First 6 Rounds

[Blueinblood]

In the first six rounds this season, it appears we have the easiest run of any clubs. These are our first six rounds.

RD 1: RICHMOND
RD 2: ST KILDA
RD 3: ESSENDON
RD 4: COLLINGWOOD
RD 5: MELBOURNE
RD 6: ADELAIDE
All games aare in melbourne. 5 at the G, 1 at the dome. Generaly play well at the G.
Potentially we will be playing next years bottom 3 sides as well as a slider in Adelaide. This is the way I can see it unfolding:

RD 1: Win
RD 2: Loss
RD 3: Win
RD 4: Loss
RD 5: Win
RD 6: Win

I also think we have a chance against Collingwood if we are on fire on the day.
Saints may prove a tough task but we recieve a boost as Steven Baker is not playing. (for those of you who dont know, Steven Baker usually plays on Judd).
But i wouldnt think we would be winning that one.

Reasons why i think we will win and lose
Richmond: Our midfield class and superior depth on most parts of the park should see us get over the line. We match up OK in the backline against Richo and his crew. WIN:10-30 points
Saints: They have a similar if not better midfield and we do not match up well in the backline. We will lose unless Fev kicks over 5 and even then we still might be out of our depth. LOSS: 20-40 points
Essendon: Midfield, midfield and midfield. We always match up well against the bombers and Fev usually has a day out. Essendon poor record at the G. If our midfield is on fire, expect a big win. Win 30-50 points.
Collinwood Our midfield is better on paper but i wouldnt expect a win. Although they need to find a match up for Fev we need to find one fo rocca and cloke. For 2 halves not one like this year. Wouldnt expect to much, Loss: 1-20 points
Melbourne No clear match up or fev and both times we played them last year he did not play. Do not take into account RD 22 last year. Our midfield on paper loooks superior but i think thats where this game will be won. Even contest. Could go either way. WIN: 1-30 points
Adelaide: There forward line is almost as bad as our Backline. If we can find a match up for Hentschel and Jericho which shouldnt be to hard i cant see where they will kick all there goals. Nice space for Fev, Fish and Waite at the G to kick a winning score. Midfields similar. Hard fought win.
WIN: 1-30 points.

Although anything can happen from now to then, injuries permitting, i think this could be the way in pans out. I am expecting to at least be 3-3 with a possilbility of 4-2 leading into the bug match against the Weagles.
Even though i dont think we will make the 8, if we are to have any hope we will need a great start as we have a very tough last quater and a bit of the season.

What do you guys think?

 

[Big Bad Sammus]

Great post and I agree with you for about 99% of your views, one thing that I would like to add, is that, we only lost to Frank Kilda by 10 points. This will be a great, tough match for both teams. I can't remember who was injured for the saints when we played them last, but considering we have boosted our midfield and perhaps added a couple of 'power' bars to other parts of our field, we should do very well and may sneak in a surprise win.

I don't underestimate the saints at all, they do have the wood over us, but with the loss of Pagan and new action plan, I hope we take the wood back from them.

 

[as0l0]

should win all of those.

 

[Blueinblood]

as0I0......bit optomistic.......were not that good

 

[as0l0]

i honestly think we are. i think we were pretty good last year but just had bad luck/circumstances.

 

[Blue Dimension]

I agree with most of what you say Blueinblood. Although i'd expect to beat Richmond more so than Essendon. Essendon still have Lloyd, Lucas, Fletcher, Michael. Richmond can't even compare and will get belted for the majority of the season.

 

[HBF]

should win all of those.

I'm not sure if we should win all of these games, but I think we could go into each game quietly confident of giving a very good account our ourselves. If we do this, then it sets up a terrific round 7 game against West Coast at Subiaco. And, I will be there.

 

[BlueGibbs2011]

RD 1: RICHMOND
RD 2: ST KILDA
RD 3: ESSENDON
RD 4: COLLINGWOOD
RD 5: MELBOURNE
RD 6: ADELAIDE

So many things to impact those matches before they occur. You could make an honest argument to say we will be slight favourites in Rd1, Rd3, Rd5 and Rd6 (Adel, due to home ground adv). We are only slight underdogs for Rd2 and Rd4. Collingwood may not repeat their exploits of last year plus I think their mids are average and their def might be a risk!

