Keep fighting!!

[Presti35]

Collingwood sit 11th on the ladder. 2 wins behind 8th placed Sandringham. The highest we could possibly land is 8th as 7th, Bendigo, are already too far infront.

Collingwoods run home:
- Vs Williamstown (2nd).
- BYE.
- Vs Frankston (Last).
- Vs Geelong (Second Last).
- Vs Bendigo (7th).
- Vs Sandringham (8th).
- BYE.

Sandringhams run home:
- BYE.
- Vs Port Melbourne (1st).
- Vs Werribee (5th).
- Vs Casey (6th).
- Vs Box Hill (9th).
- Vs Collingwood (11th).
- Vs Geelong (Sedond Last).

The two byes hurt. And we'd practicaly need to win the remaining 5 games of the season.

After all that, I still think we're a better side than everyone from 7th down. But we may have let too many chances go past.

If only we won against Box Hill last week, and Port yesterday!! Not to mention that Coburg game!!

Can we make up 2 games on Sandringham??

[Dave The Man]

Well going by yesterday's Sandies Effort I think we can

[Fire Up]

for me im not really fussed if the vfl team make the finals or not. the main thing is that the boys in the vfl team know their role for when/if they come into the senior side. just like how rounds, fasolo, keeffe. have done the past few weeks.

[Presti35]

True, but i'd also like to make it for another reason.

If we dont make the VFL finals, it means that our last VFL game will be the 20th of August.

So we'll have no indication from our reserves if changes need to be made to the senior side.

And i'd like to see them get some finals expierience, even if it is VFL.

An elimination final against Bendigo would be great!

[Fire Up]

we wont be playing finals this year in vfl. i can't see tarks being a coach for more then what he is contracted for the vfl team. then again pies gave him the gig only coz they cut his contract short by 1 year and browny walked out. for me tarks is not aggressive enough, talks softly to players like he is team mates with them and is not up close to a player if he makes mistake.

[MagpieBat]

Interesting analysis, Presti.

As you noted, Sandringham sit in 8th spot (5 wins, 7 losses). The other contender of note is Box Hill who sit in 9th spot (4 wins, 8 losses).

I've done some rough ladder predicting as to how I think each of the remaining matches for the Zebras and the Hawks might go. I ended up with Box Hill finishing the season with 5 wins and 13 losses. Sandringham fared better with 8 wins and 10 losses (assuming, of course, we can beat them in round 21).

The problem for us is that Sandy would end up with the same win-loss numbers as us if we sweep all five of our remaining games. The final spot would of course be decided on percentage, and that's where Sandy have the jump on us (90.66 versus 75.38... talk about anemic).

Basically, we need to win all the remaining games, and we need to win BIG! I think its safe to say that we can pump hapless Frankston, and perhaps Geelong, but other than that, I can't see where our percentage would be made up.

Sandy would need to lose badly in their remaining games, and I mean big time. They would need to get pumped by Port (likely), Werribee (toss-up, which Werribee side will come to play, the premiership contenders or the deadbeats?) and Casey (possible). I've given them the games against Box Hill and Geelong.

Something that we have going for us is that the last of our senior list injuries are due to come off the injury list by VFL round 21 (Didak, Beams and Dawes). Assuming nobody else breaks or ruptures something between now and the end of the season, we'll have a couple of extra depth players in the VFL as our big guns return to the senior side. Would be handy...

I would say that we won't be playing VFL finals this year, on balance. But the stars could still align. You just never know...

[Fire Up]

imagine a vfl team with dids in it this week. then next week another injured player and then by the end a few players playing to get into afl team

[Presti35]

Coburg and Geelong winning has kept us in 11th spot.

8th spot up for grabs. Hawks in the Box seat.
2 teams on 5 wins.
4 teams (Including Collingwood) on 4 wins.

That loss to Box Hill will come back to bite us!!

Bit sucky that 6 wins gets you into finals though.

[MagpieBat]

Werribee beat Sandringham today, so Sandy will have to win from hereon out to make the eight.

And Coburg just showed that they can beat top eight sides when they want to. They have Box Hill next week. Then they face each other the following week

If we can beat the Cats and the Bombers, conceivably we could be in the eight if the Zebs and the Hawks either draw or Sandy win a narrow one (percentage the deciding factor).

Then we have to beat Sandy in round 21... Hawks then have the Seagulls and the Borough in round 21 and 22.

It's possible...

Ladder prediction:

8th - Collingwood 7 wins, 11 losses (28 points)
9th - Sandringham 6 wins, 12 losses (24 points)
10th - Box Hill 5 wins, 13 losses (20 points)