Optimistic

[Lensen]

Funnily enough, from one of the more pessimistic Pie fans on the board, I've got a strange optimism for the year ahead.

Maybe it's cause we've recruited blokes who appear to be able to actually play footy. Maybe it's because we've got rid of most of our spuds, with those that are left either having shown an ability to play quality footy before, or young enough and having shown a little bit to maybe be able to make it. Maybe it's simply cause Woey's gone. Maybe even it's because we actually seem to be spending money on stuff that may help us on field! Maybe it's because I'll be going down to see Collingwood play a real rival on ANZAC Day this year, and not the 50s-era rivals who are now fairly irrelevant that I've watched the past two Queens Birthdays. Might even be cause Dids might become a midfielder this year!

All in all, for the first time since the start of '02, I'm going into a season fairly happy with where we're at. I've got no doubt that given a fair crack with injuries, we can make the 8 - maybe even the 4 if everything goes right.

Anyway, you should see a bit more optimism from me around here this year - and that can only be good, right?

Go Pies in '06.

 

[Wildman]

Without doubt things seem brighter this year,can't wait for it to get underway.

 

[FIGJAM]

Last year I was optimistic on the odds that we surely couldn't have had another year of injuries to our core players. Then we lost Fraser, Didak, Buckley, Pebbles and Richards and had Carrots, O'Bree, Johnson and Tarrant playing injured. Heads dropped.

Coupled with last year was a recognition that our depth sucked, but our best team fit and firing would do OK (I presume it still might be OK, but haven't seen it since the 2003 Prelim).

We've delisted guys who shouldn't have been on our list in the first place, such as Lokan, King and Williams, guys who've been surpassed by the modern game in Brayden and Woewodin, Moron Morrison has waddled off into the sunset, and the sad case of Tommy D, who has too much competition in addition to everything else and we also got rid of Cole, who whilst has potential, also has potential to be an Uber Dud and is doing his best to realise this scenario.

Whilst our depth still sucks, if we have injuries like the last two seasons will mean that at least we'll be drawing on a pool of players with the potential of a future. Some will be duds. That's the nature of the game! But given this scenario, which we all hope doesn't happen, you'd rather be excited by some kids coming through like Thomas, Anthony, Egan, Rowe, Rusling etc., rather than the slop served up last year, especially early on when Malthouse resorted to using Williams, Woey and Cole who were all terrible.

There are still question marks over Walker, Hall, Ye Older Clokes, Lonie, Morrison and probably one or two others, but they aren't as pronounced as in other years. There is scope for surprise from one or two of these players.

At least this season, their heads appear to be aimed in the right direction, and whilst reports of blokes "Training the House Down" must be taken in context, one can't completely ignore the general vibe coming from those who've seen the lads and it appears like they're focussed.

 

[harry 0]

At least this season, their heads appear to be aimed in the right direction, and whilst reports of blokes "Training the House Down" must be taken in context, one can't completely ignore the general vibe coming from those who've seen the lads and it appears like they're focussed.

Rocket Eade when questioned this morning on radio about which rival clubs are 'flying' at the minute, mentioned the Pies as being very fit at the moment.

 

[hotpie]

At the top end we are losing our stars as Buckley Clement Burns and Rocca get older, and Fraser and Didak struggle for fitness and consistency.

At the bottom end we have removed a lot of dead wood in the past two seasons and replaced them with fresh talent.

At the middle of the spectrum is where we expect to see rapid improvement as recent draftees settle in to AFL footy.

I expect the side to have more depth and more options at the selection table this year. Although we still need a leader to put up his hand and become a genuine star of the game, because at present we barely have one.

 

[FIGJAM]

Rocket Eade when questioned this morning on radio about which rival clubs are 'flying' at the minute, mentioned the Pies as being very fit at the moment.

I'm told he's a ********er, but I do respect this blokes opinion on footy.

Still, I can't help wondering how he'd know this. It's not like the Doggies can afford to pay spies!

 

[NICK THE PIE MAN]

Our depth is obviously the worry. We need a 2002-like season with little to no injuries to be any chance of making a move this year.

It won't take many key injuries to have us back to where we were in 2004/05.

 

[Coin_Toss]

The experience players at the club (Buckley, Rocca, Clement, Wakelin, Burns, etc) should all mantain there ability to play at the highest level for one year at least.
The younger blokes (Egan, C2, C3, Maxwell, Rowe, Davies, Iacobucci, Rusling, etc) should all improve, for some having a couple of years under there belt, for others heading into just there second year, but they should all improve none of the less.
If we have any chance of winning a flag this year, the middle-tier blokes must improve - and improve dramatically. We all know the likes of Tarrant, Didak and Fraser can play very good football at there best, but we haven't seen them at there best too often due to bad form, injuries, suspensions. If these guys can improve, I can't think of one reason why we can't win a flag.

I have always thought the side we have now is better than the side that went down to Brisbane by 9 points back in 02'. The blokes like Didak and Fraser have all matured since then, Didak was only in his second year of football in 2002, Fraser being in his third. The difference was Brisbane had more class in the end due to players being at the right age (24, 25, 26 year olds), while Collingwood were still building a team made up of (20, 21, 22 year olds). Sure we have a younger list now, but that might be a good thing come September.

This is the right time for Collingwood to have a good old crack at the flag, and if you weren't a little optimistic about our chances then you're not a true Collingwood supporter. Get behind and support the boys anyway you can, like I said, this is the right time for Collingwood to have a good old crack at the flag.

GO PIES!!!

 

[Jabso]

That's the spirit lenny, get on the trolley.

 

[bucksisbest]

Rocket Eade when questioned this morning on radio about which rival clubs are 'flying' at the minute, mentioned the Pies as being very fit at the moment.

What other teams did he mention as flying?

I remember watching us play a pre-season practice game at VP in 2004 and thinking how much slicker we looked than previous years (other scouts remarked that we looked to have stepped up another notch as well) and that year all turned to ********.

 

[harry 0]

What other teams did he mention as flying?

I remember watching us play a pre-season practice game at VP in 2004 and thinking how much slicker we looked than previous years (other scouts remarked that we looked to have stepped up another notch as well) and that year all turned to ********.

We were very bad in every pre-season game in 04.

He mentioned Adelaide, Saints and Richmond as well.

 

[bucksisbest]

We were very bad in every pre-season game in 04.

He mentioned Adelaide, Saints and Richmond as well.

Should have made myself clearer , it was the intra-club game-seemed to be of a much higher standard than previous years.
Once we started the Wizard Cup ,we were given one of the all-time humiliations by the Weagles.

OK , thanks.

 

[magpies42]

I think you would be crazy not to be optimistic at the start of every season (well the past 5 or so) because we have an exciting crop of youngsters coming through and some awesome oloder players to steddy the ship! Had it not been for injury im sure we would have been in the finals last year, and am sure that if there arent to many injuries this year we will be playing well into september!

Go pies!