Universal Love Time for some positives!

[lamaros]

It's been a shit second half of the year. Not only have we lost a lot of games we have lost some embarrassing ones, and in some embarrassing ways.

Whatever. Let's ignore it for a few moments. Lets focus on some positives.

1. Gumbleton. He played some games, kicked a few goals, and (unless 'soreness' is a facade) should get a proper pre-season before 2013 for pretty much the first time in his life. He has shown enough for me to say that he can still make it, and with a pre-season and some time working with the rest of the boys we have a forward group that reads: Hurley, Gumby, Ryder, Daniher, Crameri, Jetta, Davey, Monfries, Winderlich - all of whom have shown the ability to kick goals.

2. ACLs and other significant injuries. Dempsey, Winderlich, Prismall all started the season recovering from ACL injuries. With the exception of Dempsey, who has had a career best year, they haven't played. However they should be right to go for a 2013 pre-season, and so far everyone else on the list looks to be in the same position.

3. We played some good footy. Say whatever you want to say, but we were 8-1 after nine games, and have lost some tight games to top sides. Losses of 4, 1 and 4 points against sides currently in the top 4 showed that we can match it with the best when we are playing well. Fitness and mental application need to improve, but our ceiling is high. Despite the poor form we have actually only lost to three teams outside the eight - St. Kilda, Carlton & Melbourne. Only Melbourne (margins aside) is truly embarrassing.

4. We destroyed Carlton's season. They won't make the 8, no matter how hopeful they are, and it was us who set them on this path of failure. They were premiership favourites, we weren't expected to make the 8. If anyone has failed this season it's the boys in blue. They don't even have a self-inflicted injury crisis to blame.

5. Browne, Kav, Daniher, etc.

6. It can't get any worse - and we're still on the fringes of the 8. We have had a shit year with injuries. We have had no consistency, with either the seniors or Bendigo, we have lost games to every player on the list apart from Watson, Melksham, Jetta & Hardingham. With better management and luck we can only improve.

7. Jobe might win the Brownlow - after Stanton leads it to round 8.

8. We can enjoy what promises to be a fascinating final series with true impartiality...

 

[Kong]

6. It can't get any worse - and we're still on the fringes of the 8. We have had a shit year with injuries. We have had no consistency, with either the seniors or Bendigo, we have lost games to every player on the list apart from Watson, Melksham, Jetta & Hardingham. With better management and luck we can only improve.

Great point.

 

[vaughany]

9. Our recent disgraceful form means there will be less reserved seat members who will sign up for next year, therefore creating the opportunity to switch to better seats

 

[Pweter]

10. Our own reserves side should ensure that from 2013 onwards our whole list is playing the way Hird and Co want rather than having a large influence from a 3rd party.

Question - what state will the new facilities be in by preseason? I've heard them mention the MCG sized training ground but what about the gym etc? If we can use the lot, make that point 11.

 

[Oh Tayteridge]

Hird has been given greater insight into a number of players when the going has been tough, and we will be better placed to form a premiership side with the exclusion of players who don't deserve to be there. We're also getting closer to having a list that can take us to our next premiership, and the longer Hirdy is at the helm, the closer we will be to having a side that can properly implement a winning game plan.

We've also just given Rapetank false hope that they are half the club we are, which will be especially sweet when we tear the heart out of their season next year, again.

 

[Howard Moon]

rapetank! thats a new one!

for me point 6 has given me a pep in my step again..

6. It can't get any worse - and we're still on the fringes of the 8. We have had a shit year with injuries. We have had no consistency, with either the seniors or Bendigo, we have lost games to every player on the list apart from Watson, Melksham, Jetta & Hardingham. With better management and luck we can only improve.

an improvment of any sort in form or injuries and we are right in there....

 

[Kyptastic]

Losses like we've had the last few weeks hurt without a doubt. It is getting tiring having it happen year after year as the season progresses. There have been improvements though and if just being outside the 8 is considered rock bottom for the club then we're doing alright.

For me, the biggest thing about this season is, despite the soft tissue injuries, we haven't really had any major knee injuries, which hurt us last year. Whilst part of that may be down to simply luck, being stronger in the contest certainly helps prevent players getting into those situations in the first place. We've also generally (until the last couple of weeks) ran out games better this year, despite injuries (Adelaide game being a prime example). We are without a doubt a fitter side this year than we probably have been since the early 2000's. Yes, the soft tissue injuries have been bad and may have hindered our progress, but the program seems to be achieving some its goals when it was put into place.

