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

[Madas]

He has a habit of faking injury when he’s having a bad game.

Would make a brilliant soccer player

 

[Eski3]

View attachment 2389137

We might end up being 1 Joel amartey goal sway from finals.

Or a straight Jamie Elliot kick away from being out of it completely

 

[Schauermann]

What a brutal finish to the season. Suddenly even top 4 look achievable while missing the 8 is still possible,

Normally at this stage of the season teams are fighting for only one of Top 2, Top 4, Top 6 or Top 8 with the only likely other option being finishing one level lower.

 

[swanny1234]

Pretty clear now that 15 wins isn’t enough… must win 2 of our last 3 to be safe.

 

[swanny1234]

Does anyone else have this horrible sinking feeling that we lose our last 3 and miss out?

Yeah it’s only natural as a Freo fan this feeling creeps in.
Last year hasn’t helped the anxiety.

 

[Kapow!!!]

So the season is going to come down to the Darcy v Moose battle in the last round. Two absolute gladiators going at it with finals for both teams on the line.

If you don't enjoy your season hanging in the balance each week, then you don't enjoy Dockery football.

...I don't enjoy Dockery football. I feel I've been very clear on this. Just get there comfortably for once ffs

 

[go_the_dockers]

If we win vs Brisbane, we could go into Sunday in round 24 with the ladder looking something like this. (4 points already given to the gold coast for the game vs Bombers )

Giants vs St Kilda - I have given the win to Giants, but Saints did upset Carlton last year.
Brisbane vs Hawks
Bulldogs vs Freo

Brisbane pushing for a top 4 spot.
Bulldogs chasing a final spot.
Freo chasing a top 4 spot.
Hawks chasing a home final.

----This is the AFL dream.
PS - Our percentage was improved by two 80 point wins vs Brisbane and Port, but I don't think Percentage comes into it if we win.

Collingwood losing really opens up the top 4 for us, if we are good enough.

 

[The Round House Drunk]

Win against Port, then we have a home game against Brisbane knowing that a win in front of our own fans will lock us into finals, and quite possibly into top 4.

The game against Bulldogs would then become a free swing of sorts.

Sounds good to me. Gotta beat Port first.

 

[Mr Cheese]

Does anyone else have this horrible sinking feeling that we lose our last 3 and miss out?

 

[freo84]

 

[ubiquitous226]

Win against Port, then we have a home game against Brisbane knowing that a win in front of our own fans will lock us into finals, and quite possibly into top 4.

The game against Bulldogs would then become a free swing of sorts.

Sounds good to me. Gotta beat Port first.

I won't lie, getting increasingly nervous, we've been a bit shaky against WC and Carlton.

It'd only take a small slip up from a young team here to suffer a Richmond-esque fate again, and we can't afford that for our development.

If we take care of business against Port then we give ourselves two chances.
I'm a little torn on the Bulldogs, they've looked a million bucks against the lower teams but every top 8 team except GWS has been able to put the brakes on them more, although all have them have been reasonably close games and Hawks and Adelaide are the only other two decent teams they've played at Marvel.

 

[Wizard]

Must win two more.

Our only hope if we go 1-2 on the run home is that GWS either go 1-2 as well or don't belt the Roos.

 

[fleur]

He has a habit of faking injury when he’s having a bad game.

He hasn’t been training during the week and started on the bench last night so is definitely being managed but really it’s good news for everyone but the pies

 

[Lach72]

Losing Young for these games was not ideal

 

[fleur]

Losing Young for these games was not ideal

We did okay without him but hopefully he’s back for the Lions

 

[The Round House Drunk]

I won't lie, getting increasingly nervous, we've been a bit shaky against WC and Carlton.

It'd only take a small slip up from a young team here to suffer a Richmond-esque fate again, and we can't afford that for our development.

If we take care of business against Port then we give ourselves two chances.
I'm a little torn on the Bulldogs, they've looked a million bucks against the lower teams but every top 8 team except GWS has been able to put the brakes on them more, although all have them have been reasonably close games and Hawks and Adelaide are the only other two decent teams they've played at Marvel.

