And then there were 2 to break drought - Saints and Dees

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Mr.X

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22 years for Carlton is more than enough.. it's now surpassed the previous longest drought (1947-1968).

What's made it worse is the spoons over the last 15 years..
 

demondavey

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I feel like the dees are building a list that should have the talent and depth to win a premiership in the next 5 years, but the mental side is so far from premiership material I fear I’ll never see it.

I’d cry from happiness for a week if we did.
I agree. Richmond proved yesterday that the mental edge is 80% of it. We are so far off being mentally ready to even play finals.
 

aussierulesrules

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Dees have the list that could give them a huge shot within the next 3 years, especially if they land Lever as expected, which would be a cracking addition.

Would be a reasonably epic failure if they missed finals again next year, unless they have a terrible injury run.

For us it will depend on how successful we are at landing our own "big fish" or two with our enormous amount of salary cap space over the next couple of offseasons.

Both teams now pretty lacking in finals experience tho and after the retirements of Riewoldt, Montagna and Dempster, we could be ranked as far back as dead-last for experience if Hodge joins Brisbane, so that won't help.
 
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demondavey

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I think what's been shown over the last few years is that you need to have a list that's been thereabouts for a while. I'll go back to 2007.

Geelong - Finals in 04,05. No finals in 06. Flag 07. Rest is history.

Hawthorn - Finals in 07, flag in 08 (great recruiting), finals 10 and 11, rest is history.

Bulldogs - Finals in 15, flag 16.

Richmond - Finals 13,14,15. No finals 16, flag 17.

Sydney have been a side that's had sustained success from 03-17 in terms of finals.

North - Fairly frequent finals appearances since 07. 3 Preliminary finals.

As far as Melbourne and St Kilda? Well I think history shows that we both need to play finals for at least 2 years before we can go all the way, or at least make a GF. Adelaide are a good example as well.

I think if Melbourne with this list, then finals is mandatory in 18 & 19, I'd be looking at a flag potentially by 2020-2021. I think that's realistic. Plenty and plenty of experience into our young list.

I think next year we will see the WB, GWS, Port or West Coast win the flag - teams that are 'thereabouts' and have been for a while now. Obviously Adelaide and Richmond are in the hunt as well.

I also think North, Collingwood and Hawthorn will surge faster than people expect.
 

footyfan78

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Feel for Saints fans. Unlockiest side in history. After 09-10 you must've felt you were cursed. Hope both can break their drought in the next few years.
nah, **** em. My sympathy for them went long ago. Had their chance in 1990's and ******* blew it. Self destruct and bad culture. They were an ugly side in 09 and 10, best for footy that style not win any more flags than already done. I had a soft spot for the club seeing what they went through in 1980's but after they sacked good people like Stan Alves, Ken Sheldon and Blighty they get what they deserve. It is not unlucky it is created to be so shit for so much of their history. They were probably lucky in 66 to win by one point and have any flag.
 

demondavey

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Dees have the list that could give them a huge shot within the next 3 years, especially if they land Lever as expected, which would be a cracking addition.

Would be a reasonably epic failure if they missed finals again next year unless they have a terrible injury run.

For us it will depend on how successful we are at landing our own "big fish" or two with our enormous amount of salary cap space over the next couple of offseasons.

Both teams now pretty lacking in finals experience tho and after the retirements of Riewoldt, Montagna and Dempster, we could be ranked as far back as dead-last for experience, if Hodge joins Brisbane, so that won't help.
If Melbourne doesn't play finals next year, the club will be in serious trouble. It will be evident there is a endemic issue within the culture. I am confident however after seeing the WB and Richmond that we can use that as a pretty good example of how to get there.
 

aussierulesrules

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If Melbourne doesn't play finals next year, the club will be in serious trouble. It will be evident there is a endemic issue within the culture. I am confident however after seeing the WB and Richmond that we can use that as a pretty good example of how to get there.
If you make the finals next year it wouldn't shock me if you won a flag as soon as the following year.
 

demondavey

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If you make the finals next year it wouldn't shock me if you won a flag as soon as the following year.
There is a serious amount of work to be done in order to win a flag. There are certain people that won't be part of it and I want those changes happening over this trade period.
 

