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Prediction Pass mark for 2016?

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I want to see a proper forward structure that can score and keep the ball locked in for a decent amount of time.

Come up with a strategy for kick ins that doesn't just involve kicking it long to the boundary.
 

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We played this entire season with no midfield and no ruckman. Getting those back better than they were, with new established players, we could do much better than last season. With us to be found not guilty by WADA, a new coach, and a fresh start, everything will work in our favour. If we get two games against Gold Coast, Carlton, Melbourne, I don't see why we can't make the top 8 and win a final. Top 8 should be our goal this next season.
 
- Finish 9th or above
- Daniher must kick at least 40 goals
- Weideman/Curnow to kick 15 goals or more
- McKernan to kick at least 20 goals
- Hurley or Hooker or both to make the AA team
- Zach Merret to finish top 5 in BnF
- Score for average over 80
- One of Laverde or Langford to average at least 20 disposals
- Berger to have a 25 hitout average
 
This is definitely going to be one season where internal pressure (Essendon fans and staff) is higher than external pressure. Because of the change in coaching staff and general low expectations in the wider football community most people are expecting us to finish bottom 4 (you only need to look at the ladder predictions thread to realise just how bad most people think we are).

I honestly don't think we are nearly that bad and with an easier draw + less injuries to our key mids and a ruck structure that is actually not a pile of steaming crap I think we can really improve. I would say we already hit rock bottom last year so i think we will be better but its hard to quantify how much.

For me it depends what types of sides as to what the expectations should be:
I would say if we play experienced sides week in week out (which is possible if we have a good run with injuries so including guys like Cooney, Dempsey, Pears etc in addition to guys that are just firmly best 12-15) - then i would expect us to make finals.
If we begin to embrace the rebuilding mentality and are leaving older guys in the VFL and playing our new draft picks along with guys like Laverde, Langford and other kids week in week out then i think being in the hunt for finals and falling short would be fine eg 9th to 13th.
 
If we get 8 wins it'll be a great effort.

If Zerrett becomes A grade mid, Laverde jumps out of the box, Fantasia plays 20+ games and becomes are serious AFL player, Colyer goes up another cog, Gleeson and/or Edwards become AFL standard then we may even surprise.
 
I'll withhold my full thoughts until the fixture comes out but I'm going with finishing 9th-12th as a good result.
 

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For me 2016 has pass points, other than a pass mark:

* Colyer stays on track with improvement
* Daniher breaks 40 goals
* Fantasia gets more than 10 senior games
* Berger stays fit - plays a minimum of 15 games
* Beat North Melbourne
* Be competitive in the games we lose - i.e. no 100 point losses
* Beat at least 2 top 8 sides
* Worsfold has a plan B and C for game day
* 2016 VFL premiers

I watched a whole lot of fans get cocky after the start we had in 2015 - where I picked us to lose out first 4-5 games of the season. we were up against Sydney and beat the reigning premiers... after that, it all went to shit. No depth and a bit of a boys club had us chasing tail after round 7 or 8.

Just be aware that 2016 is us having a re-build, without calling it a re-build. We might have a great base to possibly launch a half hearted crack at the finals, but I get the idea that where Hird was happy to push on with the cattle we had (where we couldn't really trade out/off load in the WADA climate we were in anyways), where Woosha now has a full reign to do what he pleases from 2017. For 2016, it's a rag-tag mix of old and new - and devolving the kids will be at the front of mind. Picks 4 & 5 may well play some games this year, but to give them a taste rather than to have them as key personal.

8-12 would be my expected finish area.
 
I will be happy if by the end of the season we see the core of the 2017 team in place and running a system/structure that looks like it can succeed at the highest level.

I want this upcoming season to be the launching pad for a deep run in 2017.
 

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WADA defined 2015. You can't lose your captain to what amounted to "stress leave" without a flow on effect throughout the team. The only thing that could have kept our heads up would have been victories and the early injuries put paid to that.
Once again WADA will play a role next season... If found guilty the players may well struggle to unite amid the off field pressures. Innocent and they should be out for retribution. We have a team that remains essentially the same as 2014 in that we still don't have a CHF answer but have most other positions covered.
An innocent verdict plus a CHF workable solution found would have me wanting a finals win as a pass.
A guilty verdict and no CHF solution could mean 12-16.
 
I want to see a proper forward structure that can score and keep the ball locked in for a decent amount of time.

Come up with a strategy for kick ins that doesn't just involve kicking it long to the boundary.


I would add and a game plan that involves moving the ball forward and only going sideways to open up the forward line.
 
Key will be to keep Dempsey and Cooney and other oldies who are not good enough in the 2s.

Fantasia will not play 20 games. Lets be realistic. Hocking, Myers, Bird, Leuenberger, Watson, Colyer, Zerrett all come into side. Fantasia relegated back to best 26 with Laverde and Langford and Jerrett.
 

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