Top 2..Is it that essential?

[ernie koala]

Obviously finishing top 2 gives the advantage of a home qualifying final.

It also brings added pressure and expectation.

To finish 3 or 4 means traveling first week... as the underdog.

Less expectation and pressure, and you're still guaranteed a 2nd chance.

Swans are good underdogs...think back to 2003 and 2005.

Obviously finishing 1 or 2 is fantastic....but I'll be more than happy finishing 3 or 4.

[Nich]

I'll take top 2 anyday.

[TPR4]

Agree top 4 is bare minimum - we can still drop out if we don't jag a few wins, Carlton will be tougher this week than we'd hoped and Collingwood/Hawthorn/Geelong are cracking games. Top 2 is ideal, think of the difference of say Hawthorn at the G vs Homebush, Adelaide at AAMI/Homebush, Weagles at Subi/Homebush.. more than ever, the home final is a massive advantage. Couple this with the fact that some good sides will miss the 4, if we drop the qualifying final then the next knockout final is no guaranteed win. I don't think we need to be worrying about expectation or being the underdog. Get the wins we need, get the home finals we need. Home prelim is what we want to give us the best chance of making the big dance.

[ernie koala]

OK 2003 and 2005 are distant memories, but...we have a habit of winning unlikely games...ie Westcoast in Perth, Cats in Geelong, Hawks, in Tassie.

All three games we lost this year ...Tigers, Saints, Crows...we were favourites.

Look, I'm probably pissing in the wind.... But I know I'll be confident of an upset from 3 or 4, assuming we at least finish there.

3 of the next 5 are needed....one certainty..Doggies, next most likely....Blues....Then Wobbles...50/ 50...Hawks will be hard.... Cats..Scarlets' last game....really hard.

[Cheer Squad]

Obviously finishing 1 or 2 is fantastic....but I'll be more than happy finishing 3 or 4.

What a strange thing to say.

I doubt there'd be another club in the league with supporters who'd think like this.

[Doctor]

Top 2 is ideal but you can make it work from top 4 as long as you win away in the first week, like we did in 06.

[ernie koala]

What a strange thing to say.

I doubt there'd be another club in the league with supporters who'd think like this.

You've missed my point.

All I'm doing is looking at the draw, for the final 5 games, realistically.

IMO, 3rd of 4th looks the most likely for us...and if that transpires, I'm putting a positive spin on it.......comprehend-ah?

[Jewels]

You've missed my point.

All I'm doing is looking at the draw, for the final 5 games, realistically.

IMO, 3rd of 4th looks the most likely for us...and if that transpires, I'm putting a positive spin on it.......comprehend-ah?

I'm with you Ernie. With Adelaides draw and Hawthorns percentage I just can't see us being 1 or 2, it would be nice I just don't see it happening.
We won the thing from 3rd and came bloody close from 4th, no reason we can't repeat it this year.

[aardvark]

We won the thing from 3rd and came bloody close from 4th, no reason we can't repeat it this year.

Yep....when have we ever done things the easy way? 3rd or 4th it will be imo.

[snajik]

Thing is we have been crap on the mcg. I'd much rather play the first two finals in sydney, then worry about the G in the last week of the finals. Finishing 3 or 4 could potentially have us playing at the G on 3 occasions and that sounds messy.
The remaining five games are all winnable.

[Cheer Squad]

The remaining five games are all winnable.

That's the sort of thing we need to hear.

With Adelaides draw and Hawthorns percentage I just can't see us being 1 or 2, it would be nice I just don't see it happening.

A vote of no confidence if I've ever heard one.

[CureTheSane]

Crazy question.
It's pretty much essential to finish top 2 for a real chance to win the flag.
3 or 4 make you an outsider
5 - 8 makes you unlikely.
Kind of makes you realise that maybe the final 8 system is flawed.

As for the otehr meaning behind the question - that with confidence and high expectations we flop, I don't go for that either.
Sometimes teams simply match up better on each other one on one.
Richmond, West Coast, St.Kilda and Collingwood seem to do this in recent history.

[barry]

You've missed my point.

All I'm doing is looking at the draw, for the final 5 games, realistically.

IMO, 3rd of 4th looks the most likely for us...and if that transpires, I'm putting a positive spin on it.......comprehend-ah?

If we finish 3rd or 4th, we will go into the finals with no momentum, and having failed to beat the top contenders at our home ground.

A 3rd or 4th finish for us, would be a good form-sign that we are out in straight sets.

Dont even think it.

[AnnieH]

I'm sorry, but I seem to be missing something here.
I think it would be best if we finish at the top of the ladder; barring serious injury to the whole backline, there's no reason we can't do it.
Besides, I like the view from the top of the ladder.

[GongSwan]

Minor premiership would be great IMO. Playing at Homebush isn't the same advantage as the SCG unless a lot of people turn up, but it beats playing interstate by a country mile. I see all 5 remaining games as winnable, it's a matter of turning up ready to go