Yep, I share the same concern.

I think we just need to back in the ongoing growth and maturity (in both the playing group and coaching group) that has been unfolding in front of out eyes the past 3 months.

We’re still some distance from being the finished article (in terms of being a consistent, top 4 level team that can routinely put away the weaker sides with little fuss).

But footy is poetic sometimes. Last year we were in a position to finish top 4 but a lack of maturity and experience was a big factor in our collapse to miss finals altogether. This year we have an opportunity to show how much we’ve grown and developed to snag a top 4 spot from what looked like a hopeless position after round 8.

And I trust JLo and the coaches to get the players properly focused on the immediate task at hand, which is beating Port tomorrow.

 

[BStaff17]

I think its exciting of the possibilities that could happen now.

People are stressing out over results not going our way i disagree.

The top 4 has now almost opened up for us to go and pinch a spot in there.

Collingwood winning would have shut the door on it.

Our destiny is in our hands.

 

[fnerd]

I won't lie, getting increasingly nervous, we've been a bit shaky against WC and Carlton.

It'd only take a small slip up from a young team here to suffer a Richmond-esque fate again, and we can't afford that for our development.

If we take care of business against Port then we give ourselves two chances.
I'm a little torn on the Bulldogs, they've looked a million bucks against the lower teams but every top 8 team except GWS has been able to put the brakes on them more, although all have them have been reasonably close games and Hawks and Adelaide are the only other two decent teams they've played at Marvel.

Yep this .

It’s as simple as just need to take care of port*first .


It’s great dreaming of top 4 and all that but simple fact is we are, and even into next week with a win against port on a true knife’s edge .

It’s ****en crazy

Btw all those who love playing the victim and crying “why do all the shits teams bring their A game against us wah wah wah”

Well put yourself in port shoes this week.

Just been belted by 100 p in last 2 games.
They’re down on confidence so where do you look to get it via believing you can win against an opponent?

Enter Freo ,took 3 quarters to beat a half strength Carlton side, despite our season resting in the balance
Struggled to put away almost ALL bottom 9 sides , since rnd 14 the only top 9 side to lose to a bottom 9 side is Freo.

And then there’s the historical facts (again our non performing past rears its head) -

Never beaten them at Adelaide oval and this is like the fourth time I can remember us needing to beat port late into the season(the others being 04/05 and of course everyone’s favourite last yr -when we had everything to play for and them
none)

And in all 3 occasions we’ve gagged on it haaaaaaard.

So again tell me why port SHOULDNT come out confident and fired up this sat night?

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

Yep this .

It’s as simple as just need to take care of port*first .


It’s great dreaming of top 4 and all that but simple fact is we are, and even into next week with a win against port on a true knife’s edge .

It’s ****en crazy

Btw all those who love playing the victim and crying “why do all the shits teams bring their A game against us wah wah wah”

Well put yourself in port shoes this week.

Just been belted by 100 p in last 2 games.
They’re down on confidence so where do you look to get it via believing you can win against an opponent?

Enter Freo ,took 3 quarters to beat a half strength Carlton side, despite our season resting in the balance
Struggled to put away almost ALL bottom 9 sides , since rnd 14 the only top 9 side to lose to a bottom 9 side is Freo.

And then there’s the historical facts (again our non performing past rears its head) -

Never beaten them at Adelaide oval and this is like the fourth time I can remember us needing to beat port late into the season(the others being 04/05 and of course everyone’s favourite last yr -when we had everything to play for and them
none)

And in all 3 occasions we’ve gagged on it haaaaaaard.

So again tell me why port SHOULDNT come out confident and fired up this sat night?

You're on a strangely negative tear at the moment

 

[freo84]

Yep this .

It’s as simple as just need to take care of port*first .


It’s great dreaming of top 4 and all that but simple fact is we are, and even into next week with a win against port on a true knife’s edge .

It’s ****en crazy

Btw all those who love playing the victim and crying “why do all the shits teams bring their A game against us wah wah wah”

Well put yourself in port shoes this week.

