Expectations for 2009

[Smyth94]

Peter Jackson said the board is expecting to make the finals next year and I agree.

Anything less than a finals appearance will be unacceptable in my books.

This is the fourth year in a row we've missed out on finals, for a club as successful as Essendon its been far too long.

The reason for my optimism is from the point of view that we are easily just as talented as the other teams that will be challenging for finals next year.

Carlton, Richmond, Brisbane and Collingwood - we have them covered

Our midfield is underrated, we still have a strong forward line; if we get 18+ games out of McVeigh, Watson, Winderlich, Lucas, Lloyd and Davey next season and still don't make the finals I'll be worried.

We've changed everything around at the club in the past few years:
New coaching team
New fitness regime
New football department

Most importantly we have a very promising crop of youth coming through the ranks

No more excuses - its finals next year.

 

[warney7]

I wouldn't be surprised if all 4 of the clubs you mentioned finished above us.

I'll have expectations once we have a finalised list, which could include a Cousins and/or O'Keefe.

 

[Not a Wellman]

We better I have lost 4 slabs to a bloody colliwobble the last 4 years for not making the finals.

Your right about our midfield we broke even if not beat Carltons midfield twice which is supposed to be top 3.

The thing I started to love about us last year was our heart, and if we work hard enough and want it enough my oath we will be a bloody good side.

It's also so great that no other clubs rate us or know anything about us.

 

[Smyth94]

I wouldn't be surprised if all 4 of the clubs you mentioned finished above us.

I'll have expectations once we have a finalised list, which could include a Cousins and/or O'Keefe.

Why?

We smacked Carlton twice last season - we have their measure, they still rely on the same faces who are too far and few between

Collingwood despite being generally young, are losing A LOT of experience with the retirements of Wakelin and Burns.

Brisbane rely far too heavily on Brown, Bradshaw and Black and like Carlton fall away pretty quickly when their good players are having dirty days

Richmond are the only team I can see finishing above us.

 

[Sigmund]

8-10 is a reasonable expectation

 

[EVERLAST]

When you consider the players we lost for lengthy periods - finals is a realistic expectation.

McVeigh & Lucas especially add so much more flexibility to our structure as they can play a wide variety of positions.

I expect Stanton to improve - despite his B + F finish - I wasn't overly impressed with his season.

Laycock and Dyson - enough has been said about them - so I expect this to be their final season to prove they have what is required.

I expect Atkinson - Magin and Bellchambers to get more match experience also. There's something about each of these kids I really like and am keen to see more of.

 

[aintplayin03]

Why?

We smacked Carlton twice last season - we have their measure, they still rely on the same faces who are too far and few between

Collingwood despite being generally young, are losing A LOT of experience with the retirements of Wakelin and Burns.

Brisbane rely far too heavily on Brown, Bradshaw and Black and like Carlton fall away pretty quickly when their good players are having dirty days

Richmond are the only team I can see finishing above us.

If any team were going to finish ahead of us it would surely be Collingwood. The boys on SEN are already picking them to be top 4, with some of the run they get perfect for the increasing pace of the game.

 

[warney7]

Why?

We smacked Carlton twice last season - we have their measure, they still rely on the same faces who are too far and few between

Collingwood despite being generally young, are losing A LOT of experience with the retirements of Wakelin and Burns.

Brisbane rely far too heavily on Brown, Bradshaw and Black and like Carlton fall away pretty quickly when their good players are having dirty days

Richmond are the only team I can see finishing above us.

Yeah, we beat Carlton twice..........who finished higher in 2008?

Brisbane dropped a couple of games they should have won. With a better injury run, we could finish above them, but it's no guarantee.

I don't rate Richmond, but somehow they get the job done. They should finish higher than us.

Collingwood aren't great, and I predict them to fall. But I don't see us making the 8, so we'll be somewhere around Collingwood.

Face facts mate, we're developing, and we're not there yet!

 

[Merv]

If we have a reasonable run with injuries we WILL play finals.

I will be putting my money where my mouth is and heavily backing us to do so.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind and if we grab a player or two in the trade period, this will also help.

Good run with injuries = top 8 finish

 

[rusman]

Looking at the end of h&a season this year gotta think we will be better then teams below up (port may challenge I think they have a good list) + contend with the next 7 above us. If we have an injury free run finals is our only option.

