no respect

[Melbourne_Blood]

no respect

We beat the hawks we'd have to be equal, if not outright flag favourites ( if we aren't already, I haven't looked, doubt it though). Even still, the MCG factor will be enough for people to still doubt we can go all the way.

[Cheer Squad]

Even still, the MCG factor will be enough for people to still doubt we can go all the way.

I think you're right.

In fact, even if we do go all the way and win the flag, unless it's actually against Hawthorn at the MCG, there will be more than a few people who'll say we wouldn't have won if we'd played Hawthorn.

[ShockOfHair]

This thread is starting to sound like these guys:

Monty Python - Four Yorkshiremen- YouTube

[SwansFan1972]

I don't feel the need to break down and analyse every game when my point is they have won 15 games this year, have far and away the best % (a 61 point average winning margin over all opposition) and have a positive win-loss record against the top8 this year. I reckon their wins against all these top sides have much merit to them and I equally credit their 3 close losses to have more positive than negative as well (apart from the Swans tassie game!).

Their flogging of the pies recently and coming back from 8 goals down to almost win it against the cats (ie, one shocking qtr and 3 great qtrs of footy) is enough to convince me they are serious contenders this year.

Why does everything have to be so binary? Its an awfully simplistic take on things. My view is that the hawks, pies, swans and cats are all a good chance but variables such as where prelims are played and injuries (amongst numerous other factors) will dictate greatly who meets, and ultimately wins the big one.

Your underwhelming review of Hawthorn's season in so far as to completely discount them from being capable of winning a flag proves that any opinion you have on footy cant be taken seriously.

Yippee - a (largely) cogent and well reasoned post, making a very valid case about why you think the Hawks can win the flag. You're of course very entitled to your views and many will agree with you. I agree with some of the points you make and I may well be grossly underselling the Hawks and doing them a disservice! But ... SO WHAT?!?!? I have no problem with saying I don't think they will win the flag. Big deal - and is (in my opinion) a tad more interesting than platitudes about a race in four, and variables will make or break teams blah blah blah.

I find it amusing that you reason that my breakdown of their games is excessive in making my argument, but my asking for you to say whether the Hawks will win the flag or not is 'binary'. That is an interesting choice of word - I assume you mean I should be thinking more expansively about who will win the flag (which in my view is not neccessary - I think the Swans will win the flag). Then you dismiss me completely (arbitrarily, I guess you could say) on the basis of two posts and one opinion in relation to one team. You're making my head hurt - I can't work out from your advice whether I need to be less expansive in supporting an argument, or should I avoid being binary and consider more options on a particular question, or should follow your lead and dismiss the opinions of others arbitrarily?

Strip away all the argy bargy and it boils down to you thinking the Hawks can win the flag and I think they won't. They can win it - of course they can, as can any team which makes the finals! My OPINION is that they won't and I could well be wrong. I don't see why that should have invited the invective you've levelled at me, but ultimately, I don't really care. It makes for interesting reading in any case!

In both my posts I've been merely offering an opinion and my reasons for it. For all your efforts, you've stuck your neck out to say four teams have a good chance. Well - who knew?!?! What a scoop! Yawn. . .

Clearly we are solidly in disagreement, so perhaps we should move into 'agree to disagree' phase. In any case, my polite suggestion is that you waste no more of your time reading me (since any opinion I have is not worthy of your lofty consideration). And I just don't want to be responsible for ruining your zen merely via logging a bit of white noise on a fansite!

Enjoy the game on Saturday and the rest of the season, whatever transpires. I'm sure we do have one thing in common - that the last Saturday in September features lots of celebratory red and white bunting!

[Meg]

This thread is starting to sound like these guys:

Monty Python - Four Yorkshiremen- YouTube

Thanks SoH, I hadn't watched that for years. I laughed just as much as did the first time I saw it.

[Melbourne_Blood]

no respect

I think you're right.

In fact, even if we do go all the way and win the flag, unless it's actually against Hawthorn at the MCG, there will be more than a few people who'll say we wouldn't have won if we'd played Hawthorn.

There was a media type, I can't remember who ( It may have been mentioned on here) that said, the swans will only be acknowledged as a flag threat, the morning after they have actually won the flag. It's pretty spot on I reckon.

[DamY]

Damien Barrett probably said that

[SwansFan1972]

Seems I may have underestimated the Hawks.

Bugger. Still don't fancy them for the flag. On tonight's evidence, might well be wrong on that too (but certainly hope not).

Still can't quite fathom how the boys let that game slip. Hawks were a rabble early and should never have got back into it.

[dendol]

Lol keep digging. Crawl out from under that rock and try to give credit where its due, they came back from 38 points down against a very good side in a game played with finals-like intensity. They are now on top of the ladder and overwhelming favourites for the flag according to most football fans and every bookmaker on this planet.

You're either deluded, stubborn, dumb, or all of the above if you still don't think this Hawks side is not a serious chance of winning the flag this year, especially considering they now play all their remaining games at the MCG.

That or i'm getting trolled something epic.

[ScottH]

Lumbered with the toughest run home of any side. Difficult to assess, but appears likely to lose both matches and slip to third,

This quote is in the age today. I would have thought being on top of the ladder and having beaten both teams already this year that we would get some credit.

Read more: Super eight
news/super-eight-20120820-24iq0.html

Well, he was pretty much on the money.