Top 4

[Vdubs]

It's early days but with Freo, Swans, Lions all realistic chances of making top 4, along with Saints, Dogs and us, we really have to ensure a good number of wins more than in other recent seasons. The prospect of having to travel interstate for a final has become foreign to us in recent years. Funny how the makeup of the 4-8 can change. I would not like us to have to go to any of those interstate places for a final.

I'm not dismissing Pies in that assessment either.

 

[Tristagi]

we are top 4 easy..

Freo away has always been a tough one for us, even in 2007/08/09 so losing there with no Scarlett, Mooney, Ottens and Rooke isn't a big suprise, especially with early season form.

We will lose more this year than in the past but will easily win enough to finish top 4.

 

[The Riddler]

No question we're top 4.

But even if we weren't, if we got the build up to the finals right like last season then if anyone could win a Premiership from 5-8 it's us.

 

[donbooger]

I dont think Fremantle are that good, in top form and beating us was impressive. Like above though they get up for us usually Sandi causing trouble, and if we made a list of our 4 most important players 3 were missing yesterday.

Fremantle will be fighting for finals not top 4.

 

[thrillhouse]

It's early days but with Freo, Swans, Lions all realistic chances of making top 4, along with Saints, Dogs and us, we really have to ensure a good number of wins more than in other recent seasons. The prospect of having to travel interstate for a final has become foreign to us in recent years. Funny how the makeup of the 4-8 can change. I would not like us to have to go to any of those interstate places for a final.

I'm not dismissing Pies in that assessment either.

It's a closer competition this year. Although you're right it's only round 3. There's still another 19 games to be played - anything can happen. Way too early to pick the 4 but you're pretty close with the contenders, albeit you've practically got half of the league to choose from lol.

 

[KardiniaPark]

Geez we lose one game by a kick in perth and its panic stations. Now freo & sydney are better than us?. hahaha. Get a grip mate, we would finish top 4 with the team that was in yesterday. We hold off freo's last two goals yesterday and suddenly we would be unbeatable because we beat the form team at home with 6 players out!.

 

[alfy!]

Still a favourite for top 4, but I think it will be a much more even top 8 this year, especially in the first half of the season.

 

[crunchola]

i reckon this year more than most it looks important to get top 2, we would not want to finsh 4 if lions are 1. nobody is panicking saying we wont get top 4, but this year it could be different if all these interstate teams keep it up. last 2 years it seems to have been all victorian. maybe that's his point

 

[alfy!]

i reckon this year more than most it looks important to get top 2, we would not want to finsh 4 if lions are 1. nobody is panicking saying we wont get top 4, but this year it could be different if all these interstate teams keep it up. last 2 years it seems to have been all victorian. maybe that's his point

Lions won't finish first. You would think it would be one of Geelong, Saints or the Bulldogs. Then it doesn't really matter if we finish 1st, or 3rd.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Sydney are 2-1, with those wins coming against two sides that are yet to open their account in 2010. They'd have to show a bit more before I start mentioning them as a top 4 contender. Last year, when there were four teams that were clearly a cut above the rest of the competition, 15 wins was enough for a top 4 spot. You'd imagine a similar win tally would be enough to lock up a top four spot and 16 would be enough for top two.

 

[CCrackers]

It's early days but with Freo, Swans, Lions all realistic chances of making top 4, along with Saints, Dogs and us, we really have to ensure a good number of wins more than in other recent seasons. The prospect of having to travel interstate for a final has become foreign to us in recent years. Funny how the makeup of the 4-8 can change. I would not like us to have to go to any of those interstate places for a final.

I'm not dismissing Pies in that assessment either.

I originally had my top 4: Saints, Dogs, Cats & Hawks (in that order + Pies 5th.)

It seems the Lions and Swans are pushing with a real chance to make the top 4, but like yourself; I'm not dismissing the Pies (or the Hawks as well) just yet. Of course; it's still only early days so we shall see.

With all due respect to them, I personally still can't see the Dockers finishing top 4 (maybe 6th-8th at the absolute best.) They are looking good, but I doubt that they can sustain the consistency required (particularly away from home) to make it.

If I was revaluating my top 4 again at this stage I'd say: Saints, Dogs, Cats & Lions (in that order + Pies, Swans & Hawks pushing 5th.)

 

[DanA]

Brisbane are firing better than I expected up forward
Freo have a midfield now
Adelaide are looking terrible

Other than that the seasons about what most would have expected

 

[Sttew]

Freo & Swans will NOT make the top 4. No way in hell. Just like Adelaide will not finish bottom.

