the disgrace that is the afl finals system, page-6

Anyone remember what happened the last time the Pies and Cats played before round 15 this year?

A hint: Even if Geelong started with a 100 point handicap they still would have lost.

Yes Geelong have come a long way since then but so have the Pies.

Thomas, Pendelbury and Shaw were rookies. Goldsack and Clarke were not playing then. Not to mention Cloke was not the player he is now. We also had Tarrant playing in the side last year who was a huge liability for us.

We have won 4 of our last 6 against the cats. Cats two wins have been an average of 22 points. (29 and 16) Collingwood's 4 wins have been by an average of about 50 points. (43,24,25,104)

This is the best Pies team we will be putting to the field on Fri night for many many years (assuming Fraser comes back in).

IMO although we made the grand final in 2003, there were many duds that took to the field that day (Tex Walker, J Cloke, Cole, Kinnear, Woewodin) We are much better positioned this year. The 2007 team is a wonderful mixture of experience and young talent.

As long as the Pies continue to tackle and place relentless pressure on the cats like they have done to their opposition in recent weeks, there is no reason why the Pies cant win it.

The pies will go in as heavy underdogs and seem to relish when tagged with the underdog status.