First nine rounds

[BLUE45]

IMO we must be at least 5 and 4 after the first nine rounds to have a crack at the top 4 this year, and with Fev off too brisbane, Judd suspended for 3 weeks, and now the mighty sticks hinting we might be without Walker, Hoops, and betts for the first 2, Thats going to make it very hard to get of to the start we need.......

 

[butchyboy]

IMO we must be at least 5 and 4 after the first nine rounds to have a crack at the top 4 this year, and with Fev off too brisbane, Judd suspended for 3 weeks, and now the mighty sticks hinting we might be without Walker, Hoops, and betts for the first 2, Thats going to make it very hard to get of to the start we need.......

Like I have been telling people for months now, get ready for the bottom four. Shit administrators at our club.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

Considering that we'll be 0-3 after the first 3 rounds ... i dont think 5-4 is looking good.

 

[BLUE45]

It's the hardest start to a season i can remember.........I'm looking forward to seeing what the lads are made of.......

 

[BlueGibbs2011]

IMO we must be at least 5 and 4 after the first nine rounds to have a crack at the top 4 this year, and with Fev off too brisbane, Judd suspended for 3 weeks, and now the mighty sticks hinting we might be without Walker, Hoops, and betts for the first 2, Thats going to make it very hard to get of to the start we need.......

Mentioning top 4 is a pipedream. It's not that we don't have quality all over the park, it is the fact that we haven't honed the new post-Fev match plan. We also haven't honed the new post-Fev match plan against different opposition styles (Bombers all out run, and Adelaide's HB counter attacks, others etc).

2010 will bring some crazy wins and some unbearable games to watch. If we are lucky (get on a roll and no injuries) we can finish 5-8th. I suspect we'll bombard a misfiring/developing forward line in most games and finish 8-10th.

A lot of supporters think that others will step straight in to carry Fev's load and make us less one-dimensional. I think these thinkers may be in for a shock. The focus on Fev might have allowed an average player like Betts to look better than he actually is. Without 2-3 defenders going to Fev, each forward will have to win their own ball continually and that requires quality and/or game experience. Hendo and Yarran have the pedigree but not the games. Betts, Houla, and Russell have the experience but not the pedigree without a Fev (dragging defenders) to be consistent winners.

2011 will be a different story hopefully.

PS
For all the supporters saying you cant have enough quality midfielders over drafting a needed tall, 2010 will show a little about whether they know what they are talking about

 

[40yearBLUE]

Mentioning top 4 is a pipedream. It's not that we don't have quality all over the park, it is the fact that we haven't honed the new post-Fev match plan. We also haven't honed the new post-Fev match plan against different opposition styles (Bombers all out run, and Adelaide's HB counter attacks, others etc).

2010 will bring some crazy wins and some unbearable games to watch. If we are lucky (get on a roll and no injuries) we can finish 5-8th. I suspect we'll bombard a misfiring/developing forward line in most games and finish 8-10th.

A lot of supporters think that others will step straight in to carry Fev's load and make us less one-dimensional. I think these thinkers may be in for a shock. The focus on Fev might have allowed an average player like Betts to look better than he actually is. Without 2-3 defenders going to Fev, each forward will have to win their own ball continually and that requires quality and/or game experience. Hendo and Yarran have the pedigree but not the games. Betts, Houla, and Russell have the experience but not the pedigree without a Fev (dragging defenders) to be consistent winners.

2011 will be a different story hopefully.

PS
For all the supporters saying you cant have enough quality midfielders over drafting a needed tall, 2010 will show a little about whether they know what they are talking about

Where to start on this rubbish.......

 

[blueblood25]

IMO we must be at least 5 and 4 after the first nine rounds to have a crack at the top 4 this year, and with Fev off too brisbane, Judd suspended for 3 weeks, and now the mighty sticks hinting we might be without Walker, Hoops, and betts for the first 2, Thats going to make it very hard to get of to the start we need.......

IMO we need to win 22 rounds to be undefeated.



Silly thread.

 

[Bentick's My Man.]

Mentioning top 4 is a pipedream. It's not that we don't have quality all over the park, it is the fact that we haven't honed the new post-Fev match plan. We also haven't honed the new post-Fev match plan against different opposition styles (Bombers all out run, and Adelaide's HB counter attacks, others etc).

2010 will bring some crazy wins and some unbearable games to watch. If we are lucky (get on a roll and no injuries) we can finish 5-8th. I suspect we'll bombard a misfiring/developing forward line in most games and finish 8-10th.

A lot of supporters think that others will step straight in to carry Fev's load and make us less one-dimensional. I think these thinkers may be in for a shock. The focus on Fev might have allowed an average player like Betts to look better than he actually is. Without 2-3 defenders going to Fev, each forward will have to win their own ball continually and that requires quality and/or game experience. Hendo and Yarran have the pedigree but not the games. Betts, Houla, and Russell have the experience but not the pedigree without a Fev (dragging defenders) to be consistent winners.

2011 will be a different story hopefully.

