A few weeks back it was mooted in the press that 13 wins may not have been enough to make the final eight. Strange, that even if we had not recorded that magnificent win against the Eagles and lost in the last round against GWS ( Won't happen of course) we would have still made the finals with just 12 wins. Possible 5 teams on 12 wins. Go Dees.

It's still going to play a big part in who plays who in the first week of finals though. ?  

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if we win we'll play Geelong, unless Collingwood lose then we'll slip into 4th and play Richmond.

If we lose though, we have about 55pts of percentage over Geelong to work with I think. So if we lost by 30 and Geelong win by 30 etc, we'll finish 8th and play GWS. If our loss and the Cats win is under the 55pts, we finish 7th and play the loser of Swans vs Hawks. ??

Thank you for starting a thread on the importance of percentage.

I must confess, after last year, I had been under the delusion that percentage was irrelevant 

There is one other scenario that is unlikely but possible. If Collingwood win & we win but Sydney & Hawthorn draw then we will finish 6th and play GWS at the MCG.

Yes, but even more important than percentage is the four points that go with winning the game. 

Of the other contenders battling with Melbourne, Hawthorn very narrowly won its last three games against Essendon, Geelong and St Kilda that went right down to the wire. Had they lost all three they would have been fighting today for their place in the top eight. 

Instead, everyone is talking about the genius of Clarkson. True, you have to be good to get up and win the close ones but there’s also an element of luck involved and the Hawks have had it in spades over the past month.

8 hours ago, Rod Grinter Riot Squad said:

Thank you for starting a thread on the importance of percentage.

I must confess, after last year, I had been under the delusion that percentage was irrelevant 

No, RG. It turns out it can be crucial. It is possible (theoretically) to miss finals, based solely on percentage!

I don't know if it's ever happened. I have wiped all memory of anything to do with football before 28 August 2017.

9 hours ago, Rod Grinter Riot Squad said:

Thank you for starting a thread on the importance of percentage.

I must confess, after last year, I had been under the delusion that percentage was irrelevant 

Ah...the importance of percentage!!! Who would have noticed the little difference it could have made in last night's game if TWSNBN had have won by another 20 points or so, when cruising, and gone above Port maybe, thereby ensuring ninth spot in the draft.

7 hours ago, Blistering said:

Yes, but even more important than percentage is the four points that go with winning the game. 

Of the other contenders battling with Melbourne, Hawthorn very narrowly won its last three games against Essendon, Geelong and St Kilda that went right down to the wire. Had they lost all three they would have been fighting today for their place in the top eight. 

Instead, everyone is talking about the genius of Clarkson. True, you have to be good to get up and win the close ones but there’s also an element of luck involved and the Hawks have had it in spades over the past month.

So Hawthorn is lucky to win its close games but we're panickers for losing ours?

37 minutes ago, Chook said:

So Hawthorn is lucky to win its close games but we're panickers for losing ours?

That's not what I wrote. Hawthorn have the experience to handle close games better than most but there is an element of luck involved and if you watched those games, you might have noticed.

I think Melbourne might have turned the corner a bit as they showed both last week and a few weeks earlier against the Crows where they showed greater composure.

In the end, it's the points gained from a win that's better than %age.

% these days can determine whether you finish 2,3 or 4 spots higher. V .important!

Anyways! Dees win tomorrow we play the Cats at the G. If not, We will play the Giants 2 games in a row in Sydney!

Get that piece of filth out of your avatar and favourite players and stop defiling our magnificent site.

20 hours ago, Blistering said:

That's not what I wrote. Hawthorn have the experience to handle close games better than most but there is an element of luck involved and if you watched those games, you might have noticed.

I think Melbourne might have turned the corner a bit as they showed both last week and a few weeks earlier against the Crows where they showed greater composure.

In the end, it's the points gained from a win that's better than %age.

Yes there is but no team in the comp is as better drilled for particular situations like close finishes. They know exactly what they have to do and mostly they do it.