2007 Expectations

[The_Bulldogs_Bite]

Nothing can be assessed properly until 2007 is actually over and done with, however, at this point in time - if we've got a full list - what are reasonable expectations to have for the team?

It could be easy to "over" expect, and thus set yourself up for sheer disappointment. On the contrary, it's easily to set the expectations low and achieveable.

So where should they be, and what would we consider a year of under achievement?

[Benno From Berwick]

Nothing can be assessed properly until 2007 is actually over and done with, however, at this point in time - if we've got a full list - what are reasonable expectations to have for the team?

It could be easy to "over" expect, and thus set yourself up for sheer disappointment. On the contrary, it's easily to set the expectations low and achieveable.

So where should they be, and what would we consider a year of under achievement?

There is only one outcome that I will be happy with! Any other outcome will leave me feeling empty........like every other year.....

[Go_Dogs]

I'd set the expectation of finishing in the top 5 - but preferrably the top 4. It's not going to be easy at all, but I think it's reasonable that this squad, with the inclusions, more fitness and quality players back, has the potential to go top 4. Whether they are able to realise that dream is another matter, but with our draw and everything else, there is no excuses. Even if we do have a bad run with injuries, we should have enough depth to challenge for that 4th spot.

[always right]

Hoping for a premiership
Expecting to make grand final
Unacceptable if we don't make top four

[rapidshave]

Top 4.

Nothing less.

[Pigdog]

Regardless of where we finish inside the top 8 after the H&A season, if we dont make a prelim. it would be seen as being a wasted season in terms of the sides deveoplment. Of course it would be easier to reach this goal if we were to finish inside the top 4 after the 22rds are up.

[The Coon Dog]

There is only one outcome that I will be happy with! Any other outcome will leave me feeling empty........like every other year.....

What he said.

[gohardorgohome]

Top 4.

Nothing less.


what he said

[mjp]

This is about expectations, not about being happy.

I hope we make the top 4.
I expect us to win at least 13 games.
- This allows for WCE to beat us once.
- St Kilda and Geelong to split with us one each.
- Melbourne to split with us.
- Sydney to beat us in Canberra.
- Adelaide to split with us.
- We will lose a few others throughout the season as well, but should not win LESS than 13.

I hope A-Mac and Aker are considered the recruiting coup of the year.
I expect them both to make an impact at times, but believe Aker will have moments of inconsistency and MacDougall will be solid but never quite reach the heights we all hope for.

I hope Darcy comes back as good as new and kicks 50+ goals as a permanent forward.
I expect he will play somewhere between 14-18 games as he recovers after missing two years, and will kick anything up to 40.

I could go on, but you get the idea. Benno will hang me for accepting mediocrity, but that isn't it...what I expect is that given the talent we are putting on the park we will win near enough to 60% of our games and play finals footy. We might be better than that - I hope we are. But I dont expect 18 wins and for us to win a flag - that is what I dream of.

[Butane]

I was thinking of starting a thread like this. Mainly because i feel peoples expectations are to high. The reason i didn't start this thread is because my post would come across as cynical, its as if i'am trying to justify why i don't think the dogs are serious contenders next year but always come back to top 4 is a very possible outcome. (plus i didn't want to sound like a cats supporter)

Collingwood look like they won't make it but will cause many upsets next year, you could cross Brisbane off the list and Essendon aswell. Port are still a wild card, you wouldn't bet on them making the eight but remember they did beat us near the end of the season. And although Carlton won the spoon the amount of early draft picks they have had in the last 5 years it wouldn't suprise me if they finished near the 8, although i would be shocked if they did make it. As for the Kangaroos, well they did beat us at the G this year and everybody always expects them to finish near the bottom but they never do.

I think the improvement of teams like Hawthorn, Carlton and Richmond have to be taken in to consideration for 2007. We might be better, but so will they. Geelong had a shocking year considering their list and are still young even if people think they have missed a small window. We did only beat them by 1 points at our home ground, then lost to them by a point at the same venue. when it comes to teams falling out of the eight i just can't see it happening.

West Coast can only improve, bar injuries, and Sydneys list consists 98% of players under 30, so they will be top 4 again. Fremantle made their little run in the last half of the year so they are heading towards top 4 thanks to the 'Subifactor' and nobody can tell me that St Kilda don't have the list to win a flag or at least finish top 4. And don't forget Melbourne, they also have a great list. Very similiar to us in many ways, and i expect the Dogs and Demons to have some ripper matches next year. And Adelaide, well they won't miss the finals, thats for sure, AAMI stadium gives them a finals birth every year, so they will be there abouts.

I think the hype has come from beating Collingwood in the finals. We have to admit as good as we were that day, they were terrible. With Murphy, Darcy, Hahn all coming back it does sound like we are boosting our team. But who goes to let them in? Will they come back as good as they were? not at first they won't be, and all 3 of them playing A+ footy by finals times? I don't know, we can only hope. And of course the inclusion of Aker, he's got something to prove, and thats pretty scary for every other team but hes just slipping in to Smithys position, all be it a fresher and more skillful fill in.