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footyfan78

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Eveness of the competition has been demonstrated with last 2 premiers coming from nowhere

Unlike previous years where there seemingly were only 2-3 legitimate flag chances, reality is as many as 10 are genuinely in the race next season
Guess you too young to remember 1990's.
Seven different premiership winners from 1990 to 1997.
7!!!!
Get that.
 

schmuttt

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Dees have the list that could give them a huge shot within the next 3 years, especially if they land Lever as expected, which would be a cracking addition.

Would be a reasonably epic failure if they missed finals again next year, unless they have a terrible injury run.

For us it will depend on how successful we are at landing our own "big fish" or two with our enormous amount of salary cap space over the next couple of offseasons.

Both teams now pretty lacking in finals experience tho and after the retirements of Riewoldt, Montagna and Dempster, we could be ranked as far back as dead-last for experience if Hodge joins Brisbane, so that won't help.
Saints may well take a step back to take two steps forward next year. Draft two quality kids this year and have a very young/inexperienced list now. Wouldn't surprise me if you shoot up into the top 4 in 2019/2020 but Richo isn't there to oversee it.
 

Komrade_Tiger

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You're going to get bored of him, let me tell you! Bloke is a lunatic.
oh i know, but it's hilarious to say we were favoured when we have the worst differential for frees in the league including finals!

3 extra games and still have the worst +/- diff

but nah, it's a conspiracy alright
 
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The Saints will never win a flag in my lifetime.

I've given up.

Hope my friends at the Demons can have more luck but you guys seem rooted too
Dogs finished seventh in 2016 and looked way off at times during that year with a shocking injury list. Look what happened! Tigers finished thirteenth last year; did anyone predict their rise to Premiership glory in March this year?

Mate, even the Cats in 2006 looked stuffed. I was only twenty-two at the time and never thought I'd ever see us win a flag. Fast-forward twelve months and we were victorious by the greatest winning margin in Grand Final history.

I'm really not trying to sound patronising, but so much can turn around in twelve months' time. I'm not sure who your trade targets are this off-season, but Richmond just proved that the smart recruitment of several key players can have a profound effect on the side.

All you can do, as a supporter, is keep hoping. When that day comes, it'll be all worth it. Like Cats fans will tell you, as will Bulldogs and Tigers fans, it's a surreal feeling and the relief and elation instantly wipes away all the tears and heartache of yesteryear.

Onwards and upwards in 2018. :thumbsu:
 
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aussierulesrules

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Saints may well take a step back to take two steps forward next year. Draft two quality kids this year and have a very young/inexperienced list now. Wouldn't surprise me if you shoot up into the top 4 in 2019/2020 but Richo isn't there to oversee it.
Entirely possible indeed, although it sounds like we're still going very hard to land someone this year. Gaff most likely.

Land him for instance and he'll be a comfortable upgrade on what we got from Joey this year and then it's up to the rest of the team to lift enough to cover for what we got from Rooey this year, which in most games was nothing to write home about- as he hobbled around after hurting his knee in R1 and wasn't able to change direction once he got a head of steam up.

We got very little from any of Armitage (2 games), Paddy, Freeman, or Goddard this year, so they could all effectively be "new recruits" next year- IF they're able to stay on the park.

Entirely possible that this year was our "step back" year, as there was a significant transition between the contributions we got from the over 25yo group and the under 25yo group.

7 of the 25yo and older group who came top 11 in our B&F in 2016 had significantly worse years this year, yet we were arguably a better team in spite of it (better % from a much harder draw, much better interstate, plenty more scoring shots, etc), so it wouldn't surprise me at all if we pushed up again next year.

Especially if we get some new game plan ideas in and make some changes there. And of course fix our regularly atrocious kicking for goal!
 

