Looking ahead ... the Path to September

[Clintosaurus 7,867]

Did the world end on Saturday? 

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,408]

12 hours ago, Deemented Are Go! said:

Whilst the losses to Nth (twice), Freo and a struggling Hawthorn are bitterly disappointing, if you said to me we'd be 7th on the ladder after R19 with a good crack at finals at the start of the year, I'd take it. 

I reckon we can make it. 

Exactly, I look it at this way, if we didn't have the loses against Freo and the Hawks would we have had the mindset to beat Adelaide at AAMI and the Eagles at SUBI. That doesn't automatically we win every match, no doubt Saturday was another reality check. SEN just said then Hogan us a minimum 4 weeks. For mine he sits the rest of the year out. For the sake of team synergy if Pedo gets on a roll he stays in. We can't afford to bring back in a key position player into the finals and allow 3-4 (if we make it that far) in the hope he finds some form. And for whatever reasons our biggest victories over the last 3 years have all been without Hogan.

[Pates 9,660]

As much as it's a cliche I really do think we have to take it one week at a time. I partly feel that's what's happened here, the players just thought it was going to happen. How many times do we have to go through this, you actually need to bring it every week!!!!

It's all the response now, how do we come back from such a monumentally stupid loss?

[Demon17 5,203]

22 hours ago, Petraccattack said:

Have us finishing 8th on percentage with 12 wins. Losing the next two, winning the last two.

We could win all 4...  or we could lose all 4.   Who bloody knows.

Close. I have done numerous iterations, all with us losing to GWS but hopefully by not much, but see the last 3 as winnable to finish 6th.  I have too much faith in Goodwin not to use last Saturday to galvanise the thinking. The talent is there and having seen them beat the Crows standing in the outer at Adelaide, I am a believer. Not to mention I saw all 3 wins at Etihad.

Still one of the youngest teams that has weathered the most player challenges of all this season and yet are still in firm contention.

By the Saints game Nathan Jones will have had a game, Viney will be less sore and the full engine room should be up and about. Probably will have the best 22 by rd. 222/23 except for Jesse Hogan.

If they win against GWS then ignore the above and cancel September holidays.

 

[drdrake 3,187]

We need to win 3 out of 4 to play finals.  There is no positive unless we play finals because it will be our own fault if we don't, to miss out because we lost 4 games due to the mental aptitude of our players.  The competition is so even that really most teams will be able to make the 8 in 2018, you need to take your chances, I fear we have missed ours and clubs under us will be better than us in 2018 

[At the break of Gawn 4,460]

If we somehow fall into a position where Collingwood deny us of a finals spot, brace yourselves for some of the worst smug remarks and sh*t eating grins this century. 

[beelzebub 23,383]

3 minutes ago, At the break of Gawn said:

If we somehow fall into a position where Collingwood deny us of a finals spot, brace yourselves for some of the worst smug remarks and sh*t eating grins this century. 

Itll be like they're having two cracks at a Granny in the one season 

Be interesting this game. Will be sitting next to b-i-l an ex filth player among a whole band of ex-players.

We better win or it's going to be a very long trip home 

[Lord Travis 10,763]

We need to win 3 of the last 4 games to make finals, as our percentage is one of the worst and can't be relied on to scrape in with 12 wins. We need 13 wins.

If we don't make it, it means we couldn't beat 3 bottom 4/8 teams while there was a finals chance on the line. That to me would smack of being mentally weak and this year being deemed as a failure. To lose to so many bottom teams through out this season has been a disgrace. I know the team is young still, but it is one of the most talented teams in the league at present and has more than enough tools to at least make finals. 

Hopefully Goodwin and the coaching staff can get the players heads straight. When we play with endeavour and intensity, we have shown they can beat any team in the league. We should be able to account for Saints, Pies and Brisbane and make the 8. I'll be livid if we don't.

Edited July 31, 2017 by Lord Travis

[Lucifers Hero 40,364]

Nick Reiwoldt is about to call time on his career!

