In the top 4

[Penelope]

st kilda game.........

[one-eyed]

The run home: Richmond isn't the only outside threat to the top four

Ashley Browne 
afl.com.au
August 3, 2015

6. Richmond

44 points (11 wins, six losses) 112.4 per cent

You have to laugh. The Tigers record arguably the best win of the Damien Hardwick era over the rampant Hawthorn on Friday night, yet they drop one place on the ladder. The Tigers are in rare form, but face a tricky trip to Adelaide on Friday night that they have to win to maintain their top four hopes. And their final round clash with North Melbourne is now also shaping as a Friday night game, with the twist that it will be at Etihad Stadium as a Tiger home game but on North's home deck.

The run home:
Rd 19: Adelaide at Adelaide Oval
Rd 20: Gold Coast at the MCG
Rd 21: Collingwood at the MCG
Rd 22: Essendon at the MCG
Rd 23: North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium

4. Sydney Swans

48 points (12 wins, five losses) 115.9 per cent

The Swans appeared to regain their mojo with an emphatic win over the Crows at the SCG on Saturday evening and on that form a 5-0 finish to the home and away season is possible. A top two berth would rely on West Coast losing twice and the Hawks losing at least once. Still, that scenario is plausible, so expect the Swans to press hard from here. Saturday night at the Cattery should be a beauty, particularly if Adam Goodes returns. It is also one of the few grounds where Lance Franklin has yet to play an AFL game.

The run home:
Rd 19: Geelong at Simonds Stadium
Rd 20: Collingwood at the SCG
Rd 21: GWS at Spotless Stadium
Rd 22: St Kilda at Etihad Stadium
Rd 23: Gold Coast at the SCG


5. Western Bulldogs

44 points (11 wins, six losses) 113.1 per cent

The 87-point win over Essendon on Sunday improved the Doggies' percentage by seven per cent and enabled them to leapfrog Richmond in fifth place. Their hopes of a home elimination final continue to grow by the week. They should certainly win three of five from here to cement that berth, but the Dogs will fancy themselves on the pacy deck at Patersons Stadium against West Coast and have the tools to beat the Kangaroos as well. Win four of their last five and the top four comes into play as well.

The run home:
Rd 19: Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium
Rd 20: Melbourne at Etihad Stadium
Rd 21: West Coast at Domain Stadium
Rd 22: North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium
Rd 23: Brisbane Lions at the Gabba

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-08-02/the-run-home-beware-the-flying-bulldog

[big tone]

We would have to win every game to make top 4 IMO..
Will most likely end up 5th.
Makes that Houli brain fade hurt even more...
Anyway, just pumped to see the Tiges playing good footy..

[Dougeytherichmondfan]

We would have to win every game to make top 4 IMO..
Will most likely end up 5th.
Makes that Houli brain fade hurt even more...
Anyway, just pumped to see the Tiges playing good footy..

Hate to blame failings of the season on one bloke but it certainly does hurt. Can we attribute the intensity of friday nights win to the loss the previous week? I see us and the dogs winning 3-4 of the remaining games, which makes percentage all the more important.

[mightytiges]

We need the Cats to knock off the Swans this week down at Simonds if we are going to make top 4. That's going to tougher now with Stevie Johnson suspended.

[Dougeytherichmondfan]

I honestly think we can finish outside the top 4 and still give it a massive shake. A possibility of 2 trips to the west in 3 games is likely in either scenario. Just need to make sure we don't run into North.

[WilliamPowell]

We would have to win every game to make top 4 IMO..
Will most likely end up 5th.
Makes that Houli brain fade hurt even more...
Anyway, just pumped to see the Tiges playing good footy..

Would think the losses to Demons, Bulldogs hurt more; game was should have won

Also through giving away % percentage 3 weeks ago -v- the Saints

And shouldn't forget the insipid effort against N0rt, not just a loss but a good whack of % as well

Easy to put the blame on one person but there's been a number of games that have been just as costly

[big tone]

We would have to win every game to make top 4 IMO..
Will most likely end up 5th.
Makes that Houli brain fade hurt even more...
Anyway, just pumped to see the Tiges playing good footy..

Would think the losses to Demons, Bulldogs hurt more; game was should have won

Also through giving away % percentage 3 weeks ago -v- the Saints

And shouldn't forget the insipid effort against N0rt, not just a loss but a good whack of % as well

Easy to put the blame on one person but there's been a number of games that have been just as costly

Don't kid yourself- we were crap against North and they did a number on us...
Melbourne also were to good in the second half.
Houli's brain fade with 40 seconds to go will most likely cost us a top 4 spot. He kicks it down the line and we win the game. The facts are we were in front with 40 seconds to go even with our poor kicking for goal but Houli cost us in the end!
The other games you mention were just poor games which teams have. Costly yes but we were never in a position to actually win them with less than a minute to play.
So I will blame one person because he did cost us 4 points by going outside of the team rules.
Stop being a goody two shoes and call a spade a spade! 

