Top 4/Top 8 thread

[Wojcinski]

Port don’t beat top 8 teams

I was going to mention that, but they did beat Sydney a fortnight ago

 

[Gavin Excell]

I was going to mention that, but they did beat Sydney a fortnight ago

Yes go Port

 

[Roobs321]

With Port/Swans continuing to perform consistently to ladder position and Eagles/Tigers continuing to blunder, Top 6 looks untouchable now. Lock in those Week 1 finals in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney and possibly Brisbane/Geelong.

Will be interesting to see how Swans/Giants manage the next few weeks interstate and whether that eventually catches up with them or galvanises them.

 

[Toffee Lion]

It’s top 5 and then daylight, more daylight and the length of the Flemington.

6/7/8 just making up the numbers.

 

[Sky]

Have Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Hawthorn & Richmond ever missed the finals in one year before?

 

[Roobs321]

Have Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Hawthorn & Richmond ever missed the finals in one year before?

1997, 2005 are some

 

[TubbsFarquhar]

Have Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Hawthorn & Richmond ever missed the finals in one year before?

2005.

 

[NewMelbournian]

Sydney now claim a position as a contender for the top 4 and West Coast are all of a sudden no certainty to even be in the 8.

 

[Lynchy04]

Sydney now claim a position as a contender for the top 4 and West Coast are all of a sudden no certainty to even be in the 8.

Probably gets said every year but this year anyone who makes the 8 can win. Don’t reckon there is a single stand out side but the top 5 have been a lot better with Sydney not far behind but all have had real poor moments.

Who knows where the finals will be played so there’s no guarantee of a “home” final.

I can’t see us doing any damage the way we are playing but if we managed to finish 7/8 and get majority of our players back for finals there would be so some nervous teams given our September form of the last 4 years.

In saying that I reckon the Dogs and Lions are the two that will play off in finals. Can totally see the Demons and Cats going out in straight sets. With Port and Sydney making up the other prelims.

 

[Tom14]

Sydney now claim a position as a contender for the top 4 and West Coast are all of a sudden no certainty to even be in the 8.

I can't see Syd managing to get back 2 games and 7% on two of the top 5 in 7 games. Having said that, I do think they could shock a team above them in a semi final and play a prelim.

 

[TheWhiteRhino]

It’s top 5 and then daylight, more daylight and the length of the Flemington.

6/7/8 just making up the numbers.

Swans have one of the best records vs top 8 teams last time I checked

 

[NewMelbournian]

I can't see Syd managing to get back 2 games and 7% on two of the top 5 in 7 games. Having said that, I do think they could shock a team above them in a semi final and play a prelim.

If they can upset the Dogs next week I'd back them in. I just had a look at their fixtures and besides that game the current position of their following opponents: 8th, 10th, 12th, 11th, 18th, 14th. While Port, the Lions and the Cats all have 2 games against top 5 teams. If they win next week I reckon they get there.

 

[Tom14]

If they can upset the Dogs next week I'd back them in. I just had a look at their fixtures and besides that game the current position of their following opponents: 8th, 10th, 12th, 11th, 18th, 14th. While Port, the Lions and the Cats all have 2 games against top 5 teams. If they win next week I reckon they get there.

Lions don't have 2 games against current top 5 teams - they have 0 left. Hardest remaining games are Richmond away and WC at home in rd 23. Current ladder position of lions opponents: 1th, 9th, 17th, 14th, 10th, 16th, 7th.

Geelong only have 1 against top 5 (dees in rd 23). Port do have 2 games against top 5 teams.

Regardless to even have a shot Sydney need to win all their remaining games and then hope 2 of Bris, Geelong, Port lose two more and make up a minimum of 10%. They are not consistent enough for that to be realistic.

 

[juss]

Hardest remaining games are Richmond away and WC at home

I see you've just returned from holidays. Let me show you the replays from the last few weeks.

 

[Angus Young]

Bulldogs
Brisbane
Geelong
Port

Melbourne
Sydney
West Coast
GWS

 

[Angus Young]

2 spots up for grabs in the 8

 

[Scotland]

The fact we are still in the 8 is an indictment on everyone 9th and below.

 

[NewMelbournian]

7. Freo 32
8. West Coast 32

9. St Kilda 32
10. GWS 30
11. Essendon 28
12. Richmond 28

6 teams, 4 points between them, 2 spots to play for. It is shaping up to be one of the most exciting runs home for years. Almost every game each round will matter. As the ladder is now, as many as 7 games in the last round will have relevance to the finals. It has been an extremely even year which is great for the game.

6 teams contending for the top 4. The next 6 contending for the remaining finals spots. And the bottom 6 teams are better than bottom 6 teams have been in a long time. Even the worst of them, Hawthorn and North, have been shown they can compete with finals contenders. The competition is the healthiest since before the expansion years, maybe even longer.

 

[Chaisa]

It's hard to think of a year where the last few rounds has as much to play for as this year. Maybe 2017? But you've got 3-4 teams with a realistic shot of the Minor Premiership, a 5 way shootout for the Top 4, a really tight finals race and a few sides in realistic spoon contention.

 

[juss]

The fact we are still in the 8 is an indictment on everyone 9th and below.

The fact that 9th -12th are still all "in the hunt" technically is an indictment on teams in the lower part of the 8 too. This is one of the season where 8th is going to get polaxed by 5th in the first EF.

 

[carnthedons]

The fact that 9th -12th are still all "in the hunt" technically is an indictment on teams in the lower part of the 8 too. This is one of the season where 8th is going to get polaxed by 5th in the first EF.

If this isn’t proof the bombers are going to finish 8th I don’t know what is

 

[Roobs321]

I kind of want WCE, Richmond and St Kilda to all be punished for some dodgy periods of football this year. GWS (coming off a 0-3 start) are honest triers who are the kings of tight finishes this year and deserve the spot (and the Giants like the Swans have a bit of sympathy vote right now). Essendon can't really afford another elimination defeat so give them 9th to whet the appetite for an assault next year. Freo lost to Carlton twice, but after missing the last 5 years I think most would like to see them snatch a spot (maybe continue to build on that Swans finals rivalry), they can most afford a September shellacking.

7. Freo
8. GWS
9. Essendon
10/11/12. the other three

 

[Lsta062]

Is this the worst top 8 race we’ve ever seen since the AFL era? It almost feels like the ones that’ll finish 7th and 8th will do so by default because of how the others keep stumbling. St Kilda and Essendon are probably the most reliable at this stage.

 

[Jezzaubeautym8]

Is this the worst top 8 race we’ve ever seen since the AFL era? It almost feels like the ones that’ll finish 7th and 8th will do so by default because of how the others keep stumbling. St Kilda and Essendon are probably the most reliable at this stage.

Yes

 

[jezza1435]

Probably gets said every year but this year anyone who makes the 8 can win. Don’t reckon there is a single stand out side but the top 5 have been a lot better with Sydney not far behind but all have had real poor moments.

Melbourne have handily beat the top sides this year. They have lost a few sure, but they are definitely a stand out, more so than previous years I would have thought. It does start again in September I 100% agree though.