What do you think it will take for us to win the flag this year?

[mick06]

We need to get 2 home finals. If we arent good enough to earn one we might get lucky and play freo as the away team.

 

[MWPP]

We need to get 2 home finals. If we arent good enough to earn one we might get lucky and play freo as the away team.

Obviously not a serious post given where freo are at...

But the pre-finals bye /playing 1 game in 3 weeks has the momentum to be a big momentum killer for the QF winners . So it could be an interesting finals series

 

[PerthBoy86]

To answer the OP, basically we need to be more competitive and efficient in the contests against the better sides.

We need to make better use of Naitanui's abilities and this means developing our inside midfield nous. In other words, we need a player in there who has the skill set of someone like Hannebery. We have a number of mids who, when combined, have his skill set, but individually they do not. We are therefore less efficient (high hitouts to advantage with fewer clearances that are often of a poorer quality than those by the Hawks/Swans/Cats/Dogs/Giants) at stoppages and when contesting a ground ball.

Given our personnel, I don't see this changing any time soon. Sheed? It'll be great to see him back, but I'm not expecting him to fix this deficiency alone.

Some more fluid, bold attacking footy from the halfback line (again, against better teams) wouldn't go astray. We looked stifled and scared against the Hawks at the MCG, which is worrying considering the extra width of the ground should've allowed for more space for players to run into.

I'm just hoping we play at our best (read: shake the "mental demons") when it matters most, and over a long season you never know what could happen.

Not expecting us to be top 4 so I'll be pleasantly surprised if it happens.

Listen to me: "we" need to do this and that. Used to bug my non-footy friends at school like us footy fans would talk as if we actually played in the team. Obviously not just a fan

Yeah I agree, more rover type crumbers to gather the contested footy. We could be harder at the footy. Our midfield is still a far cry from the mid 00s. We have decent midfielders, but few premier ones. Priddis will still be important.

I think with Hawthorn, confidence is a big one, we're still a young team, and don't have a lot of finals experience compared to the likes of the Hawks, Swans.etc.

Yeah I'd like to think in a way the team is more than the blokes on the ground haha.

 

[PerthBoy86]

For having such an ordinary season, we flog Gold Coast and we'll most likely be top 4 after this week. Other top teams have dropped games to each other (see GWS/Adelaide) so it'll be a pretty tight top 6 you would have thought.

Easy run home, rest up over the bye and if we hit some form at the pointy end of the season we could find ourselves in equally as good a position as last year, except less chance of playing Hawthorn in a GF. I'm quietly confident about this season...

If we beat GC and the Bulldogs win we'll be 5th. With a bit of luck we'll be in the top 4 by mid-season, but the top 4 look pretty good. I think we need to be competitive against the top sides to really have a shot.

I'm hoping that Hawthorn do not finish top 4, that would help us quite a bit, but as Hawthorn have shown, they could probably finish 8th and people still wouldn't write them off. But Hawthorn in late 2015-2016 aren't quite the Hawthorn of 2014.

 

[wraglesweb]

If we beat GC and the Bulldogs win we'll be 5th. With a bit of luck we'll be in the top 4 by mid-season, but the top 4 look pretty good. I think we need to be competitive against the top sides to really have a shot.

I'm hoping that Hawthorn do not finish top 4, that would help us quite a bit, but as Hawthorn have shown, they could probably finish 8th and people still wouldn't write them off. But Hawthorn in late 2015-2016 aren't quite the Hawthorn of 2014.

Edwards

 

[The Gov]

If we beat GC and the Bulldogs win we'll be 5th. With a bit of luck we'll be in the top 4 by mid-season, but the top 4 look pretty good. I think we need to be competitive against the top sides to really have a shot.

I'm hoping that Hawthorn do not finish top 4, that would help us quite a bit, but as Hawthorn have shown, they could probably finish 8th and people still wouldn't write them off. But Hawthorn in late 2015-2016 aren't quite the Hawthorn of 2014.

If we absolutely pump the living shit out of GC we could find ourselves as high as third after this round, with slight percentage and a win off top two. Not sure we deserve to be this close but hey I'll take it

 

[Matele]

Just don't lose to Carlton

 

[dave123]

Geelong loss helps

Would live to see pies win v Bulldogs

Then top 4 is ours after this week but bigger picture going forward is simple

We must win at home ....and beat teams we should beat away ...