PS
For all the supporters saying you cant have enough quality midfielders over drafting a needed tall, 2010 will show a little about whether they know what they are talking about

Which drafted tall would slot straight into a KPP the next year?

 

[Knackers26]

Positive threads only please.
How soon we forget the glimmers of brilliance of last season, the games we should have won and the games we lost but dominated the midfield only to be senselessly looking for Fevola everytime we got to HF.
With a more even spread and less focus on a one man forward line, we will be far better than last year.
We have only lost Fev and Imo a slow Stevo, but gained greatly for another preseason in some young legs and bodies.
The draw is no harder than other years and
i am looking forward to the 1st 3 Juddless rounds to show what the rest of the boys can do

 

[BlueGibbs2011]

Positive threads only please.

We'll definitely (barring injury) be top 4 for inside 50s

 

[gbatman]

we will beat richmond by 100 points and maybe lose a couple of games in the 1st 5, we have only made moves to make us better. you will see.

 

[Kramer1]

PS
For all the supporters saying you cant have enough quality midfielders over drafting a needed tall, 2010 will show a little about whether they know what they are talking about

Yes could drafting more talls last year would have significantly changed our outcome for 2010 wouldn't it

 

[Knackers26]

Yes could drafting more talls last year would have significantly changed our outcome for 2010 wouldn't it

Yawn.... change the channel Marge...

 

[HBF]

Very very tough start, but if we are wanting to play finals footy in 2010, we have to go into every game believing we can win all of them. Having said that, our matches between round 10 and 17 are all winnable, so we might very well have a season of two halves.

 

[ESKIE]

we will beat richmond by 100 points and maybe lose a couple of games in the 1st 5, we have only made moves to make us better. you will see.

I agree with this, 100%

There is negatives, but the positives are that improvement will come from the playing list as well, growth and experience is a big thing, I think the earth is flat people maybe in for a surprise.

 

[TwiggleyFanClub]

Mentioning top 4 is a pipedream. It's not that we don't have quality all over the park, it is the fact that we haven't honed the new post-Fev match plan. We also haven't honed the new post-Fev match plan against different opposition styles (Bombers all out run, and Adelaide's HB counter attacks, others etc).

I agree, but the problem is that the club is telling the players they are top 4 material and they believe it..

 

[joxstrap]

Richmond (Away - MCG)
Brisbane (Away - Gabba)
Essendon (Home - MCG)
Adelaide (Away - AAMI)
Geelong (Home - MCG)
Collingwood (Home - MCG)
St. Kilda (Away - Etihad)
Port Adelaide (Away - AAMI)
Hawthorn (Home - Etihad)

That is a seriously hard draw for the first 9 games of your season. For mine you absolutely must beat Richmond, which you should do comfortably, but the ramifications for your season are huge if you drop that game. Confidence will be shot, you won't have Judd (or Fev obviously) for the next two games which are both difficult. I'd say Brisbane is probably a 40/60 to Brisbane, and Essendon closer to a 50/50.

Your next four games are realistically going to be loses with the possible exception of Collingwood who you play well against, and that huge rivalry can cause close games and unexpected results, but in theory should go the pies way with both teams at full strength.

Port Adelaide could be anything, but mostly at home are solid and Hawthorn will be much stronger next year.

Not a dig, but I'd never really considered how hard your draw was this year. Richmond game will be huge!

 

[40yearBLUE]

I agree, but the problem is that the club is telling the players they are top 4 material and they believe it..

Let me see if I have this right, it is a problem for the club and the players to go into each game thinking they can win them? And this is a problem because.......

 

[jj1978]

How people forget Geelong of 2007 and 2009.

2007 core forward line of N.Ablett, Mooney
2009 core forward line of Hawkins, Mooney

In both those forward lines Ablett and Hawkins were pretty raw, with Mooney an above average agressive forward.

To me Henderson is at least equivalent to what Ablett and Hawkins were to the cats. We have players like Wiggins who can play a Mooney type role (good mark, aggressive, shyte kick for goal), maybe a fit Setanta/Waite, or throw in a Hampson/Kreuzer.

Now we have our potentially freaky trio of Gartlett, Yarran, Betts (starting round??).

That before we talk about further potential forward depth with Fisher (may get his act together), Houlihan, Robinson etc...

Now Geelong won the flag off their midfield and strong defence. I think our midfield if fit and firing all season is second best to Geelongs. Our defence if fit and firing is in the top 6 defences.

If we hold our shyte together and we don't lose players like Jamison, Thornton, Kreuzer and Waite at the same time for extended periods I think we have a finals berth very realistically for the taking.

Murphy showed he has become your Ablett type goal kicking mid, now if Judd can improve on that (which I believe he is working hard on at this minute), Gibbs pops in for a few more, Simpson gets his left boot working again (how many running goals did he miss last year!!).

