Aim for 2007

[ShearMagic9]

What I mean is what do you think our aim is for next year?

Top 4? Top 8? Rebuilding the squad?

Do you think we are able to win a premiership with the current roster?

Where can improvements be made?

 

[Mad Dog]

What I mean is what do you think our aim is for next year?

Top 4? Top 8? Rebuilding the squad?

Do you think we are able to win a premiership with the current roster?

Where can improvements be made?

We can win a flag pretty much with our current list.

 

[bus24]

In all honesty, next year if we keep the same squad as this year we'll be 5-8 get no further than the semi finals.

Depends whether we waste next year and do the Ayres thing, make the finals but have little chance of winning.

I think we rotate alot of the kids through, so when the experience leaves these kids are ready to step in and fill the void.

Not a full rebuild, but a gradual one over two-three years.

 

[KUNG FU]

I think we have one more shot the flag at least. Other than Roo's injuries this year, there are no real obvious problems with our over-30 core group. If we don't make the finals I'll be devastated.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Injuries will again play a role on where we end up. Surely we couldn't have a worse run. If we a reasonable run, we can threaten for the flag.

Our rucks should be better with Huddo offsetting the loss of Rhett.

Trent's injury is a bigger loss, but if Bock, McGregor, Perrie, Burton, Roo & Welsh stay fit for most of the year, we have enough attacking weapons to cover.

 

[porpouglas]

You'd be crazy not to have another tilt at a flag, injuries and form will then dictate whether to ease off and rebuild.

If we're performing poorly by say rd 7 or 8 then you might make a decision to play some youngsters and "rebuild".

Personally I think we should be able to make top four with the current list, from there any thing can happen.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

We've finished 3rd for two years in a row. Of the teams below us who is capable of pushing us down the ladder? Sydney and West Coast should be around the mark again. Of the others:

Fremantle? Maybe but I have my doubts.
Melbourne? Neitz, Green, McDonald, White and Bruce all had good years. They aren't going to get any better.
St Kilda? Definitely capable.
Collingwood? Possibly but will be difficult with no Didak.
Western Bulldogs? Definitely capable.
Geelong? Definitely capable.
Richmond? Possibly.
Port? Possibly.
Hawthorn? Possibly.
Kangaroos? No
Brisbane? No
Essendon? No
Carlton? No

I don't think that we could fall out of the eight. However, we would only need to pick up a couple of injuries for a top four position to be out of reach. I would predict 4th-6th.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

You'd be crazy not to have another tilt at a flag, injuries and form will then dictate whether to ease off and rebuild.

If we're performing poorly by say rd 7 or 8 then you might make a decision to play some youngsters and "rebuild".

Personally I think we should be able to make top four with the current list, from there any thing can happen.

It's foolhardy to suggest we can take the same team and win a flag next year.....two failed preliminary finals have clearly told us we are not good enough.

Our good players are starting to get injured and will be a year older....any improvement has to come from an injection of talented youth.

Yes keep the blend of experience and youth,...but any chance we have next season will be from the Youth not recruiting or playing old hacks

 

[porpouglas]

It's foolhardy to suggest we can take the same team and win a flag next year.....two failed preliminary finals have clearly told us we are not good enough.

Our good players are starting to get injured and will be a year older....any improvement has to come from an injection of talented youth.

Yes keep the blend of experience and youth,...but any chance we have next season will be from the Youth not recruiting or playing old hacks

I agree we will need to inject youth into the team but I think that this year has shown us that we will have injuries and there will be good oportunities for the youngsters without deciding to rebuild from the beginning.

I think we can still have a go at a flag and inject some youth such as we did this year with Porplyzia, Vince, Maric, Douglas. We'll need to give these guys more game time this season as well as Meeson and probably one or two others that we pick up this year.

 

[slappy]

It's foolhardy to suggest we can take the same team and win a flag next year.....two failed preliminary finals have clearly told us we are not good enough.

Our good players are starting to get injured and will be a year older....any improvement has to come from an injection of talented youth.

