Platform or Plateau? 100 years

[Footy 1st]

1925 to 2025.
As the former 'mayblooms' come 'September club' heads toward the centenary in this competition (albeit with League structural & name changes) and at the peak of our powers... what can we legitimately expect from now until then?
Flags?
Rebuild?
Mini-Rebuild?
Greater membership?
Platform or Plateau?

 

[wahawk]

all of the above

you're talking 10 yrs from now

 

[Footy 1st]

all of the above

you're talking 10 yrs from now

Fair enough, was thinking in comparison with other teams that had a decent window like St Kilda, Collingwood etc to see where to now.
Massively popular thread though!

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

The AFL will ensure we do not stay at the top.

Hopefully we draft brilliantly and trade well and stick it to them...

 

[mnbbc]

10-peat

 

[Footy 1st]

10-peat

Shrewd drafting, COSA (Cost Of Success Allowance) & massive membership.... I can't see why not

 

[Roddy]

We will see what we saw from 2008 through to '12-'13, ie flags, then maybe a slight dropoff due to injuries and retirements, mini rebuilds and then back to more flags. Wouldn't be at all surprised if we're equal with Collingwood by 2025...

 

[Hawkk]

We'll have the most VFL / AFL flags in the league...

 

[Roddy]

We'll have the most VFL / AFL flags in the league...

Yeah, I was being conservative, that wouldn't surprise me either...

 

[Dipper]

We'll have the most VFL / AFL flags in the league...

Beat me to it

 

[Blaze Storm]

We'll have the most VFL / AFL flags in the league...

We need, what, four more?

 

[Cyrillicious]

If we can make sure Clarko is still the senior coach in 2025 then all the above can be achieved.

 

[Hawkas1988]

We need, what, four more?

Five more to have the most, 4 would draw level with Bombers and Blues.

Should happen by 2019, ok that's just being ridiculous, 2020 is more like it. One rest year is allowed.

 

[Hawkk]

Forgive me for lacking ambition but just being the most successful club over the preceding 100 years would do me...

...and all we have to do to achieve that is ensure Carlton and Melbourne don't win another flag (and that's pretty much a lock)

 

[Footy 1st]

We will see what we saw from 2008 through to '12-'13, ie flags, then maybe a slight dropoff due to injuries and retirements, mini rebuilds and then back to more flags. Wouldn't be at all surprised if we're equal with Collingwood by 2025...

I agree with this as our rebuild will be minor & retirements staggered over 5 years

 

[Hawkk]

A positive win / loss ratio must also be achieved

Currently from 1880 games: 911 wins, 10 draws and 959 losses (48.72%)

 

[Brant]

I think we can rebuild whilst continuing to challenge. A recent article suggested that we had the perfect list type to challenge for the next 5 years (from memory). During that time we'll lose some of the best players the game has seen; however, we'll replace them some extremely exciting talent & we'll adapt our game style to complement the talent that we have on the park.

I think Geelong has made an excellent attempt at rebuilding whilst challenging & I see a lot of similarities between their rebuild & ours, except for success.

They traded in a ready made ruckman from North - as did we - but ours plays 22-odd games per year, kicks goals & wins Flags. We also grabbed McEvoy. Theirs is less successful...

They sourced a defender from another Club in Rivers - we got a Club B&F & 2x Flag Winner in Gibbo... Theirs is less successful.

They got Josh Caddy for free from Cold Ghost where as we paid market price for Jono O'Hawk. Both were high picks & will be part of the future at each club.

Whilst Geelong have sourced what turned out to be spuds (to date), I think their model for rebuilding has been good & I think ours will be better, which may well see us extend our window as opposed to falling out & starting again: Collingwood, St Kilda, Port (2007) & Fremantle style.

The best we can hope for is that our youngsters & our developing game style forces our seniors / legends into retirement, rather than keeping the same game style & trying to emulate past success with new names/faces supporting seniors / legends, which is what I see Collingwood (& maybe Geelong) attempting to do.

But then, we have Clarko, so literally anything is achievable!

 

[Footy 1st]

I think we can rebuild whilst continuing to challenge. A recent article suggested that we had the perfect list type to challenge for the next 5 years (from memory). During that time we'll lose some of the best players the game has seen; however, we'll replace them some extremely exciting talent & we'll adapt our game style to complement the talent that we have on the park.
I think Geelong has made an excellent attempt at rebuilding whilst challenging & I see a lot of similarities between their rebuild & ours, except for success.
They traded in a ready made ruckman from North - as did we - but ours plays 22-odd games per year, kicks goals & wins Flags. We also grabbed McEvoy. Theirs is less successful...
They sourced a defender from another Club in Rivers - we got a Club B&F & 2x Flag Winner in Gibbo... Theirs is less successful.
They got Josh Caddy for free from Cold Ghost where as we paid market price for Jono O'Hawk. Both were high picks & will be part of the future
But then, we have Clarko, so literally anything is achievable!

Add Frawley and the development of Bruest, Gunston, Langford & Hill & we are well structured

 

[MightyHawks]

We are right for the next 6 years

Plenty of young kids & plenty of 21-26 year olds in our best 22

With free agency and being a well run club we are capable of being top 4 or so for 2015-2020

To do so requires us to continue to nail at least one draft selection every year & to be able to attract talent from other clubs

It's possible though unlikely that come 2018-2020 the club finds itself in a similar position to now and sees enough young talent in the list that it can attempt to stay relevant for 2020-2025

On average we try to recruit 3 players every year - one 17-18 year old (ie. Hartung), one 20-24 year old (ie Gunston) and one more senior player (ie Lake)

From 2014 drafting/trading if Frawley, JOR and just one draftee work out then it's terrific

As long as we are able to do that then our list is always ready to compete

Of course start recruiting spuds, spending too much cap on a couple of players, or topping up by recruiting too many older players and it all falls apart

 

[seysearles]

 

[Todman]

Forgive me for lacking ambition but just being the most successful club over the preceding 100 years would do me...

...and all we have to do to achieve that is ensure Carlton and Melbourne don't win another flag (and that's pretty much a lock)

If Carlton don't win a flag by 2017 , it will be their longest drought ever.

 

[Hawkk]

View attachment 97743

Hawthorn should be ahead of Melbourne given we've both won 12 flags and we gave a 25 year head start

 

[Thaihawk]

10-peat

You just won the prize for the most optimistic 1st post.
Your task now is to make your second post more optimistic.