Geelong
Hawthorn
Western Bulldogs
St Kilda
Adelaide
Sydney Swans
North Melbourne
Collingwood
Richmond
Brisbane Lions
Carlton
Essendon
Port Adelaide
Fremantle
West Coast Eagles
Melbourne


P.s Anyone gutsy enough to put their predictions for next season? Might be worth another new thread when lists are finalised

 

[rusman]

Yeah, we beat Carlton twice..........who finished higher in 2008?

Brisbane dropped a couple of games they should have won. With a better injury run, we could finish above them, but it's no guarantee.

I don't rate Richmond, but somehow they get the job done. They should finish higher than us.

Collingwood aren't great, and I predict them to fall. But I don't see us making the 8, so we'll be somewhere around Collingwood.

Face facts mate, we're developing, and we're not there yet!

I disagree with this. When we were close to full strength last year we were a very good side (not Geelong good but still very good). Another year of development will make us even stronger. I also think Collingwood wont fall they have a young teams and no real reason to.

 

[Smyth94]

Yeah, we beat Carlton twice..........who finished higher in 2008?

Brisbane dropped a couple of games they should have won. With a better injury run, we could finish above them, but it's no guarantee.

I don't rate Richmond, but somehow they get the job done. They should finish higher than us.

Collingwood aren't great, and I predict them to fall. But I don't see us making the 8, so we'll be somewhere around Collingwood.

Face facts mate, we're developing, and we're not there yet!

Carlton finished higher than us yes, but did you check our injury list against theirs? Or did you just conveniently forget about that?

The fact that we beat them twice last season shows that we are at least just as talented as they are - many people are expecting them to surge up the ladder.

Irregardless if we're developing, we can still make the finals - you don't need to finish bottom four to be developing

If we have a reasonable run with injuries we WILL play finals.

I will be putting my money where my mouth is and heavily backing us to do so.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind and if we grab a player or two in the trade period, this will also help.

Good run with injuries = top 8 finish

Spot on Merv, I haven't been this confident about Essendon for quite some time.

I've got a lot of Carlton mates who I'll be hopefully collecting from next year

Like I said in my OP - if we can keep our best players on the park most of the season then we're going to make the finals - we are easily as talented as the our four nearest rivals (Carlton, Collingwood, Richmond and Brisbane)

No finals next year with a fit list will be a complete failure, developing or not.

No more excuses.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Happy to just get some more games into our youngsters. I honestly really don't care where we finish as long as Gumbleton and co get some games and improve. 2010 is the year for finals

 

[Smyth94]

Happy to just get some more games into our youngsters. I honestly really don't care where we finish as long as Gumbleton and co get some games and improve. 2010 is the year for finals

No offence "bombersno1" but this attitude really grinds my gears.

How can you not care where we finish? What you said there is what I'd expect from a Carlton fan, not an Essendon supporter.

This is Essendon, we're not about developing kids, we're about building teams to play win flags; we've had our time outside the 8 and now its time to make a difference.

Enough is enough.

 

[Jesse Custer]

No offence "bombersno1" but this attitude really grinds my gears.

How can you not care where we finish? What you said there is what I'd expect from a Carlton fan, not an Essendon supporter.

This is Essendon, we're not about developing kids, we're about building teams to play win flags; we've had our time outside the 8 and now its time to make a difference.

Enough is enough.

I have nothing further to add, im just concurring with your thoughts.

 

[warney7]

Carlton finished higher than us yes, but did you check our injury list against theirs? Or did you just conveniently forget about that?

And why the hell would I do that?......Moron

What convenience would that be for me? Honestly?

 

[thebigboy]

The fact we were able to string 7 or 8 wins together through the middle of the year whilst still having injuries gives us a great chance to make the 8.

Providing we don't get smashed by injuries and luck, were as good as any side that finished above us bar the Geelong, Hawthorn, Footscray, St.Kilda. Also, Sydney and Adelaide will slide.

Finals in 09 will happen!

 

[bomberz20_72]

Without reading anyone's replies yet, I'm expecting and hoping for a Top 8 finish. It IS too long since we made the finals and weather or not we add to our list the likes of Kerr, O'Keefe Cousins etc with our squad i'm definately expecting us to be a danger side next year. You can only sit back and imagine how good the likes of Houli, Jetta, Stanton, Myers, Neagle and co will be after their first full pre-season or another full season under their belt. Things could easily fall away next year, like this year, if injuries hit us hard then we will struggle with depth, but i honestly think our best 24-26 are good enough and smart enough to challenge for a berth in the finals, how far they go is another thing, but these brave young warriors of ours shouldn't fear anyone and next year.... anything can happen

 

[LukeParkerno1]

No offence "bombersno1" but this attitude really grinds my gears.

