Positivity thread 2025

[cleanhands]

I remember saying last year we were there and there abouts, but we just needed that little bit more experience (or maturity as you put it) to start ticking the boxes (you know: winning away from home, winning close games, winning ugly, coming from behind to win, winning against top 8 teams etc). Well it's happened a bit quicker than I thought it might (given where we were last year) so I cannot complain! Like I said, I'm excited and enjoying footy again.

But last year we were where we shouldn’t have been

 

[fossilllCrow]

With ports season now torn to shreds we have to bring in Draper and Edwards for the showdown. Huge development and excitement.

 

[Bovo]

But last year we were where we shouldn’t have been

That’s because last year we didn’t have the cattle we have this year. Don’t take for granted the importance of Peatling, ANB, and Cumming.

 

[cleanhands]

That’s because last year we didn’t have the cattle we have this year. Don’t take for granted the importance of Peatling, ANB, and Cumming.

Even without them

 

[jenny61_99]

But last year we were where we shouldn’t have been

Only in those first four games which basically set us up to fail. We were close in our losses. We pushed hard to come from behind and fell short. There were so many positive signs amongst the debris. I felt at the end of the season that we weren't that far away particularly after our trading.

 

[Bovo]

Even without them

we are a much better team with ANB, Cumming and Peatling, plus the ongoing experience of RTT and Curtin. We are nothing like last year.

 

[cleanhands]

we are a much better team with ANB, Cumming and Peatling, plus the ongoing experience of RTT and Curtin. We are nothing like last year.

I would still argue we were a better side than 14th

 

[Golumless]

I would still argue we were a better side than 14th

Possibly, but we must also remember that it's better to finish 14th then 9th in regards to long term results. One high draft pick could make a world of difference.

One of the most responsible decisions we made in that period was going youth-heavy with our selections, and ironically, probably comes from giving Nicks an early extension.

 

[kirky]

I would still argue we were a better side than 14th

A 15th side with a % of 99 would say so.

We played Brisbane, Sydney, Hawthorn, Port, Geelong and Essendon twice - 5 of the top 8 as it turns out.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Even without them

Thilthorpe going down hurt alot last year I reckon

We are just so more settled this year with a good injury run and the gun role player trades in

We had a poor pre season too last year and were undermanned in the box

 

[Bovo]

I would still argue we were a better side than 14th

I reckon you had greater expectations that didn’t come to fruition. I was hoping to make the 8, but wasn’t expecting it. So not making the 8 didn’t affect me too much. Same as this year. I wasn’t expecting to make the 8, so I’m elated about where we currently sit.

 

[John Who]

But last year we were where we shouldn’t have been

Yes and there are many reasons why teams go up and down the ladder. Hawks went down 2 years ago (back to bottom 4), when we were going up. Who’s laughing at them now? I’m guessing no one.

 

[Coopers]

We're being so positive this year we might need to fire up the negativity thread

 

[John Who]

We're being so positive this year we might need to fire up the negativity thread

It’s been an all time record number of days in 2025, where the word “sack” hasn’t been mentioned, like in 2 weeks?

Is that a positive? A negative? **** I’m losing my sense of orientation these days.

 

[davos44]

Were 12-5, a game and percentage clear in 3rd.

Dan Curtin is a jet and could be the best player in the competition in the next 2-3 years.

We have our round 1 draft pick in tact this year. I'm looking at you Port and Carlton...

The core of our side is between 22 and 28. Peatling, Fogarty, Thilthorpe, Soligo, Milera, Hinge, Dawson, Keays, Keane, Rankine, Murray, Worrell, Cumming, Rachele, Michalanney (21) + Berry, Cook, Nank, Pedlar, Jones, Taylor and Butts are not quite walk up starts.

We have a good 5 years with the bulk of these same players to come.

15th last year with 8.5 wins and 99% got us Sid Draper who is almost certain to resolve an obvious weakness in our list.

Its nice to be excited about our season after round 18 for the first time in... 8 years.

