Much like how every Olympics is declared ‘the best ever’, so too are we tempted to look forward with similar anticipation when on the verge of AFL finals.
This year, though, does truly shape up as though it could be. And the reason for this is the strength of the teams in the bottom half of the eight.
Richmond has been clearly the best side over the course of 2018 and rightly finished on the top of the ladder, but the team in eighth, Geelong, lost to them twice by a total of 21 points this year, and the team in seventh, GWS, got the best of the Tigers in their only meeting.
It reinforces the notion that there is nothing separating the eight finalists this year.
The Cats have been the enigma of 2018.
This is a side that finished second last season, and added dual Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett and AFLPA’s best first year player Tim Kelly, plus had Tom Stewart and Mark Blicavs made the All-Australian squad of 40 as backmen, and Tom Hawkins has had a career-best year as key forward.
Yet somehow, off the back of all this, Geelong has slipped to eighth.
Chris Scott had too much a focus on defence earlier in the year, but the Cats best footy has been when playing with flair and attack. Coming off kicking 46 goals in their last two home-and-away matches, albeit against poor teams, perhaps they will be let off the leash in September and can wreak some havoc.
First, they’ll have to get past Melbourne.
The Demons are shaping to be the darling of the post-season in the same way the Western Bulldogs and Richmond were in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
Melbourne have been the highest scoring team throughout the year, kicking a goal a game more than the next best, Richmond. They’ve weaponised their forward-line with Tom McDonald and Jesse Hogan combining for almost 100 goals, plus a host of half a dozen or more half-forward including the rise of Jake Melksham and Alex Neale-Bullen.
The Demons are back in the finals (AAP Image/Julian Smith)
This version of the Demons runs harder than any previous incarnation, and kicks the ball far better as well. In combination, this covers up for any lack of speed they may have on the outside. A kicked ball still travels far quicker than anyone can run.
Melbourne is a tough inside team lead by Clayton Oliver, and will only further shore up this area with the addition of Jack Viney after an injury lay-off. They will gain belief, confidence and momentum with every win they have in September, and may prove to be unstoppable if they can get into the third and fourth week.
GWS were arguably the second best side in the competition for a long stretch through the second half of the year, dropping only one game between Round 11 to Round 21, with that being a narrow loss to West Coast in Perth.
Despite this, they end up in seventh as yet another dangerous floater, and have fortuitously ended up with a home state final to kick things off.
The Giants dropped off badly in their last two matches, and frankly were weak in the back end against Sydney and Melbourne. It wasn’t the ideal prep for finals, but they will be getting a number of stars back in the way the Bulldogs did in 2016. Perhaps a similar story awaits.
Sydney are the grizzled veteran of the finals series, even though their team does skew younger than their reputation dictates.
Tom McCartin has made quite the impression as an 18 year old key forward. Will Hayward is second on the Swans goalkicking at the age of 19. Oliver Florent and Ben Ronke are barely out of their teenage years, and have had big moments in big games throughout the season.
Post-bye, Sydney lost four of five matches, dropping from second to ninth in the process. Their season looked shot, particularly off the back of losing to Gold Coast and being thumped by Essendon.
Dan Hannebery of the Swans (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
However, they responded mightily, as befitting a great club. Faced with their toughest run for the year, they beat Collingwood, Melbourne and GWS in three straight games. Each time, their opposition was sitting in the top four when they defeated them.
To re-iterate, the Swans were sitting second at the completion of the bye rounds. They have beaten more top eight sides than any other team in the competition. These are not bad credentials for a team in sixth.
Two of Melbourne, GWS, Sydney and Geelong will be gone after this weekend. But the two that remain will be high quality sides, with gun players on every line, and full of momentum.
The Bulldogs won the flag from outside the top four in 2016, the first team to do so this century. We might just be set up for it to happen again.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
You still don't name any players. I'm getting it now, you can't name eight best Richmond players because you don't even follow them.