Secondly, Hird was given four years for a reason. Most new coaches seem to get three years. Hird made it very clear that year 1 was about seeing what the list could do and who wanted to play for him. For the most part, we made minimal changes in the last off season. Whilst some would say that we made far too few, it has given the opportunity for some players who may have been cut to show what they're capable of. We now know that Alwyn Davey is capable of three goals a game. We know that Ricky Dyson is a lot harder at the ball than he used to be and that his kicking is a weapon. We now also know that there are certain players on the list that may not have the competitive spirit required. It's been made clear by many at the club that this year there will be a cull that many called for to happen last year. Personally, whilst I can see the arguments that it should have happened last year, for many reasons I'm still of the belief that it was the right decision to give these players a chance.

Thirdly, we know more about the squad, both their positives and negatives. We have a clear idea about where our deficiencies are and (if the club wants to be successful, which all signs point to yes) will be aggressive in trying to fix those deficiencies through the trade and draft periods.

There are also many positives in terms of player improvement. Watson went to a level we didn't think he was capable of (and he was a bloody good player before this year). Stanton showed that he can be an extremely damaging player (and it's no coincidence that when Zaka went down Stanton's productivity dropped dramatically). Zaharakis was recapturing the form from late last year reinforcing what a class act he is. Bellchambers has shown on many occasions that he's capable of being a dominant number on ruckman. Gumbleton managed to get on the park and kick 10 goals in four games, a great return considering what he went through. Hurley showed he could kick bags. Howlett stepped up when Zaharakis and Stanton went down. Carlisle will be a key backman for 10 years. Alex Browne has shown that he is going to be a great pickup from fairly deep in the draft. When he played, Myers showed he could be a top ten inside mid in the comp. There are plenty others, of course.

Obviously there have been some disappointments. Melksham is the one constantly talked about. Monfries seems to be confused about his role and that's effecting his performance. Hocking has had a poor year, irregardless of how much Lingy talks him up. Hooker and Pears have had little continuity. Hardingham and Jetta continue to divide over their potential and performance.

Without a doubt, if you consider our start, it's been a bad end to the year. If you look back at people's predictions, we're probably only one or two spots lower than where most supporters expected. In terms of improvement next year, I want to see a lot from the coaches box. The cattle seems to be there, more important is how they're played and, even more importantly, how they can improve mentally to gain that ruthless streak that all premiership teams need.

 

[Mr Mojo Risin]

Nice thread. The poor form has disappointed me, but the over-reaction from a lot of our supporters has disgusted me. We are not Richmond or Carlton for ****'s sake!

Anyone who is not trolling can see we have improved under Hird and we will continue to do so.

 

[Slattery_20]

Isn't there enough Franklin threads on the rumours board & bay?

 

[lamaros]

Isn't there enough Franklin threads on the rumours board & bay?

Cheeky.

 

[yaco55]

Been pondering about fade outs in the second half of the year since 2008 - One common theme injuries - Except for 2009 we have suffered well above the AFL average for injuries - Get this right and half the battle is won.

 

[FedEXFalls]

If only I had a nickel for everytime over the past 10 seasons I had heard "It can't get any worse from here!" 2 or so years ago at the end of Knights era people were saying it couldn't get any worse from there. But the point you raised at #6 is a great one, this has been a shocker of a year for us yet we've been amongst the 8 for so long.

I honestly have faith in the impact of the new facilities and such, Kav has also had a solid year to develop without the weight of senior footy on his shoulders. There are some exciting things coming in to play for sure... But it feels as if we have been relying on the promise of the future for a bit too long now. When Sheeds left "New begginning, new coach woo!"... when Knights left "Hirdy the saviour is here".. And here we are back round again looking at what might assist us in the future.

Time to pull our ****ing fingers out and take back our spot at the top of this ****ing league, sick of being the team with the promising future. Lets be the team at the top.

Go Dons.

 

[lamaros]

If only I had a nickel for everytime over the past 10 seasons I had heard "It can't get any worse from here!" 2 or so years ago at the end of Knights era people were saying it couldn't get any worse from there.

If we win one of our remaining two games it will be our best season since 2004.

 

[FedEXFalls]

What a weird feeling it's going to be if we win them both. Such a promising yet disappointing year.

 

[Bombers36]

What a weird feeling it's going to be if we win them both. Such a promising yet disappointing year.

Can beat the Tigers and usually do, only went down to the Pies by a point last time and they havent been in the best of form. Stranger things have happened....