 

[Selective Retention]

Going very early indeed. Brisbane haven't beaten a side that will make finals yet....

 

[nowhereneargeelong]

Only 1, IF ANY, interstate team will finish top 4. Probably Brisbane.

The young players at Sydney/Freo will tire and they'll make up the numbers, maybe.

Dogs, Cats, Lions, Pies, Saints have fitter, bigger bodies and at the business end this factor alone will ultimately determine the top 4.

 

[CATACK]

I thought the ladder would be something like this, and i still think it can be.
1 Dogs
2 Cats
3 Saints
4 Hawks

5 Pies
6 Lions
7 Dockers
8 Crows

Every year i do a silly bet on the TAB, this year it was Dockers for top 8 $3.65 (start of year) and top 4 $12.50 (start of year)

and something that will make me rich (lol) Cats Vs Dockers ( Grand final)

 

[thrillhouse]

I thought the ladder would be something like this, and i still think it can be.
1 Dogs
2 Cats
3 Saints
4 Hawks

5 Pies
6 Lions
7 Dockers
8 Crows

Every year i do a silly bet on the TAB, this year it was Dockers for top 8 $3.65 (start of year) and top 4 $12.50 (start of year)

and something that will make me rich (lol) Cats Vs Dockers ( Grand final)

Geez mate if you're relying on gambling to make you rich you're gonna be broke for a loooooong time.

 

[CATACK]

Geez mate if you're relying on gambling to make you rich you're gonna be broke for a loooooong time.

Mate i am far from broke, but every year i do 1 or 2 bets that can make your pockets very full.

Eg: The guy i used to work with put a $20 bet on Geelong 07 into Hawthorn 08 (he won)

and last year he put $50 on Geelong 09 into Bull or Bris 2010

 

[donbooger]

Sydney and Brisbane havent done anything yet to show they have a claim for top 4, Sydney have played Saints but always give them trouble so that should be taken with a grain of salt.

Fremantle beating us in favourable circumstances is a start for there top 4 claims and fortunately next week the gods are shining on them again, Saints without a forward line. Beat Saints without Kosi/Roo and Ill put them down for 4th - 6th.

 

[AidanNelson2009]

Geelong are easily a top 4 team, at our best we are the best team. I think we will finish 3rd this season behind the Western Bulldogs and St.Kilda. Fremantle and Sydney won't sustain thier form there showing for the whole season, Collingwood arn't good enough and Brisbane are to up and down. When the cats get to full fitness and get thier strongest team on the park, we will go on a unbeaten run. I expected us to lose to Freo, they are a very different side to what they were the last 1-2 years, and without Scarlett, Mooney, Milburn, Rooke and Varcoe, i think we done extremly well.

 

[cynical]

it'll still be the same sides in the top 4, with hawthorn maybe replacing the pies

brisbane have no midfield and will get beat by the good sides (carlton dominated them at home but lost due to poor kicking), they will be get flogged this weak against the dogs

sydney are similar, good forward line, good backline, decent rucks no midfield, not much depth either

freo will be 5-8, their kids will get tired and will have to start playing spuds like schammer and kepler bradley

 

[Vdubs]

I am in no way suggesting any top 4 order yet, but merely suggesting that perhaps there are realistic interstate teams that could challenge for those spots which was not the case last 2 years. As someone else said, this is the year where #1 & #2 could be more beneficial than other years where it was an all Vic top 4.

 

[thegerman]

we are top 4 easy..

Freo away has always been a tough one for us, even in 2007/08/09 so losing there with no Scarlett, Mooney, Ottens and Rooke isn't a big suprise, especially with early season form.

We will lose more this year than in the past but will easily win enough to finish top 4.

Agreed. We still struggled over the past few years there, no different this year.

We are still in the hunt for the 4.

 

[Shmoses]

I'm not convinced Freo are a top four side, and Sydney definitely are not. Hawthorn are the biggest threat to last year's top 4 imo, maybe Brisbane, and I think it will be at Collingwood's expense, or possibly St. Kilda depending on their ability to cover Riewoldt/the length of his injury.

 

[Redemptionin09]

I'm not convinced Freo are a top four side, and Sydney definitely are not. Hawthorn are the biggest threat to last year's top 4 imo, maybe Brisbane, and I think it will be at Collingwood's expense, or possibly St. Kilda depending on their ability to cover Riewoldt/the length of his injury.

This