I think we are a better team than Richmond but there is a good chance after last year that they will be very fired up come round 1 due to not only how bad they went in 2007 but also how much egg finished on Wallets face - a win versus the Blues must be high on the menu to keep the press off. I hope Ratts is on the ball here and has the players fired/rdy/fit for rd1!

Happy with 3+ wins here and a nice start

 

[as0l0]

I'm not sure if we should win all of these games, but I think we could go into each game quietly confident of giving a very good account our ourselves. If we do this, then it sets up a terrific round 7 game against West Coast at Subiaco. And, I will be there.

the undefeated blues vs the winless eagles.

 

[AndyWalkersGirl]

could win all of those.

 

[OZBomb]

I'd be putting money on Adelaide for the spoon this year, they are horrible shape. Wouldn't shock me to see Collingwood either really improve or fall completely away. They lived a charmed life last season with a lot of kids in important positions, be interesting to see if they can back it up.

 

[judd5]

Interesting to see that we are set up to get away to a big start. but i think that we have to remember this thread and not get carried away if we do win the first few games of the year.
Don't forget that we are always a chance against Collingwood because the boys will always play with extra incentive because we are playing the filth. Don't see why they can't give something extra each week though.

 

[as0l0]

Don't see why they can't give something extra each week though.

if they did, then they'd still find a bit extra for the Collingwood match.

 

[Beloved]

In the first six rounds this season, it appears we have the easiest run of any clubs. These are our first six rounds.

RD 1: RICHMOND
RD 2: ST KILDA
RD 3: ESSENDON
RD 4: COLLINGWOOD
RD 5: MELBOURNE
RD 6: ADELAIDE
All games aare in melbourne. 5 at the G, 1 at the dome. Generaly play well at the G.
Potentially we will be playing next years bottom 3 sides as well as a slider in Adelaide. This is the way I can see it unfolding:

RD 1: Win
RD 2: Loss
RD 3: Win
RD 4: Loss
RD 5: Win
RD 6: Win

I also think we have a chance against Collingwood if we are on fire on the day.
Saints may prove a tough task but we recieve a boost as Steven Baker is not playing. (for those of you who dont know, Steven Baker usually plays on Judd).
But i wouldnt think we would be winning that one.

Reasons why i think we will win and lose
Richmond: Our midfield class and superior depth on most parts of the park should see us get over the line. We match up OK in the backline against Richo and his crew. WIN:10-30 points
Saints: They have a similar if not better midfield and we do not match up well in the backline. We will lose unless Fev kicks over 5 and even then we still might be out of our depth. LOSS: 20-40 points
Essendon: Midfield, midfield and midfield. We always match up well against the bombers and Fev usually has a day out. Essendon poor record at the G. If our midfield is on fire, expect a big win. Win 30-50 points.
Collinwood Our midfield is better on paper but i wouldnt expect a win. Although they need to find a match up for Fev we need to find one fo rocca and cloke. For 2 halves not one like this year. Wouldnt expect to much, Loss: 1-20 points
Melbourne No clear match up or fev and both times we played them last year he did not play. Do not take into account RD 22 last year. Our midfield on paper loooks superior but i think thats where this game will be won. Even contest. Could go either way. WIN: 1-30 points
Adelaide: There forward line is almost as bad as our Backline. If we can find a match up for Hentschel and Jericho which shouldnt be to hard i cant see where they will kick all there goals. Nice space for Fev, Fish and Waite at the G to kick a winning score. Midfields similar. Hard fought win.
WIN: 1-30 points.

Although anything can happen from now to then, injuries permitting, i think this could be the way in pans out. I am expecting to at least be 3-3 with a possilbility of 4-2 leading into the bug match against the Weagles.
Even though i dont think we will make the 8, if we are to have any hope we will need a great start as we have a very tough last quater and a bit of the season.

What do you guys think?

Great post.

I agree with you on all, but I think the margin against St. Kilda will be a whole lot less than 20-40 points. I beleive we are a genuine chance to take it out against them this year.

Last year, we never had the quality in the midfield to match up to theirs, and a lot of their goals came from ruck blunders. I think we're more than on the track to patching up our ruck indiscretions (my no.1 thing I want to see worked on continuously throughout the pre-season), so that should make the contest a close one.

