The perfect top 5

[Whiskers]

While everyone talks down our chances of another flag, it got me thinking about denying the odds and how sweet winning this one would be.

I know it shouldn't matter who you beat but if you could choose the path to glory is there any better sat up than this years top 5? Hawks Eagles Blues are all teams that we have lost grand finals to and revenge against them would be sweet, throw in the Pies as we all love to beat em (1953 ha)

How would the finals go? Well smash pies rd 24, knocking all confidence out of them, then they go out in straight sets We get Eagles week 1, knock em off, play Carlton in the prelim after they down Collingwood, finally meeting hawks in the decider.

We have another flag in us and a path similar to the above would occur. Sooo we have Brisbane this week right?

 

[STC]

There's no way Collingwood bow out in straight sets, and very unlikely that they'll fail to make the Granny. As I see it, we need to finish 2nd and we need to win our first final.

 

[Whiskers]

There's no way Collingwood bow out in straight sets, and very unlikely that they'll fail to make the Granny. As I see it, we need to finish 2nd and we need to win our first final.

Stranger things have happened, not sure what but they have. I dont believe my example will happen but nice yeah? We don't need 2nd we just don't want eagles to finish 2nd.

 

[BotsMaster]

While everyone talks down our chances of another flag, it got me thinking about denying the odds and how sweet winning this one would be.

I know it shouldn't matter who you beat but if you could choose the path to glory is there any better sat up than this years top 5? Hawks Eagles Blues are all teams that we have lost grand finals to and revenge against them would be sweet, throw in the Pies as we all love to beat em (1953 ha)

How would the finals go? Well smash pies rd 24, knocking all confidence out of them, then they go out in straight sets We get Eagles week 1, knock em off, play Carlton in the prelim after they down Collingwood, finally meeting hawks in the decider.

We have another flag in us and a path similar to the above would occur. Sooo we have Brisbane this week right?

Make this happen now!!!

 

[Geelong Fella]

We'll most likely finish second unless we can beat Collingwood in Round 24. Preferably I'd like to play West Coast in the first final, one because they will have to travel but also because Hawthon and Carlton much up well against us and Carlton have beaten us a couple of times recently and Hawthorn always challenge us. Beat West Coast and we probably play Hawthorn or Carlton in prelim and go from there

 

[Rustin' Man]

Even if we win all our games up to Round 24 and assuming the Magpies do to (with a pretty soft draw), and beat Collingwood in Round 24, we would still finish second because of the Magpies' superior percentage!

 

[STC]

I'll take Hawthorn first week, we've made it a habit of beating them lately and with their injuries I wonder how long they can last. They were dismantled by Collingwood and it will be interesting to see them against Carlton.

West Coast at the MCG would be ideal but I don't know if they'll make the 4. Carlton at the MCG will be very difficult though, both our wins in the last few years against them were at Etihad, while theirs were at the G - they look much better there.

 

[topic97]

If the ladder stays as is till round 24, personally I would rather see Collingwood beat us then so it gives the boys something to prove should we face them come finals time.
We dont want to give Collingwood another reason to fire up.

Having said that, I dont think that the Pies and Cats will be worried about who wins round 24 if we are still both games ahead of the rest.
Might see Scarlo playing Full Forward and jPod down full back!!

Im not expecting full hands to be shown by either team.

 

[Pollywaffle]

I would say that coll v geelong rd 24 will be a who cares game with both sides keeping their powder dry
Remember 2007 when Port beat us at Kardinia.
Boy that worked out well for them didnt it?.

 

[fpm84]

I would say that coll v geelong rd 24 will be a who cares game with both sides keeping their powder dry
Remember 2007 when Port beat us at Kardinia.
Boy that worked out well for them didnt it?.

The only way round 24 will matter, IMO, is if it's to decide top spot. If the Pies are still a game and percentage - or even two games - clear by then, I can't see either team going anywhere near 100%.

 

[Jimmy Yamazaki]

I just want to beat Collingwood, Beat them and you probably just won the Granny...

Should really beat all other contenders..

 

[Partridge]

We'll most likely finish second unless we can beat Collingwood in Round 24. Preferably I'd like to play West Coast in the first final, one because they will have to travel but also because Hawthon and Carlton much up well against us and Carlton have beaten us a couple of times recently and Hawthorn always challenge us. Beat West Coast and we probably play Hawthorn or Carlton in prelim and go from there

Doesn't matter. If we want to win the premiership we have to beat 3 of those sides in the finals. Who we get first is irrelevant.

But we must - MUST - finish top 2, and win the first final. Don't have a prayer without doing that.

 

[Partridge]

I would say that coll v geelong rd 24 will be a who cares game with both sides keeping their powder dry
Remember 2007 when Port beat us at Kardinia.
Boy that worked out well for them didnt it?.

I'd rather win a game than lose it. Anywhere, anytime.

