Prediction Why won't we win the 2019 flag?

[Gugs9]

If your looking for a good comparison, Port in 2014 had a very similar situation to us this year.

They were top 4 most of the year and then slipped to 5th just before finals.

They belted richmond at home week 1, easily accounted for freo on the road in week 2 and got within a kick of hawks at the G in the prelim.

While difficult if we can get the ball rolling first week of finals at home, we certainly have the capability of winning back to back road finals (especially given we will likely get back to back 8 day breaks)

 

[Ishmael_]

Not to be an Eeyore, but I thought our season was essentially over after the Richmond game where realistically we lost top 2.

If we're being honest, it's nearly impossible to win from outside the top 2 if your club is based in WA. Freo got close in 2013, but that's it in over 20 years.

Unfortunately, it looked like the club felt it was all a bit too hard as well and played like it against Hawthorn.

So I go into this finals series with zero expectation and ready to take it one week at a time. I can't see us winning the premiership, indeed I think it's nearly impossible. But, I also said that about England in Leeds and then Ben Stokes happened, so clearly I know nothing.

 

[The wily weagle]

Simmo has stated it's changed from when the Head Coach gave the sprays and the assistants did the niceties to now the assistants give the sprays and Head Coach binds everyone together. I'm sure he gives some stern words but I don't know if I want him spraying everyone publicly.

Not sure if I am a fan of that stratagem personally.

Alistair Clarkson is the most successful coach of the modern era and is an expert at personally delivering a bake when needed.

I am just not sure Simpson actually has it in him to do so.

 

[flamingEMBERS]

Not sure if I am a fan of that stratagem personally.

Alistair Clarkson is the most successful coach of the modern era and is an expert at personally delivering a bake when needed.

I am just not sure Simpson actually has it in him to do so.

public bakes aren't the way to go anymore

 

[ioppolo]

Simpson doesn't appear to have that angry streak in him some coaches do. Doesn't need to go all Rocket Eade on everyone, but some authority wouldn't be lost.

 

[frenchconnection]

So much speculation last week about what we needed to do to make top 2 and then we lose and don't even make top 4.

I am refusing to look past Essendon.

Probably got a bit ahead of themselves instead of tackling the game at hand. You could tell though they weren't

Not to be an Eeyore, but I thought our season was essentially over after the Richmond game where realistically we lost top 2.

If we're being honest, it's nearly impossible to win from outside the top 2 if your club is based in WA. Freo got close in 2013, but that's it in over 20 years.

Unfortunately, it looked like the club felt it was all a bit too hard as well and played like it against Hawthorn.

So I go into this finals series with zero expectation and ready to take it one week at a time. I can't see us winning the premiership, indeed I think it's nearly impossible. But, I also said that about England in Leeds and then Ben Stokes happened, so clearly I know nothing.

how did the Bulldogs do it in 2016 - I know they played us at Subi in the 1st final, but what was their travel from there as they had to do it the hard way finishing 7th on the ladder (albeit only by percentage as so many teams in the top 8 finished on the same number of points, with only percentage separating each team). Also they got all their injured players back so many were fresh going into the finals.

 

[ME ME ME]

Probably got a bit ahead of themselves instead of tackling the game at hand. You could tell though they weren't

how did the Bulldogs do it in 2016 - I know they played us at Subi in the 1st final, but what was their travel from there as they had to do it the hard way finishing 7th on the ladder (albeit only by percentage as so many teams in the top 8 finished on the same number of points, with only percentage separating each team). Also they got all their injured players back so many were fresh going into the finals.

they lost to Fremantle in Matthew Pavlich's final game, and then they had to come back 2 weeks later. If it weren't for the week off, they would have lost because 5 or 6 of their stars would not have recovered on time.

So they travelled over to Subi, then MCG, then Spotless Stadium and back to the MCG when they beat Sydney.

So I guess anything is possible, but I have low expectations.

For us, we have a home game first up (god forbid we lose this one), and then 3 consecutive trips to the MCG assuming Richmond beat Brisbane and Host a Prelim

 

[Coasters7]

they lost to Fremantle in Matthew Pavlich's final game, and then they had to come back 2 weeks later. If it weren't for the week off, they would have lost because 5 or 6 of their stars would not have recovered on time.

So they travelled over to Subi, then MCG, then Spotless Stadium and back to the MCG when they beat Sydney.

So I guess anything is possible, but I have low expectations.

For us, we have a home game first up (god forbid we lose this one), and then 3 consecutive trips to the MCG assuming Richmond beat Brisbane and Host a Prelim

I think 3 MCG trips would be ideal, even if it does mean Richmond instead of Brisbane. Apart from the flight kms, it’ll just be the same setup every week and playing on a ground similar to Optus. We could honestly just set up camp over there if us and Richmond win next week. Just seems like a waste to have to come all the way back for a few days and have to turn around, multiple times. Would be a good opportunity to splash our cash, rent out one of the non finalist training grounds etc. But would never happen because VFL, and it’d be too much effort you’d think only for us to potentially be knocked out the following week.

 

[Balls In]

I think 3 MCG trips would be ideal, even if it does mean Richmond instead of Brisbane. Apart from the flight kms, it’ll just be the same setup every week and playing on a ground similar to Optus. We could honestly just set up camp over there if us and Richmond win next week. Just seems like a waste to have to come all the way back for a few days and have to turn around, multiple times. Would be a good opportunity to splash our cash, rent out one of the non finalist training grounds etc. But would never happen because VFL, and it’d be too much effort you’d think only for us to potentially be knocked out the following week.

