Expectations for 2009

[The Donners]

Top 8.

 

[AndyLesPaul]

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.

We would've made the finals this year if we didnt get so many injuries.

But enough on that,
Its almost a certainty next year, with the prospect of having more good players to back up our improving and attacking team.

 

[Smyth94]

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.

Absolutely everything would have to go right for us to finish top four next season.

The whole competition is changing, teams that have been down the bottom half of the ladder for the last few seasons are finally emerging as the next finals contenders (Essendon, Richmond and Carlton)

Collingwood whilst I rate, have lost too much experience in the past two seasons and will miss the 8.

I won't be discounting Port Adelaide either, they are one decent trade away from being a top four side.

I think Sydney will eek out one more finals performance and Adelaide as usual will occupy 5th-8th

 

[bomberz08]

If we have a better run with injuries, we should make the 8. If we get a good player in trade week, the we WILL make the 8

 

[bomberz08]

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.

I think you forgot Freo. They need another year or two. How far do you think Geelong will slide? To Second?

 

[Daytripper]

And remember, every year a team from down near the bottom of the ladder makes the top 4 the next year.
2008 - Bulldogs,
2007 - Port,
2006 - Collingwood (5th),
2005 - Adelaide,
2004-Geelong.

And every year a team from the top 4 the previous year, has a shocker the following year.

 

[warney7]

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.

Well that's fine. But I hardly conveniently forgot about our injuries!

and to quote myself:

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

I'm not saying I think we'll finish below them, I just wouldn't be surprised if we did!

 

[Daytripper]

I think you forgot Freo. They need another year or two. How far do you think Geelong will slide? To Second?

Freo were crippled by injuries to key players in the first half of the year, lost numerous games by less than 3 goals and were pretty good at the end of the year. They aren't that bad at all.

Geelong's key players are starting to get on the wrong side of 28. Players like Mooney, Scarlett, Ottens, Harley, Corey, Wojynski, Rooke, Chapman and Ling have all hit their peak and there is only one direction for them all now.

In my opionion they won't be as dominant in 2009 which will open it up for some other teams. Will probably still make top 4 but I can see them going into the finals with something like a 14-8, 15-7 record.

 

[Ben the Gooner]

Finals, with Neagle and Gumbleton starting to shoulder more responsibility up forward.

Stanton, Monfries, Lonergan, Reimers, Laycock, Slattery, Pears, Myers to make a step up.

Lucas and Lloyd to still contribute a lot, but to have less responsibility.

 

[toddy104]

I am going to say we will not make the finals. I have said we would for the last few years and its got me/us no where.

So this year its a big fat NO to making the finals nxt year.

trust me this way of thinking works

 

[LeeARM]

I am going to say we will not make the finals. I have said we would for the last few years and its got me/us no where.

So this year its a big fat NO to making the finals nxt year.

trust me this way of thinking works

ah, so it was YOUR fault?

 

[bigdroppunt]

I rekon you guys will make the finals in 09.....

 

[Essendonfc_4_lyfe]

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

Hrmmmm?

I think finals is a realistic expectation. How long we last is something else

 

[The Dustbin]

After 4 years of exodus, I want to play finals. I don't think I'd be able to handle another season outside the 8.
Obviously more luck with injuries would also be nice.

I also expect us to continue this years domination over carlton.

 

[bigdroppunt]

After 4 years of exodus, I want to play finals. I don't think I'd be able to handle another season outside the 8.
Obviously more luck with injuries would also be nice.

I also expect us to continue this years domination over carlton.

You guys had a rotten year with injuries.... but the type of footy you were still able to put on how was great.... with the players you had left.

 

[ant555]

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.

Just out of interest and slightly off topic , why are Geelong going to slide ? They will still have large percentage of their list organised and i suspect that the GF loss will really hurt them inside. I don't see a lot of reasons why they will fall away just yet. They will make a few minor adjustments but they will still be a force .

As far as us well i hope you are right but i wont be rushing out to put any cash on us. Without injuries finals are a chance but lets not lose focus on the fact that their is still a few parts of our game plan we are yet to put in place.

 

[Darealrath]

Top 8 if we have a relatively good run with injuries.

 

[Sir James]

We will finish below or above Richmond.
10-8

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

I'd have to agree with Daytripper. I'd be aiming for top 4 with a good injury run.

Anything less than finals is a disaster and we'd have to look at turning the list over quite a bit.

I thought we'd play finals this year and if we had a reasonable injury run I think we would have.

We have 2 good big guys down back, 2 up forward, we have a very good ruckman and we've got a pretty strong bodied midfield now with McVeigh, Watson, Welsh, Lonergan.

Jetta, Reimers, Houli and a few others have got games and experience over the past 2 years and they'll overtake some of our duds in Dyson and Nash and fille that crucial 16-22 spot in the side where we have been getting killed the past few years.

 

[toddy104]

Everyone stop saying we should make finals. We say the same thing every year. BAD