Have we improved ?

[Redgum]

That saying "same olle same olle" seems to apply to our football club when you look at the last three years after round 19.
2013 when we made the final we had 1570 points for and 1264 points against and 124.2% 4th position
2014 we had 1629 points for and 1239 points against and 131.5% 4th position
2015 currently after 19 rounds we have 1613 points for and 1294 points against and 124.7% 1st position.

So as far as trying to score more goals ,it is obviously that hasn't eventuated , in fact we were better last year.
We are obviously very defensively orientated and it got us there in 2013 but not good enough on the big day.
We are in a better position this year on the ladder to 2013 so that is a big plus , 2014 we went out in straight sets which I would think
would happen this year if we were in 4th position so we do have a better advantage this year for home finals.
The 2013 team is much the same team today ,the only newbies being A Pearce ,T Sheridan & H Crozier .
Griffin is in for Clarke ,Silvagni a temp for McPharlin , Ibbotson was missing in that 2013 final , not much has changed.
... and you guessed it we still have De Boer and Suban in the team ,unbelievable that we haven't at least tried very early in the year with, Blakely , Grey or Weller, two of those should have replaced De Boer and Suban ,too late now I suppose.
Alex Pearce has been the big plus and the improvement in Sheridan has been good. Crozier is still to cement his spot but we got to keep improving the players.

 

[Banker]

I think the only way to truly measure a seasons improvement is in finals.

We're likely to go in with a full squad available, anything less than a PF = failure imo.

 

[Silent Alarm]

I'm kinda critical but how many of these threads do we need?

 

[Spoken4]

I'm kinda critical but how many of these threads do we need?

We need precisely 11 more.

 

[go_the_dockers]

I'm kinda critical but how many of these threads do we need?

42

 

[Van_Dyke]

I'm kinda critical but how many of these threads do we need?

0:50.

 

[JoseMourinho]

Yes, we actually win close games now.

 

[salim malik]

3 ladder positions .

 

[Schauermann]

3 ladder positions .

Well, yes.

But obviously ladder position is also based on other teams improvement or decline and on everything going right on matchdays. Quite some luck involved as well.

On early season form I'd say we have improved. But have been struggling to keep that up. Not sure what actually our problem is. Probably playing more offensive our weakest link (the forward line) more easily exposed. Add a physical gamestyle with even more running then before which could be tiring in the back end of the season.

But I actually agree final judgement can only be made after finals.

 

[Docker Alyssa]

2013 we came 3rd position in the H&A actually...

 

[Freomaniac]

I reckon Alex Pearce could be our Westhoff at Port... A tall swing man. Handy tall down back, Handy tall up front.

 

[malpaso]

I think we need to wait until the Finals to answer this question, specifically the QF will tell us a lot about our players' mental fortitude and the plan that our coaching staff has had all year. I'm of the opinion that the players are itching to get to the finals.
An area of disappointment for me however is our lack of adaptability in the stoppages, we get figured out far too often and for too long before something is done about it. I believe this is part coaching and part lack of leadership in that area whilst on the field.

 

[malpaso]

I reckon Alex Pearce could be our Westhoff at Port... A tall swing man. Handy tall down back, Handy tall up front.

Yep totally agree and Lyon certainly sees him that way. I don't think he'll get a rest either for this exact reason, he'll stay up forward and provide cover for a key back position should injury or form dictate during a game.

 

[Marty Whitelaw]

We will all know so enough whether Ross has had a master plan all along and how much we have actually improved. In years gone by plenty of teams have come out firing in week 1 of the finals after fairly indifferent form in the lead-up. Sydney in 2012 came from nowhere and stunned Adelaide in the Qualifying Final. St Kilda in 2010 looked fairly average but still managed to knock off Geelong in week 1 of the finals. Plenty have done it.

 

[Danny Cullen]

I am never confident when I plant my bum in my seat. Never.

 

[Mogumber]

We will all know so enough whether Ross has had a master plan all along and how much we have actually improved. In years gone by plenty of teams have come out firing in week 1 of the finals after fairly indifferent form in the lead-up. Sydney in 2012 came from nowhere and stunned Adelaide in the Qualifying Final. St Kilda in 2010 looked fairly average but still managed to knock off Geelong in week 1 of the finals. Plenty have done it.

Yep, and we beat Geelong in Geelong when no-one gave us a chance.

 

[wafti123]

I am never confident when I plant my bum in my seat. Never.

You should buy a new chair Danny.

 

[332docker]

Yes

 

[XXRL]

Have we improved? Yes.

Has Hawthorn improved? Remarkably, yes.

Have we improved enough to win a Premiership? I'm not confident, but you never your luck, and on our day we can beat anyone.

 

[Cunningstunts]

Freo have improved in player management. Hawthorn belt sides because they don't have to travel every second week, We don't have that luxury so we ease off when we have a game won.

 

[Freomaniac]

Yep totally agree and Lyon certainly sees him that way. I don't think he'll get a rest either for this exact reason, he'll stay up forward and provide cover for a key back position should injury or form dictate during a game.

Well thats the thing... I get this feeling Freo will use our 1st round pick on a key defender. If Alex Pearce kicked 2-3 goals a game, It would ease a Fair bit of pressure on our forward structure.