Analysis Are we better in 2018 than in 2015?

[FKASC]

Great, now other teams are going to study us more closely.

Nah, more meant that in recent years we have tended to do worse whenever we were expected to win, and perform better when nobody expects anything from us.

 

[Bender_]

Nah, more meant that in recent years we have tended to do worse whenever we were expected to win, and perform better when nobody expects anything from us.

It's cool, was making fun of others.

 

[FKASC]

It's cool, was making fun of others.

Yeah I hate it when the media gives away all our secrets. If Gerard Healy never spoke up about the Web, we might have won in 2015

 

[Bender_]

Yeah I hate it when the media gives away all our secrets. If Gerard Healy never spoke up about the Web, we might have won in 2015

Naitanui is a shell of a ruckman since Healy gave up the goods on the flipper, the flopper, the over the topper and of course, the show stopper.

 

[FKASC]

Naitanui is a shell of a ruckman since Healy gave up the goods on the flipper, the flopper, the over the topper and of course, the show stopper.

The show stopper is when he steps on the scales, right ?

 

[bombard]

Naitanui is a shell of a ruckman since Healy gave up the goods on the flipper, the flopper, the over the topper and of course, the show stopper.

Gerard has his failings to be sure (a woeful turn of phrase for instance) - but he does seem to be one of the few blokes in the commentariat who actually watches us closely.

 

[bUCKET__]

THE FUTURE IS NOW MOTHER****ERS

 

[Biggie]

Candiru

Thread is gathering momentum

 

[Candiru]

Candiru

Thread is gathering momentum

We're rocking and rolling.

 

[Matera92]

100% yes we are.

This team has the campaigner about it we lacked in 2015.

 

[Candiru]

100% yes we are.

This team has the campaigner about it we lacked in 2015.

Yeah there is a mean streak. We're not getting pushed off it. Belting the suitcases out of Martin was particularly satisfying.

Naitanui is a great enforcer. I remember watching Shane Warne play and just thinking how great it was to see him out there getting the job done all the time. I feel the same way about Naitanui currently. To have him up and running again, throwing his weight around and playing so well is great for the club.

In Game of Thrones, there is a city called Braavos where they have a giant statue of a soldier at the gates. It's called the Titan of Braavos. We should get one of Naitanui.

 

[Candiru]

How about this for controversy?

Our depth in 2018 is better than it was in 2006?

Obviously the top end in 2006 was insane: Cousins, Judd, Kerr, Cox, Glass. Throw in Wirrpanda, Embley, Hunter, Embley and maybe Chick and Braun? Stenglein also handy. Lynch had a great year.

But is it crazy to suggest we bat deeper in 2018? If you look at guys sitting 10-25?

 

[dajesmac]

How about this for controversy?

Our depth in 2018 is better than it was in 2006?

Obviously the top end in 2006 was insane: Cousins, Judd, Kerr, Cox, Glass. Throw in Wirrpanda, Embley, Hunter, Embley and maybe Chick and Braun? Stenglein also handy. Lynch had a great year.

But is it crazy to suggest we bat deeper in 2018? If you look at guys sitting 10-25?

Well surely it'd have to be, if this team is getting deep in finals (if). To be fair it's not hard to bat deeper than that team.

Is our backline better? This may be the best defence WC has ever had IMO.

 

[dajesmac]

Gerard has his failings to be sure (a woeful turn of phrase for instance) - but he does seem to be one of the few blokes in the commentariat who actually watches us closely.

Commentariat?

Dafuq is dat

 

[Candiru]

Well surely it'd have to be, if this team is getting deep in finals (if). To be fair it's not hard to bat deeper than that team.

Is our backline better? This may be the best defence WC has ever had IMO.

Glass was pretty awesome that year. Could have won the Norm Smith.

Our forwardline is definitely better in 2018.

It's funny but I actually remember us making pretty hard work of it at times in 2006. It was frustrating sometimes. We'd have this all-star midfield but apparently not the cattle or the structure in attack to really put teams to the sword. We'd get through by just getting way more F50 entries and eventually kicking enough to win. I can't recall our forwardline ever looking particularly dangerous, even when we were playing well generally.

Kennedy, Darling, LeCras, Waterman, Rioli and Cripps v Lynch, Hansen, Armstrong and RoJo?

 

[Cuzz09]

Glass was pretty awesome that year. Could have won the Norm Smith.

Our forwardline is definitely better in 2018.

It's funny but I actually remember us making pretty hard work of it at times in 2006. It was frustrating sometimes. We'd have this all-star midfield but apparently not the cattle or the structure in attack to really put teams to the sword. We'd get through by just getting way more F50 entries and eventually kicking enough to win. I can't recall our forwardline ever looking particularly dangerous, even when we were playing well generally.

Kennedy, Darling, LeCras, Waterman, Rioli and Cripps v Lynch, Hansen, Armstrong and RoJo?

Yes. We'd often come from way behind just due to midfield getting it inside 50 more as the game went on. Teams would often start well v us then tire.

I had the feeling we waited for the "guns" to do a lot of the heavy lifting.

We seem a lot more balanced now but its only rd9 so settle down.

On [device_name] using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Suma Magic]

Based on performance, no way.

We have beaten two terrible teams away.

We've had five home games. We are 1-1 against likely top 8 teams.

If you compare our squiggle position with 2015:

• 2015: 56 attack, 66 defence
• 2018: 55 attack, 47 defence

We won 16.5 games in 2015. Squiggle is projecting 14 wins.

After the last two weeks I've changed my tune. I think we are slightly better now than 2015.

 

[Suma Magic]

This is Squiggles' current prediction:



This is my current prediction of our wins:



16 wins should get us top 2. No doubt we will have some form or injury concerns at some point, but I think we can get there.

It's bloody exciting.

 

[Chumly]

This may be the best defence WC has ever had IMO.

Better than

Ashley McIntosh Michael Brennan David Hart
Guy McKenna Glen Jakovich John Worsfold

I think not

 

[Candiru]

Yes. We'd often come from way behind just due to midfield getting it inside 50 more as the game went on. Teams would often start well v us then tire.

I had the feeling we waited for the "guns" to do a lot of the heavy lifting.

It was sometimes pretty attritional and "death by a thousand cuts" given how much talent we had in the middle.

 

[Candiru]

I'll throw one out here. The way we are playing right now is most comparable to what we were doing in 1991-1994. Big, strong and fast. Yeo, Naitanui and Darling epitomise this.

 

[Moley27]

Got home last night and booked flights to Melbourne for Grand Final weekend, that's how excited I am about this year. Long way to go I know but even if we don't make it it would be great to be in Melbourne for a GF.

 

[dajesmac]

Better than

Ashley McIntosh Michael Brennan David Hart
Guy McKenna Glen Jakovich John Worsfold

I think not

I’m a little young to remember those guys enough to really compare. We have a pretty damn good defensive system right now with genuine stars. It was the best defense in the league last year. I think if we keep this group together for a while it would give that title a big shake.

 

[Yippy Yi Yeo]

I’m a little young to remember those guys enough to really compare. We have a pretty damn good defensive system right now with genuine stars. It was the best defense in the league last year. I think if we keep this group together for a while it would give that title a big shake.

With a little more experience I think our current backline could give the one of the 90's a run for its' money. Forwardline is far and away the best we've ever had.

 

[Jootube]

Forward line is obviously our best ever.

Midfield is doing pretty well so far, and defence is looking excellent.
At the moment we're at least as talented as our 2005/6 team, moving in on the 90's squad.