Can Swans make Finals?

[hot potato]

It will be fascinating to see if Bombers clumsy oration to the converted at their 150th will do the trick, "What will happen here?" and also Tim Watson's assertion on his morning radio show that GAJ is playing to win a Charlie.

The Cats are either ripe to be eaten tonite or they will blow us out of the water. We can toy with the former and enjoy the anticipation, and WILL the Swans to win.

HP

[Lohengrin]

The hawks' loss tonight now makes it increasingly likely that 10 wins will be enough. The main contingency is whether Carlton beat the Pahhhhhr this weekend. If they do, it's virtually set-- we only need 2 from the last 3 (which should maintain our percentage buffer) to make it. Given that even mad dogs and English cricket selectors would struggle to like us vs the Woods, that means this weekend is a grand final.

Elimination final (although strictly speaking it's a qualifying final).

[Lohengrin]

Da-dumm!

But that's why it was a qualifying final as we're still not done.

Each of the next two become elimination finals now.

Win those and if Port and Essendon win only one of the next three (definitely a possibility) then we'll be in.

Theoretically we could still make it with 9 wins, but need Port and Ess to lose all their remaining games and Haw to win just one (highly unlikely consider we'd be relying on Rich to beat Haw and North to beat Port at AAMI).

[annew]

Da-dumm!

But that's why it was a qualifying final as we're still not done.

Each of the next two become elimination finals now.

Win those and if Port and Essendon win only one of the next three (definitely a possibility) then we'll be in.

Theoretically we could still make it with 9 wins, but need Port and Ess to lose all their remaining games and Haw to win just one (highly unlikely consider we'd be relying on Rich to beat Haw and North to beat Port at AAMI).

Personally I think Port will be the 8th team but also Hawthorn only play Richmond next week - definite Hawthorn win and could then be playing for 8th spot against Essendon. Difference is I don't think Hawthorn want the 8th spot as they would know they couldn't go any further and probably want a higher draft pick than 8th spot anyway. How hard would it be for the Swans to face up against another top team after 2 near misses?

[laughingnome]

AS IT STANDS:

8 - Essendon 9-1-10 99.4% Fremantle (a), Hawthorn (a)
9 - Port Adelaide 9-11 88.6% Brisbane (a), North Melbourne (h)
10 - Sydney 8-12 95.0% Collingwood (a), Brisbane (h)
11 - Hawthorn 8-12 90.4% Richmond (h), Essendon (h)
12 - West Coast 7-13 92.3% Adelaide (a), Richmond (h)


WHAT CAN HAPPEN:
Essendon will keep 8th spot provided they win more games then Port and maintain a healthy percentage over Sydney and Hawthorn if it comes to that. They can drop both games, Freo are better at home then away and injuries could hit Essendon hard over the last rounds.

Sydney requires Essendon to drop both games, Port to drop one - Brisbane at the Gabba looks a good bet - and WIN BOTH REMAINING GAMES. A large task, but possible. If Sydney can't do it, I'm tipping Hawthorn to storm over everone and make the 8.

West Coast will lose to Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, assuring that we will finish above them this year if we don't get blown away by both Collingwood and Brisbane.

[hot potato]

Thanks Gnome, I was hoping you would construct that for us. Well it's still a very remote possibility then. Something to look forward to, as well as some good exciting footy from the Swans.

HP

[Go Swannies]

Thanks Gnome but I see it that the Bombers ended our season last night as they are a game and a half ahead of us. The eighth spot is theirs for the losing - and their next game is Freo. But I was still cheering them home last night - like ours, it was a great game. And it was so sweet that Roo missing after the siren cost the Saints the game.

Williams is right - Port don't deserve to be there.

We're doing a brave finish to a poor season so neither do we. But next year is looking so exciting. And am I the only one thinking we may miss Magic a lot more than Baz?

[Bloody Hell]

Quite simply we've been routed by the draw. If you go back to threads from the start of the season regarding the draw, they will reflect this. All the teams we are playing were expected to be powers this season - and we played the hard teams twice...the easy teams once. @@@@ YOU AFL!!!!

[Cardinal]

[QUOTE=Go Swannies;454175]Thanks Gnome but I see it that the Bombers ended our season last night as they are a game and a half ahead of us. The eighth spot is theirs for the losing - and their next game is Freo. But I was still cheering them home last night - like ours, it was a great game. And it was so sweet that Roo missing after the siren cost the Saints the game.

QUOTE]

I wasn't cheering the Bombers home. I was willing the Saints all the way. I wish they'd fallen short against us like that.

Freo will win next week - it's the Hawks I'm worried about. Good news is is that if we are still a chance in the last week to make the 8, then the Hawks will probably be to and will have an incentive to win.

[Plugger46]

Thanks Gnome but I see it that the Bombers ended our season last night as they are a game and a half ahead of us. The eighth spot is theirs for the losing - and their next game is Freo. But I was still cheering them home last night - like ours, it was a great game. And it was so sweet that Roo missing after the siren cost the Saints the game.

Williams is right - Port don't deserve to be there.

We're doing a brave finish to a poor season so neither do we. But next year is looking so exciting. And am I the only one thinking we may miss Magic a lot more than Baz?

Why on earth were you cheering the Bombers home, give the finals situation?

[Go Swannies]

Why on earth were you cheering the Bombers home, give the finals situation?

Do you see us doing much in September even if we did limp into 8th? And yes I dislike the Saints that much. Also good to see the underdog get up.

[Lohengrin]

I wasn't cheering the Bombers home. I was willing the Saints all the way. I wish they'd fallen short against us like that.

They might have if we'd opened up a 7 goal break.

[Plugger46]

Do you see us doing much in September even if we did limp into 8th? And yes I dislike the Saints that much. Also good to see the underdog get up.

Given the way we're playing at the moment, we'd certainly be capable of winning an elimination final. We're not limping at the moment, we're playing the best footy we've played all year.

Wouldn't go any further than week 2 but still, I'd love to be there.

[Jewels]

Quite simply we've been routed by the draw. If you go back to threads from the start of the season regarding the draw, they will reflect this. All the teams we are playing were expected to be powers this season - and we played the hard teams twice...the easy teams once. @@@@ YOU AFL!!!!

Spot on BH. This years draw seemed very strange. Carlton and St Kilda had exceptionally easy draws whilst the likes of us, WC and Dees had it very tough.
Add to that the loss of three from our list before the season started and the incredible injuries we've had and we've done very well to still be fighting it out for a finals berth so late in the season.

I felt like a knife went through my heart when bloody Reiwoldt missed that goal. I hate St Kilda and always pray for them to lose, the one damn time I want them to win.......

[Cardinal]

They might have if we'd opened up a 7 goal break.

Ha Ha - I would have settled for 7 points in that last quarter