Opinion Season 2020 - Pessimistic or optimistic?

[Maxabillions]

Most of the media and other big footy posters seem to have written us off next year, but I’m (very) cautiously optimistic we can do well. Maybe this is just typical preseason hope getting the better of me, but with hopefully better fitness/conditioning with the new guy from Hawthorn, hopefully less injuries and dev and joe back, and hopefully more inspired/current coaching with rutten stepping up and Caracalla helping with game plan, I think we may actually be a chance of winning a final.

Quite a lot of ifs and hopefullys in that statement I know but I think we might just surprise people next year.

Are you optimistic or pessimistic about 2020? Why?

 

[Towno78]

Optimistic we won't be near the bottom.
Pessimistic, as we won't be any risk of doing damage in finals.

 

[Vindicater]

Optimistic at the moment that we have lost some dead weight and have added good coaches and fitness crew.

Will wait to take the lid off until I see derpy Joe back in full flight

 

[JuniorWatch]

Erring on the pessimistic side.
Worst contested ball team in the league after the bye is not a great sign.
Need a Blake miracle to be a serious contender in the finals.

 

[Haychh]

Eh. Haven’t won a final in 15 years, I have no reason to be optimistic. I’m sure I’ll drink the kool-aid once we string a few wins together though.

 

[Atavistic]

Optimism will come if Daniher and Dev get over their injury concerns, and if Hibberd or Townsend can cut it as inside mids for us. Otherwise it will probably be similar to this year, unless Rutten and Caracella are magicians.

 

[Keystone agony]

I think a few other sides may go past us

GWS, Richmond, Eagles, Collingwood, WBD, Brisbane (6) all look really strong

Hawks and Sydney not far behind.

Geelong the sliders who we could maybe go past. I'd have us in the Sydney, Geelong, Port, Essendon group 8-11

 

[Keystone agony]

I reckon it's been a couple of years since we've been getting the pessimistic state of mind from the media which might be a good thing for the playing group motivation/mentality

 

[Albertross]

Pessimistically optimistic. Another waisted year as a middle of the road team...Could be worse though, we could be Carlton.

 

[Run and carry]

Pessimistic because of the whole Daniher cloud. Really need our best player appearing passionate about remaining a Bomber. Not blaming him. Its just not ideal.

 

[JT_the_Man]

I know I’ll be way too optimistic the moment we win a game.

 

[Nifft]

I need to see the attitude of the players before I can make up my mind, so I won't know until after the season starts. If they turn up the same way they have the last couple of seasons then we might be in for more of the same. If Rutten and Caracella can get them consistently playing with passion over the first few rounds then I'll be a lot happier.

One thing I'd like to see is for players to be dropped if they put in half hearted efforts, and I'm looking squarely at Zaka here. I think the coaches have to set an example early if that sort of stuff is going on. The only way they're going to get certain players to change their attitude is to punish them when they don't try.

 

[Schnitzengruben]

I was pretty negative around Joe's trade request, but I remain still more optimistic for 2020.

Best case scenario: We have Top 6 Year and Joe decides to re-sign. Win a final.

Worst case scenario: Our arse falls out and finish 14th, Joe leaves, we draft a flanker with the compensation.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Surprisingly optimistic. Incredibly annoyed we haven’t done more to improve our immediate chances through trade or draft but should we get a charmed run with injury there is no reason we can’t improve on the 19 season a bit.

 

[tandino]

Pessimistic.

I just think the whole coaching transition is a bit of a set up/pre-planned excuse for a bit if a meh year.

 

[blitzer]

I'm optimistic - especially compared to external expectations. I think we can get a few key players back from injuries and get more out of them.
I know there will be clouds over Daniher and Fantasia but honestly we didn't get a whole lot out of them in 2019 anyway so I think it will be easy to get more from them.

Dev Smith will be the real game changer for us as well as having Heppell out there fully fit and not limping around on a sore foot.

I think players like McGrath, Parish and Francis are emerging and will only get better in 2020.
One other bloke I want to mention. McKenna will go to a completely different level and will make the AA team.

I reckon we finally break the hoodoo and win a final but the hard work will be done before hand when we actually qualify in the top 6 and earn a home final.

 

[mad_monkey_j]

Can I go with indifferent? Nothing major in regards to trading, get a few players back which will be a bonus, but who knows what'll happen with the coaching set up. Usually I'm hanging for the season to start, but not too concerned at this point anyway.

 

[TDay]

I'm absolutely stoked with our trading and draft.
Cutler and Hibberd are straight into the 22, as upgrades to the 2019 list.
Daniher and Dev will return, two more upgrades on 2019. An uninjured Heppell is also an upgrade, on himself.

Oh, and Phillips is going to be much more competititve than ZClarke when we need him.
The development of McGrath and Parish is something to look forward to. Draper to debut at some point. Mozzie not far off. ZERK-THATCHER! Francis is sorting his life out. A bit more inside cover for Shiel and Merrett can only be good for them.
And 3 young draftees as very promising future projects. Some very positive changes to the coaching staff.

From my perspective, it looks like improvement across the board!

 

[eth-dog]

Cautiously optimistic. Still have a few holes on the list.

 

[doug85]

Like most clubs, I think our season will hinge on the fitness of our key players. Have a good run with injury, maybe top 4. Have half our side in the stands, bottom 4.

 

[fairbump_playon]

Pretty concerned that Daniher might not play again due to injury.

Otherwise - optimistic that we will be a better drilled, healthier and more consistently intense and competitive side.

Pessimistic because other clubs look likely to improve as well.

I feel like the ways we were bad in 2019 were just embarrassing sometimes.
Yes there was the dogs game but GWS round 1 was even worse for mine... reeked of spending the offseason in nice dreams land.
A bunch of narrow wins post bye covered the cracks - but IMO we deserved to finish 12th.

Overall I think we will be better to watch in 2020 for a similar end result.

 

[ghostdog]

I'm optimistic that;
* Dev and JD get on the park and have a substantial impact
* Cutler and Hibberd improve and make us an improved team
* Caracella and Rutten bring enough to the coaching as a point of difference that spurs the team to work harder
* We see improvement from Redman, McGrath, McKenna, Parish, Clarke and Francis
* Draper breaks through and finally displaces Bellchambers
* Transition from Worsfold to Rutten is reasonably seamless

I reckon there's a lot to look forward to this season!

 

[ant555]

I am going to make the same call I have made for the last 3 seasons.
10-13 wins. Mid range side. Could make finals and win one with no injuries or could miss if things do not gel .
Once again it will come down to how well we can improve our team footy.
Can we pick up the team defence and improve it again?
Can we start protecting our premium midfielders?
Can we stop turning the footy over inside 50 and actually lock the ball in for longer periods of time ?
One thing I am not counting on is Joe tearing it up. I still have doubts he can get back to his consistent form and recent reports on his progress do not make me overly confident.

 

[Don Won]

I’m going For something different this year Im going with ‘pessimistic‘. I feel that if I expect very little we might do very, very well.

 

[Arctic fox]

Dunno. Think we will leak to many goals again. Concerned with Hurley and Hooker.