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Toast Reasons for Optimism

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I'm in a Poe's law state. It's likely a parody opinion to give people the shits but it also could be extreme stubbornness. In either case, it doesn't matter šŸ˜‚
I am stubborn
How many of Crabshaw's highlights from last night were tackles?
8 out of 11
I am stubborn, but I am also not a sheep that sees the natural born tagger as anything more than that.
And as you pointed out, my opinion, your opinion & all of the opinions on this site do nor matter
Aa for Poes law, enjoy believing what you believe
 

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With all the insane trading happening, am glad we kept Erasmus and he signed before this all started
I struggle with my thoughts on him. Clouded with the disappointment of his progress to date, but tinged with optimism from a bit of late season form.

The thing is that with Fyfe retired Erasmus has clear air in terms of what we need from him. I am also confident he will give everything he has to get the best out of himself.
 
I struggle with my thoughts on him. Clouded with the disappointment of his progress to date, but tinged with optimism from a bit of late season form.

The thing is that with Fyfe retired Erasmus has clear air in terms of what we need from him. I am also confident he will give everything he has to get the best out of himself.
It was more that he believes in Freo and wasn't drawn to The Bulldogs and WCE - I think he will feel better about the world now that he has made his mind up.

I was truly worried his recent form was to improve his trade value, just as Acres seemed to do before he asked to be traded.
 
I struggle with my thoughts on him. Clouded with the disappointment of his progress to date, but tinged with optimism from a bit of late season form.

The thing is that with Fyfe retired Erasmus has clear air in terms of what we need from him. I am also confident he will give everything he has to get the best out of himself.
I love Fyfe and glad the club gave him every single opportunity for success right until the end. But I think it's undeniable he was stifling the opportunities of match day development for Johnson and Erasmus, as well as limiting us to how we could use the sub role tactically. Only improvements in these areas for us next year!
 
I love Fyfe and glad the club gave him every single opportunity for success right until the end. But I think it's undeniable he was stifling the opportunities of match day development for Johnson and Erasmus, as well as limiting us to how we could use the sub role tactically. Only improvements in these areas for us next year!
No sub role is a massive improvement for us I think, we used it so poorly.
 

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Now, that's some optimism. What are the reasons?

Personally and honestly I think our window definitely opens for real next season. I will actively be annoyed if we are not top 4 but we need to stay top 4 for at least 4 to 5 years in order to have the best possible look.
 

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Ok so first up you would expect 2 or 3 teams to drop out of the 8 (statistically happens every year). I expect GWS and Collingwood to be those teams. Collingwood due to age and GWS due to having too many holes in their list. Bulldogs and Sydney to jump in, it is also extremely rare for the premier to come from outside the 8 so rule them out of premiership contention. That makes 6. Adelaide had a great draw last year and I think it inflated their ladder position. I have them at 5th for next year as they lack a midfield and they are probably short a couple of other positions too. GC I don't think have much improvement in them, Petracca is still a very good player but not sure he adds anything they don't have. They are 6th. Geelong just got slaughtered in a GF and statistically that damages your next year as well (Sydney this year is an example). Brisbane are a great team with a great coach and the AFL give them 1-2 free A-graders each year. Tough to top. Hawthorn missed out on Merrett and lost Worpel but have a couple of young mids on the way up. If Mackenzie, Ward, Day and Weddle improve next year they are a massive threat. If not they could easily end up around 8th again.

Now to us. We were the youngest finalist this year and a lot of our players have now played together for 3 or more years. I think when it comes to internal improvement we have the most scope woth our young players (especially with Simpson, McVee and Reid all capable of taking big steps forward). We also have Young hopefully playing at full fitness which is a big deal. Lastly we lost to GC in the finals but will hopefully add Switkowski, Johnson and Wagner to that team, with them we win that game.

I think we can win it next year but agree top 4 is a minimum for next year and beyond.
 
No huge draft shenanigans.

Add McVee, no faffing around.

The club must think we have the players.

Players, over to you.
I'm still in the camp that believes our greatest improvement comes more from a maturing game plan than it comes from a maturing list.

They do go hand in hand, but targeting McVee is an indicator of strategy tweaking I reckon. On here we've discussed transition from defence on an almost daily basis, and it's clear Longmuir and Walls may have had a similar chat

I'm not expecting full run and stun, but faster transition is the key to weaponising one of the best forward lines we've ever had. Massive potential.

That is full ground improvement staring Longmuir in the face
 

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Toast Reasons for Optimism

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