Finals much harder than a few days ago.  The teams in our last 4 rounds will be highly motivated or at their best. 

• GWS - Virtually back to full strength injury wise, while we have a few of our best nursing injuries. 
• StK- Adrenalin flowing and will play for Nick!  And, like North they set themselves against us. 
• BL- Will have Zorko back and near full strength.
• Pies - beat Port last week and drew Crows this week.  Will try to win it for Bucks' last games.

There are no 'gimme' games left for us. 

But I am relying on 'colly wobbles' to kick in in round 23!

We must win 3 of 4 as Ess, WB and WCE are nipping at our heels.

Will be shattered if we don't make it.

[bandicoot 1,395]

Winning all 4 will see us in 4th playing Adelaide.

Winning 3 will see us 7th playing port in Adelaide.

Winning 2 will see us fighting for a spot with Sydney who have a % advantage. 

[What 18,810]

1 minute ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Nick Reiwoldt is about to call time on his career!

 

Saints cant make the finals on their own merit, they need their superstar to retire to try and channel that emotion into winning the next few games.

Thats why they have one flag.

[DeeWiz 296]

I give up trying to predict the road to the finals.

Massive win against Port one week, epic failure against Norf the next.

Seriously, if we beat GWS next week, there is no rational or logical thought process in the world that could predict a Demons result.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,408]

Who have GWS beaten convincingly in recent weeks. Forget about Hogan for this year, this Saturday we have our best 22 all fit. In comes Jones, Vince and Pedo. Greene and Mummy already out, no reason we can't win this week.

[old55 23,705]

We'll win 3 of the next 4 and make finals.

[Wrecker45 3,378]

3 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Nick Reiwoldt is about to call time on his career!

Finals much harder than a few days ago.  The teams in our last 4 rounds will be highly motivated or at their best. 

• GWS - Virtually back to full strength injury wise, while we have a few of our best nursing injuries. 
• StK- Adrenalin flowing and will play for Nick!  And, like North they set themselves against us. 
• BL- Will have Zorko back and near full strength.
• Pies - beat Port last week and drew Crows this week.  Will try to win it for Bucks' last games.

There are no 'gimme' games left for us. 

But I am relying on 'colly wobbles' to kick in in round 23!

We must win 3 of 4 as Ess, WB and WCE are nipping at our heels.

Will be shattered if we don't make it.

 

 

Disagree

• GWS have Mummy and Toby Green out. Coniglio played really well in his first game back but so do alot of our blokes then they dropped right off 2nd up. GWS form line is ordinary
• St Kilda wont worry us again, they went in red hot favourites last time and we have improved much than them since. They're tired and planning for next year. Tiim for them to start the players with little niggles out for surgery so they can do a full pre-season - This will be the game we boost our percentage.
• BL are playing for bottom spot. All heat has been on North, Bris can just slip under the radar
• Pies don't have the game plan to beat us. They're not fit enough and their midfield only runs one way.

We will win all 4.

[Demon17 5,203]

1 hour ago, Wrecker45 said:

 

 

Disagree

• GWS have Mummy and Toby Green out. Coniglio played really well in his first game back but so do alot of our blokes then they dropped right off 2nd up. GWS form line is ordinary
• St Kilda wont worry us again, they went in red hot favourites last time and we have improved much than them since. They're tired and planning for next year. Tiim for them to start the players with little niggles out for surgery so they can do a full pre-season - This will be the game we boost our percentage.
• BL are playing for bottom spot. All heat has been on North, Bris can just slip under the radar
• Pies don't have the game plan to beat us. They're not fit enough and their midfield only runs one way.

We will win all 4.

I like your thinking, but just  think GWS loss but by a small margin. Protects what % we have , then win the next 3 all at the 'G'.

 

.

 

[beelzebub 23,383]

2 hours ago, Fifty-5 said:

We'll win 3 of the next 4 and make finals.

which 3 ?

