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Mexico faces Croatia in a must-win Group A clash for both teams. Picture: Yuri Cortez. Source: YURI CORTEZ / AFP
MEXICO will seal a spot in the final 16 of the World Cup with a win over Croatia in Recife.
If Croatia can secure a victory or draw - and Brazil loses to Cameroon - Group A will be decided by goal difference.
Follow the explosive final Group A fixtures in our Match Centre.
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WE reveal the winners, losers, injuries and key talking points from the weekend NRL round.
Stay glued to this page for the latest NRL SuperCoach developments, plus have your say as the round progresses in the comment section below.
Darius Boyd helped to make Newcastle's night a good one, finally. Source: News Corp Australia
KNIGHTS 36 DEF. COWBOYS 28
Knights Studs: Darius Boyd (81), the man rugby league fans universally love, was at least at the heart of the good things Newcastle did on Monday night, with 116m run, six tackle busts, a linebreak, two try assists and a try. Kurt Gidley (89) wasn't bad either, with a try, four conversions, two tackle busts and more.
Knights Duds: James McManus (15) didn't see much action and even less scoring, while Adam Clydsdale (26) made 25 tackles but little else.
Cowboys Studs: Robert Lui (90) made the most of some very sloppy Newcastle defending to bag a couple of tries and make the scorelines a little less insulti
ng for North Queensland. Tariq Sims (85) was also involved, scoring a try, making 37 tackles and gaining 118m.
Cowboys Duds: Was Ray Thompson (10) at Hunter Stadium? Not sure we heard his name all night. Meanwhile, Scott Bolton (26) summed up the Cowboys bad night, with 17 tackles and just 62m made.
Billy Slater was in explosive form for the Storm. Source: News Corp Australia
STORM 46 DEF. EELS 20
Storm Studs: Putting Queensland's State of Origin loss well and truly behind him, Billy Slater (106) was back on top form for Melbourne, with two tries and 151 metres run. Lock Ryan Hinchcliffe (88) was also in good form with 25 tackles, three linebreaks and 106 metres.
Storm Duds: Mahe Fonua (18) failed to make an impact, with just seven tackles and 75 metres. Somehow, winger Young Tonumaipea (13) did even less than that, running a measly 68 metres.
Eels Studs: Morgan Ryan (96) was effective in the centres, with 19 tackles, two linebreaks and 81m run. Pretty slim pickings in an otherwise ordinary Eels performance, but Jarryd Hayne (65) backed up OK with 191m, two linebreaks and nine tackles.
Eels Duds: Halfback Chris Sandow (11) was at his very worst in this one. Seven metres run, nine tackles ... never mind the mouthy sin bin incident. Junior Paulo (28) was also underwhelming, with 60m and 32 tackles.
Injuries: Lee Mossop - shoulder
Trent Merrin was the Dragons' SuperCoach pick of the week. Source: News Corp Australia
DRAGONS 19 DEF. TITANS 18
Dragons Studs: Trent Merrin is firing for the Dragons, with 151m run, one linebreak and 19 tackles. Josh Dugan also put in a good shift, running 108m, one linebreak and generally looking dangerous.
Dragons Duds: Fullback Adam Quinlan (22) didn't do much SuperCoach wise, making just 87 metres and one tackle. Jason Nightingale (23) was just as anonymous on the wing, with 87 metres, six tackles and little else.
Titans Studs: Mark Minichiello (83) was the Titans' star SuperCoach man, scoring a try, making 138 metres and 28 tackles. And midweek recruit Daniel Mortimer (62) surprised everyone, making 31 tackles at the heart of most things the Titans did right.
Titans Duds: Will Zillman (18) - where were you? Just 87 metres and four tackles ... And David Mead (21) was just as quiet, making 124m on the wing and seven tackles.
Injuries: Trent Merrin - ankle
Ben Ridge - concussion
SEA EAGLES 26 DEF. SHARKS 0
Sea Eagles Studs: Centre Steve Matai (90) was on fire, making 139 metres from 13 runs. He made a whopping six tackle busts, three line breaks and scored a try. Tom Symonds (72) had a field day in his limited time on the field, scoring two tries in the space of three minutes. He also made three tackle busts and a line break.
