There’s just three weeks left in the home-and-away season, and so very little time for the teams chasing the pack to make it into the top eight.
Last week: 1
Tested, not unbeatable, but it’s going to take a huge effort from a side to beat these Tigers at the MCG.
Last week: 2
GWS were so good against the ex-GWS Blues that they only needed to put 16 on the field in the final quarter, and they still kicked six goals to Carlton’s one. Three tough games to come, but the concern right now is the injuries.
Last week: 4
A solid win for West Coast in the Derby, but the real story is how many weeks for Andrew Gaff? Will he be back for the grand-final, should they make it to the final game of the season?
Last week: 3
Almost, almost got there. Still undermanned, and they’ve lost Darcy Moore again, but the Magpies keep fighting.
Last week: 8
Hard fought game, Hawthorn just held on in the end. An important win, gives them a real chance for a finals appearance now, but Geelong, St Kilda and Sydney are still to come.
Last week: 5
They almost got there against the Tigers, but it wasn’t to be on Friday night. This week against Hawthorn will be tough, but they then face Fremantle and Gold Coast at home, they’re still in the hunt for finals.
Last week: 9
Dominated the Suns from the word go and Melbourne are on a mission after that win. They’re desperate for a finals berth, but have arguably the toughest run home – Sydney, West Coast in Perth, and GWS to come.
Last week: 6
Was it a goal or a behind? It doesn’t matter now, Port need a couple of wins in the final three rounds to ensure a top-eight spot, because this team can’t count on percentage…
Last week: 7
Hawthorn have just about killed their season; now two games outside the eight, Essendon really needed that win. Tough from here for the Bombers.
Last week: 10
This game topped off a brilliant 24 hours of football – another close one and what a way to finish too, with young Tom McCartin kicking the final goal.
There were good news stories all round for the Swans with Lance Franklin back in form kicking six goals and Alex Johnson getting through his return game unscathed.
Last week: 12
Mathematically still a chance to make finals after their Showdown victory! Boy it was a close one, and the Crows got there in the end.
Last week: 11
Led for most of the match, but let Brisbane get in and nearly lost it on the siren. They must beat the Bulldogs this week to remain a chance for the eight.
Last week: 13
Unlucky for the Lions, Rayner misses and they lose by three, staying put in thirteenth place for me this week. I’m excited to see Brisbane rise up the ladder in 2019, that’s for sure!
Last week: 17
The Bulldogs turned it around against the Saints; they got their running game going in the second half and kicked away to a nice 35-point victory.
Last week: 15
Not surprising they lost the Derby, some work to do in the off-season if they’re going to move up the ladder next year.
Thought Andrew Brayshaw was on track for a Rising Star nomination in the first three quarters, unfortunate he didn’t finish the game.
Last week: 14
Disappointing against the Bulldogs, cost me nine out of nine!
Last week: 18
Outclassed all day by a bigger, stronger and more experienced outfit. The Suns were lucky to hold it to under 100 points, just!
Last week: 16
I gave Carlton fans some hope last weekend, but after the Blues dismal display in a 105-point loss to GWS (who played with 17 or even 16 on the field in the final quarter), they’re back in last place.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Hey Michael as Nathan Jones from the Demons said...."you don't have to beat them in season, you have to beat them in the finals".
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Geez, I knew the Pies were average but that really is bog average! What'll happen next year when their draw is a little more difficult? Might be a problem for them.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Yeah well you've been wrong on most topics this year in here so don't think I'll book my September 2019 holidays just yet TTF.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Thanks Buck, what's your point though?
Michael Rogers
Roar Rookie
"Collingwood 4" Just a reminder to those who subscribe to this: Collingwood's results from matches against the teams after round 20 placed 1 to 9 on the ladder. 1 win, 7 losses, percentage 81.64%
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Pies won't have it so good next year, dude. I can see the Pies regressing to their rightful position of mid-field.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
has there been a study on injuries this year? This seems the worst ever, particularly for hamstrings.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
That's a fair enough point Neil. In that case, I hope Eddie is on the phone to the lot of them already offering jobs at the Holden Centre. One theory for the Pies woes is the Holden Centre ground and its hardness but I know the club have done tests on it and it appears fine.