Every win is golden this year ...we can't take teams lightly ...I watched most of the game today and Geelong (yeah missus away and having a couch day) and Geelong paid zero respect to Carlton

 

[kid_a]

A lil bit 'o luck and a whole lotta hard work

 

[SpaceClef]

Still so early to be thinking about other team's wins and losses.

 

[boondy]

Who's Edwards?

By naming Edwards in defense will be a tactical mastermind . Think about it . Its brilliant

 

[eaglesnutcase]

By naming Edwards in defense will be a tactical mastermind . Think about it . Its brilliant

A miracle!!!And FYI; Edwards is definitely not AFL ready!

 

[Chris_6678]

Not sure where to mention this but there is talk of the Crows v WCE playing on a Monday just before the finals. I think this works well for us in that we get a 9 day break from the previous game v the Hawks and then 10 or so days before the finals for our next game. This will be handy to freshen up some of the senior players before finals.

 

[Mancey]

Jesus this totally confirms we can't blame injuries on our sluggish efforts this season

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-07-14/winners-and-losers-on-the-2016-injury-ladder

We have only suffered one game ending injury to a player this year. 1!

 

[flamingEMBERS]

Jesus this totally confirms we can't blame injuries on our sluggish efforts this season

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-07-14/winners-and-losers-on-the-2016-injury-ladder

We have only suffered one game ending injury to a player this year. 1!

I blame this for our season. We cant get the spuds out of the team!

 

[West Coast 06]

Really have to hand it to our fitness / medical staff this year, we are usually bemoaning their uselessness.

(Touches every piece of wood in sight!)

 

[westcoastin]

Not sure where to mention this but there is talk of the Crows v WCE playing on a Monday just before the finals. I think this works well for us in that we get a 9 day break from the previous game v the Hawks and then 10 or so days before the finals for our next game. This will be handy to freshen up some of the senior players before finals.

This does not work well for the travel plans I have already made for the game! Flights etc. I'm sure there are others in the same boat. Also, it's a school night in Adelaide. WTF!? Bloody TV rights!!!
But yes, probably good for the team.

 

[frenchconnection]

Really have to hand it to our fitness / medical staff this year, we are usually bemoaning their uselessness.

(Touches every piece of wood in sight!)

I'm glad you made that last comment - you had me worried!

 

[eagles rule]

It would take a ****ing miracle just to make it to the G/F let alone win it.

 

[frenchconnection]

It would take a ******* miracle just to make it to the G/F let alone win it.

This!!

 

[Biggie]

I have us finishing 7th with a trip to Geelong for an Elimination final.

 

[PerthBoy86]

Just don't lose to Carlton

Disappointing game overall, Darling's accuracy was atrocious, but Carlton gave us the yips. We didn't play with authority. It was more than the MCG hoodoo, the fadeout in the last quarter had shades of last week. The annoying Fox Footy Commentators hyperventilating every time Carlton got it out of their half back didn't help things...(not that the players can hear them, of course, but for my nerves/patience). Darling just needs to really learn to practice his goal kicking. And what happened to the Priddis of old?

But at least it helps we did win at the MCG...but we should've won by at least 24-30 points.

 

[PerthBoy86]

Geelong have shown chinks in their armour, but I just can't see us winning against them at Skilled. If we get the home final we have a chance against anyone. Top 2 is unlikely but not impossible.

 

[Figure09]

Hahahaha in their dreams

 

[Matele]

Disappointing game overall, Darling's accuracy was atrocious, but Carlton gave us the yips. We didn't play with authority. It was more than the MCG hoodoo, the fadeout in the last quarter had shades of last week. The annoying Fox Footy Commentators hyperventilating every time Carlton got it out of their half back didn't help things...(not that the players can hear them, of course, but for my nerves/patience). Darling just needs to really learn to practice his goal kicking. And what happened to the Priddis of old?

But at least it helps we did win at the MCG...but we should've won by at least 24-30 points.

I'm really confused as to why you quoted a post I made nearly 2 months ago? I think it was in reference to the Carlton win V Geelong too..