Sea Eagles Duds: Winger Jorge Taufua (10) had a far from memorable night. With a price tag of $244,100, Taufua only managed 95 metres from 11 runs and wasted two try scoring opportunities. His fellow winger wasn't much better. Peta Hiku (22) was limited in what he could do on Saturday but did manage 107 metres and a tackle bust.
Sharks Studs: Paul Gallen (76) not only backed up from Origin but was Cronulla's top scorer of the night. The skipper made 39 tackles, three tackle busts and two offloads. Backrower Wade Graham (62) also impressed with 37 tackles and two tackle busts.
Paul Gallen of the Sharks talks with referee Gavin Morris. Source: Getty Images
Sharks Duds: Tupou Sopoaga (8) was limited in game time and that reflected in his SuperCoach score. He made just one tackle with 47 metres from six runs. Michael Gordon (20) is failing to fire on the wing since making way for Nathan Gardner at fullback, making 70 metres for the night.
Injuries:
Kieran Foran - on report for a high tackle on Nathan Gardner
WARRIORS 19 DEF. BRONCOS 10
Warriors Studs: Backrower Ben Henry (66) had plenty of impact off the bench, with one try, one offload and 29 tackles in defence. Five-eighth Chad Townsend (61) also crossed the line for a four-pointer, he also had 16 possessions and made seven kicks in play. Skipper Simon Mannering (60) made 103 metres from 11 runs, 31 tackles, two offloads.
Chad Townsend celebrates a try with Shaun Johnson and Ngani Laumape. Source: Getty Images
Warriors Duds: Utility Charlie Gubb (14) made 10 tackles and three runs. Another Warrior who was M.I.A starting winger David Fusitua (14) who only managed 109 metres from 14 runs in 80 minutes and missed one of his three tackles.
Broncos Studs: Prop Josh McGuire (67) was effective in attack and defence, he made 39 tackles and from 14 hit-ups churned out 128 metres. Rake Jake Granville's (78) impressive SuperCoach showing was thanks to a try, 29 tackles, a linebreak and seven runs for 67 metres.
Broncos Duds: We'll cut Matt Gillett (8) some slack, his dismal showing can be blamed on an AC joint injury he suffered early in the game. But we can't be as easy on Lachlan Maranta (12) who only handled the ball six time in 80 minutes.
Injuries:
Matt Gillett - shoulder
Dale Copley - concussion
Friend - concussion
Laumape - on report for a tackle on McGuire
BULLDOGS 22 DEF. RAIDERS 14
Raiders Studs: Prop David Shillington (73) was one of the more productive Raiders, with two tackle busts, five offloads and 17 tackle, with 180 metres made. Jarrod Croker (92) was the other man in green to deliver, scoring Canberra's only try of the night, as well as busting six tackles, making 14, two linebreaks and running 127m.
David Shillington of the Raiders and Dale Finucane of the Bulldogs come together. Source: Getty Images
Raiders Duds: Was winger Matt Allwood (17) on the field? If he was, he was hiding for most of it, running a paltry 69m. With almost an hour on the field, you would have thought Shannon Boyd (21) could have made an impact – but with just 10 tackles made and 57m run, you wouldn't be a very super coach if you'd picked him this weekend.
Bulldogs Studs: Big Sam Kasiano (90) was again a driving force for the Dogs, with 101m, 14 tackles and one linebreak. On the wing, anyone who'd picked cheapie Drury Low (95) for just $138,900 would be smiling, after the youngster bagged two tries and ran a game-high of 135m.
Bulldogs Duds: We could be easy on Reni Matua (6) given he only had 20 minutes on the field – but this is SuperCoach and we demand value for money! Two tackles and 25m is not VFM. We might be a little easier on Josh Reynolds (25). Backing up after a triumphant State of Origin is a decent excuse but just 12 tackles and 37m shows what a quiet game he had. (His halves partner Trent Hodkinson, wasn't much better, with only 27 points.)
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NOT A tear, not a sniffle, not a red eye.
Could Jonathan Brown's retirement announcement have happened any other way?
