Opinion 2018 Expectations

[kelvin_sheedy]

Think we over achieved this year as we had an easy draw,magical injury run and some clubs on our stsge fell over with injuries.

Think we are looking at 12 to 14 wins next year. Think our key next year is Darcy Parish. If he transitions to full time mid and starts hunting the ball and produces good numbers then we'll be set.

If McGrath steps up similar to Clayton Oliver then 14 is very gettable.

 

[OzBomber]

Flag talk is absolutely laughable. And embarrassing.

This club hasn't won a final in over a decade. Might be a good start to perhaps achieve this first.

15 clubs could realistically make finals next year. No guarantee we are just going to automatically hold our place/improve. Too many pats on the back after a successful trade period. Don't become delusional that this is suddenly the gateway to ultimate success.

Richmond hadn't won a final since 2001 before this year. Your point?

What's the point in following your side if you don't want to aim for the Premiership. If you don't aim for the highest honour then you would never get stories like Leicester City, the Bulldogs and Richmond. This club needs to be ambitious, otherwise we'll be stuck as a mid-table side for the next 15 years.

We have the list to contend, we just need that consistency to put together consistent 4 quarter efforts. If we can get that drive and desire that Richmond had this year to perform week after week that you never know what we could do.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Flag talk is absolutely laughable. And embarrassing.

This club hasn't won a final in over a decade. Might be a good start to perhaps achieve this first.

15 clubs could realistically make finals next year. No guarantee we are just going to automatically hold our place/improve. Too many pats on the back after a successful trade period. Don't become delusional that this is suddenly the gateway to ultimate success.

heck me and some people on here think I’m negative lols

 

[TheGrizz]

I think the key to this year is how our defence shapes up. I think our midfield rotations and forwardine is pretty much set at this point bar some bolters.

However defensively we seem to be disagreeing on the best lineup. 3 KPD's or 2 with a tweener (Francis, Gleeson, Ridley etc). 3 KPD's and a tweener? Does Hooker play back?

I think this is the unknown that will be interesting to watch this offseason, as getting that right was our downfall in the last part of this year and is the great unknown heading into next year.

 

[Godzke]

Can we request to play Melbourne in Round 2?
Fond memories of playing the Demons in the second round.

 

[ghostdog]

Can we request to play Melbourne in Round 2?
Fond memories of playing the Demons in the second round.

Wait what? Who are you?

 

[eth-dog]

Can we request to play Melbourne in Round 2?
Fond memories of playing the Demons in the second round.

We probably get them post ANZAC Day due to short turnaround.

 

[Bomberbuzz1]

If prior opportunity changes and results in more stoppages we are the most likely club in the eight to be hindered.
We will be expected to have >35 clearances per game.
Heppell and zerrett 5-6 each.
Zaka, parish and smith 3-4 each.
TBC, Goddard, McGrath, Myers, Langford and stringer 2-3 each.
That's a fair ask.

 

[Bombermania]

We will live and die by our midfield.
Inside footy and winning clearances worry me and a lack of defensive running concerns me greatly.

Yes but now we have McGrath joining Merrett, Parish, Heppell, Goddard & Jaka with Smith, Stringer, Fanta & Walla rolling through the middle means that we will be quick when spreading from the contest, I can see McGrath becoming big in the middle, his disposal is lightening fast at times this year then we will hopefully see improvement in Langford and a better season from Myers then the middle starts to look okay.

 

[foj1]

We pretty much had all those blokes and the areas I highlighted were poor.
Hopefully langford, laverde, stringer, Clarke and Mutch improve us

 

[Alfred E Neuman]

Prelim would be nice.
I'd be disappointed if we didn't at least win a final.

 

[naraku]

Top 6 ( in random order : Us ,Adelaide, Geelong, Sydney,Port, Richmond.)
At least 1 finals win.

I hope guy's Iike Langford and Laverde can stop been speculations and actually show us all they belong.
Francis has a point to prove - so do it kid !
I think Mutch will win rising star.
Zerrett will be top 5 for the brownlow.
Parish to stamp his authority as a top ( not yet genuine star ) star.

 

[schmuttt]

Pardon my intrusion but wanted to give my honest view on your 2018 prospects (After melbourne I would have watched probably about 5 of your games live and caught another 13-14 on TV).

You guys did extremely well in the trade period considering what you gave up to get SSS, but I was surprised they neglected to fill that inside role in midfield. Jobe was pretty cooked in 2017 but he still was an important part of the side when playing well, who picks up the slack there? Myers is a classic tease, Merrett is an outside mid and I really like Parish/McGrath but they're both a bit small for that role (I know guys like Viney and Neale do it at sub 180cm but they are a different body shape). I've seen that your club says they can develop from within and good luck to them, I don't think Stringer will ever play full time mid, I haven't seen enough of guys like Begley, and Laverde/Langford need big years next year otherwise they're at the crossroads. I don't need to tell you what you're good at because you all know it, a very skilled side with a lot of pace and scoring options.

