And if he had the list available thru the season when making that statement he may of been spot on, we'll never know tho due to the worst injury season I've known in my 56 year membership.
Injuries are everything in a comp this close. I have no doubt we are fighting for an 8 spot if we had majority of best 22 available this season.
Look at the PIes/Carlton/Sydeny etc. The Pies are top 2 if everyone is available. The Blues lose a few players and their form suffers and are now finished for 2024. The Swans lose their most important bookends and their form suffers for a few weeks.
No team can cover key injuries in such a tight competition.
The premier will be the side that has their best 23 available for most of the finals. Looking at the ladder now and who is unlikely for finals -
Swans - will be missing no one of significance with Papley back for finals.
Port - Finlayson, Powell-Pepper and perhaps Todd Marshall.
GWS - Riccardi the only best 23 that may not be available
Geel - Hawkins (arguable they are better off without him), Bruhn, Guthrie, OConnor, De Koning flagged to be back for finals.
Bris - Coleman, McCarthy, Gardiner. Hipwood should be back for finals
Freo - potentially none of their best 23 out. That loss to geelong such a shocker given almost no chance of top 4 now.
Bulldogs - Smith. English likely available. The loss to Adelaide a shocker, killed their Top 4 chance.
Haws - Lewis.
Carl - Cottrell, De Koning, Dockerty, Fogarty, Silvagni all out with potentially another 3 or 4 not back for start of finals. Gone.
The final game of season Bull v GWS could decide GWS Top 2 and Bulldogs place in 8.
If Swans GWS finish Top 2 at least one is in the GF. Personally think the Swans will win the GF as they are the best all round side, Papley being critical given they do not have a dominant key forward.
Hoepfully Port lose their last 2 to miss top 4.
The Cats are almost certain to be Top 4 now which is diabolical. But hopefully means some joy from watching them go out in straight sets. And hopefully they bring Hawkins back for a final finals loss.
The great thing as a neutral is there are so many games to llok forward to with heaps on the line. And hopefully more big finals losses for crusty and his Cats.