Prediction Why won't we win the 2019 flag?

[PerthBoy86]

Oh yeah definitely. That 5-10 minute surge was savage, our best is the best of any side. Just can't maintain it. How much of it is a fitness/conditioning thing and how much is effort?

Oh I was thinking 1st quarter vs Hawthorn, but yeah we were absolutely smashing them during those periods.

 

[Scotland]

2015 I thought we could maybe pinch it from 1st or 2nd. Made it to the GF, weren't good enough. That team playing a top opponent at the MCG vs Subiaco was still a big deal.

2018 I thought we were good enough to win it from the top 4 with playing Richmond in Melbourne the only thing we hadn't done and in the end we didn't need to.

2019 I see similarly to 2018. We're good enough to beat the top sides at the MCG but I don't think we're good enough to win 4 on the bounce with the last 3 in Melbourne or Melbourne-Brisbane-Melbourne. The Dogs did it, but with less travel. If we can beat Essendon then the week after vs Coll/Geel at the MCG will be tough, and the reward for winning that is a trip to the Gabba or playing Richmond in front of 90,000 YELLOW AND BLACK foamers.

 

[Rowan18]

If we get to the prelim it means either geelong or collingwood go out in straight sets. That would be a bigger story than eagles b2b.

Knocking Geelong out in straight sets would almost make up for missing top 4. It would be so good to send those whinging campaigners out, with them knowing full well they now need to trade one of their best mids to us (T Kelly).

 

[shooshka]

2015 I thought we could maybe pinch it from 1st or 2nd. Made it to the GF, weren't good enough. That team playing a top opponent at the MCG vs Subiaco was still a big deal.

2018 I thought we were good enough to win it from the top 4 with playing Richmond in Melbourne the only thing we hadn't done and in the end we didn't need to.

2019 I see similarly to 2018. We're good enough to beat the top sides at the MCG but I don't think we're good enough to win 4 on the bounce with the last 3 in Melbourne or Melbourne-Brisbane-Melbourne. The Dogs did it, but with less travel. If we can beat Essendon then the week after vs Coll/Geel at the MCG will be tough, and the reward for winning that is a trip to the Gabba or playing Richmond in front of 90,000 YELLOW AND BLACK foamers.

The only things that have me thinking we 'may' be able to handle the travel factor (and this is getting far to far ahead of ourselves as we need to beat the bombers first) is that we have had 3-weeks at home post-Richmond loss (Hawks, bye, bombers). That would be the longest (or equal) amount of time at home for the players over the season I'd guess?

Secondly, whilst the Thursday night is bad for supporters (and potentially for any players racing the clock to be fit) it will give us a guaranteed 8-day breaks should we win (against a team off a 7-day break). That 'should' be followed by another 8-day break if we were to win the next match. Then a 7-day break into a GF. Now not saying we win all those games - but the structure is there to be as kind as it can be considering we are an interstate team who finished 5th in the H&A rounds.

 

[ConcreteWaters]

Gonna be a reverse 2016- stumble late (2016 we stormed the last 3 games), nic back (lost nic on the eve of finals), premiership (vs bundled out first week)

 

[VicBased]

The thing is, after last year we know what is required mentally to win it. Every team this year has played us like it was their G.F so we are tired. BUT...and there is a but....Nic, Gaffy and Shep and a couple of others might just have that drive to get us over the line and lift everybody to the level required. Mindset is a huge thing and if we can acquire it again then we have the same opportunity as the other seven teams. Go Eagles!!!

 

[Coasters7]

2015 I thought we could maybe pinch it from 1st or 2nd. Made it to the GF, weren't good enough. That team playing a top opponent at the MCG vs Subiaco was still a big deal.

2018 I thought we were good enough to win it from the top 4 with playing Richmond in Melbourne the only thing we hadn't done and in the end we didn't need to.

2019 I see similarly to 2018. We're good enough to beat the top sides at the MCG but I don't think we're good enough to win 4 on the bounce with the last 3 in Melbourne or Melbourne-Brisbane-Melbourne. The Dogs did it, but with less travel. If we can beat Essendon then the week after vs Coll/Geel at the MCG will be tough, and the reward for winning that is a trip to the Gabba or playing Richmond in front of 90,000 YELLOW AND BLACK foamers.

Getting too far ahead but if we got to a prelim from here we’d be on a huge roll. Add to that we’d be underdogs (where we usually play our best) and I’d back us in to at least make a 50/50 out of it. Still nervous about Essendon this week though, I think whoever wins it wins by 30+.

 

[VicBased]

Getting too far ahead but if we got to a prelim from here we’d be on a huge roll. Add to that we’d be underdogs (where we usually play our best) and I’d back us in to at least make a 50/50 out of it. Still nervous about Essendon this week though, I think whoever wins it wins by 30+.

Let us not be shy and give em a right royal kicking....sorta like we did to good ol Melbourne in the finals. Make the comp shit themselves a little. Here's hoping that is the plan.

 

[Tom_Thumb]

To be candid here, we aint winning it. You know it and everyone outside the club knows it. Reality is hard and to think it could be another 12+ years for our next flag is very hard to grasp, I have toyed with giving up tipping, supercoach and following West Coast because I don't have another 12 to give, I hope i'm wrong.

 

[dkalphy]

To be candid here, we aint winning it. You know it and everyone outside the club knows it. Reality is hard and to think it could be another 12+ years for our next flag is very hard to grasp, I have toyed with giving up tipping, supercoach and following West Coast because I don't have another 12 to give, I hope i'm wrong.

relax

 

[BrotherDodge]

It's still doable. Travelling three weeks in a row is rough, but our record this year at home and away is basically the same. On any given day, on any ground, against any opponent, we can be the best team in the land or spectacularly shit the bed.