Nah half these blokes have families and stuff, kids that go to schools. I think the repetition of playing at the MCG as a single venue means we could get into really nice routine. Hit run the pricks.

 

[campaigner___]

Not to be an Eeyore, but I thought our season was essentially over after the Richmond game where realistically we lost top 2.

If we're being honest, it's nearly impossible to win from outside the top 2 if your club is based in WA. Freo got close in 2013, but that's it in over 20 years.

Unfortunately, it looked like the club felt it was all a bit too hard as well and played like it against Hawthorn.

So I go into this finals series with zero expectation and ready to take it one week at a time. I can't see us winning the premiership, indeed I think it's nearly impossible. But, I also said that about England in Leeds and then Ben Stokes happened, so clearly I know nothing.

While i agree it's hard from outside top 2, i think the team west coast have are completely capable.

It seems like they've kinda given up. For anyone not at the hawks game, players were visibly flat around the ground. There was no energy and players looked disinterested.

 

[ME ME ME]

While i agree it's hard from outside top 2, i think the team west coast have are completely capable.

It seems like they've kinda given up. For anyone not at the hawks game, players were visibly flat around the ground. There was no energy and players looked disinterested.

That loss could be the kick up the ass that they need, realising that wins are not just gifted to them

 

[Rowan18]

While i agree it's hard from outside top 2, i think the team west coast have are completely capable.

It seems like they've kinda given up. For anyone not at the hawks game, players were visibly flat around the ground. There was no energy and players looked disinterested.

I felt that they were as shocked as the crowd and were feeding off the energy. Make no mistake, they knew exactly what a loss meant for premiership Hope's. I think that's what all the positive talk was about from Simmo, he has a difficult job instilling belief into the players over the next week.

Win big against essendon and it will help. Wk2 would be the killer though, if they could start of well then the belief would be there.

Conversely, start poorly against Essendon and that might be what breaks them.

 

[Royals]

we needed a shorter season

 

[ME ME ME]

I think the fixtures should be structured so that everyone plays each other once only. what happens if a team gets a lucky draw and plays gold coast twice and thrashes them and gets a big % boost?

 

[WCErevival]

public bakes aren't the way to go anymore

I'm surprised people still call for them. This isn't the 80s anymore. Yelling at someone rarely does anything in any working role apart from the yeller getting his frustration out.

 

[Chris_6678]

Not getting invited to Simmos for a BBQ is the ultimate punishment that does wonders for the club.

 

[campaigner___]

I felt that they were as shocked as the crowd and were feeding off the energy. Make no mistake, they knew exactly what a loss meant for premiership Hope's. I think that's what all the positive talk was about from Simmo, he has a difficult job instilling belief into the players over the next week.

Win big against essendon and it will help. Wk2 would be the killer though, if they could start of well then the belief would be there.

Conversely, start poorly against Essendon and that might be what breaks them.

It's crazy, up until halftime of the richmond game i thought b2b was on-track. 1.5 games later i'm decided who my backup team should be.

 

[oak79]

Hunger isn't really there this year. Sure we have won some close games this year, but you can't tell me that one of our teams from the past couple years wouldn't have won last weeks game with a top 4 spot on the line.

Yeh I can - We got smashed by Melbourne - in Perth - with a top 2 spot, and potentially a top 4 spot, on the line in round 22 last year. In both cases (Dees, Hawks) needed to win to make the 8.

 

[Max zero]

Simmo has stated it's changed from when the Head Coach gave the sprays and the assistants did the niceties to now the assistants give the sprays and Head Coach binds everyone together. I'm sure he gives some stern words but I don't know if I want him spraying everyone publicly.

I could just imagine: "Nathan (Van Berlo) could you tell the midfield they are a bunch of useless pricks and pull the finger out! Thanks."

 

[Rowan18]

It's crazy, up until halftime of the richmond game i thought b2b was on-track. 1.5 games later i'm decided who my backup team should be.

Yep - my mates and I were talking about flights and how we could get GF tickets during the first half of that Richmond game. Now, I'll be delighted if we make it to a prelim! Just goes to show how tight the season is getting. Unfortunately, the closer the comp gets, the more the inequalities around fixture (both who you play twice and where you play them) can impact significantly.

 

[Tom_Thumb]

Wont even win next week.

 

[ep2018]

Can you imagine how much shittier this whole situation would have been had we lost the GF last year? Then again, perhaps the hunger of missing out would prevent us being here altogether.

 

[ioppolo]

Can you imagine how much s**ttier this whole situation would have been had we lost the GF last year? Then again, perhaps the hunger of missing out would prevent us being here altogether.

Meh, teams who lose grand finals are pretty much 50/50 to either rally up for another go, or completely shit the bed. Imagine being Adelaide right now or Port after 2007

 

[Forward Press]

Simpson doesn't appear to have that angry streak in him some coaches do. Doesn't need to go all Rocket Eade on everyone, but some authority wouldn't be lost.

Why would he need to?

FFS his willingness to go into bat in public for every player and brushing off all media scrutiny netted us a flag last year. A couple of bad weeks and suddenly it's time to change coaches and delist half of the first 22 it seems.

 

[eaglesfan84]

It seems like they've kinda given up. For anyone not at the hawks game, players were visibly flat around the ground. There was no energy and players looked disinterested.

Don't say that, you can't say that, you're only a part time supporter if you say that, you can only say positive things even if they're not true