Better for Eagles or Crows to Lose?

[Go Swannies]

As we will be playing the loser of the Eagles-Crows game, what result should we hope for here? If the Eagles lose, it'll be their first loss at Subi in more than 20 games and may leave them feeling a bit vulnerable to the team that rolled them in the finals last year. If the Crows lose, they'll be coming back across the Nullarbor, after a loss to face a team that outplayed them (mainly) at AAMI a few weeks ago.

Looking the other way, if the Eagles win Subi will remain their fortress. If the Crows will, they'll have had such a run of wins that they'll feel invulnerable.

Or are we playing so well that we have no reason to fear either?

Ignoring the last option, I'm genuinely undecided on who I want to play in the QF.

[ScottH]

I think Crows would be a better option. We have won @ AAMI in finals (2003), we know we should of beaten the crows a month ago. And our form has improced greatly since then.

The Eagles would be a tough task, coming off a loss. I think they would be a more determined team than the Crows, to make up for the loss, since they have been the league standard for most of this year.

[monopoly19]

We may not be playing the loser of AvWC if we lose to Hawthorn (stranger things have happened) and Saints beat Brisbane. In either case, I think we have a better first up chance of winning at AAMI, but if we happen to lose that game (a good chance of this) we'd play a prelim at Subiaco. It's a no-win situation, unless we win first up of course.

[Go Swannies]

If we lose to the Hawks and the Saints win, then we'll play the winner of the game. The other side of the coin. And then we'd be coming off a loss, playing a winner.

[j s]

I think I'm with Scott on this but I'm certainly not sure!

The only thing I am sure of is that we really need to win the QF. The home PF is the key to getting to the GF. Going the other way is (at least) four times harder.

Win the first week and we would only have to play the "winner" (before the GF) if they also lose to the Saints (which right now seems unlikely). We all know this already of course.

Lose and we not only have to play an EF (at least it will be at home) but then play the QF away.

[Go Swannies]

But probably that PF would be in Melbourne and probably against a team we've already beaten.

[ScottH]

Originally posted by Go Swannies
But probably that PF would be in Melbourne and probably against a team we've already beaten.

PF would only be in Melb if we lose, week one, and end up playing a Melb/Vic team, wouldn't it???

[Thunder Shaker]

Originally posted by ScottH
PF would only be in Melb if we lose, week one, and end up playing a Melb/Vic team, wouldn't it???

If there's a prelim in Melbourne, it must be against the Saints.

I think Adelaide are more vulnerable. Adelaide are due for a loss, and that will probably come when they go to the Fortress.

Win or lose, a qualifying final in Adelaide in the first week would be ideal. We would have a psychological edge as a result of the 2003 final there. There would also be a measure of revenge as motivation. Don't forget that Paul Roos' last game was a losing semi-final against the Crows in 1998.

How sweet it would be if we twonked the Crows at home in week 1 and went on to win the flag against the Eagles.

[Sanecow]

I would like Adelaide to begin the losing habit this weekend. West Coast have already begun in the last five games.

[giant]

I just keep thinking about those 20 games theyve won in a row at Subi. Even if that streak gets beaten this week, it's a heluva hurdle to overcome week 1 of the finals.

So, unselfishly (given I'll actually be in Perth), I'd prefer to see a Crows final at AAMI. Gotta win that 1st final if you're gonna win the flag.

[Go Swannies]

Originally posted by giant
I just keep thinking about those 20 games theyve won in a row at Subi. Even if that streak gets beaten this week, it's a heluva hurdle to overcome week 1 of the finals.

So, unselfishly (given I'll actually be in Perth), I'd prefer to see a Crows final at AAMI. Gotta win that 1st final if you're gonna win the flag.

Hey Giant - looks like we may be able to catch up for a beer in WA! (Just bought a ticket to Perth for week 1 - I hope I don't have to change it to week 3.)

[sharpie]

Playing the odds, I would prefer to play the Crows in week 1. Surely we couldnt lose to them 3 times in a row all in the one season?

[Rod_]

Won't matter in the finals I would doubt that it matters who you play. Every team will go at 110% and you have to win.

Either way we are away and would want to win. (Want the week off)

Beat the Weagles in the first week would be better than to try and beat them in the 3rd week of the finals.

Rod_

[SXP]

Agree 100%. No matter who they play, they have to win to avoid travelling 3rd week playing PF interstate.

[giant]

Originally posted by Go Swannies
Hey Giant - looks like we may be able to catch up for a beer in WA! (Just bought a ticket to Perth for week 1 - I hope I don't have to change it to week 3.)

If I can find suitable arrangements for the sprogs I'm certainly up for finding appropriate Western Suburbs venue for cheer-cheering.

That is of course, unless I'm madly scrambling to get a ticket for the game itself.

If it's at Adelaide, it will be shame if it's a night game as that really detracted from the quality of the footy when we played there recently. You would think it would make more sense to be playing the Friday night game in Melbourne?

The other aspect of playing week 1 at Subi is the old Curse of the Nullabor! Doesn't seem so prevalent this season but it was only a couple of years ago that no team won after playing the previous week in Perth.