Will we still make the finals?!?

[slide rule]

An AFL team has never won the comp finishing outside the top 4 in this system, the only team that looked like doing it was Adelaide in 09, who were the hot form team but lost the semi by a point.

You really need to finish in the 4. 4th position would be great if we could play Storm in Melbourne, that isn't an insurmountable task.

The AFL isn't as close of a competition as the NRL though, IMO.

 

[Mark^Bastard]

An AFL team has never won the comp finishing outside the top 4 in this system, the only team that looked like doing it was Adelaide in 09, who were the hot form team but lost the semi by a point.

You really need to finish in the 4. 4th position would be great if we could play Storm in Melbourne, that isn't an insurmountable task.

That's not due to the finals system, it's due to the fact that the teams that finish top 4 are usually better at winning premierships.

 

[HaroldBishop]

I watch a lot of AFL and I agree that generally the NRL is a closer competition so I wouldn't read to much into it. This is the first year that the AFL has been quite open.

Manly will probably finish outside the top 4 and you wouldn't be writing them off.

 

[Thresher]

Tigers losing last weekend and copping a whole lot of injuries (eg Benji) is very good for our chances of not being knocked out of the 8. This gives them almost no chance of going past us IMO. The teams below the tiges will also have a few games against each other.

I think if we beat the Panthers and get one more win from the other games we'll at least make the 8.

Like others have said on here though, if we can't knock over at least 2 or 3 teams in the lead up to the finals we'll just be making up space in the 8

 

[sharkfan12]

yes will still make the finals because we are the best

 

[MD9]

yes will still make the finals because we are the best

Love the confidence.

 

[josh11223344]

Looking at all the teams that should make the finals doesn't give me much confidence. They all have attacking guns who can score at will. Even trying to beat an 8th place team will be a massive ask.

 

[jim schwarz]

Looking at all the teams that should make the finals doesn't give me much confidence. They all have attacking guns who can score at will. Even trying to beat an 8th place team will be a massive ask.

So apart from the Dogs, what attacking buys have these teams made, since we last played them?

 

[creg]

We should make the top eight, top 4 would be amazing but I'm not holding my breathe.

We are still 2.5 wins ahead of 9th, which means they have to win 3 more games than us to boot us out. Meaning if we win 1 out of 5, they have to win 4. We win 2, they need to win all remaining 5. I like those odds.

While a premiership would be amazing this year, it's highly unlikely, and I won't be too sad if we don't get it. I just want to see our players experience the sharky support they will get when we make the finals. Give them that little bit more motivation for next year.

I'm still puzzled about the attitude of some 'supporters'. We've lost 2 in a row and everyone is jumping ship. We had an origin hangover and our C and VC were out injured. I get we had a huge finals meltdown last year, but we are a lot better placed and a lot better team than we were last year. Our current form is still better than the Storms

 

[Gards]

We are still the Sharks mate and the fans can feel the death wobbles of seasons past where we were set to make finals and missed out. Last week wasn't just a loss, it was the sign of a club struggling a bit on and off the field IMO. It's a real danger sign and it will take more than Gallen and Smith alone to dig us out.

 

[HITMAN]

We are still the Sharks mate and the fans can feel the death wobbles of seasons past where we were set to make finals and missed out. Last week wasn't just a loss, it was the sign of a club struggling a bit on and off the field IMO. It's a real danger sign and it will take more than Gallen and Smith alone to dig us out.

What off the field struggles are you talking about?

I agree with the death wobbles but. Last weeks loss has shook me up big time.

Hoping Gal and Smith play this week and we get a big win to resore both mine and the teams confidence.

 

[oozy]

i'd like to equate our current form to that of getting your car serviced.

Sure our fuel tank might be running on fumes, our pistons and seals are worn and slowly grinding shut.
Our main gears need lubrication and possibly even need a hydraulic overhaul.
The chassis is showing obvious signs of fatigue. may even need a new starter motor..?
to answer your ? op, mate, not only will be in the finals, we will be a feared competitor.

our sheer will and desire will make any team understand we mean business.

 

[Bundy Shark]

Still trying to convince myself we are ok, a team can't be up all season, we're having our flat part of the season now, better now than in finals time!

 

[Gow's Scissors]

No we won't.

 

[josh11223344]

So apart from the Dogs, what attacking buys have these teams made, since we last played them?

Not the point. We may have been competitive against these teams this season but when the game is on the line in a big finals match these other top teams have:

cronk/smith/slater
barba/morris
broncos- all round dangerous backline
inglis/merrit/luke/taylor
thurston/bowen/tate
benji/farah/lawrence
lyon/both stewarts/trex/foran/dce

us: carney/... gards

 

[Thresher]

for the first time in a long time I have absolutely no idea where we'll end up, after how badly we've played lately we could lose to everyone, if we regain previous form we could win the lot, very confused but looking forward to seeing what happens (as long as it's good)

 

[Lumpy]

We will make the 8 and that is a massive achievement for us this year. Top 4 would be great but that ship has sailed.

I will take anywhere in the 8 for this year.

 

[CrazyMatt]

I think it all depends on our game against Penrith, if we play ourselves back into form, we are a chance to at least win a couple games on our deadly run home. If we lose, then I can't see us winning any of our games on our **** run home.

 

[Jigsaw]

The club gets a nice bit of cash for making the finals right?

Thats a good step regardless of how we go after that

 

[gosharkies]

I think it all depends on our game against Penrith, if we play ourselves back into form, we are a chance to at least win a couple games on our deadly run home. If we lose, then I can't see us winning any of our games on our **** run home.

the penrith is a key game, we have a lot of players out and if we win we will gain a lot of confidence and with carney,gallen,gardner etc come back
we will be very hard to beat.