TOPIC:

The finals are here and in 8 days the first game will be played at Subiaco Oval. The stand out fixture of the first week IMO will be Geelong v Hawthorn and the winner of this will have the inside running for one of the Grand Final spots. Geelong would do well not to write off the Hawks who have more or less limped into the top four, but you may find that their older players have been just pacing themselves and they may well click back into gear when it is September at the G. I still think though that Geelong will win narrowly even though it is a week away and a lot can happen in that time ( For example if Dangerfield pinged his hammy at training that might change the odds a bit)

In the other games, Adelaide will end the Roo's season in emphatic fashion, the Doggies look too banged up to challenge West Coast and I think Sydney's experience will get them over the line against GWS.

If these results happen this would pit Hawthorn against the Eagles in week 2!

My feeling is that because the season has been so tight any of the top 6 could win the flag, it would be 7 if the Dogs didn't have so many players out

All conjecture at this stage of course but would be interested in others thoughts.

Eagles will have a easy win over the Dogs.

Crows should do the same with Roos, both of these lower 8 games will be one sided affairs.

Hawks look like they are only just going, 4 in row starting to look like a mountain even a great side cannot climb. I reckon the Cats will get them and proceed to a PF.

Swans have been forced to play at ANZ, that helps GWS out, but I think a first up finals appearance may be a bit to much , in fact I think GWS may got out in straight sets..

Cant see any bottom 8 side progressing past PF.

I'm calling a Swans v Cats GF.

Bazza wrote: Eagles will have a easy win over the Dogs.

Crows should do the same with Roos, both of these lower 8 games will be one sided affairs.

Hawks look like they are only just going, 4 in row starting to look like a mountain even a great side cannot climb. I reckon the Cats will get them and proceed to a PF.

Swans have been forced to play at ANZ, that helps GWS out, but I think a first up finals appearance may be a bit to much , in fact I think GWS may got out in straight sets..

Cant see any bottom 8 side progressing past PF.

I'm calling a Swans v Cats GF.

I agree except the Eagles V Bulldogs.

Forget the way they played against the Dockers they will not bring that type of game to Subi Thursday night.
Cut throat final,3 or 4 player changes i think it could go either way.

I would tip the Eagles being at home but im not that confident with the tip.

I think all the favs should win quite easily. For once i aint worried about the Hawks, their % to me shows where they are at. Yes good temas win close matches, ALSO lady luck has a say too, and they have had ALL the luck in their 6 ( yes 6 close games), i know they didnt but had 2 just gone the other way , then they would have barely made the finals at all,

Write the Hawks off at you're peril, I remember how they were written off after they lost to WC at Subi in the qualifying final last year, still favs for mine and anytime they play a final at the MCG.

It's certainly weird being the first weekend of September and having no AFL football to watch. In my opinion this is a ridiculous bye and a total overreaction to Ross Lyons actions in resting his A team last year. If they want to give players two byes then they should spread them throughout the season to put the responsibility back on clubs to manage their charges. If they are concerned about the credibility of round 23 the AFL could introduce a restriction on the number of changes made in a team for non injury reasons. general soreness would not be justification for leaving a person out.

There is always a silver lining to every cloud though and we may have the situation this weekend where thousands footy starved fans will tune into the WAFL telecasts to get their fix which would give our competition a much needed boost!

I like the idea of the bye. Give players a chance to freshen up on the eve of finals and put on a better show for the adoring masses. Our game is hard to play physically and my personal belief is it is good for the welfare of players to get some additional recovery time before playing some of the hardest quarters of footy they will ever know. Lets give it a chance before we all go unwinding on something we haven't seen the results of yet.

It absolutely sickens me that Hawthorn keep managing to find a way to win and put themselves into another flag winning position but they do it that often it can't be good luck.

I saw a little bit of footage last night on Fox of the Hawks training. The story was about Ben McEvoy but what I noticed was Luke Hodge barking instructions to his team mates at training about a set play and what he expects them to do.

No doubt they have the skills and talent but they are tactically as good as any team that's ever played the game and I reckon Luke Hodge is going to make one hell of a coach and Hawthorn probably have a succession plan already mapped out for him to take over from Clarko.

DD wrote: It absolutely sickens me that Hawthorn keep managing to find a way to win and put themselves into another flag winning position but they do it that often it can't be good luck.

I saw a little bit of footage last night on Fox of the Hawks training. The story was about Ben McEvoy but what I noticed was Luke Hodge barking instructions to his team mates at training about a set play and what he expects them to do.

No doubt they have the skills and talent but they are tactically as good as any team that's ever played the game and I reckon Luke Hodge is going to make one hell of a coach and Hawthorn probably have a succession plan already mapped out for him to take over from Clarko.

They are a great team, though in all sports luck does have its part to play, and be it umpires or wonky bounce, the Hawks have been blessed this year