I wouldn't want to judge who will come out with the four points, but at the moment, i'm tipping this game to be our headlined in the first 6 rounds.

 

[Blueinblood]

If we dont get many injuries we could be 5-1...Big if though

 

[DonMania#5]

Keep dreaming boys

 

[thylacine60]

Keep dreaming boys

Jesus mate, have a look. Why wouldn't we?

 

[HBF]

I'd be putting money on Adelaide for the spoon this year, they are horrible shape. Wouldn't shock me to see Collingwood either really improve or fall completely away. They lived a charmed life last season with a lot of kids in important positions, be interesting to see if they can back it up.

Collingwood do continue to surprise me. They are a team without A graders in my mind, yet they have made the finals in the past 2 years. How they got within a kick of Geelong in Prelim Final still amazes me.

In both games last year, we got within 4 goals of them. We add Judd, Stevens and some more experience in Hadley. Those 3 boys would be worth 3 goals me thinks.

 

[HBF]

Keep dreaming boys

I'd be more concerned with your own list mate. The 2 most critical elements to the Bombers aint there no more.

 

[SA Blueblood]

If we dont get many injuries we could be 5-1...Big if though

I don't mind thinking positive but i think people are getting a little too excited, onfield our results have been pissweak the last few years, while i see that we will improve, i hope our expectations aren't too high, but deep down i would love to see us take huge steps next year, shock the footy public and set up a great 2009. Go Blues

 

[thatday]

From a non trolling outsider I think,

RD 1: RICHMOND Win
RD 2: ST KILDA Loss
RD 3: ESSENDON Win
RD 4: COLLINGWOOD Loss
RD 5: MELBOURNE Win
RD 6: ADELAIDE Win

That is my honest opinion, the 2 lost games will be very close though, the one against Collingwood mainly because for some reason almost every single time we play eachother its close. You always lift that extra bit against us and i see it being very close.

The game against Adelaide is a tough one to tip atm, don't know what they are going to do next year.

 

[Blueinblood]

From a non trolling outsider I think,

RD 1: RICHMOND Win
RD 2: ST KILDA Loss
RD 3: ESSENDON Win
RD 4: COLLINGWOOD Loss
RD 5: MELBOURNE Win
RD 6: ADELAIDE Win

That is my honest opinion, the 2 lost games will be very close though, the one against Collingwood mainly because for some reason almost every single time we play eachother its close. You always lift that extra bit against us and i see it being very close.

The game against Adelaide is a tough one to tip atm, don't know what they are going to do next year.

I reckon thats the best non carlton supporter post we have had in ages.
GOOD WORK!

 

[Bluebear]

Great post and I agree with you for about 99% of your views, one thing that I would like to add, is that, we only lost to Frank Kilda by 10 points. This will be a great, tough match for both teams. I can't remember who was injured for the saints when we played them last, but considering we have boosted our midfield and perhaps added a couple of 'power' bars to other parts of our field, we should do very well and may sneak in a surprise win.

I don't underestimate the saints at all, they do have the wood over us, but with the loss of Pagan and new action plan, I hope we take the wood back from them.

Have a guess...........how about an injury prone ruckman?

Even the game the Saints won last year by 7 goals was close for 3/4 of the game.
Expext with our increased fitness base and talent we will give them a better run for their money.
With Setanta a permanent fixture down back next season, expect our defence to hold up a little better, not to mention greater emphasis on defensive pressure through the midfield.

All those games are winnable.........we could be off to a flyer.

 

[BlueBelle]

I'm not sure if we should win all of these games, but I think we could go into each game quietly confident of giving a very good account our ourselves. If we do this, then it sets up a terrific round 7 game against West Coast at Subiaco. And, I will be there.

Me too!

 

[iRemember87]

IMO i think we can go 5-1 for the first 6 rounds, after that it'll be rocky, but that will be good learning and experience for our group.

RD 1: RICHMOND Win
RD 2: ST KILDA Loss (they just shape up well, the have the wood on us, similar to how we match up great against Essendon)
RD 3: ESSENDON Win
RD 4: COLLINGWOOD Win (the loss of Clement & Bucks will help us)
RD 5: MELBOURNE Win
RD 6: ADELAIDE Win