It didn't hit me until tonight as to how important next week truly is. This is the one chance that we will get to beat the Hawks for a while and with Lewis coming back, possibly Cyril and Sewell we are gonna get mauled. But, seeing as though Rioli's hammy is so dodgy a week at Box Hill may do him well along with Bruce and Sewell. If Chip dominates Buddy and keeps him really quiet and Davey comes back in and kills it with our forward line I can see a win. This game holds the key to us making the 8 i reckon, with the Cats at Skilled no chance, Blues at the G, maybe with no key forward and defence and to get back at Robinson, and the Eagles at the dreaded Etihad the slightest of chances after Saints game. It truly is an elim final this week. People bag our club cos we haven't played finals for ages, it begins this week!!

This game is the game where we have to win to progress through the season and the 8 I reckon. The finals start on Sunday. They won't be as fired up as they wudda been this week cos of Allen Jeans and all so i rate us a chance. Anyone else with me?

Was just thinking the same after a bit of ladder predicting. I would be worried about any fatigue after tonight though. Also Carlton might be gettable. I feel we need one of the next 4 as St Kilda,, Essendon and the Bulldogs are winning again and I can see 10.5 wins being just shy of 8th spot.

To make the 8 we will need 12.5 wins. Anything under that will not do with so many clubs fighting for the last spot.

This will mean 5 more wins from the next 7 matches.

It's time to say goodbye to 2011 and look forward to 2012

Would rather play consistent footy week to week,the end result may be finals.At least we won't be crucified the first week of finals,merely making the numbers up.

Consistent footy week to week will look after itself.

To make the 8 we will need 12.5 wins. Anything under that will not do with so many clubs fighting for the last spot.

This will mean 5 more wins from the next 7 matches.

It's time to say goodbye to 2011 and look forward to 2012

11.5 will definately still do it, 10.5 would have before the WB beat Carlton.... so i will guess at 11.5 being the number meaning we now need to snag one of the next 4 before winning the last 3

long way to go in this season

Agreed that it may be the one we have to win. We have 7 matches left, and by my Bailey's ladder predictor calculations, the only way we get in off 3 wins is if EVERY team around us stumbles at some point. The unusual North/Essendon/Dogs and Saints wins are all screwing with our chances.

I can't see us beating WC, Blues or Geelong. But if we can sneak one of the next 4 AT ALL, we will be a good, good chance of having Bailey as our coach next year. :D