Neil from Warrandyte
Roar Rookie
I’ve never said that injuries don’t matter and don’t have an overall effect on a team’s performance and believe that your magpies are doing a remarkable job to be where they are. What I’m saying is that a great deal of credit has to be given to the strength and conditioning staff for minimising a team’s injuries and getting them back on the park for a sustained period of time. Credit has to be given to the tigers for the run they’re having with managing their players instead of being derided for getting an easy and lucky run. If the tigers were having season after season crueled by injuries when they have a group of some of the most elite players in the AFL I’d be wanting to get some answers as it’s more then coincidence and certainly more then just bad luck.
Jed Lanyon
Roar Rookie
GWS making a late surge for the top four! In great form, shame to see them be hit by injuries again.
Tanami mehmet
Guest
You can't say Michael Walter name because you'll be branded a racist? Seems and odd thing to say. P.s. it's Gaff, not Gaffe. A gaffe would be making three spelling and multiple grammar errors in the one post.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
But it's not just the Pies Neil. It's GWS, Swans, Blues, Dogs, Cats.....
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Neil, Buckley never blames injuries but fans can. If injuries do not matter please answer me this. Why are WCE a 4 goal better side when JK plays? That's one bloke and 4 goals a game, let alone 11 blokes.
Neil from Warrandyte
Roar Rookie
Absolutely agree with you Cat, however what I’m trying to get across is there are ways of minimising the likelyhood of injuries, whether it be having a thorough knowledge of weaknesses in an individual player and trying to strengthen those as well as being taught injury avoidance techniques on the field etc. Richmond have had a record of being ultra conservative with recovery time frames over the last 2 years which may explain a lack of repeat injuries. The only exception I can think of is Houli returning too early from a groin strain, played 1 game, got sore and then immediately rested again for a further 4 weeks. No one can eliminate injuries altogether yet I believe it’s possible to minimise injuries and have better recovery techniques. Otherwise you’d have to just believe Collingwood is cursed.
Brian
Guest
Geelong have not won 4 games in a row all year so it would take some serious form reversal for them to win a flag from 5th-8th assuming they make the finals. Especially using Scott's formula of tall, athletic types without emphasis on foot skills. What Thurlow and Henderson did on Friday night and what usually happens to geelong in big games
Cat
Roar Guru
Michael Walters is number 10 ...
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
The club aren’t allowed to acknowledge bad luck. Injuries are a reality and fans have every right to blame them.
Cat
Roar Guru
Not every injury is down to strength and conditioning staff though. Don't care who is on your staff and what conditioning or training drills they organise and injury like Tom Stewart's two weeks ago (another player falling across his ankle) is going to help. Esava Ratugolea's broken leg is down to bad luck. Aaron Black doing his ACL. No club knows how to definitely prevent them. Stewart Crameri getting poked in the eye in a VFL game and having to have two rounds of laser eye surgery to fix it. You can blame Geelong's medical staff for Cockatoo doing three hammies last year but you can't lay the blame on them for him taking a knock to the knee and having menicus damage that has kept him out since round 5. Jed Bews dislocated his shoulder attempting to tackle one of your blokes last Friday is bad luck. The thing is whether a team gets a bunch of these 'bad luck injuries' or not at the same time. Richmond has been lucky – they haven't.
Neil from Warrandyte
Roar Rookie
You could add that they are a very well run side with a great team of professionals including recruiting, strength and conditioning, mentoring and coaching. You can’t be a top side without having personal who are excellent in all areas. The players who run onto the field each week are a product of a well oiled machine and in most cases you make your own luck and run with it. To blame bad luck (even if it is bad luck) puts you in a negative mindset and gives you an attitude to fail.
John Singleton
Guest
I'm sick of listening to our injury list is the worst Collingwood get over it. Here is a rundown on other Teams Sydney huge injury run Western Bulldogs same. Hawthorn and the list goes on. It's part of the game. And Ross Lyon should look at his snipers Ballyntyhn and the guy that wares number 10 cant use his name otherwise I will be called a racist. Leigh Mathews what a bloody joke calling on Gaffe to be charged have you forgotten about an incident while you had the Hawthorn jumper on