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Freo, if they beat Carlton this week, should probably make the top 4 when you look at the run home for Essendon. Wouldn't like to make it on the back of The Bombers loosing premiership points though. Freo aren't playing that well at the moment, just doing enough to win. There is plenty of possible upside with Pav, McPharlin and Ballantyne coming back and Sandilands will improve over the next 5 weeks. Hard to see Freo beating Hawthorne in Melbourne the first week, but stranger things have happened.

JB wrote: Freo, if they beat Carlton this week, should probably make the top 4 when you look at the run home for Essendon. Wouldn't like to make it on the back of The Bombers loosing premiership points though. Freo aren't playing that well at the moment, just doing enough to win. There is plenty of possible upside with Pav, McPharlin and Ballantyne coming back and Sandilands will improve over the next 5 weeks. Hard to see Freo beating Hawthorne in Melbourne the first week, but stranger things have happened.

They could actually finish 3rd because both Sydney and Essendon have tougher draws than Freo have. So that would be Geelong in the first week, which I think they would prefer to Hawthorn. The problem with the Dockers ( as was with St Kilda when Lyon coached them) is that they can dominate a game of footy but still keep their opposition interested because they dont hit the scoreboard heavily. It was a bit different last night though. Apparently Adelaide won every single match indicator including inside 50's and probably would have won that game if they had not wasted so many scoring opportunities.

Of course they will any half wit can see they will, Duffields story in the west was crap...

The dockers have a dream run home playing easy beats in all their last few games, the top 4 all play each other so a lot will give there.

Shoud finish 4 th at worst , Essendon have issues as well and will probably be kicked out.

Agree Bazza, I can't see why the dorks can't win their remaining games and with the peppy boys situation, they should shoo it in.

If Freo don't beat Carlton this week, then they probably don't deserve to finish top 4. As I said before, I wouldn't like us to finish top 4 if it was because Essendon lost their points, it wouldn't be deserved. They should be good enough without Pavlich and McPharlin to beat a side which is, at best, a top 8 side. This should be a game that Freo wins with a bit of space between them and the Blues. It shouldn't be a matter of a point or two, it should be a comfortable margin of a few goals or so. It is up to them now to finally show if they are good enough to worry the Hawks, Geelong and Sydney. If they lose then the whole year may amount to very little. I believe Lyon won't let that happen. It has been a long wait to see a genuinely good Freo side, hope it's worth it.

I have a feeling Carlton will beat Freo this week. Obviously Freo at their best playing their best would win this game 9/10 times, but McPharlin and Pavlich out are two big losses, they have been able to cover Pavlich for a while, although kicking a big winning score hasnt seemed possible. Covering McPharlin has been a lot harder and it has shown in their peformances.

Carlton fighting for a spot in the 8, with a heap of speed and run just might trouble Freo. Will be a great game to watch, Freo trying to suffocate Carlton and Carlton will be trying to use their run and dash to avoid it.

Would love to see Freo win, but just have a feeling Carlton will get up.

Got your wish Soprano, must agree with you I was worried that with both Pav and McPharlin out we might struggle. Lyon has done a great job with this team, they all seem to know what their job is and just do it.

Pav has barely played this year so not sure why you were worried about his absence? Freo are doing well without him.
McPharlin definitely yes though.