 

[topic97]

I would say that coll v geelong rd 24 will be a who cares game with both sides keeping their powder dry
Remember 2007 when Port beat us at Kardinia.
Boy that worked out well for them didnt it?.

I wouldnt be as confident about the Pies, they have far more talent than Port ever did!!

The only way round 24 will matter, IMO, is if it's to decide top spot. If the Pies are still a game and percentage - or even two games - clear by then, I can't see either team going anywhere near 100%.

If we are games clear of 3rd on the ladder I cant see Scott worrying too much about taking first place.
I know I couldnt give two shits about finishing second - minor premierships count for naught in the grand scheme of things - just look at 08.

Pies on the other hand, they may want top spot at all costs.

 

[Partridge]

I know I couldnt give two shits about finishing second - minor premierships count for naught in the grand scheme of things - just look at 08.

Pies on the other hand, they may want top spot at all costs.

Or look at 2010. If we'd finished top we would have played the Bulldogs in the first final instead of St.Kilda, and St.Kilda and Collingwood would have faced each other in a Qualifying Final instead of a Grand Final. Who knows what may have happened.

 

[you pick one]

I would say that coll v geelong rd 24 will be a who cares game with both sides keeping their powder dry
Remember 2007 when Port beat us at Kardinia.
Boy that worked out well for them didnt it?.

A few Pies would have a sleepless night if we name Moons RD 24,

 

[Partridge]

A few Pies would have a sleepless night if we name Moons RD 24,

Bet they won't.

 

[fpm84]

I wouldnt be as confident about the Pies, they have far more talent than Port ever did!!



If we are games clear of 3rd on the ladder I cant see Scott worrying too much about taking first place.
I know I couldnt give two shits about finishing second - minor premierships count for naught in the grand scheme of things - just look at 08.

Pies on the other hand, they may want top spot at all costs.

In theory, the minor premiership should give you the 'easier' qualifying final. But this season is a funny one - us and Collingwood look all but assured the top 2 spots, and Hawthorn, Carlton and West Coast look likely to fight over 3/4.

The ideal scenario would be to play West Coast at the MCG but as others have said, we will need to play and beat the other top 4 teams to win the flag so what order we do it in is irrelevant.

 

[you pick one]

Bet they won't.

Won't have sleepless nights or won't play him?not sure what you are saying there.

 

[topic97]

In theory, the minor premiership should give you the 'easier' qualifying final. But this season is a funny one - us and Collingwood look all but assured the top 2 spots, and Hawthorn, Carlton and West Coast look likely to fight over 3/4.

The ideal scenario would be to play West Coast at the MCG but as others have said, we will need to play and beat the other top 4 teams to win the flag so what order we do it in is irrelevant.

Yeah spot on! The worst outcome for any team this season would be to play collingwood first week of finals then have to play them again in the grand final - cant see anyone beating them twice tbh.

Or look at 2010. If we'd finished top we would have played the Bulldogs in the first final instead of St.Kilda, and St.Kilda and Collingwood would have faced each other in a Qualifying Final instead of a Grand Final. Who knows what may have happened.

Either way, I would think that if we would have played and beat the dogs, we would have played the saints in the semi and then been spanked by the pies in the granny because they would have had an easier semi.

I think we had the best run into the grand final last year as I would have rather of beaten the saints in the PF instead of facing them in the semi.
And lets face it, we truly got robbed in that game and should have had the week off.

Ahh such is life.....

 

[Whiskers]

Finishing top 2 is overrated if only vic sides finish 1st and 2nd. I would be much more confident facing eagles or hawks in a final than the blues, even though I think blues will finish 5th.

I stated in the op how I want the finals to pan out but I believe we will get hawks 1st week then the eagles in a PF. This thread was more about who you would like to beat most in finals though and for us cat fans our despised rivals are all up top.

Alot happens in a week of footy and alot more opinions will change until September. Collingwood look great right now but alot can and will change. The top 5 are all a chance. Blues can create damage barring injuries. Pies can experience internal issues. Hawks have defied the odds before and eagles are capable of at least one upset.

 

[topic97]

Hmm, I just had a play around with the ladder predictor and if saints win a few more games they can get up to 7th meaning if they won both weeks of finals and got into the semi they would face the pies...... whoever else made the GF I wouldnt mind playing Collingwood after them having played the saints - they do know how to play with spite after all!!

 

[Whiskers]

Would prefer to finish 2nd than 1st. If we lost 1st week finishing 2nd you get 6th or 7th much better than playing 5th.

 

[Pollywaffle]

A few Pies would have a sleepless night if we name Moons RD 24,

Great Idea-
I think I see where you are coming from . Mooney hospitalises a few pies. So what if he is suspended - Job done- happy retirement

 

[Partridge]

Great Idea-
I think I see where you are coming from . Mooney hospitalises a few pies. So what if he is suspended - Job done- happy retirement

Nice thought, but it's not 1982 and it's not going to happen. Only way to hurt them is on the scoreboard. And like I said, I don't think Mooney coming back is going to worry them at all.