Top 4

[magpies42]

It will largely depend on injuries and how the backline gels in the first month or so but I honestly believe we are in top 4 contention next year.
2017 will see us with:
-a more mobile and skilful forward line, good keeping the ball i50 but should also yield a greater conversion. Jessie White is a concern for me...too soft and will be critical to our success next year.
-a more mature midfield with some real class and grunt
-a backline that can kick, the individuals might not yet be house hold names but it's about team defence these days.

 

[Saintly Viewed]

It will largely depend on injuries and how the backline gels in the first month or so but I honestly believe we are in top 4 contention next year.
2017 will see us with:
-a more mobile and skilful forward line, good keeping the ball i50 but should also yield a greater conversion. Jessie White is a concern for me...too soft and will be critical to our success next year.
-a more mature midfield with some real class and grunt
-a backline that can kick, the individuals might not yet be house hold names but it's about team defence these days.

Sounds good to me

Why not?

 

[mike123]

I believed it was possible the last three years but this year I don't see it.

 

[Matt_352]

I believed it was possible the last three years but this year I don't see it.

Maybe now because you cant see it this year you will finally be pleasently surprised?

I think we can make top 4 but we need everything to go right for us.

 

[SuperSteele22]

Wouldn't have thought so

 

[TradeDraft]

Maybe now because you cant see it this year you will finally be pleasently surprised?

I think we can make top 4 but we need everything to go right for us.

That is how I feel. IF Everything goes Right we might Steal 4th Spot but been many years before we had anything go Right

 

[legendstatus]

I believed it was possible the last three years but this year I don't see it.

Probably not surprising based on most of your comments, just need to realise that we have better ball users now in defence, a deeper more experience and options in the midfield and a fully available forward line

It'll all come now to the availability of our stars

Have a bit more faith mate.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hong Kong Pie]

That is how I feel. IF Everything goes Right we might Steal 4th Spot but been many years before we had anything go Right

Could be our time then!

Honestly speaking, I think we are long odds... but stranger things have happened.

I wonder what odds the Dogs were to win the flag after the H&A season last year?

 

[PicaBoo]

Top4? Nah, wouldn't think so. Will take a season opposite to all previous ones injury wise, to knock any of the Giants, Bulldogs Sydney Geelong out of the top 4. Then the Eagles, Crows, Saints, Melbourne in the layer next. That will be enough of a challenge for us.

 

[TradeDraft]

Top4? Nah, wouldn't think so. Will take a season opposite to all previous ones injury wise, to knock any of the Giants, Bulldogs Sydney Geelong out of the top 4. Then the Eagles, Crows, Saints, Melbourne in the layer next. That will be enough of a challenge for us.

Who said some Teams might go Backwards Unexpectedly?

 

[PicaBoo]

Who said some Teams might go Backwards Unexpectedly?

Not me because I expect Hawks and Roos to go backwards. Saints and Melbourne are our prime targets. Impressed by Saints who keep on making good strides and Melbourne should be higher up the ladder then last season imho. The rest we should be able to handle.

 

[TradeDraft]

Not me because I expect Hawks and Roos to go backwards. Saints and Melbourne are our prime targets. Impressed by Saints who keep on making good strides and Melbourne should be higher up the ladder then last season imho. The rest we should be able to handle.

Hawks I not sure what will happen. Don't Rule them out yet.

I agree Roo's will go backwards and I see them missing the Finals

 

[magpies42]

I believed it was possible the last three years but this year I don't see it.

I believe most teams have the quality to be a top 4 side provided a good run with injuries. We are definitely one of those teams. We seemed to reduce our soft tissue incidences in 2016, if we have a bit of luck with trauma related injuries I expect to see a
significant improvement this year and particularly from our young list (Aish, Sweeper, Shaz, Maynard et al). Our game plan came good in the back end of the year too

 

[Good_Old]

I like the enthusiasm but I can't see it happening.

 

[magpies42]

Hawks I not sure what will happen. Don't Rule them out yet.

I agree Roo's will go backwards and I see them missing the Finals

Teams with better or comparative list quality...Dogs, Sydney, GWS and Dons...dons won't make finals on account of lack of match preparedness. I think they will struggle in the second have off the season.

 

[TradeDraft]

Teams with better or comparative list quality...Dogs, Sydney, GWS and Dons...dons won't make finals on account of lack of match preparedness. I think they will struggle in the second have off the season.

I also don't rate the Dons that much and missing a Season and a bit will hurt them

 

[magpies42]

Sounds good to me

Why not?

Why not...
1) Injuries
2) we don't find a good foil for Moore in the forward line. White is a real weakness, unless he improves his focus and hardness

 

[jackcass]

Not me because I expect Hawks and Roos to go backwards. Saints and Melbourne are our prime targets. Impressed by Saints who keep on making good strides and Melbourne should be higher up the ladder then last season imho. The rest we should be able to handle.

I'd add the Bumbers to the list of teams we're competing with and GCS could surprise. Hard to see 5 teams falling out of the top 8 so it could get very tight, percentage could be very telling.

 

[PicaBoo]

I'd add the Bumbers to the list of teams we're competing with and GCS could surprise. Hard to see 5 teams falling out of the top 8 so it could get very tight, percentage could be very telling.

Dons are one of those that could surprise a few matches but as other said, can they go the distance is the big question mark. GCS could surprise a few but again there depth and length of the season will take their toll too.
Percentage wise I am quite bullish about the strength of our list. When we turn it on, it is shock and awe. We had a few first qtrs last year where we simply blitzed the opposition . I am assuming we have a few of those again and not drop off in other matches.
Compared to 2015 that will be remembered for matches where we came awfully close but wasted our chances, 2016 was an improvement. Bigger highs, less lows and the ones that we really stuffed up, I don't see that happening with the team we got now.
Angst about to whom our player will kick the ball to, has been replaced by angst they don't injure themselves as they are prone to do. So we keep them on the park , we will go places. And if we can keep them another year on the park , 2018 will be awesome. But that is wishful thinking

 

[HeathySure]

Freo will bounce back quickly if Fyfe and Sandilands play a full season. Next year could possibly be the tightest year ever, can only see Brisbane, North and Carlton and probably GC not contending for the 8, Lets try and get in the 8 first and then worry about top 4

 

[sr36]

I also think we'll be top 4.

 

[pablo disco bar]

We aint that good

 

[PicaBoo]

Freo will bounce back quickly if Fyfe and Sandilands play a full season. Next year could possibly be the tightest year ever, can only see Brisbane, North and Carlton and probably GC not contending for the 8, Lets try and get in the 8 first and then worry about top 4

Richmond top 8 contender? 9 at best. Freo's is a train wreck, all is not well there. Watch Fyfe FA saga unfold..
Port hasn't really improved over the trade period either.

 

[Troglodyte]

We're a chance but we need our midfield to play to it's potential and dominate clearances and for our forward line to apply pressure and not let the ball out. Our defence looks a bit weak on paper and we can't afford to have the ball going in there quickly or too often. The other problem could be at least 4 in-form interstate teams (GWS, Sydney, West Coast, Adelaide) as they'll win most of their home matches giving them a great boost towards the top 4. With the Vic teams it's only the dogs and cats that I'd see fighting for a top 4 spot at this stage (along with the Pies).

 

[PonsfordMagpie]

I would be happy to just make the finals after three years in the wilderness! Anything beyond that is a huge bonus.