Preview 2017: how do we bounce back?

[Mitchell Madness]

lets try and keep this thread positive, as let's face it, the offseason will be unbearable, both on the main board, and on our own

Who will we be saying goodbye to?

Which players do the coaching staff need to give a nudge to? (Even if it pisses off the fans)

Who needs to step up? (note to avoid trolling, don't be calling players spuds for example)

What would you consider a pass mark?
What would you consider a failure?

Any other questions you have....

 

[Hodginator]

 

[randall boner]

Hard call but Gibbo ,hodge and birch are cooked

 

[The Lemon]

Speed. Outside speed and inside winners. Defense is a real worry.

 

[seysearles]

I for one am going to take some time to reflect on what's just been. It's been a wonderful 4 seasons and I have enjoyed every minute of them. I think this off-season will involve quite a lot of re-watching the great games that achieved the three-peat. The club is in great hands and we are bringing in young talent who can develop under some of the greats of the game. I'm pretty happy with where we're at.

 

[HR Roughnstuf]

Not sure we can without making a tough call on some older players.

Need a key forward if Roughie (and I don't expect him too, he needs to look after and get himself right) doesn't play next year.

At least Smith's miss after the siren has saved me a few hundred $$'s in GF tickets this year. Reckon if we had of made it would have got smashed.

 

[Bardo State]

I'd say that if Hodge and Gibson stay on, neither should play more than 15 H&A games.

Getting Tom Mitchell and O'Meara would be absolutely vital.

 

[RobHawk]

Cannot make decisions on personnel based on this one game.

 

[RobHawk]

Amongst others get Hrovat.A bulldog midfielder potentially as good as those playing tonight.

 

[shurg123]

Clearly the only way to get back on top is to get one B. Lake out of retirement

 

[MistyAvalon]

JOM the injury risk worries me

and no one is pushing Hodgey out

 

[Ned Ryerson]

Hard call but Gibbo ,hodge and birch are cooked

Hodge was one of our best last week and was a warrior again this week. Give him an injury free pre-season, a longer one than he's had for four years, and I back Hodge in.

Gibson is obviously carrying an injury. His form in the first half of the season was B&F worthy. Not done, by a long shot.

One bad and one average game and people write off Birchall. Just unbelievable.

 

[Since 2001]

Hard call but Gibbo ,hodge and birch are cooked

Hate to say it but i agree. Birch has just dropped off dramtically. So sad.

 

[Bradkli]

Need two outside midfielders- hill and Hartung gone. Lack of quality placers with pace was a killer this year.
Need another key defender- brand, heatherley and litherland are 2-3 years away
Need a key forward- vickery will come but he is not the answer- Ryan Shoenmakers has 2 kicks and 0 marks tonight. Shameful.
Need a ruck- McEvoy is like a glacier. Watch the way Jordan Roughead plays. You need to be able to move. The ruck is a huge issue heading into next season.
Next season- Lovell, Stewart, brand, litherland, heatherley, burton all need to play 15+ games.

 

[adammania9]

Sack Clarkson and trade Cyril to Collingwood

 

[bumsonseats]

We've had a great run, but it is time to reload.
I would rather have a mini clean out over the next year or 2 and come back stronger than try to stay up with average draft picks.

I have seen a bit written about McEvoy retiring or some hoping he may get traded.
From what I have seen more recently, I have no dramas if we move him on.

The basis of the next wave is there, but need to build some more quality around them
We need to rebuild our depth again

 

[Hodginator]

 

[seysearles]

I think that if we are smart we need to look at 2017 as a development season where we have the old guys in there grooming the kids establishing which ones will make it and which won't. In fact you could almost argue that that's what 2016 was in many respects. We brought a lot of youth into the team this season. I Really don't expect to be challenging for the flag but if we can get to the end of it with ~20 games into Burton Sicily Howe Hartung Obrien Lovell Pittonet Omeara Orourke Stewart Hardwick etc and whoever else we can bring in and get the team playing together by the end of the season I think it will be a good season.

 

[Since 2001]

Am i the only one think bruest may leave us and we need to consider offers?
We have alot of fwds coming through the ressies and i think it may be time to part ways. Hope i am wrong though.

Sicily will be off in the O'Meara trade.

Boy do we need JOR to have a massive pre season.

Mitchell needs to come in

Vickery comes in

Hodge, gibbo, birch and bruest gone i think

 

[Ned Ryerson]

My god. Is this what it's like when you don't win a flag?? Breust has a poor game - everyone wants to ship him off. Birchall had a couple of off games after another consistent season where our defenders made us a top 4 side. People say he's cooked - at twenty-****ing-eight years old.

Honestly. Get a grip.

 

[SSSSSS]

Lol at the campaigners knocking Hodge.

Gibson didn't look good though. His past 2 months have been shocking. As has Birch.

I'd back them in a year though. We got nothing to lose. No one else is coming through to replace them.

 

[Since 2001]

My god. Is this what it's like when you don't win a flag?? Breust has a poor game - everyone wants to ship him off. Birchall had a couple of off games after another consistent season where our defenders made us a top 4 side. People say he's cooked - at twenty-*******-eight years old.

Honestly. Get a grip.

On sen they reckon bruest will leave for money.
So may as well try see where he is at and listen to offers if they are not confident that they can keep him

 

[Ned Ryerson]

On sen they reckon bruest will leave for money.
So may as well try see where he is at and listen to offers if they are not confident that they can keep him

So because someone on SEN said it, it must be true? Not the greatest logic.

 

[hardon]

Not losing to Melbourne again this year would be good for the bounce back. Shipping off shoe, hill, Birchall, hartung, and replacing them with people who can tackle might do some good maybe?.

 

[madhawksfan]

Based on this season we need to address the following areas:

1. Contested ball- O'Meara and Mitchell will help (assuming we get them) along with Shiels and a few younger guys.

2. Run and carry off half back- Birchall hasn't been himself this year and has been injured a lot the past few years. Duryea is a decent kick but doesn't provide much run. Gibbo is usually a great user of the ball but again doesn't have the speed and Stratton is a lock down defender. Not sure how we address this one given our current personnel unless someone like Smith plays off a half bank flank but that reduces our midfield speed significantly.

3. Forward line- the structure has been rubbish all year. Again, tonight we had Gunston roaming up the ground and Rioli as our "tall target." Roughie may never make it back (and his health should be his only concern) so we need a significant overhaul of our game style that plays to the strengths of guys like Gunston, Rioli and Bruest who are not pack marking forwards (other than the occasion specie from Cyril).