Can the Dees go all the way

[Beaussie]

Nice comeback last night. When many of us thought it was all over they came back. Good result for Daniher. How great were those scenes in the last quarter in the coaches box.

A trip to Perth or Adelaide wont help though. Can the Dees go all the way and progress to the last day of September?

Me thinks not.

[The Portonian]

It was a good win in all fairness, but I can't say I was overly surprised by it. St Kilda is without a doubt, one of the most mentally fragile teams (still) in the AFL. For all the amazing talent on their list and the undoubted benefit that past prime draft picks have delivered them, they continue to fall very short of their obvious potential. I think it shows clearly that Grant Thomas ain't really a top level coach and never will be, he doesn't have the ability to deliver alternate game plans and maximise the teams potential. Take nothing away from Danihers men, they were great. While they may not be the most fanciful team for the title this year, they do at least work hard and honestly and that was always going to be their trump card over the Saints last night.

All in all, while I wouldn't mind seeing the Dees do very well this year, I can't see them overcoming the hurdle of playing away from Melbourne against any of the top four sides and that in the end, barring some amazingly unforseen result next week or beyond, will prevent them from challenging for the Premiership this year. It's a pity really, as I rate Melbourne a far better genuine contender from the Vic ranks than either the Doggies or Pies.

[Beaussie]

Melboure worries me more than Fremantle for the preliminary final in Sydney.

I tend to agree with you that Grant Thomas doesn't seem to be delivering when you consider the list at his disposal.

[The Portonian]

I think it will come down to a real dogfight in Subi, Freo have one less day to recover and really had a far tougher match in terms of conditions that what Melbourne did. A lot will depend on how Connolly works with his players on the track this week, if he pushes them too hard, they will falter and wilt, but if he plays it smart and takes it easy for the first half of the week, then it becomes a case of how much home ground advantage helps the Dockers. Melbourne don't travel well in all honesty and while they are generally a good running side with very clean hand and foot skills, so too, are Freo.

Jamars loss will hurt a lot, Freo with Sandilands may well dominate the rucks against a lone Jeff White. Melbourne will need the likes of Yze to fire up in the forward line in order to support Nietz. With Pavlich and Farmer in decent form (regardless of last weeks result for them both), it will be a shootout on both sides, neither having overly spectacular defensive lines to cope with those kinds of setups.

My tip, Fremantle (for their breakthrough finals win)....by about 4 goals. Of course, then they'll lose to Sydney, I can't see them bringing a fighting game to the SCG against a Swannies outfit that is prepared for a dogfight every time they step on the field. They proved that yet again, against West Coast.

I swear, if I see ten engage in another piece of crap like "The Da Niher Code" pre match introduction, or shit like the X Factor, I'll tear my freaking hair out. Why can't they just concentrate on the bloody game rather than try for D-grade hollywood crapola?

[Beaussie]

My tip, Fremantle (for their breakthrough finals win)....by about 4 goals. Of course, then they'll lose to Sydney, I can't see them bringing a fighting game to the SCG against a Swannies outfit that is prepared for a dogfight every time they step on the field. They proved that yet again, against West Coast.

The final is scheduled for next Friday night a Telstra Stadium, a venue where the Dockers are yet to have played. I'd be more than confident that Sydney would topple a Freo outfit at Telstra Stadium. Their record in Sydney aint great as is and you'd think after a tough hit out with Melbourne this Friday night, meeting a rested Swans outfit would surely be the end of Freo's fianls campaign. This all of course is assuming the Dockers beat the Dees on Friday night.

[The Portonian]

Two very large things count against Melbourne this week, Jamar being out and having to bring in a second ruckman who hasn't played top level footy for three years. Sandilands will destroy the Dees, he's developed into a first class tap ruckman, that he happens to be fifteen feet tall is just an added bonus that even Whites allround superb jumping skills, won't be able to match. Melbourne will have to pray to the gods that their onballers can read the ruck contest better than the Freo lads...which I don't think they can really do to the extent they will need.

Secondly, Melbourne just plain suck this year in terms of travelling, their away record is woeful at best. Freo should do it in a canter at Subi this week and end the Dees run in the finals this year.

I'd go so far as to say that Freo, while never having at Telstra before, do actually have a rather impressive, if sporadic, away record this year...for them anyway. They generally aren't afraid to bring the game with them and give it a go, however, Sydney are just too impressive in the second half of the season when it comes to dogfights, and a knockout prelim final, is as much dogfight as you can get. Sydney should win, even if they end up facing Melbourne (it would be a shock to me if the Dees got through to the Prelim). It's almost a case (though you can never truly pencil such in) of Sydney being able to plan ahead for the GF they will invariably appear in. Hopefully however, they won't be so foolish as to take it all for granted and I'm sure that Roos will keep them grounded and focused at the task at hand, the Prelim Final.

[Beaussie]

Secondly, Melbourne just plain suck this year in terms of travelling, their away record is woeful at best.

Their record ain't too bad in Sydney.

[Willis 21]

No

[Grim Reaper]

Hell NO

[crocodileman]

They need Akermanis!

[Grim Reaper]

They need an Islamic coach and a radical one at that!