The Crows position and finals expectations in 2008

[Footy Smart]

Having listened to all the critics saying the crows had a soft draw this year etc. I cant help but agree but you must acknowledge the fact you can only play and beat the opponent you play. having said that I believe we are the 5th or 6th best team in the comp in 2008 but are a fair way away from being in contention to win a flag.

Geelong - proven ability and dominate teams/games
Hawks - much improved hard running, apply pressure and gun forwards
bulldogs - won big games in 08, can match it with the best but injuries could bring them undone
Sydney - tough disciplined and play footy that is hard to break down
Brisbane - Leigh has the running and JB and D Brad firing will be hard to beat
Adelaide - disciplined but still very young and need everyone to play there part on the day to win against better teams

Thoughts?????

[Hondo]

The Crows have exceeded my expectations this year so far. However, I agree that the draw has been good to date and has helped us get to 4th which is slightly flattering IMO.

I did a predictor to the end of the year and I have us hovering around 5th or 6th. The next 5 weeks or so are very tough then we have a pretty good run home.

My top 4 was Geelong, Hawthorn, WB, Sydney. But Collingwood and Brisbane are 2 more very good sides to contend with. From memory, Collingwood's draw was fairly tough.

My view is that NC is building a genuine premiership contender, but not for 2008.

[SCD]

Crows have had a soft draw because the bottom 5 teams are no good....

In saying that - they are travelling better then I thought they would this year. I was hoping for a 7th - 12th finish at the beginning of the year, that hasn't really changed. I expect the Crows to be overtaken by at least Brisbane and Collingwood by year's end. The Crows can win a premiership - just not this year, it's a couple of years away for that...

Sydney IMO are not Top 4 material and while the Crows are coping it for having a soft draw, Sydney has had the same type of run.

R1 - St Kilda (9th) Loss
R2 - Port (11th) Win
R3 - Brisbane (7th) Win
R4 - WCE (13th) Win
R5 - Geelong (2nd) Loss
R6 - Nth Melb (8th) Lucky Lucky Draw
R7 - Western Bulldogs (3rd) Loss
R8 - Essendon (14th) Win
R9 - Port (11th) Win
R10 - Richmond (12th) Win
R11 - WCE (13th) Win

Wins against the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th placed sides in the last month is hardly good form. But given St Kilda and Melbourne to come > people will keep saying how good they are...

The last 9 weeks for Sydney include Adelaide, Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs, Collingwood x2 and Brisbane. Why have they avoided the scrutiny of a soft draw - when they have only beaten the 7th placed Brisbane in the 8 and have lost to 2 of the top 3, just as Adelaide have??

[Blue Boy]

For some reason we always play well against Sydney so id expect to win that game !!!

[Booney]

I think they will finish 5th and have a 'soft' first week against either the Kangaroos at home,or a tough one with Brisbane coming here.

A stinker over the next 5 weeks and they may end up as low as 7th,depending on percentage.From either place a Prelim is possible,and,once there,anything is possible.Not for this unit,not just yet,4th or 5th at end of finals.

Why? Geelong,Hawthorn,WB and Sydney are all better then Adelaide.

[Felch]

I think they will finish 5th and have a 'soft' first week against either the Kangaroos at home,or a tough one with Brisbane coming here.

A stinker over the next 5 weeks and they may end up as low as 7th,depending on percentage.From either place a Prelim is possible,and,once there,anything is possible.Not for this unit,not just yet,4th or 5th at end of finals.

Why? Geelong,Hawthorn,WB and Sydney are all better then Adelaide.

Agree on the first 3, not Sydney though. Adelaide, Sydney, Collingwood, Kangaroos and Brisbane all very, very even.

[SCD]

Why? Geelong,Hawthorn,WB and Sydney are all better then Adelaide.

Why are Sydney better then Adelaide??
What teams have they beaten this year that makes them so much better??

Sydney are no where near the WB, Hawks, Cats class.
Sydney has been smashed in contested ball by Geelong and WB this year and IMO are on par with Kangas & Crows > just behind Collingwood and Brisbane > who are a fair way behind the top 3.

[Footy Smart]

Why do people rate collingwood.... i think sydney are better than them

[SCD]

Collingwood's win against Geelong is what makes me rate them - when a team plays as good as they did that night, then they have something going for them.

Sydney haven't beaten a TOP 6 team yet.

[Sojourner]

No doubt the thread of where people think sides will finish in 2009 is in here somewhere, no doubt we will bump it as well at the end of the season to see who did get it right!

I clearly stuffed up picking the Crows to finish outside of the eight as it would appear that they are a good chance of making it from here. Yet I did go against the grain of the majority of posters and select Brisbane to make the eight and at this stage I am still confident that they are a good shot at it!

[Pidge]

Sydney are a good team. They have lost the last few times against Adelaide though. Sydney can beat any team on their day.

[stan]

Adelaide are a good team. I think they will finish around 5th or 6th. Just lacking a bit of polish at times. But a good team. My pre-season prediction was outside the 8 but as they seem to do they proved plenty of us wrong.

[Footy Smart]

Collingwood's win against Geelong is what makes me rate them - when a team plays as good as they did that night, then they have something going for them.

Sydney haven't beaten a TOP 6 team yet.

Still rate collingwood Scaffidi???

From what i saw of the crows last night i am pleased the effort and way they went about it. Put Burton back in there i think we would have gotten over the line. I think we can match it but still shouldnt have to higher expectations for this year 5th would be great 6th admirable and should be lowest finish

[SCD]

FS - Last time I looked a season was over 22 games and not just 1.

Collingwood are a better team then you are giving them Credit for > September will show that.

[Rik E Boy]

Adelaide - disciplined but still very young and need everyone to play there part on the day to win against better teams

Thoughts?????

Adelaide - well coached but undergoing generational change. A number of younger and less experienced players are being expected to fulfill key roles in the team structure at the same time as they try to open up their traditional shut down style of play. Earlier on in the season this was working successfully but as the year goes on and the younger bodies begin to tire Adelaide will slowly revert to the style of play they have been drilled in previous seasons under Craig. This style of football (at least as the Crows apply it) has proven in the past to be unsuccessful in September. A home knock out final will be won by the Crows but Adelaide will be knocked out in the Semi on the road.

regards,

REB