Victory against Brisbane & Adelaide can get us into the 8

[Ramps]

I just did a ladder predictor, if we can defeat Brisbane next week and defeat the crows in Adelaide, we have a really big chance to make the 8. I believe these 2 games are the 2 most important games coming up. Of course I have us winning against Freo and Melbourne late in the season.

[Francois Jackson]

Massive next week!!
we always match up well against brisbane so thats a good sign.

[Hellenic Tiger]

We need to win next week however. That prediction leaves us with 11.5. North and St Kilda won which did us no favours. Hopefully Port beat the Crows tomorrow and that may leave us with the opportunity to gleefully accaept one of 3 spots up for grabs provided we win one of Hawthorn or Adelaide. Then again Geelong will have two big games in a row against Dogs and Hawks and may be emotionally and mentally down to us the following week. Unlikely but who knows, but right now we are in the mix and next week is another elimination final. We got rid of our qualifying conqueror in 2001 today lets give our preliminary final conqueror from the same seasoin the same heartbreaking treatment.

[Infamy]

I think Brisbane & Adelaide are the ones most likely to drop out of the 8, not StKilda & North, despite their wins this week. We have to play both too, so winning those games will go a long way towards getting into the 8.

We need Port Adelaide to win

[mightytiges]

Relying on other sides to lose is always hard as results never go exactly the way you expect them to go. Who would have thought 3 weeks ago that the Saints would beat Hawthorn.

We did our part but so far all those sides vying for the last 3 spots in the Eight have won too so we haven't caught up. We've got to hope today Port's showdown pride and a chance to stuff up their crosstown rival's finals hopes overrides thoughts of tanking. If Adelaide wins then sides 5th-8th only need to win half their remaining 6 games to knock us out even if we were to win 4 of our last 6.   

[one-eyed]

Carlton lost by 2 points  so they're out of the finals race and we stay above them.

[Tigermonk]

Port Adelaide have beaten Adelaide 

[Smokey]

Port Adelaide have beaten Adelaide 

From a team we were told was tanking when we beat them.  Funny thing that tanking.

[mightytiges]

The win today cost Port their priority pick too so there's no reason now for them to tank. They also play 3-4 of the sides around us trying to get into the finals. Hopefully they can be a nuisance and do us a favour.

Only a game out of the top 8 now and we have a slightly better % than North at the moment but as infamy said Brisbane and Adelaide are the most likely ones that we have to get past to make the Eight. They're both shakey at the moment and we play them so we have some control over our own destiny from that point of view. North and St Kilda both have reasonable draws to get the wins they need.

The next 3 weeks will decide our fate. Beat both the Lions and Crows and we should have a good chance of being in the Eight after round 19 and then hold on with wins over Freo and Melbourne at the 'G.

Rich vs: Bris (Dome), Geel (Dome), Adel (AAMI), Haw (MCG), Freo (MCG), Melb (MCG)
Bris vs: Rich (Dome), Nth (Carrara), Haw (Tassie), Dogs (Gabba), Carl (Gabba), Syd (SCG)
Adel vs: Syd (SCG), Carl (AAMI), Rich (AAMI), Ess (Dome), Saints (Dome), Dogs (AAMI)

[tiogar]

It's a fascinating race for the 8 with everyone from The magpies as high as 5th to the blues as low as 11th possibly in the mix and either losing out of getting there.

I think we should not discount beating either the Cats or hawks. They have effectively made the 4 and must be focussed on september. They will not be totally up for all games.

Richmond is so used to deflating its support and letting us down that it is hard to be bullish or confident but we really do have a chance VS the Lions who are no better than we are. hopefully we can transfer the Punt Road End athmosphere from last quarter v Essendon to the Doom.

[Tigermonk]

Port Adelaide have beaten Adelaide 

From a team we were told was tanking when we beat them.  Funny thing that tanking.

Yeah Port cant get what they want now cause other teams want the same & have better chances to get it so Port played for the pride of thier city & supporters

[mightytiges]

It's a fascinating race for the 8 with everyone from The magpies as high as 5th to the blues as low as 11th possibly in the mix and either losing out of getting there.

I think we should not discount beating either the Cats or hawks. They have effectively made the 4 and must be focussed on september. They will not be totally up for all games.

Richmond is so used to deflating its support and letting us down that it is hard to be bullish or confident but we really do have a chance VS the Lions who are no better than we are. hopefully we can transfer the Punt Road End athmosphere from last quarter v Essendon to the Doom.

You're right toigar that the race for the last 4 spots in the Eight is wide open. Hopefully people start jumping on board this week after a few wins and we can turn the Dome into a mini-fortress. A win would only have us 1/2 a game out  . The only thing I disagree with is I can't see us getting anywhere near Geelong. The Cats are so far ahead of everyone else it's not funny and can win by just going up a gear when they have to. They blew us away in just quarter last time.