The next 5 games.

[Deebz]

The softness of our draw is well documented but the coming month ahead is fairly brutal. Thankfully it's early enough in the season that it isn't make or break time and we get our bye at the end of it.

Sitting at 4-1 our next 5 games are:

R6 Sydney [A] - 2nd, 5-0
R7 Geelong [H] - 8th, 3-2
R8 Carlton [A] - 3rd, 4-1
R9 Collingwood [H], 10th, 3-2
R10 Fremantle [A], 9th, 3-2

Obviously the ladder is a bit skewed at the moment. given we are actually 4th right now, but have had a very soft start. What should we be aiming at out of this period? We won't every game of this run and it contains a trip to a stadium we never win at (Subiaco) and one opponent who always beats us no matter what (Collingwood).

I see us going 2-3 with wins over Geelong, who we always seem to play well as well as Sanderson's knowledge of them, and either knocking over Fremantle or Collingwood. Despite having a stupidly good record against Sydney I don't see us winning this week and should get beaten by Carlton.

[Shuttlesworth]

Maybe I'm being pessimistic, but I'm struggling to see us win any of them, although our recent record against Geelong is pretty good and they're finding it tough at the moment. Will be an interesting 5 weeks no matter the results.

[Deebz]

Crows gon Crows, last few years we have won a couple of games a season we had no right winning with our inferior talent. I look at the Hawthorn game last year, a charged up crowd helped bring us over the line, and see a similar sort of thing happening with the Collingwood game. Saturday night, an opponent we hate and never do well against, big attendance guaranteed. It's the sort of game the Crows tend to win.

[meh]

No reason why we can't beat Sydney, we match up very well on them
and our strengths match their strengths. They have been super consistent this season, our best will match them, anything less than 4 quarters though and we won't. The others, yeah we will struggle. Heading over for the Carlton match so hoping for a decent performance.

[TakingthePapiss]

Think we'll upset at least 1 of those, probably 2. If we come out of those 5 with a record of 6-4 we'll be playing finals footy for sure.

[Vermilion]

Think we'll upset at least 1 of those, probably 2. If we come out of those 5 with a record of 6-4 we'll be playing finals footy for sure.

Agree with this.

I think we're in with a shot this week. Sydney, as good as they've been, were only being talked up as a 5-8th side until a week ago. With Mumford out, we should hold the edge as far as the ruck contests go. Their on ballers are top shelf but their goals seem to coming more from their mids sneaking forward rather than a dominant forward setup.

We've played well at home against Geelong in recent times, despite us being shit. I'm really curious to see how our gameplan goes against the side it was modelled from. They have a glaring weakness in the ruck but they still have more than enough class in the guts, Hawkins who is dominating ATM and clever small forwards in Stokes, Motlop and Christensen.

Carlton in Melbourne is going to be very tough, given our appalling recent record in Bleak City. This is one game where our key forwards could have a real impact. They're got just about the best midfield in the league and the best small forwards in the comp. but I still feel that as good as they are, they struggle to contain a side that's really fired up (see Essendon a fortnight ago).

Our record against Collingwood has been miserable throughout our history and I'm not sure we can change it anytime soon. They are only just going at the moment and have been hit hard by injury. They are starting to get players back now and importantly for them, Jolly looks to be regaining some of his 2010 form. What is in our favour is their lack of class at either end of the ground. Cloke is elite but Dawes is a spud of the highest order and their backline is just as poor as ours.

Fremantle in Perth...nah forget it. It will be a good chance for our mids to practice roving to the opposition ruckman's taps though.

I think we'll win either this week or next week and then go on to lose the other three. 5-5 after round 10 isn't too bad, providing we don't get thrashed and lose too much percentage.

[Gaudz1]

Don't see why we can't beat Sydney, from memory our form against them is somewhat positive??? Can't see it being a very exciting game but hopefully our midfield can make up for what we are lacking in defence. Now we just need a game where Tex and TippetsTips can both be dangerous. Felt that this season so far it's been either one or the other who has been performing.

