Finals Action

jim · **Joined:** Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:21 pm **Posts:** 8217

Whether we make it or not it's certainly nice being able to talk about it.

SA Blue · **Posted:** Thu Jun 12, 2008 3:10 pm

jim wrote:

Whether we make it or not it's certainly nice being able to talk about it.

I was just thinking the same thing.

I don't know about others but I used to look at the draw trying to figure out if we would miss the spoon. I got very sick of that and it was a relief this year to know I don't have to worry about it.

Just for the record we are 4 games and big % from the spoon!

Molly · **Posted:** Thu Jun 12, 2008 3:13 pm

Jim and SA Blue make good points.

This is the first year I have looked at the ladder since 2004. It is also the first time I have looked ahead in the draw since 2001. It is a great change to get to halfway and feel like you are still in a season.

Yeah we'll probably miss the finals... but I like the incremental steps.

And it is great to be able to declare to yourself 'if we make the finals, I am going to book flights down to watch the game'. Just refreshing!

Big Kahuna Boot · **Posted:** Thu Jun 12, 2008 3:24 pm

..young kids do tend to taper off later in the season, true.. ..but, we've also got players coming into the senior side late into the season.. ..arms has only played 2 senior games and looks good, pfieff comes and goes so shouldn't be halfworn out either, plus walker's yet to play.. ..so that's 3 players with longevity.. ..i reckon we'll be able to rest tiring players and bring in some freshness as our season goes so hopefully we shouldn't taper off..

mjonc · **Posted:** Thu Jun 12, 2008 5:55 pm

Ok if we beat Collingwood I might begin to think finals is a possibility, might :lol:

verbs · **Posted:** Thu Jun 12, 2008 5:59 pm

mjonc wrote:

Ok if we beat Collingwood I might begin to think finals is a possibility, might :lol:

That's my launching point. 5 wins in a row (beating St Kilda, finally!). Repeating the effort against Port. And at least one upset against Sydney, North, Brisbane or Hawthorn. :wink:

jt · **Posted:** Thu Jun 12, 2008 6:10 pm

verbs wrote:

mjonc wrote:

Ok if we beat Collingwood I might begin to think finals is a possibility, might :lol:

That's my launching point. 5 wins in a row (beating St Kilda, finally!). Repeating the effort against Port. And at least one upset against Sydney, North, Brisbane or Hawthorn. :wink:

5 in a row's a tough ask...how longs it been since we've ever done that??

But all winnable games coming up...Collingwood, Essendon*, Richmond and Saints. Id settle for 3 wins out of the next 4

blueman · **Joined:** Mon Feb 28, 2005 6:28 pm **Posts:** 2220

In terms of our chances of getting into the finals this year, the Collingwood match is really an 8 point game.

However, if we dont win against them, it wont matter a great deal in the longer term.

This is because everything is trending towards the outcomes that I have been sensing since 2001.

But the strange thing about looking into the future is that it is possible to be in circumstances that have been drifting towards an outcome for a long time - then all of a sudden, without warning there is a twist in the tale - and something unexpected happens.

All this is of course the exercise of individual free will.

But the reason that I think that Carlton will ultimately prevail is because of the culture at our club.

As long as the players have developed to the point where their footballing ability, their teamwork and their commitment and endeavour is like that of a top 4 team, the premiership culture at Carlton will provide the extra edge that is needed to win a flag.

It would be an easier task to win a flag from a top 4 position, but sometimes a team might happen to click into place when they are 7th or 8th.

camel · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:10 pm

I'm not fussed if we make finals or not.

So long as our players concentrate on improving and playing more consistent football. If they can play four quarters like they did in the last against Port we will win more than we lose. If we do that the wins/losses/finals equation will take care of itself.

But, I'm not sure we will play that well over four quarters on a consistent basis. And that's what we need to work on.

jt · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:24 pm

yeh cmon guys we've been shit the last 5 years and even last year finished what 2nd last?? Big effort to go from 2nd last to top 8 doubt many clubs have done it before i would already call our progress this year a rapid rise as it is. Finals in 09 for sure and thats when the fun really begins.

GWS · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:29 pm

We've won 5 out of the last 8 matches.

From memory only the top 3 and Brisbane have done better over the last two months.

I still expect us to just miss out but if we could win 3 out of the next 4 we'd still be an outside chance.

Momentum's a funny thing.

Tough run home though.

GWS · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:30 pm

Ouch!

Caught on the picket... :oops:

camel · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:36 pm

jt wrote:

yeh cmon guys we've been shit the last 5 years and even last year finished what 2nd last?? Big effort to go from 2nd last to top 8 doubt many clubs have done it before i would already call our progress this year a rapid rise as it is. Finals in 09 for sure and thats when the fun really begins.

I think there was a spell in the early 2000s where for 2 or 3 years in a row the wooden spooners went to GF participants in a 3 year turn around.

ryan2000 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:40 pm

If we are gonna make the finals, the next 3-5 rounds are must wins (the last couple of weeks are tough against the likes of Hawthorn).

If we can get a run on and win against Collingwood / Essendon* & Richmond (all HIGH possibilities) we could effective 'break away' from the bottom 4-6 teams.

If we can put in some good performences against the likes of StKilda / Bulldogs etc etc, we could puch our way into the bottom half of the 8.

We are a big possibility, and should be striving for it. These kids need to forget what it's like to loose and start to get a taste of sucssess..............they'll only end up wanting more.

And so what if no team has gone from 2nd last to the finals in the space of a season*, doesn't say that it can't ever happen. Why can't we?

(* Fitzroy actually went from last to grand finalists if i remember correctly???)

DIAMOTISM · **Posted:** Sun Jun 15, 2008 6:04 pm

The momentum has started. The next 3 weeks are vital for FA.

C'mon Blues!

jezzarules · **Joined:** Mon Feb 28, 2005 1:09 pm **Posts:** 5987

Would be nice to play Collingwood in first week of finals.

exsing · **Posted:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:41 pm

DIAMOTISM wrote:

The momentum has started. The next 3 weeks are vital for FA.

C'mon Blues!

Even if we don't win the next couple of games, stranger things have happened.

We lost to Bombers and Tigers but defeated Freo away, Port away and also Collingwood. We can very possibly cause more upsets in the second half.

I prefer going into games as underdogs...the ones we are expected to win always scares me.

We will start out as hot favourites this week against Essendon* and that worries me.

DownUnderChick · **Posted:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:50 pm

exsing wrote:

DIAMOTISM wrote:

The momentum has started. The next 3 weeks are vital for FA.

C'mon Blues!

Even if we don't win the next couple of games, stranger things have happened.

We lost to Bombers and Tigers but defeated Freo away, Port away and also Collingwood. We can very possibly cause more upsets in the second half.

I prefer going into games as underdogs...the ones we are expected to win always scares me.

We will start out as hot favourites this week against Essendon* and that worries me.

There is vengence in mind for this game after losing to them in Rd 3. :evil:

Ratts will remind them of that.

We will starve their forward line and contrary to popular belief Wunderlich is not going to stop a turtle much less Judd or my Smurph.

Not many teams have more than 1 specialist tagger. You need a few against us now. :-D