Any one from the geelong to the crows can win this years fla

[the joker]

sydney and the crows showed that in round 22.

[rod_rooster]

sydney and the crows showed that in round 22.

Sydney and the Crows both beat average sides who played badly. No-one from outside the top four has a realistic chance IMHO. Even if one of Hawthorn, Collingwood, Sydney or Adelaide were good enough (and none are) the odds against it happening are very remote.

[Dirko]

sydney and the crows showed that in round 22.

Sydney and the Crows both beat average sides who played badly. No-one from outside the top four has a realistic chance IMHO. Even if one of Hawthorn, Collingwood, Sydney or Adelaide were good enough (and none are) the odds against it happening are very remote.

I agree, the Adelaide/Collingwood game was not a good sign for a premiership tilt...Hawthorn were shocking against Sydney.
Sydney's football this year has been up and down, and the up's are no where as good as they were in 2006/05...
For me Geelong, WCE or Kangaroos...

[Hondo]

Since the AFL has had a final 8 (1994) only 2 teams in 13 seasons have made the GF from below the top 4

[JK]

My first thought is that noone outside the top 4 could win it either, although it wouldn't surprise me if one of them made it to the GF ... And that said I guess once you're there anything can happen.

[Aerie]

The main reason teams outside the top 4 don't win it is because they are generally not good enough. However, this year I think is an exception. West Coast have injury troubles and the rest of the teams up there are new comers so there is one spot in the Grand Final up for grabs to battle Geelong. Sydney and Adelaide would fancy there chances I reckon. After all, you can be top and lose the first week and 8th and win the first week and you can be on even footing.

[sydney-dog]

what about paying credit where credit is due

when the Cats smash a side it's well played Geelong, however Sydney dismantle the Hawks who were at that stge a top 4 side and it's "they played an average side"

Unbelievable

[Dutchy]

Sydney are the only ones who could do it from the bottom 4

[haloman]

what about paying credit where credit is due

when the Cats smash a side it's well played Geelong, however Sydney dismantle the Hawks who were at that stge a top 4 side and it's "they played an average side"

Unbelievable

As much as I have to agree SD the Cats have been doing it week in week out and comparing them with Geelong is fairly short sighted. Sydney dismantled a below par Hawthorn who were simply terrible on the day. Doen't make the Hawks a lost cause, just means they were bad on that day. Sydney played very well don't get me wrong, but I wouldn't go making any bold statements on their Flag chances just yet.
Geelong deserve to start the finals as flag favorites and I do believe they could play anyone of the other 7 sides in the GF. To be honest, my pick would be the Kangaroos with Glen Archer to win the Norm Smith in a losing side and Geelong to complete the fairytale. Port should make it if they can find a way to win this weekend, however, this shinboner spirit thing is no myth and these Kangaroo's seam to keep finding a way to win when it counts the most. Ablet Jr to take a mark in the goal square in the dying seconds to put the Cats in front after the siren. (bringing back any memories Dutchy? )
Archer = Champion
Geelong = Premiers

[Rik E Boy]

The Swans couldn't beat Collingwood two weeks ago and haven't beaten the Cats in Victoria this decade. The Crows forward line fades away to nothing once Burton and Roo go off for a rest and haven't been consistent enough all year. Nope.

regards

REB

[Hondo]

I'm with REB, how quickly we forget the Swans lost to Collingwood 2 weeks ago. I think their best is behind them.

If they beat the Pies they will have to travel to West Coast or Adelaide in round 2 and then, if they win that, they'll have the Cats probably at the G in the Prelim final

Forget it!

The Crows, however, are a different story. We want Port and Geelong to win this week because that means we play the Kangaroos in Melbourne in round 2 (more winnable than Geelong) and then Port (home final!) in the Prelim final. That's assuming we get over the Hawks obviously ....

[Aerie]

Here is a table I ripped off from bigfooty of the finalists vs other finalists this year:

Finalists vs other top 8 teams
Geelong.........7 0 3 957 786 121.76
Adelaide........6 0 4 785 685 114.60
West Coast....6 0 3 804 840 95.71
Port Adelaide..5 0 5 902 918 98.26
Hawthorn.......5 0 5 789 881 89.56
Collingwood....4 0 5 712 714 99.72
Sydney..........3 0 7 848 844 100.47
Kangaroos......3 0 7 892 1021 87.37

Surprised to see the Kangaroos poor record given they finished 4th. They've managed to win almost all games against the lower sides, but get shown up against good opposition. Adelaide's 2nd placing shows why many feel they are capable of doing some damage in the finals.

[Hondo]

Finalists vs other top 8 teams
Geelong.........7 0 3 957 786 121.76
Adelaide........6 0 4 785 685 114.60
West Coast....6 0 3 804 840 95.71
Port Adelaide..5 0 5 902 918 98.26
Hawthorn.......5 0 5 789 881 89.56
Collingwood....4 0 5 712 714 99.72
Sydney..........3 0 7 848 844 100.47
Kangaroos......3 0 7 892 1021 87.37

That's one of the reasons why I'm just not convinced about Sydney ..... but we'll see

Now if only the Crows could have played Richmond, Carlton and Melbourne twice ...

[mal]

HW + AC cant win the flag