According to ...Saints won't make the 8...

[Con Gorozidis]

So we cant make top 4. No arguments there.

I see 5 tiers and we are in the middle tier where 5 sides will try and get in to the last 2 spots in the 8.

Top tier: GWS, Dogs, Crows

2nd tier - Port, Eagles, Cats

Middle tier - 5 sides battling for 7th and 8th: Demons, Hawks, Swans, Saints, Tiggers

4th tier
Norf, Pies, Bombers

5th tier
Rabble

[Devilhead]

2 extra teams have made it harder.....hence the difference after 2008 etc

Sure but both those two new teams (GC & GWS) lost their first 2 games in their first 2 seasons which skewed the %

Of course losing your first two games isn't ideal but it doesn't mean your season is over - like quite a few on this site a happy to lament about

All teams have to overcome injuries, suspensions, travel, weather conditions, etc....

Just because you win your first two games of season isn't a guarantee you will make the 8 either - from a quick look this has happened to few teams in the last few years as well

[Con Gorozidis]

Previous seasons are irrelevant.
The problem here and now is we are already two games behind Port, Melbourne, Eagles and Tigers.
We will need to catch and then overtake at least one of these sides to make the 8. Maybe two of them.

[Playon]

Were doomed the sky is falling with only 20 games left we couldn't possibly make the eight. Sydney are f***ed also.

If were good enough we'll make it. Giving up after round 2? Seriously?

[twirlyhair]

Were doomed the sky is falling with only 20 games left we couldn't possibly make the eight. Sydney are f***ed also.

If were good enough we'll make it. Giving up after round 2? Seriously?

Yeah not sure what happened here Playton. The thread was simply to discuss what was a very interesting article that was written several months ago. Not sure how that turned into a discussion about finals after first two rounds. Oh well, that's Saintsational for you.....

[Jacks Back]

If we beat Brisbane comfortably this week (6 goals+) I think we'll win the next 8 games and be well on our way. And if we can do that without Rooey or Jackie boy or Dempster or Armo contributing significantly then all the better.

[Con Gorozidis]

Were doomed the sky is falling with only 20 games left we couldn't possibly make the eight. Sydney are f***ed also.

If were good enough we'll make it. Giving up after round 2? Seriously?

Swans are rebuilding.
The sky isnt falling if we finish 9th or 10th.

[kosifantutti]

There are 8 teams including some very good ones on 0-2. This is unprecedented. I'd be very surprised if all 8 missed out.

[Devilhead]

I refuse to take seriously anyone who mentions Richmond when speaking about the 8

[Con Gorozidis]

I refuse to take seriously anyone who mentions Richmond when speaking about the 8

Insert Benny Hill music.
They are capable of finishing 7th or 8th and then losing a final by 100 points.
But agree 9th is more likely their fate.

[Con Gorozidis]

There are 8 teams including some very good ones on 0-2. This is unprecedented. I'd be very surprised if all 8 missed out.

Is it fair to say that top 4 is now of out reach?
To catch and then overhaul one of the top 4 wont be easy.

[samuraisaint]

Were doomed the sky is falling with only 20 games left we couldn't possibly make the eight. Sydney are f***ed also.

If were good enough we'll make it. Giving up after round 2? Seriously?

Swans are rebuilding.
The sky isnt falling if we finish 9th or 10th.

Agreed, and I think that this is what will happen. So long as we improve our results interstate and we start beating sides we haven't beaten since the Lyon era - Hawthorn, North, Sydney, Crows, Port and the Eagles our development will continue as will our upward ascendency. If the Hawks miss finals and have a few things go against them we may end up with two top ten draft picks, which we would use for midfielders you'd think.

[White Winmar]

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/r ... vc1ly.html


'Two games down, 20 to go. Of course it's too early to be making sweeping judgments about how various teams will end up this season. But you can't ignore the danger signs. Or history. Which for those still to break their duck in 2017, is alarming indeed.

Since 2008, 45 teams have gone 0-2. One of them, yes, just one, has gone on to be part of that September. That was Sydney, which not only overcame two losses to open 2014, but finished on top of the ladder and lost a grand final to Hawthorn."


Not good guys and gals, not good at all.

So we're going to top the ladder and lose ANOTHER Grand Final.

[WellardSaint]

Previous seasons are irrelevant.
The problem here and now is we are already two games behind Port, Melbourne, Eagles and Tigers.
We will need to catch and then overtake at least one of these sides to make the 8. Maybe two of them.

Best comments so far, by a mile.
Tigers and Dees are our DIRECT rivals for the 8.
Last year a much better percentage, or the Hawks +Norf games, would have got us into the 8.
Now the guys are behind the 8 ball.

[kosifantutti]

I don't know who we can and can't catch this year but we were six games behind North after only 11 rounds last year and we finished on equal wins. We were also 2 games and 90% behind Gold Coast at this stage last year.

I'm just going to enjoy the journey without stressing about catching particular teams.

[Con Gorozidis]

I genuinely believe we can make 8th and get as high as 6th.

Most likely we will be in a tussle with the Demons, Cats, Swans and Hawks for the 6th-8th spots. So 5 sides going for 3 spots.

The lowest I believe we can finish is 10th is if all of those 4 sides finish ahead of us which leaves us in 10th spot.

The ones most in danger of missing are the Swans and I have already put a line through North. I can see the Swans missing the 8.

This means our upcoming games v Hawks and Cats are 8 point games. We need to win at very least one of them. If we beat the Hawks we essentially finish their season and at the same time also net us a better draft pick. Must beat the Hawks.

GWS, Dogs, Crows, Eagles and Port are near certainties.

[Jacks Back]

I think we will win the next 8 games if we beat the Lions comfortably this weekend.

[The Fireman]

so when we make the 8 this year do we look back on threads like this as just minutes out of our lives ? a waste of space ? maybe thats what ss is ?

[Teflon]

Good read - agree draw and injuries helped enormously.
Not fussed if we dont make 8 this year - its about building a side who has a GENUINE chance at a flag and right now to me this side has some lacking A grade talent
Some more good picks and an astute FA or 2 and the world changes.....but do that at the right time and keep the cap in check in the meantime

[Impatient Sainter]

Whether we make the 8 or not we need to a see huge improvement in the younger brigade eg McCartin, Acres, McKenzie, Billings, etc for our chances of winning a flag going forward ! Without our core younger group turning into stars we are going now where...

[desertsaint]

Tank like crazy, get two great draft picks, trade them for fyfe, get double ups against gold coast, brisbane, carlton, freo, and richmond next year. Come fourth, win the flag. we'll be legends!