The biggest worry for me is the Victorian teams on the rise. We have to play these clubs with out a 'home' advantage. Even if they are off the mark a little bit we still have to bring our A game to get over them. Where interstate clubs don't. If the victorian clubs listed above improve at the same rate as us, then we can't be expected to finish top 4 next season. There is always a hope, but ultimatly there isn't enough wins in Victoria to allow all those teams to creep up the ladder.




Edit: (ignore grammer/spelling errors, you know what i mean)

[mjp]

The biggest worry for me is the Victorian teams on the rise. We have to play these clubs with out a 'home' advantage. Even if they are off the mark a little bit we still have to bring our A game to get over them. Where interstate clubs don't. If the victorian clubs listed above improve at the same rate as us, then we can't be expected to finish top 4 next season. There is always a hope, but ultimatly there isn't enough wins in Victoria to allow all those teams to creep up the ladder.

I agree with almost everything you said. But disagree strongly on this point. If you dont bring your 'A' game, then you will lose. This applies to West Coast at Subi just as much as it applies to the Dogs at Telstra. Many of the games we dropped this year can be directly attributed to our own performances - Saints @ Telstra, North @ G etc etc - and if West Coast had played in the same way at Subi, then they would have lost. Hawthorn beat Freo over the for goodness sakes. Hawthorn! If you dont bring your A game, there is a fair chance you are going to be beaten - that is the reason for the draft and the salary cap, and the leagues idea of no true super clubs (at least on field) and no true easy beats...of course, then they apply crippling penalties to Carlton (who did deserve it) that rope it to the bottom of the ladder for half a decade.

If we continue to allow the excuse of home ground advantage cloud our judgement, we will never be a success. I am from WA - a few short years ago, I think West Coast and Freo won two away games between them for the SEASON...and all the talk was about how the Victorian teams are advantaged because they dont have to travel blah blah blah...Living in Victoria now, the story is all about how the interstate clubs have a home ground advantage, and it isn't fair and the sky is falling. The venue is an excuse, and too many supporters - on both sides of the Nullabor - continue to allow it to be.

Good teams who are prepared will win wherever they play. Bad teams or those who are not switched on will lose whenever and wherever they play. And that is that.

[ArGhHhH]

im hoping for a top 4 finish however would b happy with ending up 5/6 after the 22 rounds to give home advatnage i suppose.

would love to see murphy back or even close to the form he had early this year, was an absolute ripper. Same goes for darcy despite having a different role but to make impact on some games (not immediately). add the consistent improvement of the group and u just never kno, along with the new recruits in aker and doogs.

point made above that other teams are on the rise and this must be taken into consideration, but they can only rise from where they ended up last year so hopefully with us having a top 8 side without aker/doogs + darc/murp/hahn gives that little extra advantage over other sides also improving with their youngsters coming thru just like ours.

either way go dogs for 07 :D

[Metal]

I will be surprised if we make top 4 (ie the remaining top 4 after finals). Maybe one finals win again?

I just don't think our serious injuries of 06 can all be overcome.

I don't think we have a robust enough middle and our back half still looks too light / short. Hopefully Wight and, perhaps, Williams will have developed but we can't expect too much from those so young in their AFL careers.

To make top 2 we have to be able to present week after week. Can we, with the players we have?

Grant - they ran away from him in the final against WC. Not getting any younger.
West, Cross - too small on their own; need support from a strong, tackle breaking ruck rover
Hargraves - outside player when we are crying out for a body player
Harris - too short for full back?
Street - doesn't give our smalls the ball enough, doesn't cover the ground he should
Minson - doesn't get his hands on the ball enough when in ruck
Cooney, Griffen....can they become consistent and operate under intense pressure of finals week after week?

Who are the big body players in our side who can take control of a game????? .

And what about new injuries for next year? Are we expecting them not to happen?

To do better we must be blessed with a relatively injury free season.

I'd love to see us make the top 2. I just hope lessons have been learnt and that there is a shift to combating the tough inside football that top teams employ when they have to.

I think where we finish in 07 will depend on (1) injuries, (2) the game plans we bring and whether we can execute them effectively, (3) how our taller players and KPPs perform in body on body work and the ground they cover (4) our intelligence in the middle, and the degree to which we can get / stifle clear possession.

Football is a game of keepings off. Last season we struggled at times when we did not have the ball. So what will have to change if the personnel haven't?

[John Gent]

I will be surprised if we make top 4 (ie the remaining top 4 after finals). Maybe one finals win again?

I just don't think our serious injuries of 06 can all be overcome.

I don't think we have a robust enough middle and our back half still looks too light / short. Hopefully Wight and, perhaps, Williams will have developed but we can't expect too much from those so young in their AFL careers.