It's for more complicated footballers than Brown to wobble publicly in the emotion of stepping away from the sport that has been a life's focus and be confronted by a life without it.
The toughness and resilience with which Brown has lived his football career, despite a week of soul searching about whether he was capable of playing again, would not allow him to falter like other men. It's just not in his make-up.
Trying to find a word to describe Brown, who retired yesterday after 256 games for the Brisbane Lions and 594 goals, Leigh Matthews settled on "unique''.
Brown after Brisbane's 2002 Grand Final win over Collingwood. Source: Getty Images
Matthews, the Lions football director and coach of Brown's three premiership sides, said the club wanted Brown to be involved next year in whatever off-field role both parties can agree on.
But Matthews feels Brown's main focus as a career is most likely to be "doing what I'm doing'', working as a well-paid television analyst for one of the television networks.
Brown's reference points for future employers are many of the same attributes as from his playing career and include the renowned toughness which we were fortunate enough in Brisbane to see in so many games over 15 seasons.
But he was so much more to the game and to the Lions.
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His ability to withstand the pressure of a set shot from 50m out late in a game, such as his goal to get a draw with Sydney in 2009 with three seconds left, were also the measure of the man.
The way he sought to teach the latter Lions teams of his career of the ethos of his triple premiership teammates was one of his legacies. Across Queensland, he gave the Lions and his code of football an authentic, "good bloke'' face to promote them both in this state.
Players who achieve a 10th in their sport as Brown has could consider how humbly he announced the standard retirement press conference about how he wanted to be remembered.
"As a better player that what I probably think I was, or in reality what I am, because I played in a premiership,'' Brown said.
Brown with then Lions skipper and former coach Michael Voss. Source: Getty Images
"Your reputation has been enhanced because I've been a premiership. And that's all of us.
"I was never blessed with great speed and I had to use my physical force and my attack on the ball. I just tried to give my all, at training. I tried to enjoy myself along the way, but I tried to train and prepare myself as hard as I could.''
"Yeah,'' said Matthews a few minutes later.
"Unique. Jonathan was a very talented player, but that will be the legend that will grow over the years _ the ability to keep his eyes on the ball in every circumstance.
"It was a byproduct of wanting the footy and not caring who was likely to come from another direction.
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"I used to (as Lions coach) say to Browny, `I don't know about you running back with the flight of the ball like you do'. Part of the basis was his teammates didn't know what he was doing either.''
Toughness can take many guises in Australian football.
I remember watching at the Gabba one night in 2010 when Bulldog Brian Lake, an incumbent All-Australian defender, stood Brown.
Brown hardly got a touch for three quarters, but kept making Lake run and run to track his long, hard leads.
An exhausted Lake lost the ability to keep running so hard, hunched over in the last quarter, a virtual white flag. Brown kicked two critical goals and the Lions won.
Brown constantly united the Gabba. Picture: Mark Calleja Source: News Corp Australia
Three years later, Lake was good enough to be voted best afield in Hawthorn's grand final win. That's how good Jonathan Brown was, that night in 2010.
Loyalty was a big factor in Brown rejecting a second chance to join Collingwood for the 2009 season and also will be a reason why he will continue to work with the young Lions forwards Michael Close, Jackson Paine and Jonathan Freeman.
"I want to be involved in the club going forward, probably not in a full-time basis, post 2014,'' Brown said.
"I can't go cold turkey on the footy club and I'd like to be part of the ride that's being created here. Hopefully there will be success not too far around the corner.''
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ESSENDON turned up the heat on the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority on Monday ahead of Friday's Federal Court showdown.
Lawyers for the Bombers lodged an injunction asking the court to freeze ASADA's action against 34 former and current Bombers players issued with show-cause notices.
The application for the injunction will be heard by Federal Court Justice John Middleton on Friday morning — and televised live on the ABC — as part of a bid by the Bombers and suspended coach James Hird to have the joint ASADA-AFL investigation ruled unlawful.
EVANS ASSURED PLAYERS WOULDN'T BE BANNED
ESSENDON QC WARNED ON DUAL ROLES
ASADA HITS BACK AT BOMBER COURT MOVE
If the injunction is successful, Essendon will force ASADA to place all proceedings against the players on hold until the court hears the Essendon-Hird challenge in late August or early September.
