Our Premiership Window

[Doss]

We don't have a premiership window until we win a final. Has there been a team in history that has won a premiership after over 10 years of not winning a final. I'm guessing no.

Closest examples I could think of were Collingwood of 1990 (hadn't won a final since 1984) and Hawthorn of 1971 (1963).

Very different eras.

 

[calyam]

Our window opens whenever Daniher says it's damn open.

Honestly I thought this year would be our year to potentially jump into the top four and make some serious waves. But a lot would need to change for that to occur. With GC and GWS improving rapidly, I'm not sure we have a premiership window anymore.

 

[TheDinosaur]

the GWS/GC effect is a bit of a worry for all teams i think. there's still a chance that the increased salary demands for both will see them even out a bit with the rest of the comp.

hopefully bombers just tipped our usual season on its head and we wont lose a game after the bye round after some mediocre early games!!

 

[hurlygurdy]

People put a lot of stock in winning a final. I don't get it. How does winning one final this year make any damn difference the following year? Do you think we haven't played big games under pressure? Try every game in 2013 for starters! Try Anzac days for another. Try top of the table clashes like last years against Geelong and the Hawks. For any other club there might be dubious merit in the concept, but not for us.
So given lack of finals experience counts for squat, our window is open this year and next year, then the following years will depend on how good the young ones end up and how quickly the old ones fade. As for this year? We all know the answer; We need Carlisle to come good. We need our mids to come into some form. We need the midfield and forward line to gel. It all needs to be happening at the right time in September without massive injuries. End of.

 

[BrunoV]

People put a lot of stock in winning a final. I don't get it. How does winning one final this year make any damn difference the following year? Do you think we haven't played big games under pressure? Try every game in 2013 for starters! Try Anzac days for another. Try top of the table clashes like last years against Geelong and the Hawks. For any other club there might be dubious merit in the concept, but not for us.
So given lack of finals experience counts for squat, our window is open this year and next year, then the following years will depend on how good the young ones end up and how quickly the old ones fade. As for this year? We all know the answer; We need Carlisle to come good. We need our mids to come into some form. We need the midfield and forward line to gel. It all needs to be happening at the right time in September without massive injuries. End of.

It's not winning a final as much as it is about the progression and development of side that winning finals (and the progression through the top 8 that generally occurs) reflects though it is probably of significant value to sides faced with the pressure to have the experience (of success) in the high pressure environment of finals.

As far as deciding when Essendon is likely (based on the information available) to be capable of winning a premiership, the problem is that our good footy is really just still theory (because we only play well in the first 10 rounds of the season and history has probably shown that we are fitter than other sides at the same point of time).

Given that the current side has not having played a decent match post June, it's particularly difficult to determine where the team should be. The atrocious form of the past month coupled with the reality that we don't have any proof that the side can stand up against good teams in a meaningful part of the season makes it particularly difficult to entertain the idea that we might be on the verge of winning a flag.

If we had played and won a final last year and kept things tight in a semi-final, with the promise of some talented kids being shown I know I could have some confidence making bold predictions based on the improvement of a side that is actually good (as opposed to being good in theory).

 

[AtomicBlonde]

When was the last time a club won a flag when off-field, it was in a state akin to what ours is at the moment? I can't think of one in recent years and until there is a stable, coherent and professional performance off the field, we won't be any better than we currently are on-field.

 

[Whispering_Jack]

When was the last time a club won a flag when off-field, it was in a state akin to what ours is at the moment? I can't think of one in recent years and until there is a stable, coherent and professional performance off the field, we won't be any better than we currently are on-field.

I think off-field we would just about be class leading now in terms of governance, reporting lines etc plus with the HPC we have the resources for the players.

 

[Corey Davis]

we are 2-3 years away from top 4 and premiership contending,we are too inconsistent,and injuries over the past couple years have not helped us,but with the list and talent we have,its a possibilty in years to come

 

[kfc1]

This could be our Geelong 2006 year

 

[fishardansin]

This could be our Geelong 2006 year

LoL. Carlton have had a few of them. I'm waiting for Richmond to claim that that is what's happening to them this year.

 

[hurlygurdy]

It's not winning a final as much as it is about the progression and development of side that winning finals (and the progression through the top 8 that generally occurs) reflects though it is probably of significant value to sides faced with the pressure to have the experience (of success) in the high pressure environment of finals.

As far as deciding when Essendon is likely (based on the information available) to be capable of winning a premiership, the problem is that our good footy is really just still theory (because we only play well in the first 10 rounds of the season and history has probably shown that we are fitter than other sides at the same point of time).

Given that the current side has not having played a decent match post June, it's particularly difficult to determine where the team should be. The atrocious form of the past month coupled with the reality that we don't have any proof that the side can stand up against good teams in a meaningful part of the season makes it particularly difficult to entertain the idea that we might be on the verge of winning a flag.

If we had played and won a final last year and kept things tight in a semi-final, with the promise of some talented kids being shown I know I could have some confidence making bold predictions based on the improvement of a side that is actually good (as opposed to being good in theory).

I know everyone wants to keep the lid on and all, plus not look silly if things don't work out.... But is there anyone on this board who doesn't think we are a genuine chance this year if TBC or Carlisle really clicks and our forward line gets to the point where it looks dangerous rather than dysfunctional? We can say what we like about form late in the year and lack of progression year by year, but i think everyone here knows this list has what it takes if the forward line issues can be solved. It's a big if. It probably wont happen, but i believe it is the final piece of the puzzle.

 

[BrunoV]

I know everyone wants to keep the lid on and all, plus not look silly if things don't work out.... But is there anyone on this board who doesn't think we are a genuine chance this year if TBC or Carlisle really clicks and our forward line gets to the point where it looks dangerous rather than dysfunctional? We can say what we like about form late in the year and lack of progression year by year, but i think everyone here knows this list has what it takes if the forward line issues can be solved. It's a big if. It probably wont happen, but i believe it is the final piece of the puzzle.

It all depends on the actual quality of our midfield which I very much consider to be an unknown.

Are we lazy? Are we incapable of working from 50 to 50 because of a lack of running power? Is there enough skill under pressure?
Is there enough ball winning quality as opposed to quantity?

It's certainly not all doom and gloom but the questions remain unanswered because of a lack of meaningful performances. It has to be a valid point because the big reputation has been built on the performances which are not particularly meaningful.

 

[Zephyr Effekt]

Premiership Windows are by-products of having balanced lists and maintaing that balance via drafting, free agency, and development.

For the first time in over a decade, the balance of the list is looking good for the short-term and hopefully for the long-term.

The blooding of the likes of Gleeson, Ashby, Zerrett, Ambrose and know Aylett has been great, when was the last time we played 5 debutants in the same year (could possibly be more). As much as Bomber may deny it, this year will probably turn into a transitional year, that hopefully results in Gleeson, Ashby, Zerrett, Aylett, Kav, O'Brien and Dalgliesh, to name a few, being best 22 players in 2015.

As long as our list is balanced, we should be competitive and challenging.

 

[BrunoV]

Well Michael Voss' special comments are completely damning of our midfield.

 

[windyhill]

2 years of rubbish draft picks means light years away.