Optimists? Well, with good reason!!!

[Lenz]

First, Bucks is back.
Second, Rusling played well.
Third, Medhurst put together two good weeks.
Fourth, Bryan and Richards disposed of White and Jamar.
Fifth, we got the monkey of Melbourne off our back; apparently we haven't beaten them since 2003 according to one of the papers.
Happy, happy, happy!!!

 

[piesflag07]

First, Bucks is back.
Second, Rusling played well.
Third, Medhurst put together two good weeks.
Fourth, Bryan and Richards disposed of White and Jamar.
Fifth, we got the monkey of Melbourne off our back; apparently we haven't beaten them since 2003 according to one of the papers.
Happy, happy, happy!!!

We fell over the line against the 15th placed side. If we weren't gifted a good run home, we probably wouldn't make the finals. Not much to be happy about in my book.

 

[jazzie]

We fell over the line against the 15th placed side. If we weren't gifted a good run home, we probably wouldn't make the finals. Not much to be happy about in my book.

I think it just depends on whether you want to see the glass half full or half empty. There are valid points for both.

 

[didaka]

They played good footy in the first half, which is a lot better than the crap they have served up in the prior 3 weeks. The Dees had to make a surge in Neitz's 300th or else they'd be a laughing stock.

 

[JOELY]

anyone see the willi match yesterday? future looks bright. enjoy the footy guys.

 

[ClarkeM]

First, Bucks is back.
Second, Rusling played well.
Third, Medhurst put together two good weeks.
Fourth, Bryan and Richards disposed of White and Jamar.
Fifth, we got the monkey of Melbourne off our back; apparently we haven't beaten them since 2003 according to one of the papers.
Happy, happy, happy!!!

And we arnt that injury troubled now.
To important players i mean.
Medhurst is my favourite thing out of them all... good on him.

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

We fell over the line against the 15th placed side. If we weren't gifted a good run home, we probably wouldn't make the finals. Not much to be happy about in my book.

You've sure jumped off the bandwagon of your username quickly

Why would you create an account with the name of "piesflag07" if you're not the optimistic type?

 

[Pie eyed]

We fell over the line against the 15th placed side. If we weren't gifted a good run home, we probably wouldn't make the finals. Not much to be happy about in my book.

You would be down at the mouth if you won $20,000,000.00 on tatts and found out you had to pay for a stamp to claim it....

Life is good...Pies are almost loacked in the 8...Bucks....Bucks is back.
If that doesn't put a smile on your face you are a sad human being.
I even know of some opposition followers who are over the moon that Bucks will play this year....

 

[Pie eyed]

You've sure jumped off the bandwagon of your username quickly

Why would you create an account with the name of "piesflag07" if you're not the optimistic type?

Must have hoped it would give him something to winge about....LOL...probably a Carlton supporter in disguise trying to pull us all down.

 

[mm fan]

If Bucks can play out the year he might play on next year fingers crossed.

All season out first game back even if at Williamstown was great like he hasn't missed a beat. Still need him to win a flag at the moment Sydney will put someone good on him next week if he plays which could open it up for Med-head or Didak.

 

[Pie eyed]

If Bucks can play out the year he might play on next year fingers crossed.

All season out first game back even if at Williamstown was great like he hasn't missed a beat. Still need him to win a flag at the moment Sydney will put someone good on him next week if he plays which could open it up for Med-head or Didak.

your sig is "the ox is slow"...have you been listening to his commentary...LOL

 

[Wilbur35]

Life is good...Pies are almost loacked in the 8...Bucks....Bucks is back.

Hate to be a pessimist, but we can still miss the 8 unless we win at least one of the last two and neither is easy.

 

[MarkT]

I think it just depends on whether you want to see the glass half full or half empty. There are valid points for both.

The reality is it is half a glass either way. Why are so many people happy with half a glass when it should be spiling over? FWIW, on the positive side, we look like having a couple of big forwards pushing for games next season in Reid and Dawes.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

That's true, forwards are our strength, as will be backmen once Anthony comes back, and Brown steps up a bit. We need two ruckmen, one for now and one for 2010, and another inside mid with pace who can kick.

 

[ClarkeM]

inside mid with pace who can kick.

Cookie apparently has the quickest and most enduring legs... is that right?

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Maybe, but he's been played as a HBF so far. Not saying he can't do it, but no suggestion he can yet either.