Realist
Guest
I'm going to keep this brief Snide, because you obviously didnt read my post before you launch into your tirade with spittle, no doubt, flying all over your screen. I listed my 8 most important Richmond players. It's our players 15 - 22, our bottom 8, because they are the best in the AFL! Also, Tigers and Hawks are probably the form teams having both won 9 of their last 11 games since the bye. Tigers have always had the edge on the Gawks so we'll smash them tonight Not sure where you get the Cats from? Tigers beat them twice in the same period so they're no concern. Also, been a proud, paidup and passionate member, financial supporter and occasional volunteer for the mighty tigers for 27 consecutive years now. Have you heard the saying, Snide? Give someone enough rope and they'll hang themselves eventually! Lol!
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
How's that list of the eight most important Richmond players coming Realist? Is it because you dropped off the Tigers for 37 years and have jumped back on board now and don't know the players that well? One of the shiny new scarf brigade it seems as you seem to ignore anything that might require putting your own thoughts or knowledge of the Tigers out there. Flags are about who hits September in form. The Hawks and Cats are the form teams and you may well play them both for survival. Show me where I said it's either Geelong or Collingwood for the flag? Geelong yes, but never predicted farther than the Prelim for the Pies. I agree you were the best home and away team but the Tigers barely scraped over the 11th and 13th placed sides last two rounds and have dropped off their best form leading into the finals. A worrying sign.
Realist
Guest
Ok, ok. You talked me into it. I'll play your silly "What if" game with you, but just this time ok!? You talk incessantly about the Gary Ablett point against Richmond in Round 20....what if all Geelongs points had been goals? and Richmonds points had all been goals then the Tiges would still have won by 3 goals! While we're in this crazy "what if" world, if all the points had been goals in the round 19 Tigers v Pies clash then Tigers would have won by 8 goals instead of 4! Like the 8 goal thumping we handed you earlier in the year! See how stupid going into the fantasy land of "what is is Snide? That's why I deal in facts, and you really should too so you dont look so foolish! Fact is Tigers are simply the Team most likely to win the Premiership this year. End of story!
Realist
Guest
Put simply Snide, and it's all I've ever stated, the Tigers are the most likely team to win it. Everybody knows it, everybody says it, except you due to your Richmond hating obsession! That's why you look foolish with your anti Richmond hyperbole and "profound" & "knowledgable" predictions of doom and death to the Tigers! They're going to dack you this weekend Snide! A couple of other little questions/reminders for you too!!! Didnt we BEAT Geelong twice this year? Didnt we BEAT Collingwood twice this year? (According to you either Geelong or Collingwood are going to win the flag) Didnt we also pump Melbourne, Hawthorn, Sydney and only lose to GWS in a game handed to them by our own mistakes and comical umpiring? Our only blight for the year was the Eagles, but we all have a bad game now a then don't we Snidy, that can be excused. (See Richmond v Stkilda last year) You also mentioned some form drop off? Round 20 win against Geelong, Richmond recorded the highest pressure rating by any team for the year. Round 22 win against a Bombers outfit playing like a top 4 team with 5 OF OUR BEST 22 NOT PLAYING. Round 23 win against a rampaging Bulldogs in "dead rubber", tigers trying a few things, blatantly biased umpiring, not wanting to get injured or suspended, top spot already wrapped up! Pfffft! How was Collingwood's Round 23 game? No form drop off there huh? Lol! Dont the Pies have to travel west again this week? Tigers will win simply because we have a game plan proven in the finals cauldron, we have a healthy list, our bottom 8 players are our most important players because they're the best bottom 8 in the league and we were clearly by far the best home & team because we finished top of the ladder 2 games clear of anyone else! Now that we have established the Tigers credentials (and I know the truth hurts you Snidy) the ball is now in your court, how about you try and explain to me why I should back the Pies over the Tigers? Haha.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
And if you and TTF want credibility you have a very simple task of each naming your eight most important Richmond players. Why? Because it forces you both to have an opinion that can be debated rather than the much easier option of sniping incessantly at others who have the courage of their convictions. You want me to tip Richmond for the flag why exactly? Is it because my tips have been pretty accurate this year? Sorry, I don't see it. Your form fell away late in the year despite the healthiest list in the comp and Geelong exposed how to beat you.