Demon13304

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nah, **** em. My sympathy for them went long ago. Had their chance in 1990's and ******* blew it. Self destruct and bad culture. They were an ugly side in 09 and 10, best for footy that style not win any more flags than already done. I had a soft spot for the club seeing what they went through in 1980's but after they sacked good people like Stan Alves, Ken Sheldon and Blighty they get what they deserve. It is not unlucky it is created to be so shit for so much of their history. They were probably lucky in 66 to win by one point and have any flag.
Yeah that's all the fans fault that it all happened that way
 

who_let_the_dogs_out

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Could happen, and happen quickly when it does.

Dogs were gone end of 2014. No coach, captain and didnt seem like any hope. Probably the darkest time since the merger/shut down era of late 80s. Flag almost 2 years to the day.

Similar story with Richmond.

Keep the faith dees and saints, it will come.
 

Hawk Dork

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You would think the Dees are close in the next 2 to 4 years
and maybe the Saints in Similar time frames
GWS will still be about Brizzy and GCS will have to be close by then too
Then we dont know what happens with the others Im expecting the Hawks to be ready by then too
 

footyfan78

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Yeah that's all the fans fault that it all happened that way
Oh, I am not blaming all the fans. Blame the Grant Thomas type management and people of his ilk and also type of thinking that recruits a guy like Carlisle. If any fans back that and tolerate that shit culture you got to expect nothing good to come of it. The ones that hate it and try to change it , I feel sorry for.
Where are they btw ?
 

LeverPuller

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Could happen, and happen quickly when it does.

Dogs were gone end of 2014. No coach, captain and didnt seem like any hope. Probably the darkest time since the merger/shut down era of late 80s. Flag almost 2 years to the day.

Similar story with Richmond.

Keep the faith dees and saints, it will come.
The thing I'm struggling with right now is we're still so far away.

2017 was our best season since we last played finals...in 2006. And we still didn't bloody get there. I'm terrified that we have just had 1976 all over again (Melbourne missed finals by 2 points after winning Round 22 because Footscray managed a draw against top-of-the-ladder Carlton in Round 22) and it's still going to be another ten years before we even get to September action again. Coupled with the completely bizarre set of coincidences around West Coast's final result (exact scoreline of Round 23 2016; WC's points for for 2017 was 1964 [MFC last flag] and points against was 1858 [MFC foundation year]).

There's no guarantees in this sport for success, but failure only takes one or two events to overwhelm a club. And Melbourne have had more than one or two of those events over the last decade (go and look at the #fistedforever list).

This club never fails to disappoint me further. And I worry that despite everything this is as far as we get to go for another decade, and we're in the middle of another 25-year absence from September.
 

Plugger35

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biased? HAHAHAHAHHAHA

should we look at the free-kick differential all year? including the finals i can almost guarantee that Richmond will still have the worst differential even though we've played 3 more games than some teams.

time to pack it in you sad bitter man :rolleyes:
I'm not talking about the umpiring in the H&A season but the umpiring was pretty heavily in Richmond's favour in the prelim and GF.

You may well have won those games regardless but it's a shame when big finals aren't umpired fairly anymore and it leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

nah, **** em. My sympathy for them went long ago. Had their chance in 1990's and ******* blew it. Self destruct and bad culture. They were an ugly side in 09 and 10, best for footy that style not win any more flags than already done. I had a soft spot for the club seeing what they went through in 1980's but after they sacked good people like Stan Alves, Ken Sheldon and Blighty they get what they deserve. It is not unlucky it is created to be so shit for so much of their history. They were probably lucky in 66 to win by one point and have any flag.
The 2009 and 2010 drawn GF were two of the highest standard GFs of the past 30 years, a much higher standard than yesterday's game and our H&A game against Geelong back in 2009 when both teams were undefeated is the greatest H&A game I've seen so to call us an ugly side back then is just garbage.

You're going to get bored of him, let me tell you! Bloke is a lunatic.
A lunatic for thinking the umpiring in the last 2 years has been rubbish and biased towards the two Victorian teams? Must be a lot of lunatics out there.

About the only people thinking the umpiring in those GFs was fine are Bulldogs and Richmond supporters because they don't want their flags to be tainted.
 
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