Week 1- Essendon are so crap they're a good argument for a final-six.
2- Geelong aren't in the form they were a few months ago and we can beat them at the G.
3- After that game a couple of weeks ago, I reckon we're the team Richmond least wants to play in a prelim.
I'm calling us vs the Pies in a GF rematch. And FWIW, if we have to lose to anyone I hope it's them. Everyone except Brayden Maynard was a class act after last year's game.

 

[Wild Kelly]

To be candid here, we aint winning it. You know it and everyone outside the club knows it. Reality is hard and to think it could be another 12+ years for our next flag is very hard to grasp, I have toyed with giving up tipping, supercoach and following West Coast because I don't have another 12 to give, I hope i'm wrong.

Sorry to hear that TT. Not cancer I hope. Just old age?

 

[TheGhostOfJohnBelushi]

To be candid here, we aint winning it. You know it and everyone outside the club knows it. Reality is hard and to think it could be another 12+ years for our next flag is very hard to grasp, I have toyed with giving up tipping, supercoach and following West Coast because I don't have another 12 to give, I hope i'm wrong.

FFS

 

[Eagleboy68]

Because we're ****ed

 

[RookiePick]

Finals the last 5 years.
2 grand finals
1 flag
Final won, after the siren, in extra time
2 rising star noms this year
7 players in the AA squad of 40 for 2019
3 AA for 2019

Fold this goddam, shitful, no future club.

ASAP

 

[West Coast 06]

To be candid here, we aint winning it. You know it and everyone outside the club knows it. Reality is hard and to think it could be another 12+ years for our next flag is very hard to grasp, I have toyed with giving up tipping, supercoach and following West Coast because I don't have another 12 to give, I hope i'm wrong.

You are making me want to neck myself.

 

[Tom_Thumb]

You are making me want to neck myself.

Narr its all good, have been seriously toying with the idea of scaling back my AFL interest due to it starting to influence my mood and increase anxiety. Just a personal thing no big deal.

 

[kerr87]

Finals the last 5 years.
2 grand finals
1 flag
Final won, after the siren, in extra time
2 rising star noms this year
7 players in the AA squad of 40 for 2019
3 AA for 2019

Fold this goddam, s**tful, no future club.

ASAP

Not good enough. Fold immediately.

 

[omarlittle1]

The best thing about us capitulating so spectacularly at the end of this season is that now my expectations are effectively zero. This means that everything from here is just a bonus. GF day last year was one of the best days of my life. We were all so lucky to experience it (especially actually being there).

We're statistically and historically highly unlikely to make the GF this year. So let's just ride the wave and see where it breaks.

 

[Astro7]

Yeh, it's not Mission Impossible, but highly improbable...a very, very tough gig.
With comparisons to past seasons and clubs making it from a similar position,
remember we now have equalisation and a very close comp, so it's not the same,
with quality teams at every hurdle.

If we used the excuses from the last two games of "coming off a hard slog against Crows then travel and big game against Tigers" or "coming off a bruising encounter against Tigers and we looked flat" or 'we lost a key tagger or were a man down on the bench" - then that's exactly what we'll encounter over the next 4 games!
If we couldn't do it then, why now?

Even if we make to the last trench, there's the travel and possible injuries sustained?
The questionable worth of NN's inclusion, will be revealed in this game.
Time to wheel out the cliches- Anything is possible. Never so never. Where there's a will there's a way.
BUT, we cling onto a glimmer of hope! (like a life-buoy in a heavy sea)
Positivity please...We can do It!!!

 

[Forward Press]

To be candid here, we aint winning it. You know it and everyone outside the club knows it. Reality is hard and to think it could be another 12+ years for our next flag is very hard to grasp, I have toyed with giving up tipping, supercoach and following West Coast because I don't have another 12 to give, I hope i'm wrong.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

 

[frenchconnection]

Unfortunately the boys stuffed it up during the season at different times by going into games not really switched on for whatever reason and we are where we are, 5th playing off in an elimination final! Remains to be seen what eventuates from hereon in, but history is against us particularly being an interstate side. To give ourselves the best chance we really needed to finish in the top 2

So IMO our backs are to the wall and we appear to have lost our mojo over the last three weeks (yes I'm including the Adelaide game as wouldn't say that win was convincing) so unless the boys can find their mojo again I'm not holding my breath in making the GF again, but of course I hope I'm wrong

Only time will tell so all I'm doing is taking it week by week and crossing all my fingers and toes.

 

[Priddis Is Done]

Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

That's a bit rough.

Of course miracles can happen but we are not winning it. A wasted year.

And who here doesn't have a bad loss affect aff3ct their weekend, year.

Good on the person realising and trying to take some time out.

 

[Avalor]

To be candid here, we aint winning it. You know it and everyone outside the club knows it. Reality is hard and to think it could be another 12+ years for our next flag is very hard to grasp, I have toyed with giving up tipping, supercoach and following West Coast because I don't have another 12 to give, I hope i'm wrong.

I am in your boat too. I am just so grateful for the 2018 victory. Hoping against hope we can snag another, this year or next.

 

[Forward Press]

That's a bit rough.

Of course miracles can happen but we are not winning it. A wasted year.

And who here doesn't have a bad loss affect aff3ct their weekend, year.

Good on the person realising and trying to take some time out.

There are 18 clubs, I can easily deal with going 12 years without a flag as long as we continue to contend. I've quickly gotten used to the idea that you cannot win flags every year. I rage on BigFooty after a bad game and then I go back to my normal life.

If you're suffering personally from following us because of 2019 not going to plan for back to back, then you need to take a long hard look at your life and take a break from AFL. It's sport, for entertainment. Talk to others, find other things to do, seek professional help if required. Perspective, people.