Pies a chance to make the 2015 finals in a crowded race

[Golden Gordon]

I don't think too many of us thought we'd be a realistic proposition to make the finals this season. 2015 was about rebuilding and putting games into our kids. So far they have exceeded expectations and things are going along ahead of plans. Well done to all, especially Nathan Buckley.

But some teams look certainties to make the eight already. Here is my list.

Certainties (5):
Fremantle
Hawthorn
West Coast
Port Adelaide
Sydney

Strong chance (2 or 3):
GWS Giants (on form they are certainties at the moment)
Adelaide and/or North Melbourne

Good chance (only 1):
Collingwood, Western Bulldogs or Geelong

That leaves possibly just one spot up for grabs and that spot belongs to Collingwood. Yes we can make the eight and it will give our kids wonderful finals experience. The Tigers aren't a serious threat, neither are Essendon, so the only real competitors for that final spot in the eight are the Western Bulldogs and Geelong.

All the same, being a realist, it will be no shame is we don't make the eight this year. The top eleven sides are all legitimate in my opinion.

Let's make sure we bury Richmond once and for all tomorrow.

[Dangles]

I don't know about West Coast being certainties. If Kennedy's bung arm forces him off the field they'll struggle. Having Port lose another game was handy last week. If teams like them keep dropping games and we can stay in the top four until we get Reid, Sidebottom and Greenwood back you never know what we might do.

[Bob Sugar]

For me it was top 8 or bust for Buckley, I was happy to give him a bit of leeway with losing Keefe and Thomas, but with our start I'll be bitterly disappointed if we miss finals, I think top 8 is a pass mark depending on how many more of the kids Davoren (mates with) up.

[woftam]

Bit early. We have only played 6 games & beaten Carlton, St Kilda, Essendon & Brisbane. Finals are a long way off yet. One week at a time.

[Az]

Without a real backline, west toast will collapse if they make it to finals.

I don't think anyone, especially pies fans, expected to make the finals this year. Seems the only mob who has been rating us this season is the media. Nobody is disillusioned about where we're at, even Ed. Of course it won't stop everyone from saying how we (the supporters) got too far ahead of ourselves.

[David]

I think we're a chance, but I can think of 8-10 teams that would be ahead of us right now (not GWS, who I reckon will have an up and down year and miss the 8, but certainly Adelaide, North, West Coast, the Bulldogs and arguably Geelong and Essendon). If we're good enough, we'll make it, but we'll have to lift a gear.

Hopefully getting a few players back from injury will see us start to threaten some of the top teams. Otherwise, 9-12 is where I see us.

[neil]

I thought we could make the 8 based on our draw and how successful we were last year pre injuries.

[yin-YANG]

West Coast are no certainties. They will beat average or poor teams at home but otherwise it is a slog for them to make the 8 IMO.

Cats, Dogs, and Crows look OK but could easily dip so the Pies are certainly in the mix. A few injuries and those 3 teams look a lot more vulnerable.

So the top 4 teams remain…

Freo
Port
Swans
Hawks

with Roos looking like the best next.

So with the race for the next 3 spots is a hot one and the pies are in the mix. We have some top players to add to the current team when Sidey, Reid, Greenwood get back and we seem to have good depth around the ground.


The Tigers have fallen back to the pack with the cats and bummers so they join Dogs, Pies, Giants and Crows looking for a finals spot. There are still 13 teams in the hunt at this stage. The rest are a mathematical chance but not a realistic one.

ATM the pies don't seem as strong as Cats or Crows but with our young list we could see a lift over the year.

My current prediction is…

Freo
Hawks
Port
Swans
Roos
Crows
Cats
Pies
Dogs
Giants
Eagles
Bummers
Tigers

the rest…
Dees
Suns
Saints
Lions
Blues (spooners)

[What'sinaname]

We have a nice soft draw and need to make the most of it.

I see us equal to WCE - we can beat up on poorer teams but struggle against the better ones.

Will be tough as the following nine teams have a good chance of making the 8. We need one or two of these teams to fall over. If they do, it;s us or WCE that can take the spot. I also expect the Tigers to come good at some stage.

Freo
Swans
Hawks
Giants
Port
Swans
North
Crows
Cats

[John Wren]

[yin-YANG]

[HAL]

No one else expects the Tigers to come good at some stage.

[Piethagoras' Theorem]

HAL, you speak much truth

[HAL]

Thanks for your criticism, FrankieGoesToCollingwood.

[Golden Gordon]