Yes keep the blend of experience and youth,...but any chance we have next season will be from the Youth not recruiting or playing old hacks

i disagree totally. we have simply got a bogey team in west coast, just like we are the swans bogey team.

the swans avoid us in finals but we keep getting the eagles. such is life.

 

[Stiffy_18]

i disagree totally. we have simply got a bogey team in west coast, just like we are the swans bogey team.

the swans avoid us in finals but we keep getting the eagles. such is life.

True but to be the best, you need to beat the best and just can't get over the Eagles when it really matters.

Our aim should be to improve so we can beat them. It will be harder though because Fremantle will be around the mark again and possibly improve even further. Eagles will not doubt be there again. Swans will be there. Geelong have the talent to be there and with a good coach St. Kilda will be there.

Every finals team improves the next year but our improvement has to be greater so we take that step over the Eagles. We definetly need to introduce some youth with pace into the side to add a bit more flair and enthusaism.

 

[slappy]

True but to be the best, you need to beat the best and just can't get over the Eagles when it really matters.

Our aim should be to improve so we can beat them. It will be harder though because Fremantle will be around the mark again and possibly improve even further. Eagles will not doubt be there again. Swans will be there. Geelong have the talent to be there and with a good coach St. Kilda will be there.

Every finals team improves the next year but our improvement has to be greater so we take that step over the Eagles. We definetly need to introduce some youth with pace into the side to add a bit more flair and enthusaism.

well west coast aside, i think we'd be favourites to beat anyone at any venue. i think we've already proved as much under craig and i dont see that changing much next year.

however i agree we can improve in most areas and 'working out' the eagles must be high on the agenda.

 

[jmorg1]

I think the PF exposed our midfield badly. We were smashed in the clearances and lack badly in the class factor. It's something will have to improve next season if we are to be any chance.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

I think the PF exposed our midfield badly. We were smashed in the clearances and lack badly in the class factor. It's something will have to improve next season if we are to be any chance.

We used to be either 1 or 2 in clearances ....I think Iam right we went into the finals ranked about 14th in clearances.


Clearly that situation has to be corrected before we contemplate any improvement on 06 result.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

With an average forward line ( talls ), average rucks, 50% of our starting 18 the wrong side of 29 and a midfield lacking genuine talent ( the 30+ Edwards and Goodwin aside ), I don't think we will be a premiership threat in 2007. I expect West Coast and Sydney to be again around the mark. Freo and The Doggies will be better teams for this years finals experience. Geelong and even The ferals ( if they can avoid injury ) will be a good chance for a top 6 berth and St Kilda and Melbourne will be again around the mark. I would also expect Essendon, Hawthorn, Kangas to win more games than they did this year.

IMO I don't see enough improvement in our list to cover the loss of Trent. Between 5-10 for us in '07. Our best bet is to get the likes of Stiffy into the midfield and just hope he can do a Shaun Burgoyne becuase we won't win a flag with just 2 x 1st tier midfielders, especially when you look at their age. I see 2007 as a development/experimental year to get some serious gametime into Maric, Meesen, Douglas, Knights and Pfeiffer with hopefully one last crack at it in 2008 before Roo, Macca, Goody and Edwards retire.

 

[RoosterLad]

We have to win a flag next year.

 

[Wilburwild]

i think we have it in us next year. i know that the losses of Clarke, Biglands (there goes our ruck combo) and Hentschel will be tough to cover, but with Hudson back in the mix, and the likes of VB and Porplyzia stepping up, i think our midfield could actually be better next year. if we can get a forward or two into some great form we'll be a very formidable opponent. perhaps we should look at recruiting a key forward and a tall defender, someone who could take on Hansen or Hunter, at 196 and 194cm respectively we dont have the height to match them!

i think in 2007 the younger guys (especially Porps, Dougy, VB, Marty and Reilly) will show the world what they're made of and that this group will become top flight midfielders! Burton is a chance to kick at least 60 goals!

