is it a 3 or 5 team race ?

[spell_check]

Not lucky, it's just that we are in the same position against North as to what Sturt was against us until Woodville this year. That is, no one knows how a team can have such a dominance over another, yet be capable of wins against other teams.

[wycbloods]

FWIW still a 1 team race for mine.

Central will be the team to beat in September.

So who will be the team to beat in the GF? Seen as that is in October .

Glenelg are the team to beat IMO.

[CENTURION]

FWIW still a 1 team race for mine.

Central will be the team to beat in September.

this astounds me....

Me too, Dutchy. We are playing crap & have done all season.

[Big Phil]

FWIW still a 1 team race for mine.

Central will be the team to beat in September.

this astounds me....

Why is that Dutchy ???

[Adelaide Hawk]

Norwood, Port or Eagles may be able to cause an upset if they reach the finals, but none of them could win the flag. It's a 3 way race for the flag.

[PatowalongaPirate]

Write off the Tigers at your own peril i say. I'm not being cocky (FFS, i'm a bay supporter...) I reckon there's a fit, determined Tiger machine primed for Sunday action ( bum's will enjoy sunday fixtures) ready to roll all in their path!

[Wedgie]

I'm not being cocky (FFS, i'm a bay supporter...)

Noone would even suggest a Glenelg supporter getting ahead of themselves in 2008!
(unlike us Geelong supporters that just take it week by week!)

[PatowalongaPirate]

Nice one. Take solice in the fact that you wont have to rock up to any more Sunday fixtures this year...

[Wedgie]

Nice one. Take solice in the fact that you wont have to rock up to any more Sunday fixtures this year...

Last time I looked the finals are on Sundays and Ill be there if Im not in Melbourne. I think that most of the ressies finals are on Saturdays which is a relief though.

[Mic]

3 team race, the top 3.

I reckon Sturt have the experience and the talent to get the 1st spot in the GF, then I reckon the Prelim Final will be between the inexperienced but consistent Bays and the experienced but inconsistent Dogs.

[Dutchy]

FWIW still a 1 team race for mine.

Central will be the team to beat in September.

this astounds me....

Why is that Dutchy ???

BP...give me the reason the Dogs are going to win the flag please...

IMO the only win all year they can hang their hat on is the win against the Bays 3 weeks ago, but that was at their home ground and the Bays have shown that form to be questionable.....recent smashings by North and Eagles cant give any confidence either....would be interested why you feel different?

IMO Sturt are clearly the team to beat....

[Big Phil]

FWIW still a 1 team race for mine.

Central will be the team to beat in September.

this astounds me....

Why is that Dutchy ???

BP...give me the reason the Dogs are going to win the flag please...

IMO the only win all year they can hang their hat on is the win against the Bays 3 weeks ago, but that was at their home ground and the Bays have shown that form to be questionable.....recent smashings by North and Eagles cant give any confidence either....would be interested why you feel different?

IMO Sturt are clearly the team to beat....

Hey Dutchy,

I'm certainly not disagreeing with you, I was just interested as to your thoughts that's all. And while I do agree with your points 100% about Centrals form this year, I guess the thing to remember is that anything can happen come finals times and the Dogs record is pretty impressive in finals, regardless of their form this year. Further from that, I'm not implying I think the Dogs WILL win the flag this year, I certainly think they are a realistic chance but it will take an almighty effort, which I know they are capable of but based on this seasons inconsistent form, think it will be a bigger ask than ever before.

As a Dogs supporter, every season after a premiership, I come out thinking the following year will bring an end to our great run and apart from the GF losses in 02 and 06, I have been pleasantly proved wrong. While I agree Sturt are the team to beat this year, I guess you just don't know what you are going to get from the Dogs in Spetember (and October IF they are good enough to make it) and their record itself shows that they can't be discounted.

Personally, and I hate to say it, but I think we might bow out in the prelim final this year but that wont stop me from cheering them on and giving them my full support. I do think it is very likely that we will see a Sturt v Glenelg GF with either team capable of winning the flag on the day. I'd be more than happy to be proved wrong once again, don't worry about that, but this year just has a "different" feeling to others and I guess now, only time will tell.

