The race for the top 4

[im_a_lazy_sod]

The hawks/freo record is ridiculously skewed. Since that EF in 2010 we've only played hawthorn once in Perth.

I am really interested to see how we go against them at home.

The hawks loss tonight has made the top 4 race much more interesting in terms of who finishes where - I hope 2nd or 1st isn't out of the question for us and that home loss to North doesn't come back to bite us

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Unsure if you saw the game,

I did.

but the only time Eagles were in the game was when we clearly weren't stamping our foot down.

Turn it up. West Coast led for practically the entire first half, Fremantle blew them away in the third quarter, West Coast came roaring back in the final quarter, even hitting the lead at one point. West Coast held the lead at some point in all four quarters.

So, again, if Geelong 'struggled' to beat Carlton and Essendon, it follows that Fremantle also 'struggled' to beat West Coast.

Hence the Ross Lyon spray right after the game, as he was clearly having a go at laziness. It's something out of the ordinary that I wasn't worried in the slightest that Eagles were going to win despite making a 'comeback'. Might sound as if I lack grace and I apologise for that, but certainly Ross Lyon will be making sure they don't switch off again regardless of opposition.

Yeah, it does a bit...

Also in regards to both West Coast and Adelaide, the cross-town games were their Grand Final and that is something to consider for both Freo and Port.

...especially when Ross Lyon and the Fremantle players felt the need to constantly bring this up in the post match. Which, of course, is rubbish. West Coast and Adelaide can both still make the finals. It just sounded utterly classless by Lyon and co. to imply that West Coast's season was over.

 

[Bobby_]

The hawks/freo record is ridiculously skewed. Since that EF in 2010 we've only played hawthorn once in Perth.

similar to the cats/freo record since 2011, it's 3-2 but you'd think it was 3-0 (to Freo) going by some in here.

 

[im_a_lazy_sod]

similar to the cats/freo record since 2011, it's 3-2 but you'd think it was 3-0 (to Freo) going by some in here.

Exactly. Don't know why the AFL doesn't share the load around as to who plays who and where - Especially for the non-vic teams who travel every second week (and then host a travelling team). Just look at how often Geelong have been sent over to Perth to play freo compared to west coast - same with Sydney and hawthorn.

Teams records against each other are sometimes ridiculously skewed because most of the time the games are played at one teams home ground haha

Edit: also you're just talking home and away games there, yeah?

 

[mike91]

Freo will get done in geelong. They havent beaten Hawthorn in 4 years. And a fast free flowing Port will most likely beat them. They are no chance to finish top 2 imo. Gold Coast are the smokey. Good run home...

lol k.

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Swans fans on this thread are such a humble bunch.

Dockers fans are such w***ers.

See how using the plural form makes it completely false?

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Anyone saying the Hawks are done has NFI. The flag isn't won in July.

Come the business end of the season they'll be ready.

 

[mike91]

I think Sandilands, Pavlich, Mundy and Barlow all missed the trip to the Cattery in Round 14. From an outside perspective, it certainly seemed like the Dockers were actively protecting their big guns from taking too many interstate trips in the back half of the year.

All three were injured. Sandi and Pav missed half the year, Barlow broke his jaw the week before. Mundy got injured the week before too, from memory Spurr was a late withdraw with illness and Duffield got injured in the first term.

 

[mike91]

Dockers fans are such ******s.

See how using the plural form makes it completely false?

You seem a bit mad? Relax and remember, you've got cola.

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Not mad, just like pointing out the stupidity of others.

 

[The Speaker]

Not mad, just like pointing out the stupidity of others.

First time I've seen esti called stupid.

 

[catstorm]

North, Freo, Hawthorn are not gimmie's but the rest you will win. Win all 3, you come 4th...drop all 3, probably come 6th. Very close between 4th and 6th.

I'm a little confused by this post to be honest. If Geelong win out they have 18 wins and would more then likely finish at worst 2nd no way 18 wins has us in 4th.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Anyone saying the Hawks are done has NFI. The flag isn't won in July.

Come the business end of the season they'll be ready.

Don't be silly. The flag is Freos, haven't you heard?

Apparently Ross Lyon is smoking a pipe and smiling at how the season is panning out.

That's the good oil.

 

[benbanjo]

Don't be silly. The flag is Freos, haven't you heard?

Apparently Ross Lyon is smoking a pipe and smiling at how the season is panning out.

That's the good oil.

Freo? hehe hahaha boy ow boy wowee i need to pee, thank god they delisted Mcphee

 

[Seeds]

Very true. And again, it just highlights how pathetic and uneven the current fixture makes this competition. Its a joke.

