How well scripted is Round 22?

[Rocco Jones]

8th Essendon vs 9th Hawthorn: A virtual elimination final. Loser misses out on finals. If Essendon win, they are straight in. If Hawks win, Port would have to win by much more to steal their spot.

5th Carlton vs 6th Adelaide: The winner gets 5th spot and the chance to play the 8th side at home. The loser will finish 6th or 7th depending on whether Brisbane can beat the Swans, 7th obviously meaning a GABBA final,

3rd Collingwood vs 4th Western Bulldogs: If the Bulldogs can win by 22 points or more they will pinch 3rd and secure a game against the vulnerable Cats.

8th vs 9th, 5th vs 6th and 3rd vs 4th!

[LostDoggy]

Perfect! Andrew Demetriou must be licking his lips!

[BulldogBelle]

The whole season has already been written. Not unlike the WWE

[Rocco Jones]

The whole season has already been written. Not unlike the WWE

We are Rey Mysterio. I was going to say Jeff Hardy but that's a bit more West Coast.

[AndrewP6]

We are Rey Mysterio. I was going to say Jeff Hardy but that's a bit more West Coast.

Let's hope we're not Rusty Brooks or Barry Horowitz...

[immortalmike]

Let's hope we're not Rusty Brooks or Barry Horowitz...

We've been Barry Horowitz for 55 years.

[LostDoggy]

Would mind a crack at the saints either at present.
Saints/Cats, we don't care.
Go Dogs!

[ledge]

Amazing last round i was studying it last night as well.
I am backing Essendon to really rip out the Hawks this week after the dismal display yesterday.

[bornadog]

What a farce the top eight is. 10 games gets you into the finals.

[Cyberdoggie]

Is it also scripted that the Saints play Melbourne in the last round,
and the cats play freo at the cattery?

2 very easy games in the last round for the top 2 teams, yet 3 and 4 have to fight it out at 5pm on a sunday before the finals to decide who plays which one.

I'm in 2 minds whether we should bust our guts and risk injury to win in order to play geelong, or take it easy, rest players and risk flirting with form in order to be rested and play the saints.

[ledge]

Is it also scripted that the Saints play Melbourne in the last round,
and the cats play freo at the cattery?

2 very easy games in the last round for the top 2 teams, yet 3 and 4 have to fight it out at 5pm on a sunday before the finals to decide who plays which one.

And the AFL knew these teams would be in the top 8 and what places when doing the fixture in december last year?
Its some USA company i think they contracted to do the fixture anyway.

[Sedat]

What a farce the top eight is. 10 games gets you into the finals.
True in 2009, but in 2006 we needed 13 wins to be 100% secure in 8th place. Depends on the year - when there are a couple of dominant teams, there is a higher likelihood that a below average team will sneak into the top 8.

[aker39]

Its some USA company i think they contracted to do the fixture anyway.

They bought the software from a USA company.

[bulldogtragic]

I'm happy with great tickets for Hawks and Don, and MedallionC for Dogs and Carlton (although i will give them to a client). Big weekend of footy.

As an aside, whose the biggest threat for us (a) and the rest (b) - Hawthorn or Essendon?

[ledge]

St Kilda and Carlton!