You'll play some absolutely scintillating football next year with even more attacking options and flair than you had this year, but I've still got question marks over two non-personnel related areas, the first being two way running. I'm sure I don't need to remind you about the lapses in games where the opposition were literally running around witches hats and scoring at will but it was a serious problem for the Bombers this year, the Brisbane game in round 2 was a classic example where they nearly mounted an epic comeback then on the return game they actually did get over the top. Is this mental or a product of the gameplan? Not sure but if you want to be a serious contender next year and actually make it to the 2nd week of the finals this has to stop.

The other non-player related query I have is Worsfolds game day coaching. I'm unsure how he is viewed here but whilst he isn't a 'bad' coach I think he is wayyyy too reactive during games. I understand why Hooker plays forward for example but there were some games this year when he clearly wasn't going to get near it yet was left to rot inside F50, why not try a smaller setup with Hooker back? When we played you poor old Dea is left to defend Watts whilst Hurley chases Petracca to the boundary (And away from the play, an intentional move by us), against Sydney in the final the same thing happens to Hartley (Who was a better matchup for Sinclair anyway with Hurley on Buddy).

I think you'll be in a similar boat to us, both our sides are at similar levels of development with the opposite weaknesses (Hard to predict how our forwardline works without Watts and Petracca most likely playing more midfield, but we've got a elite ruckman and strong midfield group). I see people rubbishing the 'I just want to win a final' line but I think that is ok, goes without saying your fans would like to win every game but have to be realistic. I COULD see you finishing top 4 with an Adelaide 2015 (Minus the choke) style season, where you make the opposition look like amateurs unless they deny you the time and space you need, in which case you look soft.

5th-6th after finals for me.

Can we request to play Melbourne in Round 2?
Fond memories of playing the Demons in the second round.

Only if its at Etihad or raining at the MCG

 

[Mercuri Rising]

Pardon my intrusion but wanted to give my honest view on your 2018 prospects (After melbourne I would have watched probably about 5 of your games live and caught another 13-14 on TV).

You guys did extremely well in the trade period considering what you gave up to get SSS, but I was surprised they neglected to fill that inside role in midfield. Jobe was pretty cooked in 2017 but he still was an important part of the side when playing well, who picks up the slack there? Myers is a classic tease, Merrett is an outside mid and I really like Parish/McGrath but they're both a bit small for that role (I know guys like Viney and Neale do it at sub 180cm but they are a different body shape). I've seen that your club says they can develop from within and good luck to them, I don't think Stringer will ever play full time mid, I haven't seen enough of guys like Begley, and Laverde/Langford need big years next year otherwise they're at the crossroads. I don't need to tell you what you're good at because you all know it, a very skilled side with a lot of pace and scoring options.

You'll play some absolutely scintillating football next year with even more attacking options and flair than you had this year, but I've still got question marks over two non-personnel related areas, the first being two way running. I'm sure I don't need to remind you about the lapses in games where the opposition were literally running around witches hats and scoring at will but it was a serious problem for the Bombers this year, the Brisbane game in round 2 was a classic example where they nearly mounted an epic comeback then on the return game they actually did get over the top. Is this mental or a product of the gameplan? Not sure but if you want to be a serious contender next year and actually make it to the 2nd week of the finals this has to stop.

The other non-player related query I have is Worsfolds game day coaching. I'm unsure how he is viewed here but whilst he isn't a 'bad' coach I think he is wayyyy too reactive during games. I understand why Hooker plays forward for example but there were some games this year when he clearly wasn't going to get near it yet was left to rot inside F50, why not try a smaller setup with Hooker back? When we played you poor old Dea is left to defend Watts whilst Hurley chases Petracca to the boundary (And away from the play, an intentional move by us), against Sydney in the final the same thing happens to Hartley (Who was a better matchup for Sinclair anyway with Hurley on Buddy).

I think you'll be in a similar boat to us, both our sides are at similar levels of development with the opposite weaknesses (Hard to predict how our forwardline works without Watts and Petracca most likely playing more midfield, but we've got a elite ruckman and strong midfield group). I see people rubbishing the 'I just want to win a final' line but I think that is ok, goes without saying your fans would like to win every game but have to be realistic.

That's pretty much bang-on. I would have liked for us to pick up a Miles or similar, but it's an indication of the likes of Langford/Laverde/Begley being rated internally. I haven't lost faith by any means, but agree that the first two need to take big steps next year. Laverde has had a bad run of injuries, and we seemed to be happy for Langford to learn his midfield craft in the seconds this year (much to this board's displeasure...e.g. not being picked after the loss to Brisbane). I know that Smith and Stringer have ostensibly been picked up to bolster the mids too, but I hope it means we reconsider the focus on developing Laverde as a forward - not much room there at the moment, we desperately need big-bodied mids, and he could be anything if he gets a good run at it.

