Moving forward. How will the team progress in 2018.

[AuntieBarrels]

didn't we have the 3rd toughest draw this year according to champion data?

 

[PoppedCorn]

The whole problem is under-performance. The team game is shot. I don't know what Richo said to the players prior to them going on the field on Sunday, but it must have been totally and utterly un-inspiring. We are playing for a finals spot, and the team comes out in the first quarter and play like a struggling country footy team- is this the extent of progress after four years of coaching under Richo?

I'm with u on this one
I've played in a few GFs and was always nervous about performing
Coach would say bugger all till it was time to toss the coin
We'd come back from coin toss and quickly huddle around him
He had the absolute God given knack of firing u up so much I would've run thru a wall I was that confident
He just jnew what to say and how to say it and managed to look everyone in the eye at the same time
Some have it, some dont

 

[plugger66]

I'm with u on this one
I've played in a few GFs and was always nervous about performing
Coach would say bugger all till it was time to toss the coin
We'd come back from coin toss and quickly huddle around him
He had the absolute God given knack of firing u up so much I would've run thru a wall I was that confident
He just jnew what to say and how to say it and managed to look everyone in the eye at the same time
Some have it, some dont

So you are actually saying we started bad because an AFL coach doesn't know how to inspire players but a D grade coach does. No wonder people just cant believe some of the stuff written here.

 

[Saintbloke]

So you are actually saying we started bad because an AFL coach doesn't know how to inspire players but a D grade coach does. No wonder people just cant believe some of the stuff written here.

Go back and watch the first quarter against Melbourne and tell us that's a fired-up bunch ready to fight for a finals berth...gawd

 

[Joffaboy]

If 1 in 4 of our behinds had gone through for a goal we'd have won 12 games so far, and be sitting where Port is in the ladder.
But we'd still have lost to Sydney twice. Melbourne twice. The Cats, Crows and the Bombers.

What is it about these teams that they can get on top of us. The Demons and Swans seem to have very strong contested ball/clearance winning midfielders.

Before this year Melbourne hadnt beaten us since 2006, we beat Essendon multiple times over the last few years, beat Geelong last year. Should have beaten Port.

 

[Joffaboy]

So you are actually saying we started bad because an AFL coach doesn't know how to inspire players but a D grade coach does. No wonder people just cant believe some of the stuff written here.

He said go out and miss every target for thw first 10 minutes and go at 48% disposal efficiency for the whole first quarter.

Hopeless is Richo. His fault. Must be.

 

[puppy_dog7]

Upon further reflection I reckon Dunstan is gonna have a break out year in 2018.
Since mid year when he was dropped a few times he's come back and averaged,
26 disposals, 5 tackles, 9 contested possessions, 5 clearances and a goal a game.

Next year will he his 5th season and he'll be at the 70 game mark.
If he continues on this trajectory and can have a big pre season to improve his running capacity and tidy up his disposal, then he should have a breakout season Ala Ross this year (prob won't get the numbers Seb was getting e.g 30 disp a game) but he should improve markedly on his year this year.


With Stuv hopefully getting over his injury troubles and getting his explosiveness back, Ross emulating his year this year and Steele improving as well. We should have a good core group. Not to mention Armo being injury free (fingers crossed) and Acres getting more midfield minutes. And if Freeman can get some AFL games, then that gives us a lot of options.
This is where our main improvement should come from.

 

[Joffaboy]

Go back and watch the first quarter against Melbourne and tell us that's a fired-up bunch ready to fight for a finals berth...gawd

Yup. Said miss all your targets and allow them free reign through the corridor.

Makes total sense now.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Upon further reflection I reckon Dunstan is gonna have a break out year in 2018.
Since mid year when he was dropped a few times he's come back and averaged,
26 disposals, 5 tackles, 9 contested possessions, 5 clearances and a goal a game.

Next year will he his 5th season and he'll be at the 70 game mark.
If he continues on this trajectory and can have a big pre season to improve his running capacity and tidy up his disposal, then he should have a breakout season Ala Ross this year (prob won't get the numbers Seb was getting e.g 30 disp a game) but he should improve markedly on his year this year.


With Stuv hopefully getting over his injury troubles and getting his explosiveness back, Ross emulating his year this year and Steele improving as well. We should have a good core group. Not to mention Armo being injury free (fingers crossed) and Acres getting more midfield minutes. And if Freeman can get some AFL games, then that gives us a lot of options.
This is where our main improvement should come from.

I'm not convinced about Dunstan. Really good players get their possessions through the roof by winning them. ( contested).
Dunstan is not improving at all in this aspect.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Before this year Melbourne hadnt beaten us since 2006, we beat Essendon multiple times over the last few years, beat Geelong last year. Should have beaten Port.

But they've been really boosting their midfield.
Oliver, Viney , Jones and Lewis are a pretty formidable midfield.
Steele was on a par with them, otherwise we were relying on the likes of Longer and Gilbert to win the ball.

Dunstan received a bit of the ball. But he's hardly better than Dom Tyson.

Stevens was absolutely the wrong player to go off on a game like that.

 

[The Punter]

On Sunday Koby had 6 disposals in 14% game time.

I still tend to agree with the point that a fit Steven, an improved Dunstan, a developing Steele, along with Ross, Acres, Stevens and perhaps some others running through there means the midfield will be better next season.

And Gresham isn't even 20 years old yet.