Apart from the win against Glenelg under lights and maybe the 70 point over Port at Alberton, we have not managed to put even close to 4 quarters together all year I've said it all preseason and throughout this year, but our lack of defensive height worries me and on a nice spring day in Spetember on the vast expanses of Adelaide Oval, I feel we may just be exposed there. However, all is in readiness for one of the most exiting and exhilarating finals series the SANFL has seen in a long time and once the final 5 (or at least 4th and 5th spot) is determined, we can look forward to the major round with great anticipation.

Don't discount the Dogs, as many say, you do so at your own peril, but I think your point is valid about there performances this season and I, for one, am not fully convinced we will go all the way again this year, but it will be great finding out along the way whether it does happen or not. Again, I hate to say it, but I think 2008 may just be the year that the wonderful dynasty that is Central Districts may just find themselves back to the pack in terms of Grand Final dominance and I think we may just be witnessing the new changing of the guard for Glenelg and Sturt.

BRING ON THE FINALS THOUGH HEY !!??

[Dutchy]

I certainly respect the Dogs and their recent history especially in finals, but when you look at the bare facts of THIS season to date I dont think they can win the flag, just my opinion at the end of the day, they have been a little fortuante other teams havent pushed them for their 3rd spot also, but hey a double chance is what they have got and they coudl well use it...

[Big Phil]

I certainly respect the Dogs and their recent history especially in finals, but when you look at the bare facts of THIS season to date I dont think they can win the flag, just my opinion at the end of the day, they have been a little fortuante other teams havent pushed them for their 3rd spot also, but hey a double chance is what they have got and they coudl well use it...

Agreed mate, and I think they are very fortunate that they haven't really had 3rd spot challenged like you say. The thing not to forget is that while the Dogs haven't been convincing this year AT ALL, they have still been winning the close ones and getting over the line in the tough battles. Yes, they have been thumped 3 or 4 times this year but even just playing 2 or 3 quarters of half decent footy has seen them do enough to win more games than not.

Clearly, we wouldn't be a possible flag contender if not for the double chance and while I think it will be important in terms of us getting to the 2nd to last game of the year (Prelim) like I say, I just have this funny feeling that that will unfortunatley be as far as we go in season 2009. I agree with your ipinion 100% and think that, like I say, it will be a Sturt v Glenelg GF, despite that great finals record of the Doggies...

[TigerBoss]

As long as Glenelg doesn't win I'll be happy.

Real shame too as they were my 2nd team up to this year until a few of their fans got ahead of themselves and started carrying on like morons.

All I can say is Go Raiders, Go Rhinos and Go Cats!

We're very sad to have lost our hack wannabe Snout's Lout.

Hmm, North must have lost again...

[TigerBoss]

Back to the topic at hand, I reakon from a Bays perspective, Port, Norwood and the Eagles are VERY dangerous to us, just as much as the Dogs and Double Blues are.

There's no easy game in the finals series, so based on that assessment, I think it's a 5 team race.

I would think Sturt and the Dogs have moved higher than the Bays in estimations of premiership odds...

[peterg]

For mine, All of these teams can still make it into the 5 .. I rate their chances as shown below
4 Legs 18 9 8 1 49.5 19 -- R22v Eagles, R23v Bays: probably OK
5 Pies 18 9 9 - 51.2 18 -- R22v Bays, R23v Eagles: probably OK
6 Eags 18 8 10 - 49.6 16 -- R22v Legs, R23v Pies: less than OK
7 Chooks 19 8 11 - 47.5 16 -- R22v Bye, R23v West: not real good

Bending History since 2007.

Shouldn't that read

Bending History since -- what time is it now?

[joelie]

Glenelgs best is good enough to beat any other side. It just depends if they play out 4 qtrs rather than the usual 2. Wont have to play at Woodville, Elizabeth or Noarlunga come finals time.

[Wedgie]

As long as Glenelg doesn't win I'll be happy.

Real shame too as they were my 2nd team up to this year until a few of their fans got ahead of themselves and started carrying on like morons.

All I can say is Go Raiders, Go Rhinos and Go Cats!

We're very sad to have lost our hack wannabe Snout's Lout.

Hmm, North must have lost again...

Yeah it was a stupid comment, boo for beer!
Sorry folks.
(I really do need a breathalyser lock on my pc at times)

[Dirko]

It wouldn't suprise me if Canberra and Glenelg fans fare better than Geelong fans come late September/ealy October, karma is a wonderful thing.

That's better....