Free Willy
28 Aug 2004, 12:08
10 wins....... sure is better than 8
Most here (& optimisticaly I would suggest) wanted an 8 win benchmark for the season.
At times we looked a shoe-in, & at one stage after a few beltings mid year, it appeared 6 would be the most we could hope for.
We saw the comings & goings of Anti-Pagan "its his fault" posters who convieniently popped up after a few savage losses, but were on holidays after several against the odds victories.
Most non aligned footy judges thought we would do well to get 6 wins this year & the biggest insult came from Eddie McChins pre round 3 who thought it was in our best interest to lay down, play dead & take advantage of the priority pick benefit of being a poor performing club.
We have come along way this year, much like St. kilda of last year - but in saying that, our success's will obviously be a couple of seasons away.
There will be no Nick Stevens like presents this year, & our first pick is at 9, but hey - we are quite adapt by necessity now at looking for rough diamonds & pick 9 aint all bad when your used to your first choice coming at 36 or around that mark.
This year is the first I can remember where 3 sides will have priority picks.
As a result it actually makes a side like Collingwoods low finish quite unrewarding & I'm very happy that we finished 11th not 13th.
The top 6 picks are spread between the bottom 3 sides, & these sides also take pick 1,2,3 in th PSD.
As a result the obvious gun talent will go at picks 1-3 (Historically) & the rest pretty much gets down to good recruiting & clubs requirements.
I would have hated to win only 6 games & finish 13th - thats a season wasted - the fact that the extra wins dont really penalise us at all is a great bonus to us & a stepping stone into season 2005-6.
Carlton has found some real hidden talent & re-invented a few players as well.
Our priority for next year is to reduce the "smashings" - 1 a year is tough to take, we cant let it happen 3 or 4 times.
Hopefully Thornton, Norman & a few other 2-4 year players will continue to physically develop their bodies further to better prepare to play on the monster of the comp - eg. Hall, Neitz, Rocca etc.
Despite the fact that we had to take some sever doses of punishment during the season, we had several memorable victories & gave out our fair share of pain to other sides as well.
my Fav 5 games - in no particular order....
WCE @ Optus, Crows @ Aami, PIES @ G (Twice), Bombers @ G (round 19).
Most here (& optimisticaly I would suggest) wanted an 8 win benchmark for the season.
At times we looked a shoe-in, & at one stage after a few beltings mid year, it appeared 6 would be the most we could hope for.
We saw the comings & goings of Anti-Pagan "its his fault" posters who convieniently popped up after a few savage losses, but were on holidays after several against the odds victories.
Most non aligned footy judges thought we would do well to get 6 wins this year & the biggest insult came from Eddie McChins pre round 3 who thought it was in our best interest to lay down, play dead & take advantage of the priority pick benefit of being a poor performing club.
We have come along way this year, much like St. kilda of last year - but in saying that, our success's will obviously be a couple of seasons away.
There will be no Nick Stevens like presents this year, & our first pick is at 9, but hey - we are quite adapt by necessity now at looking for rough diamonds & pick 9 aint all bad when your used to your first choice coming at 36 or around that mark.
This year is the first I can remember where 3 sides will have priority picks.
As a result it actually makes a side like Collingwoods low finish quite unrewarding & I'm very happy that we finished 11th not 13th.
The top 6 picks are spread between the bottom 3 sides, & these sides also take pick 1,2,3 in th PSD.
As a result the obvious gun talent will go at picks 1-3 (Historically) & the rest pretty much gets down to good recruiting & clubs requirements.
I would have hated to win only 6 games & finish 13th - thats a season wasted - the fact that the extra wins dont really penalise us at all is a great bonus to us & a stepping stone into season 2005-6.
Carlton has found some real hidden talent & re-invented a few players as well.
Our priority for next year is to reduce the "smashings" - 1 a year is tough to take, we cant let it happen 3 or 4 times.
Hopefully Thornton, Norman & a few other 2-4 year players will continue to physically develop their bodies further to better prepare to play on the monster of the comp - eg. Hall, Neitz, Rocca etc.
Despite the fact that we had to take some sever doses of punishment during the season, we had several memorable victories & gave out our fair share of pain to other sides as well.
my Fav 5 games - in no particular order....
WCE @ Optus, Crows @ Aami, PIES @ G (Twice), Bombers @ G (round 19).