Raimond
Roar Guru
I made the prediction of a RICH-WC Grand Final at another Roar article.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
You will find most posts in here are what if's Realist. In discussing trades it might be North fans "what if....Polec.....what if.....Gaff" , it might be Pies fans..."what if Treloar plays..." , Tiger fans...."what if Lambert is underdone" ....Cats fans..."what will Chris Scott do to ensure we get a great start after a bye".....following footy involves a lot of what if's it's just you and TTf are too scared to put yours out there. Much easier sniping others.
Tonka Goldman
Roar Rookie
Your assessment of too defensive early in the season demonstrates a lack of grasp and/or understanding of The Geelong Way, as is the home and away season as merely a prelude to when the real footy begins. Geelong finished second last year and limped into the finals... this year we are flying.
Realist
Guest
Hope you're not calling your own posts "meaningful", Snide because you'd be the only one who think so! Most of your ramblings are just to satisfy your Richmond hating obsession. If you want respect and credibility, try showing some balance!
Realist
Guest
You're kidding yourself Snide! Couldn't care less about your "articles". I'm referring to your posts, most of them containing “could ofs”, “what ifs” and “straw men”! Just re-read your post in this thread..."nightmare draw for tigers", "rampaging cats". We know you hate the Tigers Snide, but you shouldn't let it affect your posting because you just look like a fool!
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Cam I guess you're not responsible for the heading, but I'd question that this year's finals depth is unprecedented. Melbourne is sitting 5th with 14 wins. In 2016, the Doggies finished three spots lower in 7th with 15 wins. I think that suggests the top 7 in 2016 performed considerably better than this years crop across the home and away - and depth of being a genuine contender in the 2016 finals group was proven by the ultimate flag result.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
yes another one for making sweeping statements but not prepared to commit anything meaningful for debate.
Champ12
Guest
Totally agree Pete that cats strong chance from 8th. Do they deserve it if they went all way. Hell no. Lucky to make the 8 in my opinion given their talented list. Should of done more this year. I’m hoping Melbourne smash them but have funny feeling they could win at least the next 2 to get to prelim. Then they look scary.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Check my articles above Realist. I put my opinions on the Pies out to much scorn and amusement and have since been proven correct. Perhaps more credibility and substance than you and your sidekick TTF who never actually contribute anything meaningful. I have done it again this week naming the Cats to win by 53 points. Perhaps pen an article yourselves? TTF and the Realist present the reasons the Tigers will go back to back? Oh no, you won't, your job in here is to dip in and snipe at many without ever committing anything yourselves to debate, lest fear of scorn.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Truetiger at least I have the courage of my convictions to put my forecasts and opinions out there. I asked you one direct question about your Tigers and that was to name your 8 most important players (let alone ever dream of penning an article about your beloved Tigers) and weeks later you still won't commit for fear of being debated. I'm happy to stand by these pieces below. The first predicted a 4-6 finish for the Pies in 2018 last December. https://www.theroar.com.au/2017/12/01/debunking-myths-around-nathan-buckley-pies-actually-headed/ Then I wrote another article when the Pies were at 4-4 this season where I pondered the following: "Right now is the time to dig in, despite the injury count, and take the next three wins as a platform to be almost assured of finals. So Bucks, is this side good enough to win six of their next seven games to sit 10-5 or 11-4?" Here is that article. https://www.theroar.com.au/2018/05/16/the-bucks-stops-here/ So yes while you chirp away at others incessantly you never lay your own proverbials on the line about the team you supposedly follow, the Tigers to even name their 8 most important players. Says a lot.
Lroy
Guest
Demons are going out in the first week. They just got over the Eagles who didn't have Kennedy or Darling but who still managed to score 12 goals via the other guys. Every year one team with a soft draw make the 8 and every year they go home early.
Cat
Roar Guru
So give us your tips for the entire finals series so we can all laugh at how wrong you were.
asd
Guest
Lets see how good Hawks are first in some ways the ladder final 8 is a bit jumbled up .Clubs sitting where they shouldnt be .
Raimond
Roar Guru
2018 is shaping up as one of the most predictable series of recent years. Richmond and West Coast will cruise through to the GF. Any two of the 5-8 sides would have been better in third & fourth spots.