Final 8 Settled

[punter257]

The problem is not so much that the top 8 is finalised (which by the way it is far from cemented) but that the TOP 4 looks pretty much out of the Swans reach unless - Port or West Coast have a dramatic for reversal.

To make up 2 games from only 5 remaining is a little too much - regardless of what the players or club keeps putting out in the media.

yep exactly

all we have to do is keep winning and hope results fall our way

[NMWBloods]

yep exactly

all we have to do is keep winning and hope results fall our way

Which we do every year and why those early losses are so disappointing every year.

[hammo]

To make up 2 games from only 5 remaining is a little too much - regardless of what the players or club keeps putting out in the media.

It's not without hope.

We need to sneak into either Port or the Kangaroos position. I doubt West Coast will lose 2 games now.

Port still have the Crows, Hawthorn, Geelong and Freo and what I would label just one gimme against Carlton.

The Roos have the Lions, West Coast, Geelong and the Bulldogs with a gimme also against Carlton.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Roos lose their next 3 games.

But as NMWBloods said, Swans only have themselves to blame for their poor starts.

[originalswan]

It's not without hope.

We need to sneak into either Port or the Kangaroos position. I doubt West Coast will lose 2 games now.

Port still have the Crows, Hawthorn, Geelong and Freo and what I would label just one gimme against Carlton.

The Roos have the Lions, West Coast, Geelong and the Bulldogs with a gimme also against Carlton.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Roos lose their next 3 games.
But as NMWBloods said, Swans only have themselves to blame for their poor starts.

That's what people have been saying all year, and they're yet to crack.

I think we have to accept that the Kangaroos have crept up on everyone and are a genuine threat this campaign, and simply are too far in front of the Swans and possibly a better team (as ladder position indicates).

On the plus side they haven't really had their form slump (mandatory for most teams) during the season but simply have too much on the scoreboard.

West Coast and Port are the only real possibles?

[swantastic]

1 Cats
2 Weegirls
3 Swans(let me dream)
4 Roos
5 Port
6 Hawks
7 Pies
8 Lions

[NMWBloods]

I think we have to accept that the Kangaroos have crept up on everyone and are a genuine threat this campaign

And evidence of the effectiveness of the long game!

[swantastic]

And evidence of the effectiveness of the long game!

So's the short chipping game,the Swans are testament to that 2 GF's cant be bad.

[liz]

And evidence of the effectiveness of the long game!

Evidence of the effectiveness of retiring a handful of your best players a month before the end of the season so that you can get a significantly longer pre-season into many of your players than those who go deep into the finals. Given the evenness of the quality of most club lists, I don't think it is coincidence that many of the teams looking the goods at the moment didn't play in the finals last season.

The Roos and Cats are certainly showing no signs of cracking yet. Will be interesting to see, though, if they can sustain their power running right until the end of September, or if the length of their season will eventually show signs of catching up with them.

[Industrial Fan]

I can only really see one of: Lions, Saints, Bulldogs or Adelaide sneaking into the 8 at the expense of Essendon. At a stretch, the Hawks are the only other team I could see missing out.

Adelaide look gone though, as do Bulldogs. Lions have a tough draw, so that probably only leaves the Saints Bummers switch.

The bummers have got across the line in some close ones, but they'll need more than just turd and sheedy finishing this year to make it.

Freo I dont rate as a serious chance. They will be done either this round against weagles, or against St Kilda. They are a chance to win a few against the tide, but not a realistic chance for the finals.

I think Richmond could spring a surprise by winning a game or two.

[Bloody Hell]

The eight is far from settled! 12 teams are still in contention - Adelaide in 12th on 8-9 being the lowest-placed team that can still make it. I can't see Essendon dropping out with all the emotion surrounding Sheedy. I don't think we will drop out either, though there is a real chance of us being finals fodder at 7th or 8th. I think if we make it, Brisbane and the Saints will probably miss out, since we would need to beat them to be assured of our spot.

Do you seriously think on current form with 5 weeks to go Adelaide will make the 8?

My final 8:

1 Geelong
2 West Coast
3 Kangaroos
4 Sydney
5 Port Adelaide
6 Hawthorn
7 Collingwood
8 Essendon

This is exactly the 8 that was first posted - How can the 8 be "far from settled"?

[Bloody Hell]

I can only really see one of: Lions, Saints, Bulldogs or Adelaide sneaking into the 8 at the expense of Essendon. At a stretch, the Hawks are the only other team I could see missing out.

Adelaide look gone though, as do Bulldogs. Lions have a tough draw, so that probably only leaves the Saints Bummers switch.

On form the only one to worry about outside the 8 would have to be the Lions. They have the worst run home...but looking at who they've beaten over the past few weeks (WC, Pies...lost to Port by 7), they're the only ones with a hope of winning any finals games. The rest will be first week losers.

I still think the Bombers will make it though (Sheedy, they've got the players etc). That draw against Richmond will hurt the Lions.

[Wardy]

well arden street looks like downtown iraq at the moment

i still give us a chance at the top 4 but a clearer indication of this will be presented when the final siren goes against the saints

plus it would be nice if the dockers beat the weagles and the crows beat port this weekend

You mean that the Eagles & Dockers along with the Crows and the Power belt the @@@@ out of each other local grudge derby style? the other 12 teams in the comp would prefer to see that!

If it ends up being a Geelong V Kangaroos Granny - get out the 3-d glasses - the horizontal v vertical stripes could give you a headache.

[reigning premier]

Far from settled....

And going on Hawthorn's current form, they could miss out all togther....

Don't believe me.. Have a look at their run home.....

Essendon Home MCG
Brisbane Lions Home MCG
Port Adelaide Home Aurora Stadium
Western Bulldogs Away Telstra Dome
Sydney Away SCG

[The Big Cat]

Things change

A month ago the Lions game looked like a definite win for us. Now it's going to be tough. A week ago Collingwood looked a tough assignment, after saturday it looks easier than the Lions. Who knows how form will fluctuate in the next few weeks and how games will look.

[Hazcam]

this has been the most interesting run home in a while IMO.. strap yourselves in because there are some crackerjack games coming up.

What I do know is the crowds will leave the NRL ones for dead.
parra v bulldogs in the nrl this friday is a blockbuster but wont get more than 40k.

in the AFL there's local derbies, geelong v kangas, swans v pies, essendon v richmond (sheedy's last mcg game possibly) which will all attract bumper crowds.