The 2008 Draw

[LukeParkerno1]

Improve..yes the kids will improve..you are still missing the point we have just lost HIRD, probally the best player in our side FFS. That change will not be fixed in one season. We are still at least 12months away from playing finals, it is realistic to come 12th. That is a decent aim, anything more is beyond expectations. If you look at our side, we still are lacking 1-2 mids, and a decent no1 ruckman, they won't be fixed in a year!

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

Improve..yes the kids will improve..you are still missing the point we have just lost HIRD, probally the best player in our side FFS. That change will not be fixed in one season. We are still at least 12months away from playing finals, it is realistic to come 12th. That is a decent aim, anything more is beyond expectations. If you look at our side, we still are lacking 1-2 mids, and a decent no1 ruckman, they won't be fixed in a year!

Fletcher and Lucas have been our best players the past 2 years.

Watson, Stanton, Winderlich, Monfries, Lovett, Dempsey, , Hislop, Houli form the basis of pretty exciting midfield group.

The first four are just getting to the games experience required to get to the next level. If this group can't perform next year then it won't be able to perform the year after.

I think with Laycock, Hille, Ryder we have the ruck covered for the next few years but if as you say we need a No.1 ruck then even if we draft one they won't be ready for another 3 years.

I can't see how you can be pessimistic for next year but think things will magically turn around the year after.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I can't see how you can be pessimistic for next year but think things will magically turn around the year after.

Huh? I have said we'll make the 8 in 2009 (probally towards 6th-8th), but I have said we won't contend till AT LEAST 2010. That is the way I see it. Whilst these youngsters may be good, they are not ready yet to fully dominate games. We also lack the middle tier of players (22-25yr olds), which again won't happen for a while. I am just being realistic. If we make the 8, all well and good, but if we don't and I can't see it as we are lacking in key areas, we should be happy with a 12th finishing.

 

[GoDons]

Huh? I have said we'll make the 8 in 2009 (probally towards 6th-8th), but I have said we won't contend till AT LEAST 2010. That is the way I see it. Whilst these youngsters may be good, they are not ready yet to fully dominate games. We also lack the middle tier of players (22-25yr olds), which again won't happen for a while. I am just being realistic. If we make the 8, all well and good, but if we don't and I can't see it as we are lacking in key areas, we should be happy with a 12th finishing.

The thing is, we were lacking in the midfield last year and could've very easily finished higher than 12th.

Yes, we've lost Hird, but he had more of a cameo role in the midfield anyway. To compensate for Hird's loss, we should see improvement in a number of players. Guys like Winderlich, Stanton, Watson, Lovett and Monfires are all primed to go up from their performances in 2007. Surely widespread improvement can match the loss of one star.

On top of that, I think we will get a lot more out of Matthew Lloyd in 2008 with Scott Lucas and Dustin Fletcher remaining key players.

If a few things go our way, and with a pretty decent draw, there's nothing saying that we can't play finals. In fact, if things do go our way, we should definately be playing finals.

 

[FandangoDingo]

I love finishing off the season with a a twilight sunday game. Walking through the park on the way back to the car, sun is setting, reminiscing of the year we just had. Brilliant

If we make finals, even better

You must have gone to the R22 clash in Perth this year.... because there was nothing pleasant after the R21 Twilight game V Richmond.Ouch!

 

[B-Bomber]

The thing is, we were lacking in the midfield last year and could've very easily finished higher than 12th.

Yes, we've lost Hird, but he had more of a cameo role in the midfield anyway. To compensate for Hird's loss, we should see improvement in a number of players. Guys like Winderlich, Stanton, Watson, Lovett and Monfires are all primed to go up from their performances in 2007. Surely widespread improvement can match the loss of one star.

On top of that, I think we will get a lot more out of Matthew Lloyd in 2008 with Scott Lucas and Dustin Fletcher remaining key players.

If a few things go our way, and with a pretty decent draw, there's nothing saying that we can't play finals. In fact, if things do go our way, we should definately be playing finals.

I agree 100% GoDons. I don't think we will be as bad as some people are saying here and certainly not spooners like the main forum would like us all to believe -- but people have been around for a while, they've seen supporters of opposition teams talking their teams up time and time again and going back down to the bottom time and time again. People here are just being cautious.

Me personally, bring it on. It will be so much sweeter when we do better then everyone expected.

 

[Bombs Away]

It is a favourable draw, might not be a great start with Kangas (who we struggle against) then the Cats who will be unfurling the flag. Really happy with just 4 interstate trips but when are we going to play sydney only once down here. we have travelled there for the last 10 or more years and helped them build a good gate taking.

After the way they carried on last year we should not have to travel up there ever again.

Brisbane based supporters are probably wondering when we will go up there again.

Only question for the AFL, why cant we have played everyone once by round 15, it used to work this way now you can play the same side twice in th first 10 rounds?

 

[eb075]

I think it's a great draw with the icing on the top being that we're back at Telstra Stadium. In the 1st couple of years it was a good interstater but they dropped it. WA & Qld are too far away and SA too feral. Sydney's perfect and cheap enough for an up and back same day but not at SCG - TS is great.

And to get in on the 2nd topic going on here - yes Hird will be a great loss but I would expect us to win AT LEAST what we did this year plus 1 or 2 as the kids develop.

 

[fairlight_cmi]

You must have gone to the R22 clash in Perth this year.... because there was nothing pleasant after the R21 Twilight game V Richmond.Ouch!

No, but when I look back on it I really enjoyed the twilight game.

That time of year brings out some emotion from deep inside me