Best results this week - in the event of a Swans win

[Charlie]

BRISBANE to beat Port Adelaide - Will allow us to stay ahead of Brisbane while being able to draw level on points with Port Adelaide.

HAWTHORN to beat West Coast - Very unlikely to happen, but would allow us some breathing room against the Eagles... perhaps even enough to hold our spot above them for the year.

CARLTON to beat Collingwood - Again, unlikely to happen, it would have a two-fold benefit. As well as putting some distance between us and them, it would make a top 6 spot that much harder for the 'Pies... this would mean they'd be more likely to travel in their first week, and hopefully they'll bomb out before the MCC rule could help them.

ADELAIDE to beat St Kilda - I know most of you will be saying "What the hell?" but I think I'd rather the Crows win this one. Lose it, and suddenly they're desperate for a win to stay in touch with the top four, as this is probably their easiest game. I'd prefer them to be a little complacent and hopefully weary against us next week. With Adelaide, it's better if we put the distance between us and them ourselves.

MELBOURNE to beat Essendon - Would much rather have Freo in the top 8 over Essendon any day. Essendon are always capable of coming out firing, as we say on Saturday night, and Freo aren't going to have the MCC rule to fall back on, will they?

KANGAROOS to beat Geelong - I'd prefer to have the Hawks or 'Roos in the eight over Essendon, who as I said are very good on their day.

BULLDOGS to beat Richmond - Just so that Carlton can win another wooden spoon...

[Charlie]

BTW, this would be the ladder in this scenario:

Port Adelaide 48
Sydney 48
Brisbane 46
Adelaide 44
West Coast 42
Collingwood 40
Fremantle 40
Kangaroos 38
Hawthorn 36
Essendon 32
St Kilda 28
Richmond 24
Geelong 20
Melbourne 20
Carlton 20
Bulldogs 14

[Swansinger]

As our fate is in our own hands , I'm not fussed about results in other games.

Agreed Essendon are improving and it'd be nice to keep them out of the eight.
Can't agree with your wishes for the Adelaide game , though .
I'd like Saints to hammer them.

A team's result the previous week is subjected to a lot of dodgy psychology , which is usually the preserve of the coaches playing mindgames with their players - "Gee , they got beat last week , so they'll come out firing" seems to be a prevailing sentiment .
Sure a team can turn it around in one week , but I'd sooner play an Adelaide team going off the boil than one hitting top form against the Saints.

The truth is more like "they were poor last week and I can't see 'em going any better this week."
How come coaches never say this?
Or even "they played well last week so obviously they're due for a loss this week"?
Because they have to pull out all the stops to prevent complacency.

[Craig]

Without being negative, this Sunday is a danger game. If we have an off day on Sunday and then lose to Adelaide, we may find ourselves just hanging in the 8.

I can see why Roos doesn't want to comment on the 8 as it's quite possible we will struggle to make it if we lose to Freo.

On the upside, if we beat Freo it makes life a lot easier and gives us some confidence going into the Adelaide game.

[penga]

with more and more injuries to brizzy, i think that our game against them at the gabba is looking better by the week