Expectations

[rayven]

Bassett, Hart and Torney are hardly short.
.

yes but they do play tall or small very well and torney and hart are rebounding defenders and to a lesser extent bassett.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Is anyone else concerned by our unusually high number of injuries? No wonder Rucci says Craigy looks **********ed off. Along with a late start to PS, I wouldn't have thought having so many injuries at this time of the year is an ideal way to start the year.

 

[NikkiNoo]

Is anyone else concerned by our unusually high number of injuries? No wonder Rucci says Craigy looks **********ed off. Along with a late start to PS, I wouldn't have thought having so many injuries at this time of the year is an ideal way to start the year.

or looked at from a different angle - get the little niggles sorted out before the season proper starts? Would be interesting to compare the number and type of injuries to previous preseasons. Does anyone have this information?

 

[Crow-mo]

Is anyone else concerned by our unusually high number of injuries? No wonder Rucci says Craigy looks **********ed off. Along with a late start to PS, I wouldn't have thought having so many injuries at this time of the year is an ideal way to start the year.

the point is, it isn't unusual. last year was unusual, we've been killed by injuries in recent years.

 

[noddy]

the point is, it isn't unusual. last year was unusual, we've been killed by injuries in recent years.

You're right "fellow man about the world" last year in regards to injuries we should look at as a one off & count our blessings, would be nice for a repeat but even with the improved player management at the club these days we should always expect the unexpected.

The injuries so far that have happened we should just take on the chin & move on to the next player in line.

 

[Mad Dog]

Expectations ?

Top 4 would be nice but of course finals participation is always the first goal.

Given that you need 12 or 13 wins to make the 8....and 14 or 15 wins will usually get you into the Top 4......the difference between scraping into the 8 and Top 4 is only 2ish wins.....and in a 22 Round comp thats very little margin for error.

My point is that good footy will get you into the 8....a little luck with injuries and the fall of the ball on top of that will get you into the Top 4.

Let's not deem the season a failure if we don't get those 2ish wins and end up 7th/8th instead of 3rd/4th because there is very little separating the 2 scenarios.

I'm confident we will have a good solid year. With an "A Grade" midfield in Roo, Goody, Thommo, Edwards.....supported/joined by Macca, Stiffy, Matttner, Reilly, Skippy, Shirley and VB, Knights, Douglas & co. on the horizon - that makes for a lot of depth. The defense will go from strength to strength....while the forwards are diverse enough in their attributes and abilities that a couple will get under a sides guard at least. Perrie, Kenny, Welsh, Trentschell and assorted smalls should be able to do the job particularly if the midfield keep chipping in with goals.

Ruck is still my concern, Rock is a huge loss, Clarkey while a proven warrior is another year older and the body seems to become less willing to play football at an exponentially increasing rate at that age so alot will be resting with the Dirty Dancer. Is he up to the challenge ???...man or mouse ???.....hopefully the Big man can pull out a blinder but it wouldn't concern me if Meese & Maric formed the greatest duo since Mario Milano and Killer Karl Krup.

from the backline considering everyone except Huddo...

Hart - Rutten - Torney
Bass - Bock - Stiffy
Mattner - Roo - Burton
Edwards - Kenny - Pez
Trent - Welsh - Macca

Biglands - Thommo - Goody

Shirley - Reilly - Maric - Knights

.....I just can't wait for the real stuff !....

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

.....I just can't wait for the real stuff !....

Yeah same here.

Question for you MD, how many more years do you think we have left to win our 3rd flag with the current squad?

 

[Allefgib]

You're right "fellow man about the world" last year in regards to injuries we should look at as a one off & count our blessings, would be nice for a repeat but even with the improved player management at the club these days we should always expect the unexpected.

The injuries so far that have happened we should just take on the chin & move on to the next player in line.

where you blokes at right now? I'm in South Korea and last year was in Canada so missed the development of the team in 2005. I was always super keen to see NC's influence as I had little time for Ayres (too negative like most coaches who used to play downback in their own careers) so was kinda dissappointed I missed a key year for us. Used to have brother and father sms me score updates every game during the games Currently spending a bit of time going through match replays on afl.com.au to get pumped properly for the season...

 

[Mad Dog]

Yeah same here.

Question for you MD, how many more years do you think we have left to win our 3rd flag with the current squad?

I would say this year and next will be our best opportunities from our squad's perspective. 2008 will see Hart and Clarke gone - and Edwards, Roo, Macca, Goody, Bass, Biglands, Torney, and Burton all the wrong side of 30 (if they all remain on the list).

I don't think there will be a dramatic dip given that without the above players we could still hypothetically field a team that looks like this...

Stevens - Truck - Stiff
Massie - Bock - The Count
Mattner - Shirley - Reilly
Thommo - Ken - Pez
Trent - Welsh - Bode

Huddo - Knights - Skippy

Vince - Douglas - Doughty - Maric

Also our relative strength to the other teams is important with many of the "rebuilders" probably back to full strength in the next couple of years

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

I would say this year and next will be our best opportunities from our squad's perspective. 2008 will see Hart and Clarke gone - and Edwards, Roo, Macca, Goody, Bass, Biglands, Torney, and Burton all the wrong side of 30 (if they all remain on the list).

I don't think there will be a dramatic dip given that without the above players we could still hypothetically field a team that looks like this...

Stevens - Truck - Stiff
Massie - Bock - The Count
Mattner - Shirley - Reilly
Thommo - Ken - Pez
Trent - Welsh - Bode

Huddo - Knights - Skippy

Vince - Douglas - Doughty - Maric

Also our relative strength to the other teams is important with many of the "rebuilders" probably back to full strength in the next couple of years

Cheers.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

or looked at from a different angle - get the little niggles sorted out before the season proper starts? Would be interesting to compare the number and type of injuries to previous preseasons. Does anyone have this information?

Another positive you could take out of it is it will give our youngsters a real feel of AFL match pressure.