It means footy's drugs scandal could overshadow the AFL finals for a second year.
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The Essendon injunction bid is also aimed at stopping the Anti-Doping Rule Violation Panel from considering if the 34 players should be placed on the Register of Findings — the step required before infraction notices for doping can be issued by the AFL.
"It is only fair that ASADA commit to take no further steps in its investigation until after the Federal Court has ruled on the legality of the investigation," Essendon lawyer Josh Bornstein said yesterday.
ASADA last week granted the 34 players an extension until July 11 to respond to the show-cause letters.
The anti-doping agency yesterday revealed players would be given a final seven-day window to respond after July 11, before evidence was presented to the ADRVP.
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An ASADA spokesman said: "Through its proposed undertakings, the Essendon Football Club was asking ASADA to stall its investigations and completely prevent the Authority from disclosing information in accordance with the Act.
"To agree to the undertaking would have stopped ASADA performing its statutory functions until the conclusion of the Federal Court case and resulted in further delays.
"The extension granted by ASADA today was a genuine attempt to seek a compromise to the undertakings sought by the Essendon Football Club and an effort to expedite matters.
"ASADA believes the decision by Essendon to lodge an application for an urgent injunction is premature, given the further extension provided by ASADA today."
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THE Socceroos have rightfully won praise for two Herculean World Cup performances against the established strength of Chile and the Netherlands.
Facing a bristling and embarrassed reigning World Cup champion intent on exacting revenge in Curitiba however, the Socceroos face as great a task.
A poor showing against Spain could take the gloss off two super brave, attacking efforts. And warning signs were present at the Socceroos' training base in Vitoria on Sunday.
Probably the smallest media contingent in a fortnight greeted the players while there was the kind of laidback vibe in the air one expects ahead of a dead rubber.
Postecoglou's former South Melbourne teammate and Socceroos legend Alan Davidson, son of left-back Jason, said recently the coach had "brainwashed" the players into believing in his vision.
Australia's Tommy Oar, Matt McKay and Ben Halloran training on Sunday. Pic: George Salpigtidis Source: News Corp Australia
And his motivational savvy will be tested again ahead of a clash where experienced trio Tim Cahill, Mark Bresciano and Mark Milligan join a top-notch absentee list, because this young team is susceptible to switching off.
Postecoglou, who gave the players an absolute spray after the 3-1 loss to Chile and told the subs he wants more of an impact, has used Australia's poor World Cup record (two wins in 12 games, against Japan in 2006 and Serbia in 2010) in his keynote speeches ahead of Spain.
January's Asian Cup is another motivator.
Postecoglou has used 17 of his 23 players and that's likely to be 18 or 19 by the time the final whistle sounds in Curitiba, with Massimo Luongo, Dario Vidosic, Bailey Wright and James Holland the only outfield players yet to feature.
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But with Robbie Kruse, Rhys Williams, Tom Rogic, Josh Kennedy, Curtis Good and Trent Sainsbury all coming back into the mix, few spots are assured.
"We will expose some players and give them an opportunity for sure,'' Postecoglou said.
"The pleasing thing for me post the World Cup is that you still have some guys outside this group will now hopefully get inspired and challenge to get back in it.
"If we can come out of this World Cup with our number of players having got an opportunity and excelling then that is going to make us stronger going forward. We need more depth.
"As you have seen here we have had some injuries prior and during the tournament. If you want to do well tournament like this then you need depth.
"We will certainly find out and will continue to find out. The opportunities will continue to get given to guys who have earnt them.
"I'll be really interested to see. I think Spain are still one of great sides in the world and some of our young guys are really going to get challenged in the last game.''
Jack Ziebel runs ahead of Jack Grimes. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Michael Klein / News Corp Australia
BRAD Scott said he was "staggered" at the latest score review blunder which cost North Melbourne a clear goal in the 41-point thumping of Melbourne.
And the man at the centre of the incident, Jack Ziebell, said he was robbed a second major as the goal umpire's call was overturned after a lengthy review decreed Ziebell's long-range set-shot had hit the post.
