The draw so far has helped us to 2nd spot

[Bleedblackanwhite]

I thought winning games of footy is the trick.

[Piesnchess]

Even if we beat Wet Toast we will still cop shit, that's the way it is with the Pies, such is life.!

[AN_Inkling]

It's obvious that a soft schedule has helped us to 2nd on the ladder. We had a soft draw courtesy of finishing down the ladder last year. In addition, many of our games against the best 2018 teams are yet to come. Second addition: many teams have gone backwards from last year, making the overall comp easier.

In an even comp this kind of a break is a godsend. The Dogs and Tigers both benefited from it in their Premiership years. Some may say that the strength of the fixture doesn't matter, they are wrong. The confidence a team gets from winning helps development immeasurably. Not having to fight tooth and nail against the best every other week makes it easier to manage players through the year. The Tigers may not have become the team they have without a soft draw in 2017. The Dogs would likely have missed the 8 in 2016. Similar for us. With tough games coming up, top 8 is still not assured add in a few more and it's probably less than a 50-50 chance.

I guess the AFL likes the unpredictability and that bottom teams can look forward to moving up the ladder. It's a problem though. Without an equitable fixture we will never really know which team was the best in any particular year and have a severely compromised comp.

[RudeBoy]

Sure, some might consider we've had a relatively easy draw, but it's a subjective call.

Let's not forget in our opening 6 games we had to play an in form Hawks, last year's Prelim finalist the Giants, last years Grand finalists in the Tigers and Crows, plus the (then) improving Bombers.

We're now facing the hardest run into the finals of any team.

[Pies2016]

^^^

Pretty much agree. The other piece I would add is that the recently introduced bye before finals, now means that you can actually win the flag from outside the top four.
If you make the eight, you’re now a genuine chance to go all the way.
A bit of luck with injuries plus momentum and belief and anything can happen in September.

[HAL]

We can't all be perfect.

[AN_Inkling]

[K]

[the fuzz]

Then Brisbane beats Hawthorn.....in Tassie. That was surely penciled as a Hawks win.
Don't underestimate our wins against 'lower' teams. We have beaten the teams we should have, that the fixture has presented. That is the sign of a good team.
But, huge test to come in the next month. We'll see.

[stui magpie]

And GWS beat Richmond .

[K]

Richmond are utter crap away from home. If they win the premiership again this year, the game will be tarnished. There's always been a home-ground advantage in sport, but a winning percentage differential of 100%?? It's ridiculous.

[AN_Inkling]

[K]

^ Yes, I was going to change it to "home state". I'm pretty sure they would not survive a trip to the Cattery, either.

What you say (in your 2nd and 3rd sentences) is exactly why it is a travesty. I don't think any other premiers had such a difference in performance. It just sullies the game. It's not as if any team truly earns home-ground finals advantage (with the H&A draw being so intrinsically unfair).

[RudeBoy]

If we win our next 3 games we will be top of the ladder.....just saying.

[AN_Inkling]

^^Do that and the hype would be huge and real. Breaking Richmond's record equaling 17 game MCG streak in the process.