With the prospect of being seen a sad bast*rd, I almost hope we don't make it.
Hear me out before you give me a bake, we haven't been as good as we could have this year, injuries cruelled us badly.
BUT if we fall in, and we would fall in, we would be making up the numbers (5-8th) and the line "but we played finals last year" would be trotted out next year. It would be a cop out from an under achieving year. Especially if we don't improve our position.
I would rather we give the top 4 a big nudge and be legitimate contenders for the big game next year.
A fully fit Sandi, Barlow, Mundy, Suban, Morabito wouldn't do us (or anyone) any harm.
From the Pavlich perspective, the window has another year or two before we farewell him, Elvis, Groves and the team will be a very different proposition.