I think this is a week when anything is possible.
Let's start with form. Freo are 4-6, not a great result. They've beaten Melbourne (wow!), and St Kilda (double wow!), the Hawks and Adelaide (by a point, at home). It's not impressive. All their losses have been close, except Brisbane (by 45 pts at Gabba--we drew at Dome) and West Coast (31--we lost by 23 in Melb). So they've been competitive, but not strong. A bit like us last year.
Like us, they've also lost to Port, Essendon, Geelong and Collingwood.
Now let's look at the coach's mind games. We had Chris Connolly telling the papers he was treating Richmond like the reigning premiers.
I think there are two things going on there. First, he knows, what we oughta know (and darksiders don't have a clue about), which is we are far better than 9 losses and a draw suggests.
The second is that he's worried about complacency from the team; ie thinking this is a game they can win without killing themselves. Telling his players to treat Richmond like they're West Coast doesn't strike me as an intelligent way to combat complacency. It makes him sound like a tosser.
So the result will depend in part on which Fremantle, and which Richmond, turn up to play. I think we're a real chance, but Freo have to be favourites.
As for a belting? I would be very surprised. This is a group that's been getting a bit of confidence in themselves, despite how they played against Brisbane. And there are too many who really want to keep their places in the team.
