The positives thread

[a mayes ing]

We need a great deal of structure and much, much more intensity, but we have groups of young players now who need the chance to develop. And develop well.

What I see of Robertson, Dawson, Andrews, McGrath, Taylor, Gardiner, Cutler, Beasley and Freeman is plenty of potential to be genuinely good footballers in the right team structure.

The next group: Clarke, Mayes, Paparone, Close is smaller because of GH5 but the four are, or can be, very solid footballers who might become much more over the next couple of years.

It looks like we will have two or three handy ones coming our way in the draft if we assume we will get a pick 1 -3 and Keays and Hipwood. Any others will be a nice bonus.

As well there are the young guys still in the twos or yet to play: Evans, Mcguiness, Hammelmann, Clayton, Watts and the younger Hanley. Perhaps one of those might make it. A bonus if more than one.

Those groups of players should give us plenty to work with but development is the key. As Leppa said - it depends how quickly the AFL want us to get better. Quality development with top line development coaches in decent facilities....

What it looks like is that we will be developing a premiership window with that group (Cutler, Andrews, Robertson, Gardiner, Close, Freeman etc) instead of the Rocky, redden, rich, Beams group. If we get Schache as well, then he could have time to grow into his role and really start to contribute (4 years) when we start to go for it.

In saying that, we should still get to finals with the group we currently have.

 

[jackess]

What it looks like is that we will be developing a premiership window with that group (Cutler, Andrews, Robertson, Gardiner, Close, Freeman etc) instead of the Rocky, redden, rich, Beams group. If we get Schache as well, then he could have time to grow into his role and really start to contribute (4 years) when we start to go for it.

In saying that, we should still get to finals with the group we currently have.

I disagree. Where is our midfield under the age of 24? Keays, Taylor.... A few handy types and Andrews has a lot of potential but there isn't a lot there.

 

[a mayes ing]

I disagree. Where is our midfield under the age of 24? Keays, Taylor.... A few handy types and Andrews has a lot of potential but there isn't a lot there.

The problem is we have 2 groups. Our midfield is ready now (Beams, Redden, Rich, Rocky, Hanley etc) but our KPP are all 1st and 2nd years (Close, Freeman, Andrews, Schache or Weitering, McStay, Clarke (still young) ,Gardiner)

List looks pretty stuffed up, not sure how we will win a premiership. When our KPP players are ready our midfield might be near the end of the prime years.

 

[jackess]

The problem is we have 2 groups. Our midfield is ready now (Beams, Redden, Rich, Rocky, Hanley etc) but our KPP are all 1st and 2nd years (Close, Freeman, Andrews, Schache or Weitering, McStay, Clarke (still young) ,Gardiner)

List looks pretty stuffed up, not sure how we will win a premiership. When our KPP players are ready our midfield might be near the end of the prime years.

What is it 7 teams have won a premiership in the last 15 years? I don't think you can count on winning a premiership at any stage. Just need to get the most with what you've got.

 

[a mayes ing]

What is it 7 teams have won a premiership in the last 15 years? I don't think you can count on winning a premiership at any stage. Just need to get the most with what you've got.

The whole point of football is to try and win a premiership. If a team doesnt think they can win a premiership with the team they have then what is the point of carrying on with that team?

 

[POBT]

We can theoretically still compete for a flag with the class of 08 as our core. They are 25yo, not 30.

 

[jjami15]

The problem is we have 2 groups. Our midfield is ready now (Beams, Redden, Rich, Rocky, Hanley etc) but our KPP are all 1st and 2nd years (Close, Freeman, Andrews, Schache or Weitering, McStay, Clarke (still young) ,Gardiner)

List looks pretty stuffed up, not sure how we will win a premiership. When our KPP players are ready our midfield might be near the end of the prime years.

It is this imbalance which has lead me to have been a bit of a believer now that with this imbalance to build around the young KPP's that we have. Of the midfield that fall into that age group I would keep Beams, Hanley and Rockliff and with Rich and Redden with them coming into FA next year to see what compo that we could get. After this years draft I would draft midfielders for the next few seasons and build our list so when our KPP's begin to best 22 and able to make an impact the midfield will be beginning to hopefully come to fruition as well. It is a fine balancing act the club will need to pull off as they also have to think of $$$ in relation to gate takings and memberships but we can't stay down the bottom for too long as this would be catastrophic.

