titan_uranus

Technically they can't confirm anything yet because St Kilda could theoretically still win and change the match ups entirely. But I'd assume from here it will be: Thursday - Fremantle v Dogs Friday - Geelong v Collingwood Saturday afternoon - Brisbane v Richmond Saturday night - Melbourne v Sydney or Sydney v Melbourne Keeps the breaks between the EF winners and QF losers close.

If Geelong v Collingwood is the Friday night, we'll be the Saturday night. They'll put the Fremantle v Dogs game on the Thursday night so that the winner of that has an 8-day break into the semi final the following Friday night. Meanwhile the loser of our game will get a 7-day break into the winner of Brisbane v Richmond, also on Saturday. If we were the Thursday, the loser of our game would either get a 9-day break into a Saturday semi (which would mean the winner of Brisbane v Richmond gets a 6-day break into a Friday semi), or an 8-day break into a Friday semi where Brisbane v Richmond winner gets a 5-day break.

Yes. But Sydney isn't about to do a Carlton. They aren't losing from here.

Swans need 27 more points if St Kilda doesn't score. 99-49 will do it.

The Dogs should be blown off the park by any of the other 7 sides in the top 8. Their win over us is the only time they've played well since Round 9. Post-bye they beat Hawthorn twice, GWS twice, St Kilda and us. But I fear they'll reset over the bye and Fremantle will do a Carlton and [censored] the bed. On current form Brisbane will lose to Richmond.

If we have to cop them, the QF is the best time. If they make a PF, I want nothing to do with it.

McCreery kicking one from 50 on the boundary, when Curnow missed twice from 20m, is just sickening.

if they choke in the QF and Collingwood makes the prelim, they'll get the loser of us/Sydney or Richmond. That's the "hard" prelim. The "easy" prelim is the other side, which we'll get if we can beat Sydney next week. We'll get the Geelong/Collingwood loser or the Fremantle/Dogs winner. I'd take a prelim at the G against any of those sides, except Collingwood.

The one difference between Geelong and the rest of the comp is that I don't see Geelong coughing up a 25 point fourth quarter lead to Collingwood. They are flaky in finals of course, but still.

I'd rather play Geelong in a final than Collingwood. Yes, it's good to see Carlton complete the biggest choke in AFL history. But a Carlton win would have sent Collingwood into an EF against Richmond, a strong chance of losing and disappearing from the finals. Now they either beat Geelong and make a prelim, or lose then get the "easy" semi (Fremantle or the Dogs) and make a prelim.

If we win our QF, fair chance we get them in our prelim. They lose to Geelong, they go through to a semi against Fremantle or the Dogs which, at the G, they won't lose.

There were a number of horrible decisions against Carlton in that quarter. The early mark to Cripps which was overturned on a block, when the block was caused by Quaynor pushing Silvagni. The missed push on Mackay. Still, Carlton had more than enough opportunity to win it without those frees. I mean, they only needed a draw, they had the ball at half forward with 90 seconds to go. What do they do? Kick to the pocket to a spare Collingwood player! Insane.

I detest Collingwood. I maintain my view they are the worst 16-6 and top 4 side the competition has ever seen, and possibly will ever see. They continue to win games when they are largely inept in key metrics. Contested ball, clearances, time in forward half, they are no good, but they get runs on late and their opponents [censored] the bed. So not only do they get to make top 4, but the Dogs, who have been limp all season, make finals. It's humorous seeing Carlton miss. It really is. But it's equally disgusting seeing Collingwood finish top 4. Sydney won't lose to St Kilda so it means one of Geelong and Collingwood is through to a prelim.

McCluggage screams captain material to me. Zorko's a [censored]. I can't believe he's a captain of an AFL side. Things didn't look great on here at times during the Jones-Viney co-captaincy.

I'd be really disappointed if the players playing VFL right now have checked out of the season when the AFL finals are about to start. An injury or suspension could happen out of nowhere and open up a spot. I'm not sure I can get around moving Petty to the forward line just so that we can get Weideman into the backline. The May-Lever-Petty combination is up there with the Gawn-Oliver-Petracca-Viney combination for why we're as good as we are right now. And we don't just have Tomlinson as back up but Joel Smith too. Not sure what you mean when you say May and Lever "could be managed better"?

I think Stevic's argument was that Rivers dropped the ball before the tackle became dangerous. It probably wasn't holding the ball at all though (pretty sure it was knocked out in the tackle).

6 - Petracca 5 - Oliver 4 - Lever 3 - Hunt 2 - Pickett 1 - Jackson

But if Collingwood lose we'll get Geelong v Brisbane, Melbourne v Sydney (or vice versa), Fremantle v Carlton and Collingwood v Richmond. Question will be whether Geelong get first preference for finishing top, or whether the AFL want to put Collingwood v Richmond on the Friday night. If the latter, I think that means we will be Thursday night (8-day break for us into the semi final, so that there are no 6-day breaks).

There are multiple stories online about what was alleged to be said. They're probably all made up. It doesn't matter. It's abundantly clear that Zorko said something strongly offensive. Zorko's a [censored] and deserves not a shred of sympathy from anyone. When you play your entire career like a dog, then you do something like this, you deserve to be called out for what you are.

What makes this win extra impressive IMO is that Brisbane weren't as pathetic as the scoreline made them look. This wasn't a game where we had the ball locked in our forward half. Inside 50s were even in the first half. Indeed, they had more than us in the second quarter (but kicked 1 goal to our 7). We were on top in CPs but not to the extent we have been in other games. This was a reminder that our game, when we bring our best, stands up anywhere, against anyone.

Horrendous call from Brown. I suspect he sees tears as a sign of weakness. The game would be better off without people like him commenting on it. Nah I can't get around him at all. Sure, he may put his head over the ball, but the way he snipes players off the ball yet carries on like a pork chop at any heat brought against him is rubbish IMO.

Jordon was the sub so unless you intend on Salem being the sub, someone has to move from the 22 to the sub if you're dropping Jordon.

True, but Sydney are very good and St Kilda are not very good. I'm hoping St Kilda get up for Hannebery and Max King has a determination to kick straight which sees him bag 5.0 or something. Remember, in the unlikely event of a Swans loss, we will host Collingwood, Fremantle or Brisbane (imagine that - each of Sydney, Fremantle and Collingwood lose and we get Brisbane again!).

I agree. It needs to be dealt with, and Zorko deserves every last bit of (fair) punishment coming his way if this was more than a misunderstanding, but the less spotlight the better IMO. Fortunately there's a week off next week so the story will die down well before our first final no matter what.

Geelong's last month: Dogs (GMHBA), St Kilda (GMHBA), Gold Coast, West Coast (GMHBA). If Carlton wins on Sunday, that'll be 0 finalists and not a single game where a final will be played. Our last month: Fremantle (Optus), Collingwood, Carlton, Brisbane (Gabba). If Carlton wins, that'll be 4 finalists on finals grounds (albeit we won't be playing a final at the Gabba).