After tough win against the valiant but injury-depleted Bulldogs, the Cats face what could only be described as an easy run home.
The Cats will play all bottom-eight teams in their last four games including this year’s wooden spoon contenders Essendon and Brisbane.
No doubt the Cats will hope either Sydney or GWS drops one of their final four games, with tight competition for the top-four spots.
The Giants are second on the ladder and the Swans third. Both are separated from Geelong at fourth place by percentage alone.
Adelaide, which blew a top-four opportunity last weekend by conceding three late goals to the Bombers, is just 0.1 of percentage point behind the Cats. With a similarly easy run home they could usurp the Cats’ top four spot.
However with danger games against West Coast in round 24 and a showdown against Port Adelaide the week before, the Crows could just as easily hand it to the Cats.
The Cats will hope for some big wins to get the percentage boost required for a second chance final in September.
Clinching third place rather than fourth would likely mean a qualifying final against GWS instead of reigning premiers and ladder leaders Hawthorn.
But with consistency being the Cat’s biggest weakness this season, fans will be desperately hoping they don’t drop an easy game.
The Cats lost supposedly easy games this year to Carlton, Collingwood and Sydney and have drawn criticism from commentators and former club greats.
With Jimmy Bartel playing his 300th game and Corey Enright breaking the Cats’ all-time games record last weekend, speculation has grown over their futures.
However, Cats coach Chris Scott told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Monday night that the club would not confirm contract specifics.
“Jimmy has a decision to make, Corey Enright has a decision to make, and the club has a part to play in that as well,” he said.
Superstar Patrick Dangerfield holds a seven-vote lead in the AFL Coaches’ Association Champion Player of the Year and remains the clear favourite for the Brownlow.