After the third referral drama of the weekend, the Roos vice-captain said: "My opinion is if you are going to take the time to do the review, you probably should take the time to get the decision right.
"But everyone makes mistakes, so no hard feelings. You can't do much about it."
He also tweeted: "I think the AFL owes me a goal tonight."
Melbourne coach Paul Roos was bemused by the last-quarter over-rule, initially unaware it was adjudged to have hit the post.
Andrew Swallow gathers the ball in front of Nathan Jones. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia
"It hit the post? Which post? The one over the fence?" he said.
"It took a while. It looked like it was definitely touched, but was it over the line."
Scott said he was "incredulous" but backed the controversial system's ability to eradicate howlers.
"The clips I saw, if that was conclusive then I don't know who's making that adjudication," he said.
"I couldn't believe it and I'm not sure anyone thought that was a good call, maybe except if you're a Melbourne supporter."
Chris Dawes locked in battle with Scott Thompson. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia
And Scott said captain Andrew Swallow was confident he had avoided structural damage to his knee after a late scare but conceded goalsneak Robin Nahas had a suspected dislocated shoulder.
He also clipped North's performance, declaring a repeat effort would be unlikely to beat Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday night.
The Roos pumped the Lions by 87 points last month in their biggest win since 2012.
"We're not going fantastically when you compare us to (the top four sides)," Scott said.
"There were some things we were really disappointed with in terms of the way we played.
"We're not a really good team yet, so we've got to keep striving to become one and there are some things which frustrated me today."
Paul Roos is not impressed at three-quarter time. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia
The Roos converted just 15 of 32 shots but blew the Demons away with a six-goal burst from 12 minutes in the third term.
Spearhead Drew Petrie finished with a wasteful 1.5 as the Roos became the ninth team from Melbourne's past 11 matches to finish with more behinds than goals.
"Squandering chances is frustrating because Roosy's a genius. I don't know how he does it, he forces the opposition to miss," Scott said.
The Kangaroos moved to 8-5 and sit one win and percentage behind fourth-placed Fremantle, but Scott said they were not yet playing at a standard to warrant the double chance.
He said he was not prepared to send a tagger to Demons star Bernie Vince until late in the second quarter when the former Crow kicked his third goal from his 22nd disposal.
Debutant Ben Brown points to the heavens after kicking his first AFL goal. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia
"I thought if we added another negative role in there that would have meant Ziebell, (Ben) Cunnington, Swallow, (Nick) Dal Santo were out of the midfield."
Scott said while Vince had 16 second-half possessions to finish with 41, Bastinac curtailed his impact.
Roos said it seemed some of his players had hit the wall fitness-wise, but is determined not to "gift players games" if they are not deserved.
"I just thought some of our guys were tired tonight. Some of our young guys, it's getting to the middle of the year and that's the challenge for our guys, week in week out.
"We just went away from some of the really basic things we have been doing well, and that's what happens when you play a team that gets on the outside and runs and runs."
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DOES the coach make the players ... or do the players make the coach?
If the Scott brothers — twins Chris and Brad — changed sides without letting on, would results dramatically alter at Geelong and North Melbourne to emphasise coaches determine results?
Had Sir Alex Ferguson worked with limited budgets at Aston Villa rather than with the chequebook that brought Eric Cantona to Manchester United, would have he had so much success in the English Premier League?
Norm Smith is the legendary master of Australian football coaches.
The "Red Fox" won six VFL premierships while coaching Melbourne — with talented players who have crowded the Australian Football Hall of Fame — with a 64 per cent success rate.
Yet, in his three seasons at Fitzroy, Smith never had the Lions qualify for the finals while chalking up a credible 56 per cent winning rate.
In his four years at South Melbourne at the end of his coaching career, Smith had a 30 per cent success rate — and in 1970 did give Brownlow Medallist Bob Skilton his only finals game, albeit a loss to St Kilda.
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Smith's older brother, Len, is regarded as a smarter tactician but in his coaching stint at Fitzroy and Richmond was not blessed with the talent Norm commanded at Melbourne.
