Cats or Saints?

[ledge]

After the Saints win today and if all things stay as they are we will play the cats first up in finals.

In the end if we beat the first we will probably play the other team in the prelim anyway.

Yes i know there is still a while to go in the season but i just thought i would pose the question .

Do we really care who we meet first up or do we have a preferred side we would rather play?
Your thoughts...

[bulldogtragic]

At our best we can beat either. I have no preference who is the runner up to the Bulldogs second premiership.

[The Coon Dog]

After the Saints win today and if all things stay as they are we will play the cats first up in finals.

In the end if we beat the first we will probably play the other team in the prelim anyway.

Yes i know there is still a while to go in the season but i just thought i would pose the question .

Do we really care who we meet first up or do we have a preferred side we would rather play?
Your thoughts...

Have a good think about this. WRONG!

[LostDoggy]

At our best we can beat either. I have no preference who is the runner up to the Bulldogs second premiership.

+1, Not worried at all.

If we are in form & turn up on the day, we will beat either.

[Mantis]

If we are in form & turn up on the day, we will beat either.

Can.

Both teams are very beatable, but we would need to be at our best or very close to it to have a win.

[ledge]

Have a good think about this. WRONG!

Yeah your right depending on win /loss in first and second games.
Ok i stand corrected i will hold back and just put the question of what i was asking in the first place.
Do any of us have a preference in the first game?

Me personally i like the thought of St Kilda, i dont know why its just a feeling.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Have a good think about this. WRONG!

What he means is regardless of whichever team we beat in the QF, we still have to beat the other in the GF!

[AndrewP6]

At the moment, I'd rather play the Cats first up... but that could change tomorrow!

[boydogs]

Saints are Docklands specialists, they play there more than anyone else and have tall defenders and forwards. If today's game was moved to the MCG I think Geelong would have won. A decision that could change the course of the season, as now the Saints are a game and percentage clear and we are likely to face Geelong in week 1 of the finals. I'm not sure whether St Kilda will get to play week 1 of the finals at Docklands or not but it is a big call to prefer Geelong given their record over the last 3 seasons

[AndrewP6]

. I'm not sure whether St Kilda will get to play week 1 of the finals at Docklands or not but it is a big call to prefer Geelong given their record over the last 3 seasons

We've done pretty well against the Saints in recent seasons, but this year they're a totally different proposition... and if not for an errant kick, we'd have one up on the Cats this year...either way, it's one hell of a tough match...

[LostDoggy]

Can.

Both teams are very beatable, but we would need to be at our best or very close to it to have a win.

Agree. I believe you examine our team with a fairly objective eye Mantis. If we played either Saints or Cats today, with the precision and pressure we applied last night, could we have beaten either team today? Bit of a hypothetical ...

[The Pie Man]

Both teams are a bit inconsistent in front of goal - that's being picky with two teams on 13 match streaks I know - but Kosi kicked very well for goal today. Reiwoldt's goal from the 50m boundary in the 2nd had me rubbing my eyes.

I'm happy St Kilda won to leave the perception that the flag race is open, but give Geelong Steve Johnson at the G and not give St Kilda a 5 goal start and they'll have them covered in September.

[Mantis]

Agree. I believe you examine our team with a fairly objective eye Mantis. If we played either Saints or Cats today, with the precision and pressure we applied last night, could we have beaten either team today? Bit of a hypothetical ...

No doubt.

We showed against Geelong in rd 9 that we can match them in all facet's of the game. I think the inner sanctum believe we are gaining on them, which we are. St.Kilda are a bit of an unknown as they beat us easily early in the year when we were struggling and they were in full flight. They are obviously a much improved team from last year when we had 2 comfortable wins against them. I think we will get a much better feel on how our game style fairs against their 'rolling zone' when we play against them in rd 17.

Last night we showed and we have done it quite a few times this year, that when our defensive pressure is up and our skills are on we can rip sides apart very quickly.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

How far is Ottens away?

Before today I would have said St. Kilda.

If we bring our best, we'll be hard to beat. I think the players as a collective group will be very keen to atone for last years QF debacle too. At the 'G, playing the Saints may be better for us - but we've already proven we can match Geelong there.

To be fair, we haven't got 3rd sewn up yet. Collingwood are in red hot form and a game behind. We've only got a 5 day break and play them this Friday Night. It's a VERY tough ask and they'd be backing themselves.

Nothing's set in stone yet.

[Mantis]

How far is Ottens away?

Before today I would have said St. Kilda.

If we bring our best, we'll be hard to beat. I think the players as a collective group will be very keen to atone for last years QF debacle too. At the 'G, playing the Saints may be better for us - but we've already proven we can match Geelong there.

To be fair, we haven't got 3rd sewn up yet. Collingwood are in red hot form and a game behind. We've only got a 5 day break and play them this Friday Night. It's a VERY tough ask and they'd be backing themselves.

Nothing's set in stone yet.

More like a 2 week break, last night was nothing more than a semi-competitive training session.;)

[craigsahibee]

Bring em on. We'll take on anyone. DESTINY.

[The Coon Dog]

Bring em on. We'll take on anyone. DESTINY.

Bee Gees fan? ;)

[LostDoggy]

St Kilda worry me with their height in the forward line with Riewoldt, Kosi and now Gardiner.

It means Williams becomes a key player for us, critical to our finals chances.

Murphy will return to CHF and I reckon he will make life interesting for Fisher who is one of their key play-makers. Murphy's movement up and down the ground will mean that Fisher can't swan around the backline as a quarterback.

On the plus side I see our pace in the middle being an advantage.

As for Geelong, they need Ottens back urgently and if he returns in good form for the finals, he will make life difficult for their opposition. They need to find a full-forward as the kid is way short of the standard at this point.

St Kilda effectively took Scarlett out of the game yesterday. He acts as their springboard from defence and starts many forward movements and I hope Rocket and his brain's trust picked up something there.

[Sockeye Salmon]

St Kilda effectively took Scarlett out of the game yesterday. He acts as their springboard from defence and starts many forward movements and I hope Rocket and his brain's trust picked up something there.

Scott Welsh did that in last years prelim.

[LostDoggy]

I get the feeling Geelong will slip a little and that we'll take 2nd spot.

[AndrewP6]

Bee Gees fan? ;)

Better DESTINY than TRAGEDY!:)

[LostDoggy]

At our best we can beat either. I have no preference who is the runner up to the Bulldogs second premiership.

Ahh BT, does my heart good to see those words. Love the history that we are creating this year with that confidence :D