And this is before I've mentioned other potential midfielders that can pop in goals (Carazzo, McClean, Lucas)

I think we'll take about 5 rounds to warm up... but I feel something like a 2000 coming on where we played inconsistantly for the first 7 rounds or so and then we won something like 11 in a row... then injuries to Kouta and other late in the season destroyed our chances at No.17

 

[Knackers26]

I agree, but the problem is that the club is telling the players they are top 4 material and they believe it..

Cant quite understand how aiming high and keeping positive is a problem. How are they expected to make top 4 if the club tell them they cant?
If telling them they are top 4 material make them finish 5-6th then its good motivation IMO

 

[TwiggleyFanClub]

Cant quite understand how aiming high and keeping positive is a problem. How are they expected to make top 4 if the club tell them they cant?
If telling them they are top 4 material make them finish 5-6th then its good motivation IMO

Because they don't have the work ethic they need to have to be real top 4 contenders. A decent sized minority of them are not just occasional drinkers, but real pissheads. This complacent, idiot culture we're going nuts about won't change if they are complacent about what it takes to get to where we all want them to.

I mean FFS, Fev even admitted they were thinking about next week during the last quarter against the Lions. They dropped the ball bacause they thought they had it in the bag. Complacent. No killer instinct.
(And by the way, the coaching staff still don't know how they lost that game...)

Positivity is one thing. Delusion and complacency are a different matter entirely.
Aiming high is great. But thinking you already have it is lunacy.

A little fear of God is what they need right now, and they sure aren't getting it from the club.

 

[Knackers26]

How people forget Geelong of 2007 and 2009.

2007 core forward line of N.Ablett, Mooney
2009 core forward line of Hawkins, Mooney

In both those forward lines Ablett and Hawkins were pretty raw, with Mooney an above average agressive forward.

To me Henderson is at least equivalent to what Ablett and Hawkins were to the cats. We have players like Wiggins who can play a Mooney type role (good mark, aggressive, shyte kick for goal), maybe a fit Setanta/Waite, or throw in a Hampson/Kreuzer.

Now we have our potentially freaky trio of Gartlett, Yarran, Betts (starting round??).

That before we talk about further potential forward depth with Fisher (may get his act together), Houlihan, Robinson etc...

Now Geelong won the flag off their midfield and strong defence. I think our midfield if fit and firing all season is second best to Geelongs. Our defence if fit and firing is in the top 6 defences.

If we hold our shyte together and we don't lose players like Jamison, Thornton, Kreuzer and Waite at the same time for extended periods I think we have a finals berth very realistically for the taking.

Murphy showed he has become your Ablett type goal kicking mid, now if Judd can improve on that (which I believe he is working hard on at this minute), Gibbs pops in for a few more, Simpson gets his left boot working again (how many running goals did he miss last year!!).

And this is before I've mentioned other potential midfielders that can pop in goals (Carazzo, McClean, Lucas)

I think we'll take about 5 rounds to warm up... but I feel something like a 2000 coming on where we played inconsistantly for the first 7 rounds or so and then we won something like 11 in a row... then injuries to Kouta and other late in the season destroyed our chances at No.17

My sentiments... indeed

 

[40yearBLUE]

Because they don't have the work ethic they need to have to be real top 4 contenders. A decent sized minority of them are not just occasional drinkers, but real pissheads. This complacent, idiot culture we're going nuts about won't change if they are complacent about what it takes to get to where we all want them to.

I mean FFS, Fev even admitted they were thinking about next week during the last quarter against the Lions. They dropped the ball bacause they thought they had it in the bag. Complacent. No killer instinct.
(And by the way, the coaching staff still don't know how they lost that game...)

Positivity is one thing. Delusion and complacency are a different matter entirely.
Aiming high is great. But thinking you already have it is lunacy.

A little fear of God is what they need right now, and they sure aren't getting it from the club.

I both agree and disagree.

I agree some of them are not committed enough to be top 4, but the collective are committed enough. I agree the club needs to put the fear of dog into them, and so far has kid gloved them far too much.

I strongly disagree the club does not know what cost us the final last year, they know exactly what it was and have worked to address it (see massive recruiting thread). And I also disagree that individuals or clubs (collective attitude) should enter any competition thinking they cannot prevail. Belief is more than half the battle. Most players will tell you in fact 90% is mental and given that most players are of roughly the same fitness, size and skill then that makes a lot of sense. Telling a group they are not up to it is only effective as a shock tactic to shake out a temporary complacency but is ineffective in motivating a group over the long term to higher achievement.

 

[Stig O'Hara]

We went out in Round 1 last year with 6? first gamers, 3 rookies at least, and spanked the pants off Richmond.

Don't see why we can't do it again.

With the midfield we have, and the game we play, we'll have the pill 400 times a week.

Not pie in the sky to be looking at 6-3, certainly would show we are good enough.

 

[40yearBLUE]

We went out in Round 1 last year with 6? first gamers, 3 rookies at least, and spanked the pants off Richmond.

Don't see why we can't do it again.

With the midfield we have, and the game we play, we'll have the pill 400 times a week.

Not pie in the sky to be looking at 6-3, certainly would show we are good enough.

Totally agree.