 

[Mercurial89]

YAY finally thread i can get behind. Good to see that many people can see past the pain of the past month or two and realize that we are moving forward. There was always going to be obstacles but the start of the year showed what we can be capable of.

I had a theory which i believe is the way the football department was thinking when they hired Robinson. our 2000/2001 side was big, we out muscled a lot of the competition that tried to beat us, we were physical which i believe was a large part of why we were so successful. Then Brisbane came along, and they took that physicality to a new level (skill aside a large part of why they were so good was there size and physical nature). This took them to 3 premierships, as that team aged they dropped off and three sides won flags with football that wasn't exactly known for being the brute physical power that came before. (port, swans, eagles). Then there was geelong, a side that was big, and they won the contested footy, of course there was the skill, and the talent but they physically dominated their opponents, and they still do. Then you add the pies to that, who have become monsters around the ball, and how successful they were and still will be.

I believe that this power in today's modern contested game has become so important, and that after seeing how we went about it in the first half of the season we have a lot to be excited and positive about.

 

[Dark Throne]

Disappointed the way we have finished the year, but not really pissed off.

If anyone thinks we dont play better footy than the Knights era, your either an idiot or a journo.
Our fit best 22 proved to be a top 4 side, we got smashed by injury, smashed, which led to no continuity in preparation, it snowballed and we lost our confidence as the losses mounted.

The injury epidemic will hang over our heads next year, especially if we get off to a great start again, but i cant bag our club knowing and seeing what we are capable of, it was a bloody ripping run that ripped our tissues, i look forward to 2013, if we dont get as many casualties, we can count on being up near the top of ladder.

 

[astrowizzle]

One mega plus for me has been the interstate performances. Finally we can travel and feel like we can win. Injuries killed us but hey theres next year and the boys will be more used to carrying the few extra kgs by then.

 

[saladin]

the reserves thing is a false hood. the side already plays under essendon instructions, with an essendon appointed coach and essendon chosen player roles and positioning.

If there is any advantage, it'll come from not having to travel up the calder 9 times per year and the 8 blokes out of both lists who train by themselves in Bendigo will now be replaced by melbourne-based players. Recovery and facilities should be improve, even if marginally, but imo "getting the players to play hirds way" won't be any different. When injuries hit, you still need to bring in players who usually play suburban footy.

But, positives that some may not have seen: Davis' first half of the year was tracking really well, a smart player who was able to adapt to a tagging role but use his good sense to get the ball effectively himself. Browne overcame a ruined first half of the season to show some real promise at senior level. Gumby wasn't great, but just the fact he was back playing was. Kav is going to be a ripper, imo. heavily managed but definitely a great prospect and exceeded club expectations by some way. Merrett has actually improved as the year has gone on, lovely ball use, looks a prospect. NOB looks like a fine old-school player with an appetite to work hard and get to as many contests as possible. Hunter was nursed through a custom rehab program - a bit like Kav actually - but once on the field has generally stayed there. a real preseason might produce a player with the match fitness to accompany natural ferocity. And despite Bendigo following essendons lead and looking dead in the water over the last 4 weeks, all of these kids (except davis), plus a few others, might get to play in an elimination final at VFL level. That can't be a bad outcome either.

 

[ZAAHAARAKIS!!!!!]

positives are big belcho, dempsey coming back better than ever, and the browne dogg playing like a seasoned vet. oh and jobe playing as if he was christ himself

 

[Phone]

you mean to tell us the essendon appointed coach does everything essendon wants him to?

but yeah i don't get people who think we don't get to do almost everything we want at bendigo

 

[CakeButcher]

Thread needs more Myers love. When he was being played in his natural position he showed a heap of ability; it is also in the department where we are severely lacking. Potential to be a genuine A-Grader if he can string together games together/work on his endurance in the off season. Hoping and believe he can justify being picked earlier than both Dangerfield and Rioli.

Howlett is also a gun. With the exception of Jobe, our most consistent player.

Looks like injuries are behind Kav. A solid year of development. I personally foresee him tearing the comp a new one.

Joe Daniher.

 

[dnbassador]

Positive:

What were going thru lately isnt even on the scale compared to Saint and Dog supporters haha

 

[laxation]

Does anyone have footage of Fletcher's spoil on Betts? Happened in front of me and I still don't know how he did it. I'd love to see it again!

 

[Oh Tayteridge]

I'll have much juicier odds to back us in for Top 4 and the Premiership next year.