Top 4/Top 8 thread

[Coolangatta]

Tell me what it's like going out in straight sets?

It feels crushing, like a giant, uh, big, big sound, from west of the town...

 

[Topkent]

It feels crushing, like a giant, uh, big, big sound, from west of the town...

Haha
If we went 22-0 and went out in straight sets I'd probably give up lol but does feel like something Melbourne would do.

 

[Toffee Lion]

Haha
If we went 22-0 and went out in straight sets I'd probably give up lol but does feel like something Melbourne would do.

I'd still rather go out in straight sets then whatever 2010-2018 was for us. Plus it's always amusing when the bottom teams laugh at finals teams for going out early, when they're not even there.

The main takeaway from 2019 for me was how enjoyable the regular season was. Sure we went out in straight sets but no one even expected us to make finals. Much in the same way no one expected Melbourne to go on this streak. Enjoy the season and what happens in finals happens!

 

[WilloTree]

I think the final 8 is set. Just a matter of positions now.

You might be right. Also means that Port/WB game next week becomes huge.

Big games for Carlton and Gold Coast against good opposition as well. 3 - 6 is such a long way back.

 

[Vaccination]

I don't see anyway Melbourne drop out of top 4. Bulldogs have a really tough stretch the next 6 games (@ Port, Saints, Dees, @ Freo, @ Geelong, @ West Coast). If they go 3-3 they should be top 4. Other 2 will be between Geelong, Port and Brisbane. Richmond and West Coast both need to recover from injuries ASAP for a top 4 chance. Reckon some talented teams (Giants, Saints, Blues) will be stiff to miss the 8 this year.

 

[mattpolo8]

I don't see anyway Melbourne drop out of top 4. Bulldogs have a really tough stretch the next 6 games (Port, Saints, Dees, Freo, Geelong, eagles). Reckon some talented teams (Giants, Saints, Blues) will be stiff to miss the 8 this year.

Stiff? How so? At the end of the day if they don't win enough games and play the footy needed to do that, that's their own fault. Nothing to do with being stiff. Which implies it's harsh or unlucky.

 

[Roobs321]

Saints had to go 2-0 against Hawks/Suns to keep pace, and they’ve managed that. Lose one of those and I was ready to scratch them. Percentage still needs work.

I don’t see Carlton, Freo or GC as serious threats. Lots to like about each side, but they just aren’t playing the required football to sweep the sides below them and grab a few upsets against the 7 proven contenders.

The NSW sides are such good value this year. Lots of nailbiting finishes and will likely be in that 7-10th zone in August. Road warriors as well.

 

[Vaccination]

Stiff? How so? At the end of the day if they don't win enough games and play the footy needed to do that, that's their own fault. Nothing to do with being stiff. Which implies it's harsh or unlucky.

Stiff in the sense that there are a lot of quality teams this year. A lot of years you have teams which make the 8 which have no business being there (Essendon 2019, West Coast and Essendon 2017, North 2016, etc). I don't feel like that's the case this year assuming the 8 remains the same.

 

[Wojcinski]

I'd still rather go out in straight sets then whatever 2010-2018 was for us. Plus it's always amusing when the bottom teams laugh at finals teams for going out early, when they're not even there.

The main takeaway from 2019 for me was how enjoyable the regular season was. Sure we went out in straight sets but no one even expected us to make finals. Much in the same way no one expected Melbourne to go on this streak. Enjoy the season and what happens in finals happens!

this is a dangerous opinion to have, the local nuffs will pot you for celebrating home and away success without winning the flag

 

[Toffee Lion]

this is a dangerous opinion to have, the local nuffs will pot you for celebrating home and away success without winning the flag

I will say there is a big difference between a surprise packet team (Lions 2019, Sydney 2021 etc) underperforming in the finals and a high quality contender bombing out in straight sets.

If we go out in straight sets this year, I'd be rightfully upset with the season but if say Sydney make the finals and don't win a final, no one really should pot them considering the expectations originally on the year.

 

[juss]

Our midfield for the next few weeks could be missing all of Cotchin, Lambert, Prestia, Bolton, Edwards. That's 5 of our best 6 midfield rotations. It wouldn't surprise to see us drop the next 2 against Giants and Lions away, we are in big trouble if things get worse.

 

[theyellowsash]

You campaigners gonna believe me yet that we aren't making the 8?

 

[Roobs321]

You campaigners gonna believe me yet that we aren't making the 8?

We’ll believe it when the fat lady sings it. Tiges have had a fairly brutal draw from R3, their season grows tamer after Brissy.

 

[GCS in 11]

You campaigners gonna believe me yet that we aren't making the 8?

I have you at an absolute minimum winning 12 games for the season and really I’d expect you to end up around the 15 mark. You’ll be in finals and dangerous come September

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

Hard to see the Tigers missing from here. Even if they lose away games to West Coast, GWS and Brisbane they’ll start favourites in 9 of 10 remaining games, and should win at least seven. Whether or not they can finish top 4 will depend on if they can win those interstate games, but I’d expect them to finish top 6.

Top 8 looking very set, GWS showed again tonight that they struggle to close out tight games against top teams, that’ll be the difference. Will finish 9th.

 

[Angus Young]

Dogs
Brisbane
Melbourne
Cats

Port
West Coast
Richmond
Sydney

 

[Gavin Excell]

That's an important win tigers in context of season. Had they lost, top4 (and therefore the flag) would have become that much harder

 

[JayJ20]

You campaigners gonna believe me yet that we aren't making the 8?

That win was very important. You'll make the 8 from here.

Top 8 is set.

 

[theyellowsash]

That win was very important. You'll make the 8 from here.

Top 8 is set.

Not convinced. We aren't going to ba able to come from the clouds every game. Brisbane twice, geelong, gws away and wce away are all guaranteed losses and from there just 1 unexpected loss and we miss out.

 

[Angus Young]

GWS the only team outside of the 8 capable of coming in IMO.

 

[Vaccination]

GWS the only team outside of the 8 capable of coming in IMO.

Next week is huge for them. Eagles and swans probably the two most likely teams to drop out of the 8 (Don't see Richmond falling). Need to be them at home while a lot of good players are out.

 

[juss]

Not convinced. We aren't going to ba able to come from the clouds every game. Brisbane twice, geelong, gws away and wce away are all guaranteed losses and from there just 1 unexpected loss and we miss out.

If we get our best 22 back no one is a guaranteed loss for us.

As we are right now, I dont see us beating Brisbane on Friday.

 

[juss]

I have us finishing*
14-8 or 15-7

It's optimistic but it does also have us losing games we could theoretically win as well, Eagles away, Cats at MCG, perhaps throw in a loss either Lions at MCG or Giants in Sydney.

That could have us sneak into the 4, but possibly 5th/6th is more likely. Ideally we would want a home final against an interstate opponent. Unfortunately we've played most of the good teams at the wrong time for us which has hurt.

*providing we get a few players back

 

[nineteen eighty]

You campaigners gonna believe me yet that we aren't making the 8?

Bullsh1t! We have a very good run home and likely to start getting players back for the 2nd half of the season.

Getting to the mid point of the season at break even with the injuries we have is a massive win for us.

 

[Bluelegs]

You campaigners gonna believe me yet that we aren't making the 8?

Maybe if you lost last week. Super important win that one. Giants were knocking on the door and it would have been harder from there. A real 8 point game.