[meh]

Carlton in Melbourne is going to be very tough, given our appalling recent record in Bleak City. This is one game where our key forwards could have a real impact. They're got just about the best midfield in the league and the best small forwards in the comp. but I still feel that as good as they are, they struggle to contain a side that's really fired up (see Essendon a fortnight ago.

Remember we gave them a hell of a fright last year and we are certainly a better side this year. Our first half was brilliant, we kept it simple, left the forward line open and bombed it in and Walker & Tippett killed their direct opponents, from memory we missed a few gimme's and Carlton just did enough, but no doubt our forward line is more potent this season, we could give them a decent run. We also seem to keep Judd reasonably quiet when we play them, however Sanderson's reluctance to put a hard tag on players might be a dangerous ploy.

[Big Sledge]

In a way our season starts now, we won 4 games we were expected to win but these 5 weeks can show us where we are really at.

I see this week as our most winnable game. That being said I think in all likelihood we won't win another game before the bye.

Although with Tippett & Walker starting the year well we certainly have the fire power to cause an upset.

[James Pattinson]

Remember we gave them a hell of a fright last year and we are certainly a better side this year. Our first half was brilliant, we kept it simple, left the forward line open and bombed it in and Walker & Tippett killed their direct opponents, from memory we missed a few gimme's and Carlton just did enough, but no doubt our forward line is more potent this season, we could give them a decent run. We also seem to keep Judd reasonably quiet when we play them, however Sanderson's reluctance to put a hard tag on players might be a dangerous ploy.

We were 5 goals up at quarter time before something drastically changed in the 2nd quarter. Tippo and Walker did get well on top, but Hendo wasn't playing at CHB then (it was Jamison and White). We're a much better side now as well, granted you are and we don't play the Dome well. Judd also had 32 possessions and kicked 2 behind for 2 Brownlow votes the last time we played.

[TakingthePapiss]

We were 5 goals up at quarter time before something drastically changed in the 2nd quarter. Tippo and Walker did get well on top, but Hendo wasn't playing at CHB then (it was Jamison and White). We're a much better side now as well, granted you are and we don't play the Dome well. Judd also had 32 possessions and kicked 2 behind for 2 Brownlow votes the last time we played.

Wouldn't say you're any better tbh. Playing at about the same level.

[James Pattinson]

Wouldn't say you're any better tbh. Playing at about the same level.

The extra year of maturity, another ~20 games experience, a finals win under their belts.

Murphy, Waite, Henderson, Curnow and Hampson are probably playing the best football of their careers.

Betts and Garlett are playing a lot more consistently than this time last year.

We are better than we were at this stage last season.

[TakingthePapiss]

The extra year of maturity, another ~20 games experience, a finals win under their belts.

Murphy, Waite, Henderson, Curnow and Hampson are probably playing the best football of their careers.

Betts and Garlett are playing a lot more consistently than this time last year.

We are better than we were at this stage last season.

Finals win under your belts means you're playing better in the regular season? , k.

Betts is playing better and more consistently, the severely over-rated Gar(t)lett isn't.

[James Pattinson]

Finals win under your belts means you're playing better in the regular season? , k.

Betts is playing better and more consistently, the severely over-rated Gar(t)lett isn't.

Yes, a finals win means we're better in the regular season.

Garlett is playing further up the ground, with stints in midfield, so his goal output is down, however he is involved in the play a lot more.

[TakingthePapiss]

Yes, a finals win means we're better in the regular season.

Garlett is playing further up the ground, with stints in midfield, so his goal output is down, however he is involved in the play a lot more.

R1 - 11 disposals and 1 goal
R2 - 11 disposals and 3 goals
R3 - 8 disposals and 2 goals
R4 - 11 disposals and 1 goals
R5 - 9 disposals and 2 goals

A season high disposal count of 11 .

Dominating. He's one of the most over-rated players in the competition tbh. His skills are pretty average most of the time (still capable of the odd bit of Aboriginal magic), the only thing going for him is his pace.