Round 19: the other games. And then there were...err...14?

[Thunder Shaker]

Choke on choke = draw

Richmond choked. How could they mess up a set shot at goal with a minute to go when all the player had to do was kick a score?

[Agent 86]

Richmond choked. How could they mess up a set shot at goal with a minute to go when all the player had to do was kick a score?

Twice!!
They either want that finals spot too much or not at all. They should be on 52 points by now.

[dejavoodoo44]

Choke on choke = draw

I know, neither Noah managed to arc up.

And on dodgy puns, I did quite like a Fremantle banner in the crowd, that said something like, Serong, So right.

[Maltopia]

I know, neither Noah managed to arc up.

And on dodgy puns, I did quite like a Fremantle banner in the crowd, that said something like, Serong, So right.

ON dodgy puns, Cam Mooney has said Bolta had "No Ah(I)-dea".

[Aprilbr]

I was hoping for the Tigers to hang on as it would have really helped our top 4 chances but it was a thriller. Great game!

[stevoswan]

I know, neither Noah managed to arc up.

And on dodgy puns, I did quite like a Fremantle banner in the crowd, that said something like, Serong, So right.

That's an Anthony Hudson quote.....he commentated that after Serong kicked last years goal of the year.

[stevoswan]

I was hoping for the Tigers to hang on as it would have really helped our top 4 chances but it was a thriller. Great game!

Still does.....a draw is as bad as a loss to Freo at this stage.

[Hotpotato]

A draw an Excellent result for us (Tiggers v Freo) I would have thought.

[Agent 86]

Still does.....a draw is as bad as a loss to Freo at this stage.

Not quite as bad. They could finish 2 points up on us with worse %. That’d be annoying.

[Matty10]

Still does.....a draw is as bad as a loss to Freo at this stage.

We would have very likely overtaken Freo with a win this week had they also lost. That is not possible now.

We have to hope they slip up again in one of their remaining matches.

[707]

Richmond do it again, couldn't write a script any better!

Classic @@@@ up. Why do you need to hear the umpire call play on Balta, use your eyes mate, there's a huge shot clock on the scoreboard!

Draw was ok for Freo, bad for us, if we win today, we now need to win one more than them in the four game run home whereas we only had to win today to draw level on points then out % them in the run home. Freo does have the Dees next week.

Richmond are hurt as Dogs and Saints can displace them as early as this weekend.

And right on cue that whinger Hardwick wants the draw outlawed. He wouldn't say that if it was Freo with all the momentum in the last five minutes. The guy is a whinging tosser of almost Beveridge scale. Longmire is so composed and measured in comparison to those two idiots.

[MattW]

A draw an Excellent result for us (Tiggers v Freo) I would have thought.

We should only be looking up the ladder. We have a better percentage than Freo, so a draw doesn't really help.

[KTigers]

You have to think Collingwood is due for a fall, and Geelong too. The big streaks are hard to keep going. Tho' ten in a row
for us would be nice. You gotta dream.

[Thunder Shaker]

This draw is as good as a loss for Richmond and a win for Fremantle.

Fremantle: This nullifies their inferior percentage and puts them half a game higher. This could be good enough for Fremantle to finish fourth at the end of the home and away season. Fremantle's remaining games: Melbourne (H), Western Bulldogs (A), West Coast (H), GWS Giants (A). First game is difficult, others are all winnable.

Richmond: In this case, their percentage advantage over the Dogs, Saints and Port is also nullified. The siren call of another ninth-placed finish beckons. Richmond can still finish eighth if they are good enough: Brisbane (H), Port Adelaide (A), Hawthorn (H) and Essendon (A). None of them are easy, none are certain losses either.

Richmond's competitors for eighth are St Kilda and Western Bulldogs. Richmond's chances are enhanced by their slightly easier draw in the last few games. Saints have West Coast (A), Hawthorn (H) as winnable games, but the last three games are difficult: Geelong (A), Brisbane (H), Sydney (H). Western Bulldogs are similar. They have a brutal run of three games: Melbourne (H), Geelong (A) and Fremantle (H) but finish up with GWS Giants (H) and Hawthorn (A).

It is interesting how all three of these sides competing for eighth place play Hawthorn in the last four rounds. Hawthorn also play Gold Coast in the last four rounds, so Hawthorn finishes up with four games over middle-ranked sides.

[Thunder Shaker]

You have to think Collingwood is due for a fall, and Geelong too. The big streaks are hard to keep going. Tho' ten in a row
for us would be nice. You gotta dream.

Collingwood? Definitely. Winning by single-digit margins over middle-ranked sides is not convincing. None of their last five games are easy: Essendon (H), Port Adelaide (H), Melbourne (A), Sydney (A), Carlton (A). It is possible they could lose them all, though I expect they will manage a couple of wins in that run.

Geelong: Not so much. They are playing very well, have good wins over quality opposition and have earned their spot on the top of the ladder. Their last five games are comfortable games against sides outside the top eight and they should be able to win all five: Port Adelaide (A), Western Bulldogs (H), St Kilda (H), Gold Coast (A), West Coast (H). If the wheels are going to fall off the Geelong juggernaut, it's going to be in the finals, if at all. I can see them finishing on top of the ladder and going on to win the premiership this year. They will fall eventually, but it's unlikely to be this year. Geelong's form has a bit in common with Hawthorn in 1991.