We got over 2.7 minutes of Victorian AFL Media dedicated to us this week (yes it was them all saying how they would pick Sam Darcy over Thilthorpe and how they would all pick Noah Anderson

15

Noah Anderson

Age

24

Ht

192cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.0

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

6.0

4star

M

2.0

2star

T

0.0

1star

CL

0.0

1star

D

12.0

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

6.0

3star

M

2.0

2star

T

0.0

1star

CL

0.0

1star

D

12.0

3star

K

6.0

3star

HB

6.0

4star

M

2.0

3star

T

0.0

1star

CL

0.0

1star

over Dawson as a captain and how even though Dan Curtin is coming, Ashcroft and M Reid are ahead but yeah nice to be mentioned).

 

[Coopers]

Were 12-5, a game and percentage clear in 3rd.

Dan Curtin is a jet and could be the best player in the competition in the next 2-3 years.

We have our round 1 draft pick in tact this year. I'm looking at you Port and Carlton...

The core of our side is between 22 and 28. Peatling, Fogarty, Thilthorpe, Soligo, Milera, Hinge, Dawson, Keays, Keane, Rankine, Murray, Worrell, Cumming, Rachele, Michalanney (21) + Berry, Cook, Nank, Pedlar, Jones, Taylor and Butts are not quite walk up starts.

We have a good 5 years with the bulk of these same players to come.

15th last year with 8.5 wins and 99% got us Sid Draper who is almost certain to resolve an obvious weakness in our list.

Its nice to be excited about our season after round 18 for the first time in... 8 years.

We got over 2.7 minutes of Victorian AFL Media dedicated to us this week (yes it was them all saying how they would pick Sam Darcy over Thilthorpe and how they would all pick Noah Anderson over Dawson as a captain and how even though Dan Curtin is coming, Ashcroft and M Reid are ahead but yeah nice to be mentioned).

I love it, but we cannot rest on our laurels if we are to keep contending for this 5 year period.

We will have injuries, and we can still improve our team, both with elite talent brought in and with discovering some of these guys who aren't getting consistent games. (Edwards, geez I reckon he's a player). But you've got Draper, Cooky, Ryan, Pedlar, etc. If we discover/bring in 2-3 guys a year each year, this next period will be great.

 

[davos44]

I love it, but we cannot rest on our laurels if we are to keep contending for this 5 year period.

We will have injuries, and we can still improve our team, both with elite talent brought in and with discovering some of these guys who aren't getting consistent games. (Edwards, geez I reckon he's a player). But you've got Draper, Cooky, Ryan, Pedlar, etc. If we discover/bring in 2-3 guys a year each year, this next period will be great.

Yep, spot on. We have the solid foundation in place to be a good team for a long period.

That core is young with Laird Smith and Walker all in their twilight to be replaced by the Edwards, Dowling and Bond types in the coming 2 years.

 

[John Who]

If we can beat the Suns tomorrow, we’re in a serious chance of making the top 2, and in the least, likely to end in the top 4.

While I acknowledge this is getting ahead of myself, but the thought is tantalising..if we beat the Pies and win most of our remaining matches, AND if the Pies lose another game this year, we might end up being in top spot!

 

[John Who]

Remarkably, we could go top in 2 weeks if the following occurs:

• Lions lose to Suns this week, then beat the Pies next week
• we win against Port and Hawks next 2 rounds.

In the least, if we win the next 2 games, the match between Lions and Pies would ensure one of them drop to 3rd and we jump into 2nd. The onus being, we need to keep winning. But hell, this is a seriously unbelievable scenario considering where we were at midway 2024!

 

[Bovo]

Remarkably, we could go top in 2 weeks if the following occurs:

• Lions lose to Suns this week, then beat the Pies next week
• we win against Port and Hawks next 2 rounds.

In the least, if we win the next 2 games, the match between Lions and Pies would ensure one of them drop to 3rd and we jump into 2nd. The onus being, we need to keep winning. But hell, this is a seriously unbelievable scenario considering where we were at midway 2024!

It’s a tight race and we really can’t expect to win every game from here. Statistically speaking every team gets a loss they were expected to win. Rather than worry about how things will turn out, I’m just going to see where the ball lands and enjoy the ride.