Review Rate the season so far

[Mags98]

The Swans game was by far the worst result.
Up 4 goals to none. Grind. Let them back. Then couldn’t put them away. Then to be beat the way we were.
Horrible. Swans were going poorly and in hindsight have shown they’re miles off it.

Can accept all other results as part of ups and downs. Saints completely non competitive but I can accept that loss.

Melbourne also have shown they can be competitive.

You switch that Swans game and we’re close to top 4.

Will take 7-5, but 8-4 would’ve been sweet with the run coming up.

All will be forgiven if we can win next 5.

defintely should have won that and the pies games, we would be in a prime position really. oh well just means weve got to keep it up at this point

 

[CapitalA]

 

[DocT]

Great thread and by my estimation very reasonable - some might even recklessly say 'sober' - responses so far.
My take:
We could've been 9/3 - A
We should've been 8/4 - B
We are 7/5 - C

We can reasonably aim to win the next 3 and then go in as favourites v Sydney. Although, FMD, they are likely to be a lot stronger side by that stage.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

If nothing else, I have never been so bullish about the talent on this list. Jackson and Bolton are the match winners we didnt have when used right and compliment Andy and Serong perfectly. Ras, Johnson and Wagner just need to provide support like they have and it's as good a midfield going around when you chuck Young in there as well.

Amiss and Treacy are 40+ goal a year key forwards at minimum with scope to go 50+ and with Bolton, Murphy, Freddy and Dudley there is a range of game winning and role playing smalls. Voss still has scope to be a 40+ goal a year forward in his own right. Look at our goal kickers, there are so many options, we dont rely on anyone.

The backline, remarkably could be the weakest area but I really hope the flash we got from Cooper is what we get going forward, it will change how we can move it alongside Clark. The rest arent best in position players but good enough in a team structure. I would actually consider moving Young back here in Worners role with stints on ball. It will make us a lot more dangerous.

 

[FreoGirl]

The Swans game was by far the worst result.
Up 4 goals to none. Grind. Let them back. Then couldn’t put them away. Then to be beat the way we were.
Horrible. Swans were going poorly and in hindsight have shown they’re miles off it.

Can accept all other results as part of ups and downs. Saints completely non competitive but I can accept that loss.

Melbourne also have shown they can be competitive.

You switch that Swans game and we’re close to top 4.

Will take 7-5, but 8-4 would’ve been sweet with the run coming up.

All will be forgiven if we can win next 5.

And to think, that was the game where Chad decided to stay with Sydney “because they are more in the finals frame than Freo”

 

[dominguez]

We needed to find a way to beat Sydney and/or Melbourne which were both close losses against battling opposition.

Puts pressure on the second half of the year but we have a fairly soft draw. Should really finish 4th-6th from here with a good run of injuries.

 

[Freo Big Fella]

I reckon B- is about right - would have been C territory a fortnight ago (I mean, you can't get much more mid than a 5-5 record and a percentage of 100) but it feels like there's been a genuine shift in the playing group.

The Saints, Melbourne and Sydney losses obviously incredibly ordinary, but balanced by the really encouraging wins - Crows, Dogs and the last three the particular highlights.

Ensuring the bye doesn't kill our momentum like it has in previous years probably the most pressing immediate challenge.

 

[Fred Ziffel]

D for Dockery!

Here's a little table for your perusal

Team	Top 9 Win %	Bottom 9 Win %
Collingwood	71	100
Brisbane	80	79
Adelaide	20	100
Gold Coast	60	83
Geelong	71	60
Hawthorn	20	86
GWS	33	83
Freo	67	50
Bulldogs	17	100
Essendon	0	100
Saints	29	60
Melbourne	33	50
Carlton	17	60
Sydney	29	40
Port	17	60
Richmond	20	29
North	10	33
WCE	0	20

Some take aways for me:
* Most teams have a better winning percentage against the bottom 9 with Brisbane, Geelong and Freo being the exceptions and of course Freo has the most lopsided results - seems like a Dockery issue that has gone with the territory since the very start.

* Some teams reputations are built on beating up lowly ranked teams - Bulldogs, Essendon, Hawthorn, Adelaide. If these teams make the top 8, they are not serious finals threats.

* The difference between this being a great start to the season and the one we have had is our ability to make sure we beat lowly ranked teams. Win 2 of those 3 losses and we are 3rd on the ladder, win all 3 and we are equal top.

*Eagles suck!

I look at this table and the first thing that comes to my mind is not so much who teams played but when.
I read or watched a grilling of Sam Mitchell and Hawthorns performance.
This next game for Hawthorn is their 1st off a six day break. Fremantle on the other hand have had 3 , 6 day breaks.
Highly likely a contributing factor to our injuries as well.
I shake my head in disbelief when I see a huge number of posters on our site rating Mitchell as a ****ing genius.
Last year Hawthorn had an unbelievably soft draw, but you know VFL.

 

[benfica]

D because we are Barely in the 8

 

[StingBitten]

It's a C and not much more. Last 3 games have been spectacular but we've actually played 12 in total.

Few other good wins with some bed shitting - first half of the season has seen the supporter base at its absolutely angriest.

We absolutely need to win 3 very winnable games at home - losing even one would be yet another Dockery episode.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

If nothing else, I have never been so bullish about the talent on this list. Jackson and Bolton are the match winners we didnt have when used right and compliment Andy and Serong perfectly. Ras, Johnson and Wagner just need to provide support like they have and it's as good a midfield going around when you chuck Young in there as well.

Amiss and Treacy are 40+ goal a year key forwards at minimum with scope to go 50+ and with Bolton, Murphy, Freddy and Dudley there is a range of game winning and role playing smalls. Voss still has scope to be a 40+ goal a year forward in his own right. Look at our goal kickers, there are so many options, we dont rely on anyone.

The backline, remarkably could be the weakest area but I really hope the flash we got from Cooper is what we get going forward, it will change how we can move it alongside Clark. The rest arent best in position players but good enough in a team structure. I would actually consider moving Young back here in Worners role with stints on ball. It will make us a lot more dangerous.

100% on moving Young back. He and Clark can own the AA HBFs for the next 5 years. The Champion Data dude on SEN in Melbourne was pretty keen on the idea too.

 

[ImperialPurple]

The Swans game was by far the worst result.
Up 4 goals to none. Grind. Let them back. Then couldn’t put them away. Then to be beat the way we were.
Horrible. Swans were going poorly and in hindsight have shown they’re miles off it.

Can accept all other results as part of ups and downs. Saints completely non competitive but I can accept that loss.

Melbourne also have shown they can be competitive.

You switch that Swans game and we’re close to top 4.

Will take 7-5, but 8-4 would’ve been sweet with the run coming up.

All will be forgiven if we can win next 5.

100 times this. That Swans game still grinds my gears

 

[Big Animal]

it's bumper cars at the royal show with a blindfold on.