100% agree on Worsfold - definitely not woeful, but there's a Hird-tier lack of plan B sometimes.

I COULD see you finishing top 4 with an Adelaide 2015 (Minus the choke) style season, where you make the opposition look like amateurs unless they deny you the time and space you need, in which case you look soft.

Yeah, this sounds familiar. -_-

 

[BrunoV]

Pardon my intrusion but wanted to give my honest view on your 2018 prospects (After melbourne I would have watched probably about 5 of your games live and caught another 13-14 on TV).

You guys did extremely well in the trade period considering what you gave up to get SSS, but I was surprised they neglected to fill that inside role in midfield. Jobe was pretty cooked in 2017 but he still was an important part of the side when playing well, who picks up the slack there? Myers is a classic tease, Merrett is an outside mid and I really like Parish/McGrath but they're both a bit small for that role (I know guys like Viney and Neale do it at sub 180cm but they are a different body shape). I've seen that your club says they can develop from within and good luck to them, I don't think Stringer will ever play full time mid, I haven't seen enough of guys like Begley, and Laverde/Langford need big years next year otherwise they're at the crossroads. I don't need to tell you what you're good at because you all know it, a very skilled side with a lot of pace and scoring options.

You'll play some absolutely scintillating football next year with even more attacking options and flair than you had this year, but I've still got question marks over two non-personnel related areas, the first being two way running. I'm sure I don't need to remind you about the lapses in games where the opposition were literally running around witches hats and scoring at will but it was a serious problem for the Bombers this year, the Brisbane game in round 2 was a classic example where they nearly mounted an epic comeback then on the return game they actually did get over the top. Is this mental or a product of the gameplan? Not sure but if you want to be a serious contender next year and actually make it to the 2nd week of the finals this has to stop.

The other non-player related query I have is Worsfolds game day coaching. I'm unsure how he is viewed here but whilst he isn't a 'bad' coach I think he is wayyyy too reactive during games. I understand why Hooker plays forward for example but there were some games this year when he clearly wasn't going to get near it yet was left to rot inside F50, why not try a smaller setup with Hooker back? When we played you poor old Dea is left to defend Watts whilst Hurley chases Petracca to the boundary (And away from the play, an intentional move by us), against Sydney in the final the same thing happens to Hartley (Who was a better matchup for Sinclair anyway with Hurley on Buddy).

I think you'll be in a similar boat to us, both our sides are at similar levels of development with the opposite weaknesses (Hard to predict how our forwardline works without Watts and Petracca most likely playing more midfield, but we've got a elite ruckman and strong midfield group). I see people rubbishing the 'I just want to win a final' line but I think that is ok, goes without saying your fans would like to win every game but have to be realistic. I COULD see you finishing top 4 with an Adelaide 2015 (Minus the choke) style season, where you make the opposition look like amateurs unless they deny you the time and space you need, in which case you look soft.

5th-6th after finals for me.



Only if its at Etihad or raining at the MCG

Wouldn't say Worsfold is 'reactive'. I don't think we've seen him react to anything on game day.

It's not really an issue of match-day coaching as much as it is a philosophical view of the way in which teams are preparing for each opponent. A few stoppage based run-with roles and a noticeable change against West Coast aside we paid very little attention to what opponents were doing.

It's an issue that a number of teams face as the teams who are not adapting week to week are being exposed in finals (it can't all come down to pressure because it's finals and pressure has to be expected). I doubt that ball movement can be fast enough, as part of a structure that is not a sieve defensively, for the brands of Adelaide and GWS to win premierships particularly not now that the season is starting again for September. If the last two years are any indication finals is now a very different game.

We've strengthened our best 22 and we'll play some ridiculously good attacking footy next year but the two things that will make us a truly capable side in September don't really have anything to do with the trade period (unless Stringer become a genuine midfielder). We need three or four guys to step up and become quality ball winning mids and we need to evolve a much more sustainable defensive game (and winning more midfield ball will help overall defence).

 

[Vindicater]

Make a prelim

 

[LB#16]

Flag talk is absolutely laughable. And embarrassing.

This club hasn't won a final in over a decade. Might be a good start to perhaps achieve this first.

15 clubs could realistically make finals next year. No guarantee we are just going to automatically hold our place/improve. Too many pats on the back after a successful trade period. Don't become delusional that this is suddenly the gateway to ultimate success.

Who says that winning finals in the years leading up are a precursor for winning a flag? It wasn't the case for the last two premiers. You put yourself in a good position during the regular season, win a final and then build on the momentum.