Where will Essendon finish in 2003?

[Stealth bomber]

Already a poll on the official site, so I'll do one here.

 

[mongrelpunt]

I think we need to be realistic. Although we all would say they would finish 22-0 on top, its not gonna happen.

I see 3 possible outcomes:

1) The boys have a relatively injury-free year. More than 15 games from James Hird would be very nice. Mark Mercuri actually runs out a game, Joe Misiti is given some luck, and Dustin Fletcher stays out of AFL House. A good mix of youth and experience sees the Bombers finish in 4th spot in 2003.

2) Soft tissue injuries are the Bombers nemisis in 2003. Hamstrings, groins and minor knee ligament damage are the injuries of choice. Most of the team is struck down at some point during the season. Essendon is unable to field their best 22 at the same time all year. The boys rally, just scraping into the finals.

3) The boys are hit harder than 2002 injury wise. Hird, Lloyd, Mercuri, J.Johnson, Lucas, Misiti and Fletcher are all hit by major injuries early in the year, which leaves a very young and inexperienced side, which Kevin Sheedy begins to mould into the Essendon of the future. While there were some sensational individual performances, the finishing power is just not there, and the Bombers miss the finals for the first time in 5 years.

I reckon 5-8 is being realistic, but if outcome #1 comes true, I'd be overjoyed.

 

[da_bomber]

Top 4 if we get a full season from Hird and Mercuri.

 

[BomberGal]

Unfortunately (yes? no?), I think the best we can hope for is around 4th/5th. We'd all like to do better, but I think it's unrealistic to hope for all players to be fit and well and put in a good season. I think if we have a good season, then fourth, and a not so good season I'd say 5th-7th. I think it'd have to get rather dismal for us to miss the 8.

 

[windyhill]

Got it right last year 5-6
Will be the same result, but a more exciting year due to the new faces. Hanging to see D.Cupido strut his stuff........

 

[Grogette]

Originally posted by da_bomber
Top 4 if we get a full season from Hird and Mercuri.

Agreed!

Plus a little help from sexy Lloydy Essendon will be right!

 

[Anton Grbac]

5 - 8.

Like Windy, looking forward to seeing Cupido in action.


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EFC: We Hate You Too

 

[Stealth bomber]

Head says 5-8, heart says top 4.

I believe that we struggle a bit during early in the year, maybe hover just outside of the 8 for awhile, and then get it going for the finals run and put together some quality wins. We have a lot of new players, and I think it may take awhile for the chemistry to gel and for Sheedy to find the right roles for everyone. If everyone who posts on this forum put together a best 22 right now, you probably wouldn't get the same selection twice.

We MUST have a good run with injuries to be competitive in September. No ifs or buts about that.

 

[Dave]

4-6

 

[Stealth bomber]

Okay, who voted for us to miss the 8? Don't be shy.

 

[Clackers69]

I reckon we will be capable of making the 8, all things being equal. Just how many injuries, when and to whom will decide the final position and our ability to go on from there. It would also help to get a bit of a winning streak happening at some stage. I've voted 5-8, but like all Bomber fans, would hope for a dream season where we finish on top and win the flag.

 

[go team]

above collingwood

 

[gozzo]

We can finish top four with a good run on the injury front.

Whether we can beat Brisbane and Port in away finals, is another matter.

 

[LionsForever]

I reckon Essendon will grab a Top 5 spot.

 

[St-KriS]

I can see the Bombers making the top 4 if all your gun players have an injury free season quite easily.

 

[Smokin]

talk about pessimistic!

If we get whats considered a good run of injures, we will finish top 2.

Im expecting top 4, unless we have another 2002 on the injury front. We finished 5th in 02, yet could anything more have gone wrong?

At our best, I only rate one side better than us on mythically "neutral ground".

We also have another big problem in being pretty much unable to win at moron park, but finishing top 4 will hopefully avoid that come september.

 

[go team]

Originally posted by windyhill
Got it right last year 5-6
Will be the same result, but a more exciting year due to the new faces. Hanging to see D.Cupido strut his stuff........

the man is a genius!

 

[windyhill]

G.T , I`m blushing.
Top four next year, hold me to it.

 

[Stealth bomber]

Hey, what about:

I believe that we struggle a bit during early in the year, maybe hover just outside of the 8 for awhile, and then get it going for the finals run and put together some quality wins.

Well?

 

[Darealrath]

The mods are always right Stealth...