How can you not care where we finish? What you said there is what I'd expect from a Carlton fan, not an Essendon supporter.

This is Essendon, we're not about developing kids, we're about building teams to play win flags; we've had our time outside the 8 and now its time to make a difference.

Enough is enough.

I am being realistic. I do not feel we are a top8 side with us lacking at least one real stand out midfielder, not to mention we have just lost Mal Michael which will stretch our defence. I am happy to see games being put into Gumbleton, Pears, Myers, Hurley (hopefully), etc with the vision to play finals in 2010 where our side will be more ready. We are not ready yet.

 

[bomberz20_72]

I am being realistic. I do not feel we are a top8 side with us lacking at least one real stand out midfielder, not to mention we have just lost Mal Michael which will stretch our defence. I am happy to see games being put into Gumbleton, Pears, Myers, Hurley (hopefully), etc with the vision to play finals in 2010 where our side will be more ready. We are not ready yet.

Dude, Mal Michael didn't play a lot of games this year and we were able to prove we can have a good defence without him... Unfortunately (i was a fan of Mal's) we moved on from him mid season and only brought him back late in the season due to injuries and to give him a proper send off.

 

[LeeARM]

I am being realistic. I do not feel we are a top8 side with us lacking at least one real stand out midfielder, not to mention we have just lost Mal Michael which will stretch our defence. I am happy to see games being put into Gumbleton, Pears, Myers, Hurley (hopefully), etc with the vision to play finals in 2010 where our side will be more ready. We are not ready yet.

i wouldnt expect us to be good in the finals (i'd probably expect 1 elimination final win max) but i dont think theres any excuse for not getting there if we have a full strength team. we should be aiming for finals next year, aiming to do good in the finals in 2010

 

[LukeParkerno1]

i wouldnt expect us to be good in the finals (i'd probably expect 1 elimination final win max) but i dont think theres any excuse for not getting there if we have a full strength team. we should be aiming for finals next year, aiming to do good in the finals in 2010

I would rather finish in the same position as this year with improvemnets in all areas. Our main aims really should be to get more games into the kids, and to see gradual improvement in all areas. I would also like to be trying different players in different positions. I just can't see the teams above us going down with the exception of Sydney and Richmond should take their place

 

[Smyth94]

And why the hell would I do that?......Moron

What convenience would that be for me? Honestly?

You used the argument "but they finished above us on the ladder"...which holds no weight with me given we had such a shocking run with injuries, they only managed to finish a whole two games clear of us.

There's nothing between Essendon and Carlton - we have a more balanced 22 and I am backing us to finish above them next season.

 

[Daytripper]

Top 4.

Hawthorn should improve. Geelong will start to go slide a little.

St Kilda have a terrible list and I think will go backwards alarmingly. West Coast need another year and Melbourne another two years.

Besides those 5 teams I don't think there is much at all between the others. If the breaks go our way with injuries and other teams cop their fair share then top 4 is very realistic and I will be backing them accordingly.

 

[Smyth94]

I am being realistic. I do not feel we are a top8 side with us lacking at least one real stand out midfielder, not to mention we have just lost Mal Michael which will stretch our defence. I am happy to see games being put into Gumbleton, Pears, Myers, Hurley (hopefully), etc with the vision to play finals in 2010 where our side will be more ready. We are not ready yet.

I thought McVeigh did a good job "standing out" this season, you underrate our midfield, yes it is by no means a top midfield but it is solid nonetheless.

Michael was hardly in our team when we had anything resembling our best 22 this season.

What makes you say we aren't ready? We were a kick away from winning 7 games in a row and until we finally succumbed to injury in the latter rounds we had a remote chance of making the finals.

I would rather finish in the same position as this year with improvemnets in all areas. Our main aims really should be to get more games into the kids, and to see gradual improvement in all areas. I would also like to be trying different players in different positions. I just can't see the teams above us going down with the exception of Sydney and Richmond should take their place

If we finish in the same position we did this year then we are going backwards - how can you not see this?

Our youth is good enough to spend enough time in our 22 to contribute to a finals berth