dont discounrt th eswans mt, they were robbed a week off! they would have beaten the eagles if the umpiring was fair and its a damn disgrace the afle can even allow such bad umpiring determine a game. swans can play many styles of football, they can close it in and play exciting fast running fast scoring footy, they play each game according top a game plan that will help them win. swnas will make the grand final no doubt about it, the flag will be decided b/w the saints swans and port
lets face it, port are better than an 8th team and the roos are no way the 5th best team!
Yep that umpiring decision was unbelievable. Umpires typical favour the home side heavily in Perth and Adelaide.
I would love to see the Swannies finally score a flag after 72 years however they more often than not play that high possession keepings off style which keeps the scores low and tight. It always gives the opposition a chance to roll them. Plus apart from O'Loughlin and Goodes (when in form) they don't really have any classy gamebreaking matchwinners. Although I'd love to it happen I can't them knocking off the Saints on a dewy M.C.G. night in the Prelim.
On the other side of the ledger Port are the danger. Playing at home this week then an out of form Eagles the week after.
the way i see it melb and roos wont make the finals next yr and geelong may not either , that leaves room 4 the tigers doggies and freo to make it in 2006
Laidley has topped up with recycled players the pass few years so yeah like us post Northey/pre-Wallace they are bound to fall down again sooner or later. Colbert's gone. Archer, Rocca, etc nearing the end of their careers. Problem is we seem to cop them when they're full of confidence
. A surprise dropper could be the Crows. They had a dream run with injuries this year until losing Hudson the week before. They may stay up next year but eventually Ricciuto, Macleod, Edwards, Hart, etc will soon give it.
Freo won't be there IMO. Sheesh if you can't crack 12 wins with 10 home games at Subi, with Pavlich in career best form and with a midfield of Haselby, Bell, Carr, Carr, ... there's something majorly wrong. Connolly's another dud coach who's topped up by getting Carr, Schoefield over there by giving away all their best picks.
My only certainites for the top 8 next year are the Saints and Eagles. Port probably next as they have the class to get there but then again they on;y just made it this year. The other spots are up for grabs depending on injuries, list changes and surprise packets. Most sides in the AFL are mediocre.
