Week 1 Finals Melbourne or Port Adelaide (it’s Melbourne)

[lazzadesilva]

[pieboy]

My preferred top 5 is:

1. Collingwood
2. Brisbane
3. Melbourne
4. Port Adelaide
5. Carlton

We have beaten Port Adelaide twice this year, and with over 90,000 Pies fans at the MCG we would be favoured to beat them.

Brisbane finishing second would have 2 home finals and would be a shoe in to the grand final. Brisbane have won only 1 of their last 15 games at the MCG, we would be favoured to beat them if we make the Grand Final.

If we win the qualifying final, we would avoid playing Carlton before the Grand Final. Carlton will probably have to beat Brisbane in Brisbane in the Prelim if they get there, though if we happen to lose the Qualifying final then we would likely run into Carlton in the Semi Final.

[Take_a_Screamer]

The 3 teams in the top 4 all worry me as does Carlton.
we need to peak from now on, then we can beat any of them.

It will be a very interesting time between now and end of September.
Moore and Naicos will be back but let's not lose any more players.

Kreuger has a golden opportunity to show his forward skills but he's not doing much in the VFL.
I reckon Carmichael deserves another go. Cox is almost certain to figure in September action.

[23 YIPPEE!!!]

Done the ladder predictor swiggle thing its a fun one to use.

t will come down the sydney and melbourne one at the scg to determine if we play port,brisbane or the dees themselves at the mcg.

I have done as worst senario there there no way we drop to 3rd.

I feel we play Dees good if we play them week 1 as it kinds of 1 less team to worry about but we must a tone from kings birthday and do our homework on them.

Its 50/50 port and dees but also a slight chance of lions week 1.

Lions will be kind of try a few things but keep the framework.

Essendon next match will be a true match sim like at AIA centre but in front of 80 odd k at the mcg. pretty awesome.

Not quite to the stage of a mass rest but round 24 will be like a case of put your hands up if you need a match and of course rest whos over due for one.

Fresh as a daisy week 1 finals.

The only time we play Blues is in GF.

[eddiesmith]

Melbourne firming as likely opponent after today.

I’d be happy to meet Melbourne first up, get over that and it’s likely Port in the prelim when you’d prefer an easier matchup.

[RudeBoy]

I actually think the Dees will be easybeats if we play them in week one. Seriously, that mob are downhill skiers.

[Jezza]

It's down to Melbourne or Port Adelaide now. Very likely it's Melbourne.

Brisbane have officially secured a home final after defeating St Kilda.

[Magpietothemax]

Probability of 98% that we play Melbourne on the G in the first final.
We will need two rucks (Cox and Cameron OR the possibility of Cox and Frampton(??)) against Gawn.
We will need our full complement of small forwards (Beau, Ginni, Bobby, Jamie) to hit the ball at ground level against Dees' defence. Jamie is the ace up the sleeve, because he also plays tall.
Dees defence will be vulnerable when we hit the ball to ground level.
We will require two rucks (Cameron/Cox most likely with Cox/Frampton a remote possiblity) to counter him.
Outs: McCrae, Frampton/Cameron(?), Lipinski
Ins: Moore, Murphy ,McCreery
SUB: Either Sidey or WHE.
Frampton/Cameron decision will depend on training efforts over next 2 weeks. Good luck to both these lads

[RudeBoy]

Outs: Macrae, Frampton, McStay

Ins: Moore, Murphy, McCreery

Sub: WHE

Playing 2 rucks negates the need for McStay, who has been underwhelming anyway. I'd rather have McCreery in the forward line, alongside a resting ruckman.

[Rex]

I’d prefer we take on Port, but am happy with Melbourne. We only lost to Melbourne by four points last time.
Players that didn’t play that game and are likely ins this time: Elliott, McStay, Ginnivan, deGoey, Howe and Sidebottom.
Outs from that team: Johnson, McInness, Harrison, probably Frampton and maybe Lipinski (like to have them, but no room)…and Nick Daicos.
We now have a much stronger attack and overall a stronger team.
Bring it on.
And add Nick for the prelim against Port (or Melbourne).

[Damien]

Go Tigers! 8-0 early days.

[23 YIPPEE!!!]

I am swaying towards Melbourne a tad.

[23 YIPPEE!!!]

All i want it to be on friday night 7:50pm MCG.

[swoop42]

[RudeBoy]

We'll know soon enough Swoop.

I just think Fly has settled on us playing 2 rucks, and if we do that, then I reckon we are too top heavy with McStay. I prefer the blitzing pace of McCreery.