Expectations for 2009

[The Old Dark Navy's]

*ATTENTION ... THIS IS FOR CARLTON SUPPORTERS ONLY. PLEASE DO NOT MESS WITH THE POLL RESULTS. IT IS A PUBLIC POLL AND MY SENSE OF HUMOUR IS ON VACATION*

Yes, it's been done before but this isn't a 'talking ourselves up' thread, this is a 'are our expectations too high?' thread.

Whenever a Carlton thread comes up on the main board of BF, it seems someone mentions how much we talk ourselves up. In my experience this hasn't been the case bar a few exceptions and most of us have been cautious. A lot of opposition supporters seem to have higher aims for us than we do ourselves in my opinion.

For example after 10 wins last year, I expect finals is our next realistic target and we would have failed if we can not at least slip into the 8. That is not talking ourselves up, that is slow and steady progress.

I want to gather in one spot (again), your honest expectation for our finishing position (give a number) in 2009. If you are gung ho and think we will win a flag next year, say so. No shame in it. Also no shame in saying you think we are bottom 4 next year.

I want to collate all of these responses for reference.

Cheers

 

[coryne]

I think, if all goes well, we will probably need to win our last game be get into the 8, not on percentage, but 1 game ahead of 9thmond ............

There were a number of close games last year that, with improvement from our young list and better game plans, we could turn into wins this year. We will hopefully get off to a better start this year too.

Anything below 8th will be a bad year, 6th and up will be an absolutely fabulous result.

 

[blues_gibbzy]

I reckon top 8 is a fair call after a decent run with injurys last year. Hopefully we aren't Fev centreck(spelling?) Gibbs will need to step it up again top 4 is a bit out of the question this year...

 

[PeeKay]

I reckon top 8 is a fair call after a decent run with injurys last year. Hopefully we aren't Fev centreck(spelling?) Gibbs will need to step it up again top 4 is a bit out of the question this year...

I think we will be fighting for 8 spot with: Lions, Tigers, Dons & Swans. Therefore we must win 3 of our last 4 games against; Geelong (MCG), Pt Adelaide (AAMI), Melbourne (MCG) & Adelaide (Dome)
It's doable, but we must win these games.

 

[Warsaw]

Personally I think our list is capable of making the top 4. Obvious things have to fall for us such as injuries but I think sometimes even we underestimate the impact of Judd. We are one of the few teams that will improve from last year, there's some that wil stall and some that will go backwards. We're right in the mix of a top 4 finish.

 

[Murph_The_Smurf]

we have a good run with our draw , but also dont forget we are a young team and we will still have a few slip ups. 7th place finish for mine

The "others" will still go around telling each other that we talk ourselves up

 

[sosos]

2008. Carlton stole some games through superior fitness, lost some through inexperience.

In 2009, they may lose some due to other teams catching up/cottoning on to Carlton's fitness regime. But then they may win some due to the extra development of the kids and the greater knowledge of the game plan and team mates.

I'm hoping they slip into the 8, but wouldn't be surprised to miss or to get knocked out in straight sets.

As far as I'm concerned, wins of any kind are always welcome and enjoyed, but if you don't win a flag, then they are only useful for forum jousting and bbq banter.

Carlton care little for honourable losses and near misses. They live for flags.

 

[NWTYRX]

I'm expecting us to finish in the bottom half of the 8 at best

 

[HBF]

With a pretty good draw, and if we can have a reasonable run with injuries, I don't see why we couldn't finish 6th.

 

[Team Mo']

6th would be good for us but out of the 8 is not good enough.

Really hope we are competive in each game (no blow outs) and beat our bogey teams more often than not. If we can do this then we will more then likely finish in the top 8.

 

[Kaladin Stormblessed]

I'll be slightly disappointed if we don't finish top 6.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Nice to see that Biffinator considers himself amongst the 'we'.

 

[j-ham]

Don't blame him. Noticed how shit Melbourne are?

 

[THE AISSASSIN]

Just want to clarify that I put 4 for a number of reasons.

1/ perhaps unrealistic optimism but you get nowhere without self belief

2/ Vinny the Cat ( I think ), The Buzz, Sticks and BG (just shows how inept our management was when we handed the gurnsey to Liv....but definatley a good number for Carlton.

3/Beyond the top 2 + the Doggies it is so even that realistic predictions are really just a guess. ( how many seasons can Malthouse get a team to over perform, this must surely come to an end)

 

[THE AISSASSIN]

Nice to see that Biffinator considers himself amongst the 'we'.

If we biff him enough times in the right areas we can make him wee

 

[true blue19]

i think a top 4 finish

we have a really good draw. judd and stevens will both be 100% (i think a lot of people have forgotten how good stevens is). with walker(hopfuly), houlihan, hadley and bannister all fit this year. we got a good amount of games in bower, jamison, hampson, browne, grigg, kreuzer, armfield and anderson if less then half of these guys can take the next step then we will be on our way.

if we can perform well in the finals then anything is possible

 

[Juddys_navy_blues]

I voted 6th, would be very happy with that result.

 

[Juddys_navy_blues]

Nice to see that Biffinator considers himself amongst the 'we'.

At least Biff left enough spots for his team below ours.

 

[Alpha1]

Between 6 and 8 for me. Although with a bit of luck we might finish fifth. But yeah I will be very happy if we make the finals and get to 7.

 

[blues4flag]

In previous years, I've said development was the most important thing. I feel we've got the players in place to expect results and further improvement over our 2008 finish.

Just seeing us make finals will put a smile on my face. A bottom 8 finish will be a disappointing result and I think top 4 at this stage is just out of reach.

 

[Silvagnis]

Sixth to eighth in light of Sydney's personnel losses...Probably eighth.

It will be a wasted season if we don't play finals.

 

[parrot]

Where's the "preparing for flags over 2010 to 2015" option? Don't really care about H&A ladder finishes. The only aim is to bring home flags 17, 18 and 19 over the next 5 years i.e. developing our young team in the right way to achieve that objective. Every year we don't win a flag is failure and not acceptable.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Where's the "preparing for flags over 2010 to 2015" option?

Start another thread. This one is about ladder finishing expectations for this season.

 

[Juddys_navy_blues]

Isnt it funny that every vote from below 10 is from supporters of clubs that finished out of the 8 themselves last year, go figure.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

I'll ask opposition supporters not to post in this poll just to be smart. The question wasn't asked of you and I may consider it trolling for you to participate. I will discount your votes of course but you are just creating work for me.