AFL 2012

[666HARPS666]

I think this is not their year but they will be up there for the next few years. I have said I am impressed with the way they have gone about this year already in this forum.

[gmatical]

We lost tennis
We will know all we need to know about Hawthorn on Friday night, anything less then A pumping (8 goals +) and I will worry that we will peeter out like last year. I think Hodge will be a giant IN, but if you are out for 10 weeks something serious is going on, something that will often hang around for the rest of the year.
I wrote off the cats last year, they are playing similar, but last year they seemed to win the close ones, this year they aren't.
WCE havent pumped teams like an elite team should, neither has collngwood. It really is a funny year no doubting that.

[Jav1000]

That's why we're where we are on the ladder.

If we had beaten all those teams - we'd be on top.

I think you're missing the point.

The point was whether Adl are a contender or not.

Adl has a soft draw playing WC, COLL, ESS, ST.K, RICH all once @ AAMI and play twice against GWS, GC, PTA, FREO & GEE.

Don't you think that this draw may influence where you finish on the ladder, hence, why Adl may finish Top4 or even Top2 but not necessarily be a Top4 side.

Tell me the last team with no finals experience win a flag?

crows in 97?

Yeah, good point but that was a funny year from memory, where there were a few teams making the Top8 for the first time and it was under the old finals system where 1st v 8th and 2nd v 7th, etc. and if one of the Top2 losers in the 1st week, it gave the other teams a greater advantage (which happened).

Adl played Dogs in Prelim & StK in GF which were both 1st time finalists, so I'm sure that was a big factor in helping Adl win the flag that year.

[JMACK007]

Jobe Watson for Brownlow

He is the current fav but a couple of smokies could be Sam Mitchell and Patrick Dangerfield.

Patrick Dangerfield for Norm Smith!!! (oh yes I went there!!!)

....(pity I'll have no where to gloat when it happens...)

[Bacon]

If you finish in the Top 4, you are a Top 4 side.

[bennymacca]

yeah thats a bit like saying hawthorn didnt deserve to win the premiership because geelong was clearly a better team for the year.

[Jav1000]

If you finish in the Top 4, you are a Top 4 side.

What are you saying, that if you finish 4th, you are the 4th best team when there is such a bias in the draw. So on your logic, Haw must be the 6th best team, surely not?

When there might be a 1-2 game difference between 3rd & 7th, having the easier draw might mean you finish 3rd instead of 7th.

yeah thats a bit like saying hawthorn didnt deserve to win the premiership because geelong was clearly a better team for the year.

That is a very poor comparison, cause in finals you need to win 3-4 games against the best to win a GF, whereas you can lose to every side above and just below you and still finish Top4 in the end if you have an easy draw.

[Bacon]

If you finish in the Top 4, you are a Top 4 side.

What are you saying, that if you finish 4th, you are the 4th best team when there is such a bias in the draw. So on your logic, Haw must be the 6th best team, surely not?

Just like the best team doesn't always win the premiership (#1), the Top 4 sides aren't always the best 4 teams.

It's about location, not ability.

[Jav1000]

Just like the best team doesn't always win the premiership (#1), the Top 4 sides aren't always the best 4 teams.

So you agree with me now?

It's about location, not ability.

Not about ability?

So, Adl have no chance of winning the flag cause it's played in Melb

Good to see we're on the same page now

[AceLosesKing]

...wtf with the hate on Adelaide. They will finish top 4 and they deserve it.

The draw is a factor, yes, but they are going to earn it.