 

[FlyingSledghamer]

You guys are so right. Ofcourse the coaches have nothing to do with how the team plays on gameday.
Set plays, skills, preperation and recovery, mental application, positional changes. Feedback and development. They might aswell not even show up to games. Its all up to the players right.

 

[Crusty Undies]

Her's how I've laid it out. The ratings are "will they improve the team in 2018 and have a better year overall" for on the field.
For those not on field it's just "will they improve next year".

Note paddy is "worse" because he replaces Riewoldt. Same with geary/Montagna. Some guys had career best years and it's hard to see them improving much (Robertson, Ross). Overall I think there's some positivity there.

Apart from making an absolute meal of player's positions seems fairly accurate.

 

[aussierulesrules]

On Sunday Koby had 6 disposals in 14% game time.

I still tend to agree with the point that a fit Steven, an improved Dunstan, a developing Steele, along with Ross, Acres, Stevens and perhaps some others running through there means the midfield will be better next season.

And Gresham isn't even 20 years old yet.

Steven getting back to full fitness and form alone would make a huge difference to our midfield and if Armo was to also get back to full fitness and anything like his very best form he could help as well. Bringing an extremely good depth option, if nothing else. And that's before we get to the potential improvement we could see from the likes of Steele, Dunstan, Acres, Gresham, Sinclair and hopefully Freeman, with another preseason under their belts.

Even if we add no-one ready made to that group in the offseason there is plenty of scope for significant improvement overall and if we do happen to add anyone from a Kelly to a Hall type they could take it another step or two up overall.

The big questionmark for me as it was going into this season is Paddy though.

Had he come on this year like we would have hoped (after his first full preseason and being in his 3rd year) that alone could have taken us from just missing the 8 to making it, and now with Roo going he is looking even more important to our prospects for next year.

If he continues to not be able to get out on the park then I reckon that puts a big dent in our finals chances, but if he does manage to get fit and in form and stay out on the park we could be in serious business.

As you would expect from the one taken highest in the drafts during a full rebuild, he is pivotal to our success and the success of the rebuild overall.

 

[TheBalls]

I think the disappointment is exacerbated somewhat by the (very) outside chance that the boys could carry Roo into finals and give him a good send off (and then who knows, do a Doggies and go all the way) - a send off someone of his calibre has earned and the footy gods might conspire to let it happen.

Well for me that is a factor anyway.

 

[plugger66]

Go back and watch the first quarter against Melbourne and tell us that's a fired-up bunch ready to fight for a finals berth...gawd

Yep nothing to do with the players. Easy scapegoat. Are you saying this weeks lead up was different to last week by the coach. Without being rude you probably don't realise that the days of coaches firing up players before the game has long gone. Its all about process these days. Gawd.

 

[Saintbloke]

Yep nothing to do with the players. Easy scapegoat. Are you saying this weeks lead up was different to last week by the coach. Without being rude you probably don't realise that the days of coaches firing up players before the game has long gone. Its all about process these days. Gawd.

Mmmm.....

 

[majortinkle]

I think we've had our year treading water due to the drop off of the impact of Roo, Joey and Dempster this year. DOn't see it being an additional issue next year and I think we'll progress to a finals team regardless of the trade period.

The big issue for me is the mental insecurity we currently seem to have. Whether it's goal kicking or any hyped game/clincher we seem to completely fold and fall apart. I don't think there is a quick fix for that so although we'll make finals I can't see us winning one until we snap out of it. Hopefully it is not symptomatic of the individual players we have as if it is we're screwed.

 

[VDS66]

We will win the ****ing flag, campaigners

Bookmark it the bank... or online banking if you love the internet.

 

[plugger66]

We will win the ******* flag, campaigners

Bookmark it the bank... or online banking if you love the internet.

Well history does suggest we normally do win the flag.

 

[Hayes4PM]

We will continue to be predictable and occasionally play well enough to beat top 8 teams and regularly beat the bottom 4-5 teams.

We will finish on the fringe of the top 8 and eventually have to change up our coaching department majorly.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Well history does suggest we normally do win the flag.

*#&@ History. History is old hat. The future is where its all happening.

 

[St_Laz]

Im sorry. This means nothing. Freeman the same? Hasnt even played a game.

Ross cant get better?

All these VFL players rated as better? On what basis.

To mean it is totally useless, but I suppose you had fun.

Wow, so friendly.

If Freeman makes the team next year, will he drastically improve or deplete the team? I say no.

Ross is almost all-Australian this year. Would it be a safe bet to say he will go even better? I don't think so.

Young guys in VFL improve, but not necessarily make the team? Is that really unrealistic?

 

[AuntieBarrels]

You guys are so right. Ofcourse the coaches have nothing to do with how the team plays on gameday.
Set plays, skills, preperation and recovery, mental application, positional changes. Feedback and development. They might aswell not even show up to games. Its all up to the players right.

then maybe the coaching staff have to be out there kicking the set shots for each and every one of our players

we would be a top 6 side if we could actually kick straight, or be at least average at kicking for goal

 

[Sab22]

This maybe unfavourable or debatable. But I want Weller out for Dunstan in for the leadership group. Even if ur injured or out of form you should least contribute to players leadership wise on game day. You look at Bruce most of the times he's first to his teammates when they kick a goal or miss a shot. Look at Weller, trying to be fancy and doing stuff that's not required at the wrong time. I enjoyed watching Dunstan since his return and he has really stepped up and showing signs from 2014 and I think he's going to be a major factory in 2018. I'm probably being harsh on Weller but it's just my view.

What do you think guys??