Just been belted by 100 p in last 2 games.
They’re down on confidence so where do you look to get it via believing you can win against an opponent?

Enter Freo ,took 3 quarters to beat a half strength Carlton side, despite our season resting in the balance
Struggled to put away almost ALL bottom 9 sides , since rnd 14 the only top 9 side to lose to a bottom 9 side is Freo.

And then there’s the historical facts (again our non performing past rears its head) -

Never beaten them at Adelaide oval and this is like the fourth time I can remember us needing to beat port late into the season(the others being 04/05 and of course everyone’s favourite last yr -when we had everything to play for and them
none)

And in all 3 occasions we’ve gagged on it haaaaaaard.

So again tell me why port SHOULDNT come out confident and fired up this sat night?

We have them covered and they know it. Absolutely flogged them last time and they were lucky it was wet.

This team just doesn't give up anymore and its so close to clicking. It clicked against West Coast just didnt kick straight. Fought through the Carlolton hoodoo well and it was one way traffic in the second half.

Let them come out fired up. We've never been in a better spot to beat them. Everything to play for and we had Carlton scare us in the first half and put 61 to 8 on them in the second half.

 

[fnerd]

You're on a strangely negative tear at the moment

Oh I agree (guess ive reached my critical mass of dockery moments with this team haha)

I’m running by the mantra UNTIL proven otherwise.

Only taken 25+ years!

As stated in the other thread, I just want this team to make finals.

Don’t give a **** if we go 1-3 and Bradbury it in .

Just make finals ffs.

And guess what ?, from there I’ll actually back us to win against ANYONE, anywhere!

 

[Catalpa]

The AFL has been engineered to be an even comp, and yes father son rules, travel were never even. Academies for the northern states are probably a necessary leg up in rugby markets. What I dont understand is how Carlton, Port, Sydney and Melbourne have been so uncompetitive this year. I don't have time to watch many non Freo games, so that leaves me tunnel visioned. Any ideas on why this season has been so uneven?

 

[freo84]

The AFL has been engineered to be an even comp, and yes father son rules, travel were never even. Academies for the northern states are probably a necessary leg up in rugby markets. What I dont understand is how Carlton, Port, Sydney and Melbourne have been so uncompetitive this year. I don't have time to watch many non Freo games, so that leaves me tunnel visioned. Any ideas on why this season has been so uneven?

Carlton are playing a 2023 version of an AFL game plan that everyone has worked out.

Port are going through a coaching thing and I think Carr is pulling levers while Hinkley is there watching...Hinkley leans over and whispers "Wrong lever mate."

Sydney have a new coach and a team that is mentally shot after being flogged again in a grand final.

Melbourne have no forward line...and a coked out Oliver.

 

[Kapow!!!]

And I trust JLo and the coaches to get the players properly focused on the immediate task at hand, which is beating Port tomorrow.

After the last couple of weeks (and against most bottom 9 sides so far this season for that fact) he hasn't done enough to earn that trust I think. It wasn't until half time when the old school proverbial rocket was deployed that the motivation and performance improved. We've struggled hard to start games and stay focused.

That's where I'm worried. Like fnerd seeing will be believing. If, and only if, we can make it through the next 2 games with wins will I start to trust. At that point it will probably feel like we can legitimately beat anyone anywhere and put down the naysayers.

 

[Purple Suit]

Carlton are playing a 2023 version of an AFL game plan that everyone has worked out.

Port are going through a coaching thing and I think Carr is pulling levers while Hinkley is there watching...Hinkley leans over and whispers "Wrong lever mate."

Sydney have a new coach and a team that is mentally shot after being flogged again in a grand final.

Melbourne have no forward line...and a coked out Oliver.

I can see some of that group compete better next year and add the Saints to that mix if they keep NWM. Sydney will be back in contention, Carlton might go better with a new coach, Melbourne might go better with a new coach and bye a key forward rather than rebuild.

On the reverse, I could see Pies drop off big time and there will probably be one other team implode.

It's been a strange year, tale of two groups but the top 9 is very even.