 

[POBT]

The biggest positive I see is that this season has been a massive reality check for a few guys who perhaps have coasted in their careers to date. It is easy to finish top ten in a B and F when you aren't competing against quality teammates. It is easy to get wins late in the year against sides who have put the cue in the rack or have their eyes on a bigger prize. It is easy to think you've made it when you get a game every week, even when you probably don't deserve selection.

 

[kylegee28]

Jono Freeman plays like a genuine stay at home key forward Hopefully get in Dixon/Schache and it will free Dan McStay to play as that floating third tall (forward or back) and he'll flourish.

 

[jackess]

The whole point of football is to try and win a premiership. If a team doesnt think they can win a premiership with the team they have then what is the point of carrying on with that team?

We didn't think we were a chance at a premiership this year but we still played. We can't count on winning a premiership at all. Just need to build on the squad we have to improve.

 

[POBT]

If we let players like Rich go for draft picks, then that will do me. Not interested in following an under 21 side.

 

[kylegee28]

We won the contested mark count 10 - 7 yesterday (Thanks Harris)

 

[jackess]

We won the contested mark count 10 - 7 yesterday (Thanks Harris)

Imagine when Harris bulks up and learns how to use it in marking contests!

 

[lions2010]

The problem is we have 2 groups. Our midfield is ready now (Beams, Redden, Rich, Rocky, Hanley etc) but our KPP are all 1st and 2nd years (Close, Freeman, Andrews, Schache or Weitering, McStay, Clarke (still young) ,Gardiner)

List looks pretty stuffed up, not sure how we will win a premiership. When our KPP players are ready our midfield might be near the end of the prime years.

Its a over reaction. Look whats happened when Cloke is injured for Collingwood, they cant kick goals and are in a very similar position. If we get Schance, Dixon and stay relatively injury free, Lions can easily be very competitive again quite quickly.

 

[mikey127]

We are now guaranteed a bottom 6 finish which SHOULD mean a decent draw next season.

 

[If it bleeds]

One cheeky positive out of this weekend.
We out scored hawthorn, collingwood, Essendon, st kilda, Carlton.

The harro bandwagon is justified the kid will be unstoppable when he gets meat on those bones. Will be intently watching talking footy tomorrow to hear if he is mentioned as rd 18 RS.

On a side note:
I still feel for paps when he had that 29pos game ( near certain RS nomination ) and was topped by jarman impey who had less than 10 poss but got it for playing on Ballantyne ( Ballantyne had a jaw issue at the time).
The poor bloke never got another look in.

Oh a Jono and dawso looked promising as well.

 

[The Real JG]

If we let players like Rich go for draft picks, then that will do me. Not interested in following an under 21 side.

We could be what the Bulldogs are now in 2 years.

 

[Happy_Neale]

We could be what the Bulldogs are now in 2 years.

Could also become Melbourne or Carlton.

 

[The Real JG]

We are Melbourne and Carlton right now.

 

[Nunez]

We are Melbourne and Carlton right now.

And trading Rich for a late 1st round pick will fix things.

 

[Panthera]

We are Melbourne and Carlton right now.

Nahhhh...we just have a bunch of shirts that need to be ironed and ties that need to be picked up from the dry cleaners.

My simplistic view is to count the number of our players that would get a game at the premiership favourite (Hawks).

I call:

Christensen
Green*
Beams
Rich
Hanley
Martin
Zorko*
Taylor*
Rockliff

*=Probably 18th - 25th in terms of team placement

 

[LicoriceAllsorts]

Redden would be in at his best

 

[The Real JG]

And trading Rich for a late 1st round pick will fix things.

I don't remember saying that but OK.

 

[Nunez]

I don't remember saying that but OK.

You quite clearly implied it, but whatever man.

 

[The Real JG]

Now I'm getting told what my post implied.