Week 1 finals preference

[Qsaint]

id prefer the option of we flogg essendon... port beat roos adelaide run into another brick wall in the bulldogs and collingwood lose in a massive upset at subi to freo

id love to have first crack at geelong... whats the worst that can happen? we lose to the benchmark team and know where we are at and what we have to do if we make it to grand final day against them

I'd agree with that we'd have nothing to lose, they have a the gorilla of expectation on their back. I think we are one of the few sides in the 8 who have big enough midfielders to match Geelongs physical presence

 

[Half Back Pocket]

Mate, if Freo beat Pies on Friday and we assume that WB will beat Crows. We end up in 5th, we get a definate home final which will be against struggling swans and we then dont have to worry about geelong till the GF. That is the best outcome doesnt matter how u look at it. Lets face it no one wants to face geelong before the GF. If your gonna bomb out against geelong youd rather it be in the GF not the prelim.

Big Pav is out! Pies should beat Freo comfortably.

 

[thegoldenbear]

Is this wrong to be even consdiering....If Collingwood, Adelaide & Sydney win - we want to lose finishing 8th and avoiding Geelong until GF.
If Collingwood lose and the other two win - we need to lose

Basically 4th , 5th and 8th are where the path may be paved with Gold

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

We're gonna have to play Geelong somewhere along the line...

 

[Rick18]

Surely your match would have to be on the Sunday, considering all the finalists should at least get a 7-day break between matches?

 

[Sainters08]

if we can't finish 5th, we should try and lose on Sunday and get 8th spot. Their for avoiding Geelong until the grand final.

 

[HoldenMCaulfield]

Tanking ???

No !!!

 

[Persevering Saint]

if we can't finish 5th, we should try and lose on Sunday and get 8th spot. Their for avoiding Geelong until the grand final.

Don't like that idea, at all.

 

[Joffa 5]

Chalking up a good win to hit the finals running is the only way to go. Losing intentionally would just stall the momentum.

 

[WASaintsFan08]

stuff tanking..... playing geelong in a prelim or in the gf doesnt matter... because we'd need to do same thing to beat them either day... theres no point going to the gf with the intention of being happy just making it

i say bring any team any day any order we will crush them or lose trying

 

[cartwright]

if we can't finish 5th, we should try and lose on Sunday and get 8th spot. Their for avoiding Geelong until the grand final.

no way, intentionally lose in rd 22?!

anyway, I managed to convince my boss I'm required in Melbourne for work that weekend ( luckily he's got no idea about AFL ).... so please, please, please, a home final!

 

[sauce_head]

No intentional loss, but i think you only want to face teh cats in an elimination final. I am sure nobody could beat them twice...

A long way to go before that though.

 

[dg102]

Big Pav is out! Pies should beat Freo comfortably.

Freo almost beat Richmond in Melb with out Pav. I was listening to the game. They played better with out him. No Kidding Id be backing Freo over there.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Assuming the Cats cannot be beaten by anyone except St Kilda , and we dont go to 5th spot.

6th spot -1. We start by playing Crow or Swan at our ground.
2. Semi - we play a top 4 loser, winnable.
3. Preliminary against Cats
4. Grand Final

7th spot - 1 We play away at Sydney or Adelaide.
2 Play top 4 loser.
3 Preliminary against Cats.

8th spot - 1 Game against Collingwood, very difficult first final.
2 Top 4 loser.
3 Preliminary but not against Cats.
4 Grand Final against Cats.

To me 6th spot is the easiest path to a Grand final win.
It avoids interstate travel and also begins with an easier game than Collingwood.

If we look like ending up in 7th spot I can see the argument for tanking. Keep an eye out for any last minute injuries. Nick Reiwoldt - Hangnail, Lenny Hayes- splinter.

 

[Persevering Saint]

It's worth pointing out thatunder Lyon, the bogey that has traditionally been us-playing-away is starting to fade away. We played 8 times interstate this year (inc the NAB games). We won against Geelong (although I'm hesitant to count that one), Adelaide, the Kangas and Freo interstate. And the losses we had to Port, Brisbane, Sydney and WC had very little to do with the games being interstate: In the Port, Brissy and Sydney games, it was obvious our team just didn't get the game plan - and in the WC game we assumed they would tank when they ended up actually turning up to play.

Going to Adelaide or Sydney is not a nightmare for us, is all I'm saying. I'd back us to knock the feathers off of either the Crows or Swans, even in their own nests.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

It's worth pointing out thatunder Lyon, the bogey that has traditionally been us-playing-away is starting to fade away. We played 8 times interstate this year (inc the NAB games). We won against Geelong (although I'm hesitant to count that one), Adelaide, the Kangas and Freo interstate. And the losses we had to Port, Brisbane, Sydney and WC had very little to do with the games being interstate: In the Port, Brissy and Sydney games, it was obvious our team just didn't get the game plan - and in the WC game we assumed they would tank when they ended up actually turning up to play.

Going to Adelaide or Sydney is not a nightmare for us, is all I'm saying. I'd back us to knock the feathers off of either the Crows or Swans, even in their own nests.

Please remember that Kangaroo's also were playing away, and the Kanga supporters will tell you that their team plays badly away. So 2 x bad = no disadvantage. We beat Freo but they are the third bottom team, and it was on top of us losing to West Coast , the second bottom team. I think for the greater part of the season we were the only team to have lost to Port.


