Preview Who will finish higher - Melbourne, Western Bulldogs, St Kilda or Hawthorn

[Strapping Young Lad]

You didn't like the numbers first time around and I don't expect you to like them now. But since you posted a response while I was suspended, it's only fair to point it out when subsequent results support my contention. I really should do it more often.

Mate, I don’t care about the numbers because they don’t mean as much as you think they do.

Actual match play stats >>>>> extrapolated thoughts from player ages

 

[Ron The Bear]

Mate, I don’t care about the numbers because they don’t mean as much as you think they do.

Actual match play stats >>>>> extrapolated thoughts from player ages

Do you think the Hawks can contend in 2019 with this list, plus a few 18yo draftees, less retirements?

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Do you think the Hawks can contend in 2019 with this list, plus a few 18yo draftees, less retirements?

No, not with this list, but again, that has less to do with age and more to do with actual output.

 

[Ron The Bear]

No, not with this list, but again, that has less to do with age and more to do with actual output.

Hawthorn's output is no longer commensurate with its age? Agree with that.

Could put up some figures demonstrating the decline in performance when teams drop in age from one season to the next, but you'd just dismiss it.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Hawthorn's output is no longer commensurate with its age? Agree with that.

Could put up some figures demonstrating the decline in performance when teams drop in age from one season to the next, but you'd just dismiss it.

Of course I would, because as I keep saying, age is just a number. It has no strict bearing or impact on game day statistics.

 

[Pessimistic]

Melbourne

 

[projectv]

Of those 4 at the moment I'd say Hawthorn, easily.

 

[Bazza97]

Think both Melbourne and Hawthorn will make finals from here. The ladder finish will be interesting and I reckon Hawthorn are a good chance to finish above us by the end of the H&A season.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Think both Melbourne and Hawthorn will make finals from here. The ladder finish will be interesting and I reckon Hawthorn are a good chance to finish above us by the end of the H&A season.

Won’t be at all surprised to see us knock off the cats and then lose to Saints.

We are 50/50 to make finals, but its been a good effort without BigBoy, Sic and Cyril.

 

[Blackas87]

Won’t be at all surprised to see us knock off the cats and then lose to Saints.

We are 50/50 to make finals, but its been a good effort without BigBoy, Sic and Cyril.

You ain’t losing to the Saints

 

[Bazza97]

Won’t be at all surprised to see us knock off the cats and then lose to Saints.

We are 50/50 to make finals, but its been a good effort without BigBoy, Sic and Cyril.

I think if you guys beat Geelong this week, I'm leaning towards the Hawks winning their remaining two games and finishing in the top 4. I can't see us winning all of our remaining 3 games but I'm hoping we can win at least 2. Hawthorn IMO are more likely to win their 3 remaining games than Melbourne.

 

[Pessimistic]

If we can't beat Geelong and or Sydney, who themselves are on the fringes of the eight, we wont get far in the finals anyway.

The proviso on that is if BigBoy and Sicily return for finals, we are a more potent team

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

I think if you guys beat Geelong this week, I'm leaning towards the Hawks winning their remaining two games and finishing in the top 4. I can't see us winning all of our remaining 3 games but I'm hoping we can win at least 2. Hawthorn IMO are more likely to win their 3 remaining games than Melbourne.

It could play out so many ways.

Percentage will be key.

 

[00Stinger]

Can't believe that there was 117 trolls who voted for the Saints

 

[Deathly]

I said awhile ago Hawks should make the T4. I think they can win the next 3, Melbourne I only have winning 1, bit harder run home. Do it Hawks, make football great again.

 

[Bazza97]

It could play out so many ways.

Percentage will be key.

Agreed, should be a very exciting next few weeks to see how it all pans out.

 

[Trav 20]

I said awhile ago Hawks should make the T4. I think they can win the next 3, Melbourne I only have winning 1, bit harder run home.

I'm sure you're tipping 9 every week.

 

[WWSD]

I still think Hawthorn will finish bottom four in 2018. No youth, no good senior players and Clarkson doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing.

 

[Trav 20]

All j

I still think Hawthorn will finish bottom four in 2018. No youth, no good senior players and Clarkson doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing.

All jokes aside, has there ever been a worse year for top 4 sides ?

The AFL have got their wish with equalisation.

 

[Tulip]

Clarkson doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing.

Not the hottest take in the world, this.

This has been a bit of a s**t year for top teams. Can only really see the Tigers and maybe the Giants being able to compete with 09-11 era Collingwood/Geelong/St Kilda. The Hawthorn threepeat team would have walked this season.

 

[WWSD]

Not the hottest take in the world, this.

This has been a bit of a s**t year for top teams. Can only really see the Tigers and maybe the Giants being able to compete with 09-11 era Collingwood/Geelong/St Kilda. The Hawthorn threepeat team would have walked this season.

Yep I agree it’s not really an overly stong top eight this year. In saying that though if Hawthorn happened to face Richmond in a final, you never know what can happen.

Hawthorn are 7 wins and 2 losses at the MCG this year. If not for a 3rd gamer in Ben Ronke it could’ve easily been 8-1.

 

[Tulip]

Yep I agree it’s not really an overly stong top eight this year. In saying that though if Hawthorn happened to face Richmond in a final, you never know what can happen.

Hawthorn are 7 wins and 2 losses at the MCG this year. If not for a 3rd gamer in Ben Ronke it could’ve easily been 8-1.

I don't think the Hawks have the star power or staying power to give Richmond a shake 9/10 times, same goes for the Dees. Experience could be what gets them over the line, but I wouldn't think it'd be too likely.

 

[Bazza97]

Think Hawthorn are in a good position to make the top 4 after todays game. I reckon they'll win their remaining two games.

 

[wowlace]

Hawks have surprised. I never expected them to be this high up the ladder. Good on them. Clarko still earning his living.

 

[hk89]

Poll pretty accurate in the end (although Hawthorn were third at the start of the season, and only the late votes once it looked like we might make the 8 and doggies would not got us ahead of the bulldogs).

Statistically Melbourne look like a top 4 side in most measures except games won, but managed to forge a new form of mental fragility. Have gone from losing the ones they should win, to getting into winning positions in games where they are not favourite but then falling over in the last quarter when the pressure is on. Probably progress. Can definitely do some damage in finals, and just being there might give then a new level of confidence. If they can get the mental aspect right, they have a list that are very capable of going a long way in finals.

Amazing turnaround for Clarkson's team, perhaps best chance at coach of the year award yet. Might need to win at least one final to seal it though, as it is hard to give coach of the year to a team which goes out in straight sets, which given the evenness (and likely first week matchup against Tigers) is quite a possible outcome. Make a prelim and he'd be pretty hard to go past, although Simspon and/or Buckley making a GF would make it close.

Seems doggies will be heading in the right direction next year. Still think saints should have done much better. Need a thorough review of the footy department, as list can't surely be as bad as their ladder positions suggests.