In SA football, the contrasting results achieved by Fos Williams with nine SANFL premierships at Port Adelaide but none at South Adelaide and West Adelaide suggests coaches may never fulfil their vision without extraordinary talent as Williams had at Alberton.
And then there is Neil Kerley who scored flags at West Adelaide, South Adelaide and Glenelg by clearly having differing player groups buy into his plan.
So here is the question of the week in tune with Showdown XXXVII at Adelaide Oval on Sunday:
If Ken Hinkley (Port Adelaide) and Brenton Sanderson (Adelaide) changed sides, who would win the derby? The importance of a coach — compared to the players — does not set up a mutually exclusive question.
There are some players — such as Brownlow Medallist Gary Ablett and former North Melbourne key forward Wayne Carey — who have such natural brilliance that their careers are not defined by their coaches.
AFL — Adelaide Crows v North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval. Brenton Sanderson talks to Brodie Martin at 3 quarter time Photo Sarah Reed. Source: News Corp Australia
But there are many coaches who could never get their grand plans for premiership campaigns off the drawing board because their clubs lacked quality players.
Hinkley has a 3-0 win loss record in Showdowns against Sanderson. And a freakish bounce of the ball from an opportunist kick by Angus Mofries protected that unbeaten record for Hinkley in the last derby played at Football Park almost 12 months ago.
Although it must be said, some of Hinkley's bold decisions to restructure the Power's centre-square plays in the last five minutes of Showdown XXXV did underline the value of a fast-thinking coach.
Will the coaches make the difference at the Oval on Sunday? They will insist their meaningful work will be from Monday to Saturday in preparing their teams and not in the three hours from 4pm on Sunday.
Sanderson's much-repeated line this season that change and success at Adelaide must be "player-driven". But Sanderson must still lead his Crows to that path.
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley. Photo Sarah Reed. Source: News Corp Australia
Former Socceroos coach Guus Hiddink enters the debate on who makes whom — coach or player — saying: "All individuals who are gifted with a potential to do something can attain a higher level of performance, improve by 10 or 15 per cent.
The key is to identify what will trigger that improvement. If players understand what they have to do on a football pitch, what their mission within the team is, then you obtain a combination that works.
"But how do you identify this 'trigger'? Honestly, I don't know. I like 'playing' with human beings. I like human challenges.
It depends on personalities, of course. You must be able to judge which type of player you're dealing with — as a human being. There is no overriding 'general' approach to the work you do with a particular team."
So are the players or coaches more important in Showdown XXXVII?
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BRENDON Goddard was a free agent planning to leave St Kilda in 2012, opting for Essendon while being unaware that the Bombers were to become a bad choice by the poor decisions made at Windy Hill in a contentious supplements program.
His frustration that spilled on the Footy Show towards the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority on Thursday night is so poorly misdirected.
The next time Goddard passes through an airport, he may want to stop at a newsagent to pick up the autobiography of Argentine midfielder Almeyda.
He should. The chapter recounting his days at Italian club Parma tells a story that has a chilling similarity to the mysterious events at Essendon in 2012.
And Goddard may then ask ASADA to do more to find out exactly what did happen at Windy Hill before he arrived.
One of the most alarming stories in Almeyda's book tells of how he hooked up to an intravenous drip before Serie A matches with Parma.
Today, Almeyda is convinced the drips were used to give the players performance-enhancing drugs which have put his teammates at risk of serious long-term health damage.
"At Parma we were given an IV (intravenous) drip before games," wrote Almeyda. "They said it was a mixture of vitamins but before entering the field I was able to jump up as high as the ceiling.
"Players do not ask questions, but then in the following years there are cases of former players dying from heart problems, suffering from muscular issues and more. I think it is the consequence of the things that have been given to them."
To this day Essendon still cannot tell its players what they were asked to put in their bodies in 2012.
Like Almeyda, these Bombers trusted people who have clearly failed them. How ASADA is to blame for this, as Goddard has it, remains baffling and yet another example of how the AFL players talk a good game when it comes to keeping their sport clean but do not do enough to protect the game's integrity.
And pity the Essendon players who have to live Almeyda's nightmare.
