Preview The race to 15 wins, and is 15 wins enough.

[ubiquitous226]

We play Friday, and they play Sunday twilight in Melbourne.

At least we get a good break before we play them.

(The Bulldogs play West Coast)

 

[ignoramus]

There was some talk about trying to avoid scheduling a club's AFLM and AFLW games on the same day in recognition of the logistical problems it causes clubs’ event teams. Not sure if that only applies to home games, though.

At any rate, our AFLW game is Sunday 31st and the Bulldogs’ is Saturday 30th.

So if AFL House can be relied upon, our AFLW home game will be moved at the last minute to allow the AFLM game to be scheduled for the Sunday arvo.

 

[BStaff17]

There was some talk about trying to avoid scheduling a club's AFLM and AFLW games on the same day in recognition of the logistical problems it causes clubs’ event teams. Not sure if that only applies to home games, though.

At any rate, our AFLW game is Sunday 31st and the Bulldogs’ is Saturday 30th.

So if AFL House can be relied upon, our AFLW home game will be moved at the last minute to allow the AFLM game to be scheduled for the Sunday arvo.

The Dogs game @ Marvel is the weekend of 21st-24th August

 

[ignoramus]

The Dogs game @ Marvel is the weekend of 21st-24th August

Damn, I knew that too. Was wondering why, when I double checked the fixtures, it was suddenly our home game that was the Sunday game.

 

[swanny1234]

I think we're a certainty for the Friday night slot.

We’ll get Sunday twilight… AFL wants the drama of the Dogs having a win and in scenario last game of the round.

 

[Purple Suit]

Today is a perfect example of what happens when you get ahead of yourself.
Top 4?
Yeah ok, we’re missing finals again.

Did you get ahead of yourself and think we were going to lose half way through the game?

 

[Wizard]

Did you get ahead of yourself and think we were going to lose half way through the game?

Hahaha yes, yes I did.

In fairness, my PTSD was in full affect.

 

[Catalpa]

Hahaha yes, yes I did.

In fairness, my PTSD was in full affect.

Dockery threatened, dockers prevailed. We remain a two headed beast, a chimera, you can never relax or feel confident supporting Freo.

 

[Patty_Moz]

Pies recent away form against the Hawks isn’t great. 2 losses at an average of 49pts and a 4pt win back in 2022. Must be the travel that gets to them.

Only way to shake the Dockery feeling is beat Lions (and Port FFS).

 

[Purple Suit]

Let’s hope the Dees get a sacked coach bounce and knock off the Dogs for us to release the pressure.

 

[Quiexo]

Melbourne's next 3 games - Bulldogs, Hawks, Collingwood...I'm keeping everything crossed that they have the mother of all dead cat bounces and win all 3 games (too much to ask?), would definitely help my stress levels immensely...

 

[go_the_dockers]

Such an uneven comp. 15 wins is the minimum to make finals.

 

[Dockeroo]

Basically a hawks win v the pies means we need to get to 16 wins.
Someone will miss the finals on 15 wins in this case, which will be quite extraordinary.
We’d be $1.01 to be the side who misses out on 15 wins, with our current percentage, if it happens. Losing 2 of the final 3 games will mean our percentage likely goes backwards.

We absolutely have to beat port and Brisbane to make sure I reckon.
The away game at marvel v Dogs is arguably in the toughest 3 games in the entire comp for any team. A fixture that’s been a real graveyard for us in recent years. So fingers crossed finals are secure by then before that game starts.

A less discussed but also possible equation is this - just win the Dogs game and we are guaranteed finals. Even if we lost to BOTH port and Brisbane.

 

[Purple Suit]

Basically a hawks win v the pies means we need to get to 16 wins.
Someone will miss the finals on 15 wins in this case, which will be quite extraordinary.
We’d be $1.01 to be the side who misses out on 15 wins, with our current percentage, if it happens. Losing 2 of the final 3 games will mean our percentage likely goes backwards.

We absolutely have to beat port and Brisbane to make sure I reckon.
The away game at marvel v Dogs is arguably in the toughest 3 games in the entire comp for any team. A fixture that’s been a real graveyard for us in recent years. So fingers crossed finals are secure by then before that game starts.

A less discussed but also possible equation is this - just win the Dogs game and we are guaranteed finals. Even if we lost to BOTH port and Brisbane.

I’m not sure why people say that we can’t beat the Bulldogs at Marvel or that it is some sort hoodoo ground? We won there in 2022 to basically lock in finals. We lost in 23 & got pumped in 24 after the bye.

Before that we are 3/5 between 2013-2019 but it followed the form line of our teams and probably too far back to even worry.

We’re 2/3 against the Brisbane at Optus for the past 3 seasons but I wouldn’t say we have the wood over them or it is a Brisbane graveyard.

 

[rubydoomsday]

I’m not sure why people say that we can’t beat the Bulldogs at Marvel or that it is some sort hoodoo ground? We won there in 2022 to basically lock in finals. We lost in 23 & got pumped in 24 after the bye.

Before that we are 3/5 between 2013-2019 but it followed the form line of our teams and probably too far back to even worry.

