After the surprise lost by Richmond and consecutive wins by Essendon and Hawthorn, I decided to consult a ladder predictor, to see if I could construct situations where Essendon or Hawthorn make the eight. It's actually possible. Although, it does require some heroic assumptions; like one of those teams winning out, and teams like North and West Coast, beating teams like St Kilda and Gold Coast, but it can be done. Of course, I wouldn't want to bet on Hawthorn making it, even using the money of an affluent Hawthorn friend of mine, but hey, mathematical possibility!
Another thing that has to happen, is for Richmond to lose games like tonight's clash with Fremantle. Which is a definite chance, but I'd prefer not to happen, as a Fremantle loss should mean that we jump over them, after beating Adelaide on Saturday arvo.
The other game that takes place while we're playing Adelaide, is North v Hawthorn. I wonder how much a thrashing we would have to be getting, in order for me to tune into to that game? I'm not even sure if many North or Hawthorn fans would be that interested? And there certainly won't be many turning up, as it's taking place in chilly Hobart. Which I guess is a chance for the Tasmanian public, to indicate that they don't want either team to be relocated?
The next two matches are Port v Geelong and Brisbane v Gold Coast. And despite what I said earlier about the chances of Hawthorn and Essendon, these do seem to be must win matches for both Port and Gold Coast.
The other Saturday night match is Western Bulldogs and Melbourne. With Beveridge more or less coming out in support of staging, it will be interesting to see how Weightman performs. If he feels truly appreciated by Bevo's sentiments, he might come out in leotards and with his own coterie of card carrying judges? Ooh, that effort is a 9.5 from the Romanian judge.
The first Sunday match sees a Carlton side without George Hewett, take on a GWS side without all those players that they decided to manage after their recent insipid form. Can't really see GWS doing us a favour.
In the next game, I hope a strangely resurgent Essendon do us a favour by beating Collingwood. I mean, I'm a cyclist, I don't want to see magpies up and about in September.
The final game is West Coast hosting St Kilda. Which is one of those games, where an upset is more or less necessary for Essendon to keep the dream alive. Of course, now that I think of it, Essendon winning all their remaining games, only to end up ninth, would be my preferred outcome. Especially if they then start 2023 in the sort of dire form, that effectively kills off a brand new dream.
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Originally Posted by KTigers
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