2 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

For mine, I think Carlton will beat Sydney. Sydney are just not it. Lucky to make finals, and couldn't even beat us for a home final in round 24, when we had nothing to play for and lost Melksham. Carlton playing really good contested footy, and if Curnow has a good game I can't see them losing. 

However they'll then lose to the Pies, and the rest will pan out as you suggest. 

I've long thought that it'll be a Melbourne Brisbane grand final, but everything comes down to winning this week. Lose and I think we won't make it past the prelim.

No Curnow, no Carlton!! 

When they last played he kicked 1.3 and McKay kicked 0.3.  Longmire will have a plan to stop them again.  Their rnd 24 game vs GWS was appalling to be taken at all seriously as a finals team. 

Sydney didn't beat us because we are a great team and played to win even tho it was a dead rubber for us.  Carlton played a dead rubber and celebrated making finals.

Even if we lose to the Pies I still see us playing in the GF.  Lions won't stop us even at the Gabba.

GWS v the loser of Port v Brisbane could be a great game.

Can't see GWS winning but they are hot

(Needless to say I can't see the Saints beating GWS)

1 hour ago, Lucifers Hero said:

No Curnow, no Carlton!! 

When they last played he kicked 1.3 and McKay kicked 0.3.  Longmire will have a plan to stop them again.  Their rnd 24 game vs GWS was appalling to be taken at all seriously as a finals team. 

Sydney didn't beat us because we are a great team and played to win even tho it was a dead rubber for us.  Carlton played a dead rubber and celebrated making finals.

Even if we lose to the Pies I still see us playing in the GF.  Lions won't stop us even at the Gabba.

Carlton are in far better form than Sydney. 

GWS are a very good team who will trouble the finalists. They had to win to make finals and they did it. 
Carlton were coming off a long period of very hot games and were due for a tired loss. I don’t read much into it. 

Sydney are in no form. They can’t win a last quarter and haven’t beaten a decent side in weeks, and if not for a bad goal umpiring error and an interchange mishap by North they aren’t playing in September. 
Carlton at the G will get it done 

I'd really really like to play one of GWS or Carlton in the GF, but I just don't think it's feasible with the way the draw pans out, unless we lost our first qualifying final.

Carlton have had a great run towards the back half of the home and away season, but I think they'll come unstuck in finals.

If we win our QF, I see us comming up against GWS in the prelim and I think we'd have their measure this time.  They did have a fair bit of luck go their way in Alice Springs, including us kicking 100 behinds and I think we are better than that now.  I think they'll also be stuffed by the time they make a prelim and maybe will see an inverse version of Melb V WC 2018 or us repeat the 2021 Geelong style prelim rout.

Despite Fagan's insistence they're in their best position ever to make it all the way, I still see them as somewhat flaky and I think Collingwood will bust a gut to beat them at the Gabba, leaving a classic Melbourne Vs Collingwood GF.

Demons, Blues, Giants, Lions
Pies, Giants
Demons, Pies
Demons

Edited September 5, 20231 yr by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

If we don’t win on Thursday then our side of the draw becomes a group of death with Melb, Carl, and Bris in Bris. The other side will be GWS/StK, Coll, and Port… 

Another blow out GF coming…

Execute on Thursday night and life is easier.

4 minutes ago, rpfc said:

If we don’t win on Thursday then our side of the draw becomes a group of death with Melb, Carl, and Bris in Bris. The other side will be GWS/StK, Coll, and Port… 

Another blow out GF coming…

Execute on Thursday night and life is easier.

I’m not sure about the blow out on GF day. Brisbane at the G are not exactly world beaters. 
I see the grand final between Pies/Melbourne vs Brisbane. 
 

I guess we could win by 70+ again. 😂

I don't think Sydney is a great matchup for Carlton. I think the Blues will get over the line but not easily.

There’s a case to be made for all 8 teams this week, but I’m comfortable backing Brisbane, Carlton and GWS. Each is, simply, better than their opponent.

I think we are better than Collingwood, but not by all that much. 

6 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

Carlton are in far better form than Sydney. 

GWS are a very good team who will trouble the finalists. They had to win to make finals and they did it. 
Carlton were coming off a long period of very hot games and were due for a tired loss. I don’t read much into it. 

Sydney are in no form. They can’t win a last quarter and haven’t beaten a decent side in weeks, and if not for a bad goal umpiring error and an interchange mishap by North they aren’t playing in September. 
Carlton at the G will get it done 

It's interesting different posters take on recent form. Everyone's jumped on the GWS bandwagon and are totally dismissing Port Adelaide's chances and yet GWS essentially got thrashed by Port as recently as Round 22. So GWS are in form after 2 wins while Carlton's most recent form apparently is meaningless because they had nothing to play for? I agree that Sydney aren't in supreme form but (notwithstanding last year's Grand Final performance) are a proven Finals performer. Yes, they were lucky against Adelaide in Adelaide but Adelaide have been extremely hard to beat even for the top sides. There will be considerably more pressure on Carlton than on the Swans this weekend. Let's see how they handle it.

Week 1

Collingwood vs Melbourne

Brisbane vs Port

Carlton vs Sydney

St Kilda vs GWS

Week 2

Collingwood vs Sydney

Port vs GWS

Week 3

Melbourne vs GWS

Brisbane vs Collingwood

Granny

Melbourne vs Collingwood

54 minutes ago, Nascent said:

Week 1

Collingwood vs Melbourne

Brisbane vs Port

Carlton vs Sydney

St Kilda vs GWS

Week 2

Collingwood vs Sydney

Port vs GWS

Week 3

Melbourne vs GWS

Brisbane vs Collingwood

Granny

Melbourne vs Collingwood

Port beat GWS by 51 points in Adelaide in Round 22 and have won their 2 games since including Fremantle in Perth, so why GWS to beat Port in a Semi? I also believe it will be hard for Collingwood to beat Brisbane in Brisbane given the latter hasn't lost a home game all year. But I will be very happy if it pans out the way you are predicting! 🙂!

6 hours ago, Sydney_Demon said:

Port beat GWS by 51 points in Adelaide in Round 22 and have won their 2 games since including Fremantle in Perth, so why GWS to beat Port in a Semi? I also believe it will be hard for Collingwood to beat Brisbane in Brisbane given the latter hasn't lost a home game all year. But I will be very happy if it pans out the way you are predicting! 🙂!

I didn't really analyse it too closely. More just hope and put a slightly different look to it.

Having said that, Brisbane and Collingwood going out in straight sets would be glorious. Can't see it happening though.