[DubDee 26,123]

7 hours ago, Demon17 said:

Close. I have done numerous iterations, all with us losing to GWS but hopefully by not much, but see the last 3 as winnable to finish 6th.  I have too much faith in Goodwin not to use last Saturday to galvanise the thinking. The talent is there and having seen them beat the Crows standing in the outer at Adelaide, I am a believer. Not to mention I saw all 3 wins at Etihad.

Still one of the youngest teams that has weathered the most player challenges of all this season and yet are still in firm contention.

By the Saints game Nathan Jones will have had a game, Viney will be less sore and the full engine room should be up and about. Probably will have the best 22 by rd. 222/23 except for Jesse Hogan.

If they win against GWS then ignore the above and cancel September holidays.

 

just wondering - does essendon make the finals in these predictions?  would kill me if they made it

[DemonLad5 1,642]

6 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Nick Reiwoldt is about to call time on his career!

Finals much harder than a few days ago.  The teams in our last 4 rounds will be highly motivated or at their best. 

• GWS - Virtually back to full strength injury wise, while we have a few of our best nursing injuries. 
• StK- Adrenalin flowing and will play for Nick!  And, like North they set themselves against us. 
• BL- Will have Zorko back and near full strength.
• Pies - beat Port last week and drew Crows this week.  Will try to win it for Bucks' last games.

There are no 'gimme' games left for us. 

But I am relying on 'colly wobbles' to kick in in round 23!

We must win 3 of 4 as Ess, WB and WCE are nipping at our heels.

Will be shattered if we don't make it.

What? They'll be missing Cameron, Mummy and Greene. Hardly full strength 

[Ted Lasso 19,549]

Giants looked awful last week and even Deledio didn't look brilliant for them in the reserves 

i think we should beat them. 

[Lucifers Hero 40,364]

15 minutes ago, DemonLad5 said:

What? They'll be missing Cameron, Mummy and Greene. Hardly full strength 

Is that the only comment...The post was about the next 4 games!  So you think we will beat GWS...what about the following 3?

Anyhow, Mummy is set to play, Stevie J is back, both Coniglio and Shiel scored votes in their first game back on Saturday.  That looks virtually back to full strength from injury, to me!   I didn't say their best 22 was available as I knew Greene was suspended! 

And when I posted this morning the Cameron injury was not announced. 

Its not just you DL5, but I wish people wouldn't just take one line out of context and hammer it! 

Edited July 31, 2017 by Lucifer's Hero

[Delusional demon 82 1,197]

6 hours ago, Petraccattack said:

Saints cant make the finals on their own merit, they need their superstar to retire to try and channel that emotion into winning the next few games.

Thats why they have one flag.

Saint Nick to kick another bag of 4 on us .... just one more time for fun !! 

 

 

[DemonLad5 1,642]

10 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Is that the only comment...The post was about the next 4 games!  So you think we will beat GWS...what about the following 3?

Anyhow, Mummy is set to play, Stevie J is back, both Coniglio and Shiel scored votes in their first game back on Saturday.  That looks virtually back to full strength from injury, to me!   I didn't say their best 22 was available as I knew Greene was suspended! 

And when I posted this morning the Cameron injury was not announced. 

Its not just you DL5, but I wish people wouldn't just take one line out of context and hammer it! 

Okay then, to elaborate on your post..

- I think we will beat GWS. We typically bounce back after poor performances.

- St Kilda we should win but I probably won't back us in. Next weeks result will be telling

- Brisbane we will beat. Nuff said we won't drop that game

- Collingwood is a really interesting one. I would love to ideally have a top 8 spot locked up by round 23 . I can definitely see us dropping this one

[Ted Lasso 19,549]

We play one top 8 side and that side is out of form and missing multiple key players. It would take a Richmond sized stuff up to miss finals 

[Nascent 9,283]

21 minutes ago, Abe said:

We play one top 8 side and that side is out of form and missing multiple key players. It would take a Richmond sized stuff up to miss finals 

Well, if anyone can out Richmond Richmond it's us.