The only top four team Hawthorn play twice and Geelong don't is Sydney and this is countered by the fact that Hawthorn get to play both games against Geelong in Melbourne. Considering the Hawks finished top and we finished third last year I hardly think the difference is pathetic and a joke.

 

[Seeds]

lol k.

We have a fit ruckman now and Hawkins will actually play next time.

 

[Seeds]

All three were injured. Sandi and Pav missed half the year, Barlow broke his jaw the week before. Mundy got injured the week before too, from memory Spurr was a late withdraw with illness and Duffield got injured in the first term.

Sounds fine but then you have to go the other way and realise Geelong was missing a few structurally critical players in the final.

 

[Seeds]

North, Freo, Hawthorn are not gimmie's but the rest you will win. Win all 3, you come 4th...drop all 3, probably come 6th. Very close between 4th and 6th.

Win all 3 and we will come second. Fremantle have already lost the same amount as Geelong and if we beat them and don't lose the others then we finish above them. Sydney and Port play each other so theres one loss. Only need one more loss from the loser to finish top top two. It would be unbelievable if Port and Sydney win all remaining games except the one against each other and Geelong win all remaining games for the season.

 

[The King!]

Hawthorn could win the flag from outside the top 4

Sydney freo and port need the top 2 spot way more if they want to win the flag

 

[Gavin Excell]

Hawthorn could win the flag from outside the top 4

Sydney freo and port need the top 2 spot way more if they want to win the flag

no

 

[Catsmaninamerica]

similar to the cats/freo record since 2011, it's 3-2 but you'd think it was 3-0 (to Freo) going by some in here.

this. a more arrogant bunch of supporters you wont meet. Which is truly surprising, given they have won absolutely nothing in their 20 years of being in this comp - unless there is an award for the best draft/trade fails ever -
Freo may well go through and finish top 2. But with games against a Hawthorn side that will be desperate to finish top 2 themselves, and a Port side that have been the form side for basically the whole season, and a trip to Kardinia Park, Im staggered at the Freo mentality that it will be a complete soda.

 

[Catsmaninamerica]

So banking the 4 points against us already are you?

You play us at Etihad, where we have done well against the Cats in recent years.

Sure am. The fact you beat a depleted and overwhelmed Hawthorn last night means dick. I saw last weeks game also. Hard contested footy gets north every time.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

I'm a little confused by this post to be honest. If Geelong win out they have 18 wins and would more then likely finish at worst 2nd no way 18 wins has us in 4th.

Well, if that was to happen, the loser of the Fremantle v Hawthorn match would finish at best with six losses for the season. The winner would finish at best with five losses. Which puts Geelong in third, right there. Then, we see that Port Adelaide and Sydney also have a game at the Adelaide Oval, which guarantees one of them to be on four losses as well. If Sydney loses that game and also loses to Hawthorn in Round 18, it will finish with five losses, at best. If Port Adelaide loses that game, unless it can beat Collingwood at the MCG and Fremantle at Subiaco (among others) it will also finish with five losses or more.

I would suggest that if Geelong can manage 18 wins from this position, it will finish at least second and perhaps top.

 

[Clems Knee]

this. a more arrogant bunch of supporters you wont meet. Which is truly surprising, given they have won absolutely nothing in their 20 years of being in this comp - unless there is an award for the best draft/trade fails ever -
Freo may well go through and finish top 2. But with games against a Hawthorn side that will be desperate to finish top 2 themselves, and a Port side that have been the form side for basically the whole season, and a trip to Kardinia Park, Im staggered at the Freo mentality that it will be a complete soda.

Please quote from this thread where Fremantle supporters think it will be a complete soda. Captain Peanut (the Lyon cigar reference) is a Collingwood supporter and eplivinginthepast is an eagles fan.
You, however, have predicted that Geelong won't lose another game. Possible, but arrogant.
Btw, I agree that Fremantle will struggle to win two or three of those top games. We do match up well against Geelong, especially considering that Geelong is undeniably the greatest team of the last decade.

 

[SA HAWK]

The only top four team Hawthorn play twice and Geelong don't is Sydney and this is countered by the fact that Hawthorn get to play both games against Geelong in Melbourne. Considering the Hawks finished top and we finished third last year I hardly think the difference is pathetic and a joke.

You get easy double up games against Brisbane & Carlton every team we play twice is competing for a top 4-8 position.

It is North & Sydney that have been handed the easiest draws.