We’re 2/3 against the Brisbane at Optus for the past 3 seasons but I wouldn’t say we have the wood over them or it is a Brisbane graveyard.

they didn't have Sam Darcy those seasons.

they can't defend but they can pressure turnovers and score on the rebound from them. it's a game style thing. in a shootout with them on their home deck, we likely lose unless we bring epic heat.

even a fit Pearce returning will struggle with a fit 208cm Sam Darcy, a legit freak of a KPF, and even if you cover him, there's Naughton, annoyingly finally coming into form after a so-so season.

 

[Dockeroo]

I’m not sure why people say that we can’t beat the Bulldogs at Marvel or that it is some sort hoodoo ground? We won there in 2022 to basically lock in finals. We lost in 23 & got pumped in 24 after the bye.

Before that we are 3/5 between 2013-2019 but it followed the form line of our teams and probably too far back to even worry.

We’re 2/3 against the Brisbane at Optus for the past 3 seasons but I wouldn’t say we have the wood over them or it is a Brisbane graveyard.

Personal opinion but I believe we don’t match up well with them on that ground in particular.
They have an excellent midfield and an ability to score heavily from centre bounce stoppages, an area we have struggled in over recent weeks. Even against the likes of Saints and north we were beaten in the midfield for substantial periods in those game, and both those sides have rubbish midfields.
I’d have much more confidence in us beating Brisbane at Optus than Dogs at Marvel. It might be different if the pressure of having to win to make finals was removed.

 

[Purple Suit]

they didn't have Sam Darcy those seasons.

they can't defend but they can pressure turnovers and score on the rebound from them. it's a game style thing. in a shootout with them on their home deck, we likely lose unless we bring epic heat.

even a fit Pearce returning will struggle with a fit 208cm Sam Darcy, a legit freak of a KPF, and even if you cover him, there's Naughton, annoyingly finally coming into form after a so-so season.

They had Darcy when we played them this year. They were too predictable and tried to hit him up every time in the last quarter which we defended.

They have to stop 3 KPF’s and two rucks. Midfield battle will be the key.

 

[go_the_dockers]

Basically a hawks win v the pies means we need to get to 16 wins.
Someone will miss the finals on 15 wins in this case, which will be quite extraordinary.
We’d be $1.01 to be the side who misses out on 15 wins, with our current percentage, if it happens. Losing 2 of the final 3 games will mean our percentage likely goes backwards.

We absolutely have to beat port and Brisbane to make sure I reckon.
The away game at marvel v Dogs is arguably in the toughest 3 games in the entire comp for any team. A fixture that’s been a real graveyard for us in recent years. So fingers crossed finals are secure by then before that game starts.

A less discussed but also possible equation is this - just win the Dogs game and we are guaranteed finals. Even if we lost to BOTH port and Brisbane.

We should get to 16 wins. Win this week, we have two chances to get there. Brisbane at home should be winnable.

 

[BStaff17]

We should get to 16 wins. Win this week, we have two chances to get there. Brisbane at home should be winnable.

Yeah honestly we should be winning at least one of our last two.

Yeah there tough but at the end day if we want to win a flag then we have to get the job done.

I like the fact the pressure is still going to be on to have to win 1 from our last 2 at a bare minimum.

Keeps the side on edge and can see how they handle it.

 

[estibador]

I've see a bit of an underlying sentiment around that if we can't win one of the last two games then we weren't good enough to win the flag anyway, so who cares. But that misses the point a bit I think.

Yes we might not be good enough to win the flag this year but we desperately need the finals experience even if we only fall in due to other teams losing. We may be coming into our flag window next year but it's so rare for a 'newbie' finals team to be able to go all the way on their first go.

We've already blown two years of potential finals experience the past two seasons. Any sort of finals experience is absolutely crucial this year even if we aren't technically good enough to 'earn' it by winning one of our last two.

 

[Dockeroo]

I've see a bit of an underlying sentiment around that if we can't win one of the last two games then we weren't good enough to win the flag anyway, so who cares. But that misses the point a bit I think.

Yes we might not be good enough to win the flag this year but we desperately need the finals experience even if we only fall in due to other teams losing. We may be coming into our flag window next year but it's so rare for a 'newbie' finals team to be able to go all the way on their first go.

We've already blown two years of potential finals experience the past two seasons. Any sort of finals experience is absolutely crucial this year even if we aren't technically good enough to 'earn' it by winning one of our last two.

Exactly why I was so pissed off when we blew last years chance on the final day.
Doing it again this year is just unthinkable.
We absolutely have to play finals this year.

 

[sumavich]

Win against Port and then Brizzy.
Simples

 

[fleur]

No Neale makes that Lions game much more manageable

 

[oldgoat]

Dockery threatened, dockers prevailed. We remain a two headed beast, a chimera, you can never relax or feel confident supporting Freo.

just two heads?

 

[Mr Cheese]

As someone else has said, pressure right up to finals is good; keeps the team sharp. If they're up to it, fantastic, if they fail, as disappointing as it will be, the team is clearly growing and on the up. No-one's going to want us in finals, especially if we're going in as underdogs. We're playing very finals-like footy and I'm not sure how up for a scrap teams who have an easy run in are.

Edit: to echo others, whilst we aren't favourites, and I don't expect us to, we can definitely win the flag this year.