Sorry I don't share your enthusiasm for travel.

 

[Fehring]

The aim of finals is to win. Not to go as far as possible.

To win we must be able to defeat all teams includiding an on fire Collingwood, and on fire Bulldogs, and an on fire Cats.
It is finals, they aren't going to lie down and die.

Therefore the only advantage is if we can avoid playing interstate.

Did you go to sleep after round 11 and wake up yesterday? I'd love to play the Doggies right now.

Freo almost beat Richmond in Melb with out Pav. I was listening to the game. They played better with out him. No Kidding Id be backing Freo over there.

you're not winning the footy tipping, are you?

 

[dan0z]

in my opinion pies and kangas are certanties to win this weekend..
so the only teams who should affect where we finish are adelaide and st kilda..

Assuming we win.. which is no certainty at all.. lol

If adelaide win we will finish 7th (unless we drill essendon)
If adelaide loose we will finish 6th

 

[Persevering Saint]

in my opinion pies and kangas are certanties to win this weekend..
so the only teams who should affect where we finish are adelaide and st kilda..

Assuming we win.. which is no certainty at all.. lol

If adelaide win we will finish 7th (unless we drill essendon)
If adelaide loose we will finish 6th

Which means we have to beat Geelong before the GF. Well, we had to beat them eventually, so...

I'd just hate for us to pull of the David v Goliath show in a Semi-Final, and all that achieves is us being stuffed for the GF and gifting another team (please not Collingwood!) a flag. If we do have to beat Geelong in a Semi, I hope we can do the rest.

Still, early days, and a lot more permutations to happen yet.

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

Chances are we'd meet them in the prelim. Cant see Kangas beating them next week.

Plus if they do lose to the Kangas I think they go to the other side of the draw... and we'd play the Kangas in the prelim. :O

 

[Signd Sealed Saint]

Now that Fremantle have beaten Collingwood the ladder will be as follows if favourites win

1. Geelong
2. Hawthorn
3. Western Bulldogs
4. North Melbourne
5. Saint Kilda
6. Sydney
7. Collingwood
8. Adelaide

so if this is the case then 1st week of the finals will look like...

Geelong v North

Hawthorn v Bulldogs

Saint Kilda v Adelaide

Sydney v Collingwood

Then i predict...

Saint Kilda v North Melbourne

Western Bulldogs v Collingwood

after that...

Saint Kilda v Hawthorn

Bulldogs v Geelong

then we'll bow out leaving Geelong to carve up the Hawks on Grand Final day.


That means we're gonna get North in the semi and we'll probably play Hawthorn in the prelim then Geelong in the GF. That is the most likely run we're gonna have. From outside the 4 i dont see us making the GF but we might win a game or two this year.

 

[CHBench]

AFL News. AFL Breaking News.
Article from:
Hawthorn and Bulldogs clash

Mark Stevens | August 28, 2008 12:00am



THE Hawthorn-Western Bulldogs qualifying final appears almost certain to be scheduled for Friday night.



Talk is mounting the AFL will schedule the game for the MCG to kick off the finals series. It would allow both clubs a six-day break.
If North Melbourne, as expected, defeats Port Adelaide on Saturday, Geelong awaits in the other qualifying final. It is strongly tipped the clubs will meet at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.
Telstra Dome will host a final if St Kilda beats Essendon and Adelaide loses to the Dogs. If results go that way, it is highly likely the Saturday night game will be St Kilda-Sydney at the Dome. If Adelaide beats the Dogs, the Crows will meet St Kilda at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night.
A Collingwood win against Fremantle tomorrow night will ensure the Magpies play at the MCG on the Sunday -- against either the Crows or the Swans.



EXPECTED FINALS DRAW
If Dogs beat Adelaide and other favourites win -
Friday night
Hawthorn v Bulldogs (MCG)
Saturday

Geelong v North Melbourne (MCG)
Saturday night
St Kilda v Sydney (TD)
Sunday
Collingwood v Adelaide (MCG)

If Adelaide beats Dogs and other favourites win:
Friday night
Hawthorn v Bulldogs (MCG)
Saturday
Geelong v North Melbourne (MCG)
Saturday night
Adelaide v St Kilda (AAMI)
Sunday
Collingwood v Sydney (MCG)

6 day break.
I'm totally against deliberately losing but seriously though if Adelaide win tomorrow night we might as well lose. Would be a better outcome playing in Melbourne than in Adelaide off a 6 day break. Yes i know we played and beat Adelaide on their home turf but that was then, this is now.

C'mon Doggies.
(how much you wanna bet Adelaide will play their best game yet.)

 

[batfink]

Now that Freo have beaten the Collywobbles
​

Adelaide and Sydney win we play Sydney in Melb
Adel and Brisbane win we play Coll in Melb
Dogs and Syd win we play Coll in Melb
Dogs and Bris win we play Syd in Melb
As long as we beat Ess we play in Melb

 

[dg102]

Freo almost beat Richmond in Melb with out Pav. I was listening to the game. They played better with out him. No Kidding Id be backing Freo over there.

hehe can i pick em or what.... Ill be praying for WB to beat ADE now. Then we dont have to worry about GEE till the GF

 

[IluvHarvey]

Week 1 finals preference.............................we win!!!!!