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Go on, say it. The Cats can't win the flag.
Say it again. The Cats can't win the flag.
Say it as many times you like, but you won't be able to convince yourself to absolutely believe it.
BENNELL, SUNS SINK FLAT CATS
HOT HARLEY BLOWS SCOTT, CATS AWAY
The commentary on Sunday was all about Geelong after they were scorched by the show-timers on the Gold Coast, but no one was definitive enough to call it.
Six and half seasons of professionalism, of will power and of self belief does that.
Still, the Cats might be a good side, but they aren't playing good footy against the teams which matter most.
Joel Selwood tries to evade Trent McKenzie. Source: Getty Images
They have lost four games this season — to Port Adelaide, Fremantle, Sydney and now Gold Coast.
Three of them sit above them on the ladder, while the Suns are a game behind.
Their significant victories came against Hawthorn, Collingwood and North Melbourne. Of the rest, they scraped over Carlton and just held off Richmond. And they beat the others as they should have.
We know why we can't write them off, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to maintain your confidence that they can actually win it.
Genuine premiership threats win on the road.
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This year the Cats are 0-4. Last year, they went 4-1. The year before, when put out on elimination final weekend, they went 1-4.
The season before that, the 2011 premiership, they had a 4-1 record on the road.
Certainly, the interstate win-loss result is not the be all and end all, but there's a trend for Geelong.
The last two losses have raised serious questions. The 110-point loss to Sydney was a once in a decade defeat but the loss to the Suns on Saturday night was most un-Geelong like.
The Suns kicked eight successive goals either side of three-quarter time.
Shane Kersten is swamped by teammates after kicking a goal. Source: Getty Images
Remember also the Port Adelaide loss. That was by 40 points. If it wasn't Geelong, you'd accuse them of giving up in all three matches.
Coach Chris Scott said the scoreline on Saturday night blew out because the Cats tried to chase victory rather than fatigue.
The facts is, no matter if you're chasing victory or defending to the death, or whether you're fatigued or running on the top of the ground, the fact is the Gold Coast munched Geelong for a quarter and a half.
The game was over early in the final quarter because Geelong didn't have the weapons to compete.
Always when they lose, the query is leg speed. It's a cop out most times, but not on Saturday night.
Steven Motlop celebrates a goal with Josh Caddy. Source: Getty Images
As the Cats battled to compete, Harley Bennell, Gary Ablett, Dion Prestia, Jarrrod Harbrow, David Swallow and Jaeger O'Meara time and again found themselves streaming downfield with numbers in support.
Shane Kersten was a positive as the second key forward behind Tom Hawkins and that combination may well decide whether the Cats can make top four or run with the pack below it.
Steve Motlop continued his climb to full fitness and full output and Allen Christiansen was solid, so there's some light.
Joel Selwood found significant ball for the first time in three matches and Steve Johnson too, but they went at 54 per cent and 56 per cent efficiency, which means they were sloppy.
There are other queries. Players such as Billie Smedts, Jordan Murdoch and Josh Walker, well they flash in and flash out, and Walker at this stage of his career barely flashes at all.
Overall, the attitude is an issue. That Cats once were warriors. Now they are pedestrian.
Of all the stats that count other than the scoreboard, it has to be contested ball.
From Rounds 1-5, they won the contested ball in every game. Since then they have won it in just two of eight games.
The seven times they won the contested ball produced seven victories.
It's plainly obvious what has to be a priority.
So, can the Cats win it? If I had $100 to bet, I'd learn towards no.
Eric MacKenzie says the Eagles are still firmly eyeing finals footy. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images Source: Paul Kane / Getty Images
DEFENDER Eric Mackenzie believes West Coast may have found a genuine swingman in impressive newcomer Jeremy McGovern, five years after the retirement of premiership utility Adam Hunter.
McGovern, 22, is likely to start forward against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium today but has starred as a defender for East Perth in the WAFL this season.
Mackenzie, now the Eagles' most senior key defender following the retirement of former captain Darren Glass, said McGovern had the ability to develop into either a key defender or forward and that in the short-term he might be best utilised as a swingman.