[MintOnLamb]

We would have to win every game to make top 4 IMO..
Will most likely end up 5th.
Makes that Houli brain fade hurt even more...
Anyway, just pumped to see the Tiges playing good footy..

Would think the losses to Demons, Bulldogs hurt more; game was should have won

Also through giving away % percentage 3 weeks ago -v- the Saints

And shouldn't forget the insipid effort against N0rt, not just a loss but a good whack of % as well

Easy to put the blame on one person but there's been a number of games that have been just as costly

Don't kid yourself- we were crap against North and they did a number on us...
Melbourne also were to good in the second half.
Houli's brain fade with 40 seconds to go will most likely cost us a top 4 spot. He kicks it down the line and we win the game. The facts are we were in front with 40 seconds to go even with our poor kicking for goal but Houli cost us in the end!
The other games you mention were just poor games which teams have. Costly yes but we were never in a position to actually win them with less than a minute to play.
So I will blame one person because he did cost us 4 points by going outside of the team rules.
Stop being a goody two shoes and call a spade a spade! 

I am with WP, sure the microscope made Houli look bad -  but he was a huge help to win the game against Haw.
Would you rather have won the Freo game and lost to Hawthorn which was a likely scenario?

Whatever happens I am thrilled to see us playing so well and with such obvious "team spirit' .. Go the Fighting Fury!!

[Damo]

Win all and could topple West Coast.

They have Hawthorn and Freo next two, followed by a trip to Adelaide.

Hopefully their bubble bursts

[pmac21]

I just want to win Friday night to guarantee a spot in the 8!!!
Be nice to cruise into the finals

[WilliamPowell]

Don't kid yourself- we were crap against North and they did a number on us...
Melbourne also were to good in the second half.
Houli's brain fade with 40 seconds to go will most likely cost us a top 4 spot. He kicks it down the line and we win the game. The facts are we were in front with 40 seconds to go even with our poor kicking for goal but Houli cost us in the end!
The other games you mention were just poor games which teams have. Costly yes but we were never in a position to actually win them with less than a minute to play.
So I will blame one person because he did cost us 4 points by going outside of the team rules.
Stop being a goody two shoes and call a spade a spade! 

At least you are consistent, can't end a discussion without a little insult for good measure. We disagree no need for the cheap shot

And sorry I forgot that the only person who cost us the game agaisnt Freo the other week was Houli. Nothing or no one else contributed to it; the 6 posters, the 10.18 kicking for goal. No doubt that if even 2 of those posters were goals we still would have been in the same situation with 40 seconds to go, right?

And re the N0rt, Demons and Bulldogs games; yes teams are allowed to have bad games but to not turn up to play as is in the case of the N0rt game is a poor excuse IMHO. You think they did a number on us, I think we were non competitive and there is no excuse for that; even more so when you look at how we are playing now

 

[(•))(©™]

This team is better off finishing 5-8.

[Francois Jackson]

can see it already. Playing the gypsys in round 23 and the first week of the finals.

[big tone]

Don't kid yourself- we were crap against North and they did a number on us...
Melbourne also were to good in the second half.
Houli's brain fade with 40 seconds to go will most likely cost us a top 4 spot. He kicks it down the line and we win the game. The facts are we were in front with 40 seconds to go even with our poor kicking for goal but Houli cost us in the end!
The other games you mention were just poor games which teams have. Costly yes but we were never in a position to actually win them with less than a minute to play.
So I will blame one person because he did cost us 4 points by going outside of the team rules.
Stop being a goody two shoes and call a spade a spade! 

At least you are consistent, can't end a discussion without a little insult for good measure. We disagree no need for the cheap shot

And sorry I forgot that the only person who cost us the game agaisnt Freo the other week was Houli. Nothing or no one else contributed to it; the 6 posters, the 10.18 kicking for goal. No doubt that if even 2 of those posters were goals we still would have been in the same situation with 40 seconds to go, right?

And re the N0rt, Demons and Bulldogs games; yes teams are allowed to have bad games but to not turn up to play as is in the case of the N0rt game is a poor excuse IMHO. You think they did a number on us, I think we were non competitive and there is no excuse for that; even more so when you look at how we are playing now

I called you a goody two shoes. Hardly an insult that should hurt a grown mans feelings.
And at least you are consistent, banging on about other stuff that has nothing to do with what I posted. As I said, if Houli kicks it down the line with 40 seconds to go we win the game. And we are in the top 4. All that other crap about hitting the post is irrelevant if Houli sticks to team rules with 40 seconds to go and kicks it down the line. What Houli did was a massive mistake that most people would agree but hitting the post 6 times is just bad luck and part of footy. Even for captains which you seem to think should never ever miss a shot for goal.
I also notice you haven't mentioned leadership this week, we must have won. Looking forward to hearing what Cotchin did or didn't do in our next loss.