Five weeks 'til finals: Who are the flag favourites?

What about this for an injury list Pete? Ah Chee (calf) test. Backup forward. Patrick Bines (hernia) test. Jamie Cripps (abductor) 2-3 weeks. Top three small forward. Liam Duggan (ankle) 2-3 weeks. Elite by foot. Harry Edwards (foot) 1 week. Shannon Hurn (calf) test; rested. AA Captain (2019). Mark Hutchings (hamstring) 1 week. World’s best tagger. Jeremy McGovern (ankle) test. Nic Naitanui (ankle) indefinite . Superior ruckman/midfielder. Xavier O’Neill (hip) test. Josh Smith (hamstring) 5-7 weeks. Elite runner;link man. Nathan Vardy (ankle) test. Premiership ruckman. Daniel Venables (concussion) season. Luke Shuey 2.0 Recognise any of those names?

Worst nightmare would be to see Richmond get it. No vic teams but Collingwood after last years near miss would be best. Otherwise Eagles Brissy or Giants please. Can Essendon do a Bulldogs 2016?

Based on that synergy Pies aren't due another flag until 2030 ;-)

That should be 34 game season

take it as a compliment. if the Eagles get the home ground, they would have overcome a slight disadvantage through the season to earn the major advantage it brings in weeks 1 and 3.

yes. we need to be mindful of he. and De Goey. I like Grimes on both of them! he and Vlastuin will need to be tight. and then Broad on one of the smalls like Elliott.. but self evidently we need to hold our own ahead of our D50 or we will get chopped up. and deservedly so. houli and short too offensive for these games. which may explain why Caddy has been trialling a "secret" defensive wing back role. in the 2's. seems a good way of stopping the sideways then forwards entries?

The AFL tries,bless their little cotton socks,but until there is a H &A 36 game season fairness will never happen.Every Victorian side having to travel eight times a year would get them over the fear of failure out here in the West. A small finals analysis based on history Geelong have a positive finals record against only one team in the eight; the Tigers. And the Pies but it's 13-12 and that probably goes back a long way. Pies have a positive record against WCE and Crows. But Tigers and Lions have the wood over the Magpies. Lions have the Tigers,Crows,Pies and Bombers covered ,small sample only. Eagles have the Cats, but not Bombers, Pies or GWS,1 game. Never played the Lions or Tigers in finals...

Its a good question . Ive thought of that with eagles but generally I think yes a small advantage particularly if they get home finals at west coast, its such a fortress to have to go to that most home games should be guaranteed win and then you can clean up at the weaker sides grounds and a lot of teams going there then come back depleted to back up in local derbies in melbourne which are heated matches no matter the form often. perhaps the new ground not as much as the old ground as they have had to get used to the change of grounds. Granted WC travel a lot so its not as big as Richmonds or Collingwood advantage particularly as the grand final is played MCG . Geelong probably have a huge advantage with their own stadium down in geelong and then MCG as a close commute. Not many melbourne based teams have their own stadium many more which is negates some bias. North and Hawks have this tassie advantage going for sure alongside short commutes to their melbourne grounds so they probably have very strong bias particularly the hawks at MCG and Tassie . Id say MCG based teams and geelong generally have the biggest advantage . Theres been some strange scheduling this year . Essendon had 5 day back up before heading to Sydney and 6 day back up before Perth which are very short runs to travel to WC. Ive not analysed if West coast or others have had such short interstate back ups

Isn't it great? Do you think that the Eagles really have a ridiculous advantage? Travelling 8000 kilometres every second week negates any perceived advantage a dozen times over. Or are you suggesting that the cosseted Victorian sides aren't up to a little interstate trip in the heat of finals?

No slag. A challenge. Backing you until we play.

Home finals are imperative for all sides not a big head scratcher mate hence geelongs wobbly ATM, it's also the reason why wce built a MCG dimension training ground which if we use the data of 2018/19 definitely shows a successful return re: wins/loss no matter what silly manipulation of it you create.

They were elite until a month ago.

No retire him. Best for the game. same with Horse.

Tried to tell the Eagles boys this but they thought I was slaggging them. They need the home final to get through. Fortunately for them, they should never play the bombers at the Gee.

Who plays on Mihocek Peter? He has a huge tank, runs hard both ways and can take a mark.

Quite probably true. WCE against the Bombers in finals are 0-5. Against the Pies are 3.5-4.5. Against the Giants are 0-1. Overall they have played 32 away finals,won 12,lost 20,including 1990 when they travelled for six weeks straight and 2002 when they had twelve finals debutants against the Bombers. Any other sides with that kind of record?

Woods have been poor for me last four games. they are beatable every week right now . Only the WC game makes you scratch your head a bit . I think Richmond can roy them and can comtinue the home ground advantage forward. Its a huge game actually whoever wins will be more likely to go top four now for me. Woods have a few easy wins ahead against GC but a few tough ones too given their form. They could easily slip down 5 to 8 as well - this friday is huge . Richmond win it increases their chance of going all the way big time I think

Tigers all their games at MCG improving, they could finish 2nd if not for percentage. They are big chance because of the home ground 7 game run in and may not leave the MCG if they can nab a game against geelong or less likely collingwood who are both bad out of form last four or five matches. Eagles capable of anything. Brisbane unlikely but they have surprised with big away wins inexepericne likely to get them. GWS , Bombers too injury depleted. Brings me back to tigers and west coast . Geelong have looked pour lately but the home ground gives them a good bias and if they get a home final to begin with its a ridiculous advantage like WCE. Woods have looked really poor too in last four rounds or so outside of the strange scrap in WC but it may be a blip. Richmond v Woods is a huge game actually this weekend if the woods don’t win it they are gone for me despite some soft games with GC after it. This season has been one of the most unpredictable on record

Seven games in a row at mcg in run in , could just play at the MCG all the way to the finall. Not sure they are the best side but huge huge advantage playing at home 9 to 10 games in a row . Could they get dance back for a semi or final?

And if we can’t get Seb Ross, Jack Ross will have to do!