[quote="Pacman"]Well Rd 17 has sealed the top 5 for 2012 in Div 7. Here are my thoughts - only opinion and speculation as well!!
Mitchell Park - Top spot, week off and straight into the semis against the winner of Tea Tree Gully and Henley. Very well deserved and have been the form team all year and are the firm flag favorites going into the Major Round. Will take a world of beating - starting with the daunting task of shutting down the 2 best forwards in the comp - McDonnell brothers.
Tea Tree Gully - 2nd or 3rd dependent on the results of Rd 18. After a sluggish start to the year have performed strongly in the last half of the year - biggest issue is now being able to settle their team down heading into the Major Round - With all four of their sides playing finals, form and injury in the higher grades may determine their finish.
Henley - 3rd or 2nd dependent on results of Rd 18. Have been the silent assassins of Div 7. Have gone about their business and are really heading into finals with strong form. The only team to defeat Mitchell Park. Again like Tea Tree Gully are affected by their A's and B's with selections. TTG v Henley in Qualifying Final will be a belter of a game.
Angle Vale - Their best is good enough, but their confidence going forward would have been dented with an 8 goal loss at home to fellow finalist TTG today. Rumour has it TTG were without Chambers, Vansoest and a couple others playing B's as well. Is a good chance against North Pines in the Elimination Final, but will struggle to beat either Henley or TTG the week after.
North Pines - Again on their day can be very dominant, but it is the inconsistency not only week to week, but quarter to quarter that will be their worst enemy. Are good enough when they are up and running, but like Angle Vale may struggle to get past the 2nd week if they are successful in the Elimination Final against the Owls.
It shapes up to be a fantastic finals series with all 5 teams very deserving of their positions. Obviously still one more minor round game to come, but thought now that the final 5 is sorted is a good chance to get slightly ahead of the Div

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You are very astute Pacman.
Mitchell Park - Yes, but still vulnerable as shown by Henley. The Maccas are a key and you can shut down 1 but 2?
TTG - Fraser, Quinn, Chambers and Vansoest have been big ins, and if they all play will be dangerous.
Henley - Henley are the only C grade team who are a Div 1 club and you never know what you are going to get on game day.
Angle Vale - Made a Prelim final in 2011, but you must question their depth, along with North Pines. Oddly enough they played each other in last years Elim final. Both their B's are not playing finals and that could be the telling factor deep in to Sept.
Personally, good luck to all the teams who will participate in finals and those who won't, because Div 7 has been fantastic this year and the improvement at clubs like Smithfield and Flinders Uni shows just hard people work behind the scenes to make their clubs viable. To the volunteers, God Bless you all.