To make top 2 we have to be able to present week after week. Can we, with the players we have?

Grant - they ran away from him in the final against WC. Not getting any younger.
West, Cross - too small on their own; need support from a strong, tackle breaking ruck rover
Hargraves - outside player when we are crying out for a body player
Harris - too short for full back?
Street - doesn't give our smalls the ball enough, doesn't cover the ground he should
Minson - doesn't get his hands on the ball enough when in ruck
Cooney, Griffen....can they become consistent and operate under intense pressure of finals week after week?

Who are the big body players in our side who can take control of a game????? .

And what about new injuries for next year? Are we expecting them not to happen?

To do better we must be blessed with a relatively injury free season.

I'd love to see us make the top 2. I just hope lessons have been learnt and that there is a shift to combating the tough inside football that top teams employ when they have to.

I think where we finish in 07 will depend on (1) injuries, (2) the game plans we bring and whether we can execute them effectively, (3) how our taller players and KPPs perform in body on body work and the ground they cover (4) our intelligence in the middle, and the degree to which we can get / stifle clear possession.

Football is a game of keepings off. Last season we struggled at times when we did not have the ball. So what will have to change if the personnel haven't?

I'm depressed!

[Metal]

I'm depressed!

No need to be John Gent!!! I have absolute faith in Rocket. What happens over the next few months will be crucial for our progress in 2007. I hope to see players who have developed in size and are strong enough to stop players in their tracks, and who are good enough to efficiently carry out plans in response to changing circumstances during a game. I hope the Gods smile on us injury wise. I hope lady luck is on our side. I expect to make the finals and be top 4 in 2008 but I am not yet convinced it will be next year. If the young players all step up, who knows what we can achieve!

[bresker]

If 2007 is as exciting and memorable as 2006 I'll be happy.

[Pembleton]

I agree with almost everything you said. But disagree strongly on this point. If you dont bring your 'A' game, then you will lose. This applies to West Coast at Subi just as much as it applies to the Dogs at Telstra. Many of the games we dropped this year can be directly attributed to our own performances - Saints @ Telstra, North @ G etc etc - and if West Coast had played in the same way at Subi, then they would have lost. Hawthorn beat Freo over the for goodness sakes. Hawthorn! If you dont bring your A game, there is a fair chance you are going to be beaten - that is the reason for the draft and the salary cap, and the leagues idea of no true super clubs (at least on field) and no true easy beats...of course, then they apply crippling penalties to Carlton (who did deserve it) that rope it to the bottom of the ladder for half a decade.

If we continue to allow the excuse of home ground advantage cloud our judgement, we will never be a success. I am from WA - a few short years ago, I think West Coast and Freo won two away games between them for the SEASON...and all the talk was about how the Victorian teams are advantaged because they dont have to travel blah blah blah...Living in Victoria now, the story is all about how the interstate clubs have a home ground advantage, and it isn't fair and the sky is falling. The venue is an excuse, and too many supporters - on both sides of the Nullabor - continue to allow it to be.

Good teams who are prepared will win wherever they play. Bad teams or those who are not switched on will lose whenever and wherever they play. And that is that.

Some great stuff from you in this thread Mike. Just on the home advantage thing, i agree that it should be much less of an issue, but i think it gets into the heads of the players, which in turn does give it a real impact.

[westdog54]

Top 4.

Nothing less.

what he said

If we continue to allow the excuse of home ground advantage cloud our judgement, we will never be a success. I am from WA - a few short years ago, I think West Coast and Freo won two away games between them for the SEASON...and all the talk was about how the Victorian teams are advantaged because they dont have to travel blah blah blah...Living in Victoria now, the story is all about how the interstate clubs have a home ground advantage, and it isn't fair and the sky is falling. The venue is an excuse, and too many supporters - on both sides of the Nullabor - continue to allow it to be.

Good teams who are prepared will win wherever they play. Bad teams or those who are not switched on will lose whenever and wherever they play. And that is that.

Ditto for the first 2.

MJP, you are spot on as usual. We beat WC in Perth once this year, not because WC were crippled with injuries or because we got lucky, or we kicked into a 20 goal breeze in the first term that died down just before the 2nd Quarter started.

We won because we were the better team on the day, and that's all that needs to happen to win any given game.

Did Essendon win 24 games in 2000 because they were lucky? No, they won 24 games because they were the better team on the day.

[scooter600x]

Did Essendon win 24 games in 2000 because they were lucky? No, they won 21 games because they were the better team on the day.

They were lucky in the other 3?

[Pembleton]

They were lucky in the other 3?

I thought they won the other 3 due to opposition teams forfieting through lack of numbers.

[westdog54]

They were lucky in the other 3?

My bad. I thought I'd be smart and edit my post to include their 3 finals wins.

Problem was, I forgot to edit the sentence after it as well.

But then again who knows, they might've been lucky for 3 of them.

I truly am an idiot