The Eagles have not had a key position player who could be swung through both ends of the ground since the injury-forced retirement of Hunter in 2009.
"He might be able to play both. We've got a couple of good keys at either end, so wherever he fits in,'' Mackenzie said.
"It's good having the flexibility and Simmo's (coach Adam Simpson) big on having flexibility.''
McGovern, who will play just his fourth AFL game today, has taken a total of 20 marks and kicked five goals over the past two weeks against Hawthorn and Gold Coast.
Having trained with McGovern since he joined the club through the 2011 rookie draft, Mackenzie said his biggest strength was his ability to judge the ball in flight.
"He reads the flight of the ball very well,'' he said.
"He's a confident player, so when he flies at the ball he's one of the best marks at the club.''
Mackenzie declared the Eagles were "still alive" and that finals remained a possibility at 5-7 ahead of today's clash with the Saints and a daunting Western Derby on Saturday.
"There's still a heartbeat at the moment. It's very faint, but we're still a chance,'' he said.
"Funny things can happen in footy.''
Despite not being in the leadership group, Mackenzie was one of the Eagles named by Simpson as a captaincy contender who would share the skipper's job on a rotating basis for the remainder of the season.
"It's not something I've thought of. We've got a good leadership group as it is,'' Mackenzie said.
"It's not something I'm pushing for.''
Darren Glass at his retirement press conference. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: Daniel Wilkins / News Corp Australia
DARREN Glass knew he would never play footy again when he watched an Eagles' morning training session from the other side of the fence.
"Seeing the boys train, already I felt on the outside of the group, so it hit home a bit then more than anything," the former Eagles' captain said just days after his shock retirement.
Glass, 33, says he may have been able to play a handful of games through to the end of his 15th season but he had started some outings in pain.
He made a personal assessment that some of his playing efforts were not good enough after 270 games including the 2006 premiership.
Glass says he played on this year to join leadership forces with first-time senior coach Adam Simpson.
"No, not any regret. It is more with hindsight I can say I played a year too long," Glass said.
"At the end of last year I had been carrying an ankle complaint in the back half of the season and if I booked in for surgery as I did, I thought that I would be able to contribute well enough for this year.
"I finished the season playing OK footy at the end of last year.
"So all of the decision making processes I am happy with. So I am not regretting going into this year at all.
"But the way the year has panned out, I re-aggravated the ankle and ... an old hip injury.
"I went into this year knowing that I wouldn't be able to play every game and that at some stages I'd get sore and need a rest.
"But I felt my form dropping off as well and that in the second half of this year, that I would taper off.
"I really felt that another player would be able to step in and give as much if not more than I could in the back half of the year."
Glass was virtually not training at all between games over the opening three months of the season as West Coast stumbled through a horror run of seven losses in eight weeks after winning its opening three games.
"It was the recovery between games which becomes the issue as you get older," he said.
"I was really not training at all. I had ankle complaints, hip complaints and I could have played one week and then get to Thursday and chat to Simmo and tell him that I was really struggling to get up for the next game.
"I'd have a week off and go into the next game (and) I still wouldn't be feeling great.
"So that's when I knew I was in a bit of trouble and I had a chat to Simmo and it got to the point when I thought it was best for me and for the team to step aside."
Glass started the first season of a new era under Simpson knowing it would be his last year but time caught up ahead of schedule.
"It got to the point where I couldn't get rid of the soreness before the next game," he said.
"That happened at different times last year when I had a couple of rests, but this year it was happening obviously more frequently.
"It's not easy being sore all week and trying to do a little bit of training and weights, but you do get used to it as you get a bit older."
Glass rejected any notion of an emotional send-off appearance at home, saying a half-time lap of honour in last week's thrilling win over the Gold Coast was enough.
"To be honest, the way it played out I got to lead the boys out one last time and I got to walk a lap of honour with my kids which was phenomenal and I thought the crowd was amazing," Glass said.
"So I felt like I got more than what I could have asked for. I felt an obligation that once it was over in my head, it's time for someone else to play.
"For me it was over. It was time to step aside and the way it turned out as a day with the boys playing really well, winning the game and getting the sort of send-off that I did.
"It couldn't have been any better for me personally."