 

[DWil6]

I'm excited for next year, this year. Although Pendles is going to be better again in 2008, i am still nervous about our midfield for 2008. Unless Cook and co come on in leaps and bounds we still might struggle in the guts.

Any picks we get this year will, at best, be at the bottom of the pecking order in the midfield. O'Bree and Burns and Licca may all be worse and slower next year.

It's rare you get a gun first year like Selwood in the draft, and it is hard to truly evaluate his progress anyway, as he is in a gun team. (Having said that, undoubtedly a very good prospect)

 

[prO]

The reality is it is half a glass either way. Why are so many people happy with half a glass when it should be spiling over? FWIW, on the positive side, we look like having a couple of big forwards pushing for games next season in Reid and Dawes.

People aren't happy with half a glass, they are happy that they are starting to see that glass fill up. The reality is - its subjective and its based on ones perception of, how we have played and how the players we have recruited will develop- Reid and Dawes are prime examples.

 

[prO]

It's rare you get a gun first year like Selwood in the draft, and it is hard to truly evaluate his progress anyway, as he is in a gun team. (Having said that, undoubtedly a very good prospect)

Actually it isn't as rare to find a quality midfielder, compared to a quality key position player, which is why Hine opted for KP players in the last draft.

Therefore this year will be focused on inside mids with pace.

 

[DWil6]

Actually it isn't as rare to find a quality midfielder, compared to a quality key position player, which is why Hine opted for KP players in the last draft.

Therefore this year will be focused on inside mids with pace.

I didn't mean to suggest that it is rare to find quality mids, rather, it is rare to find quality mids that dominate so early in their careers. (See Carlton's numerous first round draft pick mids.)

 

[prO]

I didn't mean to suggest that it is rare to find quality mids, rather, it is rare to find quality mids that dominate so early in their careers. (See Carlton's numerous first round draft pick mids.)

Yeh I understand where you are coming from - but to expect a mid to dominate from their 1st year, is asking a bit too much I dont think Selwood has dominated.... great season though, and no doubt will be a gun! The first year players dont have to dominate in order to have a huge impact.

 

[MarkT]

Plenty of quality mids have taken some time. Most of the upper end midfield players look quality from early days though. Always exceptions of course. Given we need at least 1 inside mid with good skills and reasonable pace, at least 1 outside mid with good pace and skills and at least 1 ruckman I think it is fair to say we are at least 2 drafts from a balanced list and that is assuming we can replace retirements adequately. Clarke may be one of our midfield answers. I hope Heath Shaw can be one also. If these 2 can be top level mids we will be on our way. If not there is a lot or work ahead.

On balance I’d rather we found a quality ruck prospect early in the draft and worried about mids after that. That assumes there is a quality ruckman in the draft at our pick. I’d rather get a decent mid than a dud ruckman just to make up numbers and cms.

 

[shawthing09]

Plenty of quality mids have taken some time. Most of the upper end midfield players look quality from early days though. Always exceptions of course. Given we need at least 1 inside mid with good skills and reasonable pace, at least 1 outside mid with good pace and skills and at least 1 ruckman I think it is fair to say we are at least 2 drafts from a balanced list and that is assuming we can replace retirements adequately. Clarke may be one of our midfield answers. I hope Heath Shaw can be one also. If these 2 can be top level mids we will be on our way. If not there is a lot or work ahead.

On balance I’d rather we found a quality ruck prospect early in the draft and worried about mids after that. That assumes there is a quality ruckman in the draft at our pick. I’d rather get a decent mid than a dud ruckman just to make up numbers and cms.

I think Clarke will be an answer to the midfield as he loves getting in at stoppages hopefully as he develops his knowledge he can get some extracting done. If not he is a good run and link type midfielder. I am hoping they don't opt to use him Kennely style as a run and link back flanker. Shaw i hope can develop into a midfielder but increasingly wonder about it but heres hoping i see a lot of similarities in his playing style and development to luke hodges. Stanly is another one who should be in the mix in the middle solid build in and under type player. Don't think he will be a superstar but a good contributer in the middle. Wellingham is one we are yet too see at AFL level too so there are players developing. I also still think Thomas will end up playing midfield long term. Dare i say it i see a lot of Hird in him. That said it would be great to See either a real extractor or a real quality mid.