 

[Stiffy_18]

I would have a prety serious look at Graham Polak. He can play both ends, still young and still has plenty of potential but needs a fresh start.

He is one player I wouldn't mind taking a punt on as he is one of the best overhead marks in the comp.

 

[Alex99]

I would have a prety serious look at Graham Polak. He can play both ends, still young and still has plenty of potential but needs a fresh start.

He is one player I wouldn't mind taking a punt on as he is one of the best overhead marks in the comp.

First round DP or second round draft pick?


Player or players via a 3rd club?

I agree as I like he potential, I would be basically happy to get him if we didn’t have to sell the farm.

Don’t suppose the Dockers would be keen on Perrie or Doughty for Polak?

 

[Stiffy_18]

First round DP or second round draft pick?


Player or players via a 3rd club?

I agree as I like he potential, I would be basically happy to get him if we didn’t have to sell the farm.

Don’t suppose the Dockers would be keen on Perrie or Doughty for Polak?

Either way I am not really fussed as long as the names in the potential trades are not Johncock, Douglas or Rutten.

Polak still has some value and sure he is a fairly big risk no doubt. A risk that has the potnetial to bite you on the backside but I still think the potential success outweghts the potential failure here.

No doubt he has some baggage but with a chance in environment, strong mentoring in place and opportunity to play in a successful side could be enough to get the kid on the right track.

Many sides are interested which suggests that he will still hold some pretty good value come trade week.

 

[Mad Dog]

First round DP or second round draft pick?


Player or players via a 3rd club?

I agree as I like he potential, I would be basically happy to get him if we didn’t have to sell the farm.

Don’t suppose the Dockers would be keen on Perrie or Doughty for Polak?

just when Doughty starts to repay the decades of development - why would we trade him?

 

[Eggzoi]

Polak is useless, done in the brain and no amount of "mentoring" will bring him good. Leave him be, more of a head case than Fev ever was and barely better than Gardiner. Would be nothing but a bad influance to the young kids and I would be pretty pissed if we picked him up.

 

[Alex99]

Either way I am not really fussed as long as the names in the potential trades are not Johncock, Douglas or Rutten.

Polak still has some value and sure he is a fairly big risk no doubt. A risk that has the potnetial to bite you on the backside but I still think the potential success outweghts the potential failure here.

No doubt he has some baggage but with a chance in environment, strong mentoring in place and opportunity to play in a successful side could be enough to get the kid on the right track.

Many sides are interested which suggests that he will still hold some pretty good value come trade week.

Absolutely, that’s why Michael Gardner previous behavior was never going to effect the decision on f we traded for him or not.

He always came down to a need Vs want.

Polak is a need vs. want player as well and his behavior doesn’t faze me as like you said our leadership program is top notch. .

 

[Stiffy_18]

Polak is useless, done in the brain and no amount of "mentoring" will bring him good. Leave him be, more of a head case than Fev ever was and barely better than Gardiner. Would be nothing but a bad influance to the young kids and I would be pretty pissed if we picked him up.

Thank you Mr. Froyd for your insight into his phsychological well being

I am not saying go into it with no interest into his past. Obviously the club has to do the due dilligence here and find everything it possibly can on any player we are to recruit. If they think that they can get Polak on the right track and the potential benefits outweight the potential risks then they should go fo it.

No one can deny that if Polak was on our list he would easily be the most talented KPP of our current batch. I have faith that Craig and his pioneers have what it takes to get the kid on straight and narrow and if thats the case we just might find ourselves the player we have been looking for. At worst we get dudded on the trade. Won't be the first time nor the last time

Oh and people just forget what Fev was like. He was certainly no angel and he has turned into a real leader and possibly the next captain of Carlton.

 

[Alex99]

just when Doughty starts to repay the decades of development - why would we trade him?

The same reason why consumers buy a new house or car so they can upgrade to a better model and get something better for there money, Polak may not be better value than Michael Doughty is but Richard Douglas, Chris Knights or Darren Pheiffer will be.