and while we are in a much better situation than our little brother,losing another final at home against Hawthorn or Essendon i feel would put us in a very awkward situation.

At the start of the year we had a situation where we had young players who we did not know how they were going to be,well they turned out great better than we could have hoped for agreed we are heaps better than last year.I admit i was not keen for Trent to go on but he has and hopefully continues to prove me wrong.

I feel saying achieving above expectations is now a easy cop out if we dont make week 2 of the finals as now the goal posts have moved and if it was not for lack of straight kicking against side 2 and 3 on the ladder we finish top 4.

At the start of the year we were hoping we make the 8 we should have been top 4 not making the 2nd week of the finals at least IN MY VIEW is a poor result

 

[sbenno]

At the start of the year we were hoping we make the 8 we should have been top 4 not making the 2nd week of the finals at least IN MY VIEW is a poor result

whole-heartedly agree. We really need to win this weekend to give ourselves a fair chance of doing that, too, so yer, I spose it is a season defining game.

 

[Sir Vlado]

Fancy that!

Although I'm sure tomorrow will decide who is really the superior team!

 

[Drummond]

The Collingwood game at AAMI was the first of our season defining games and we blew it. Here's hoping we get it done this week.

Under Neil Crag we've always got done in the season defining games. Here's hoping we actually win this one, and next week.

 

[Drummond]

YOu can't be serious???? Even IF we lose our first final, we are nothing like them. It will be disappointing but it won't be the gut wrenching filth their team has served up at various times since the 119 point flogging.

Our team is on the up - rebuilding, playing youth, refining a game plan and getting better and better on the execution of said gameplan. IF we lost the first final it won't be from lack of trying. Personally I think we are a much better team than we were last year or the year before. Craig should be absolutely congratulated for - yet again - achieving above expectations regardless of the final outcome.

YAWN.

The same old stuff over and over again. No substance.

 

[jenny61_99]

I feel saying achieving above expectations is now a easy cop out if we dont make week 2 of the finals as now the goal posts have moved and if it was not for lack of straight kicking against side 2 and 3 on the ladder we finish top 4.

At the start of the year we were hoping we make the 8 we should have been top 4 not making the 2nd week of the finals at least IN MY VIEW is a poor result

I also now expect us to make the 2nd week of the finals and will be disappointed if we don't - make no mistake of that. However, I still believe we are achieving above (initial) expectations and am thrilled with how Craig has managed to get the team from the confused rabble of rounds 2-8 (which is what I expected to see this year) to the cohesive unit we see today (which is what I expected to see next year). Credit given where due I believe.

 

[jenny61_99]

YAWN.

The same old stuff over and over again. No substance.

PMSL - pot, kettle, black.

Oh, and does that come in another colour?