Opinion Will Essendon win a flag within the next 5 years?

[militiaa]

What would choose if you had to put your life on the line for Essendon to win flag within the next 5 years or not win a flag within that time.

I would have to say not to win a flag.

 

[MightyDon]

If you had to put your life line on the line could you say who would win the flag this year?

 

[militiaa]

If you had to put your line on the line could you say who would win the flag this year?

I will have to say Sydney to win the flag this year.

 

[militiaa]

But I have to say you confuse me quite a bit with your question.

 

[Jam123]

I'd have to say no. I just think we won't make it in time before the Gold Coast/GWS domination.

 

[CourtzMajora]

Unfortunately I can't see it happening

 

[theboxmike]

Depends on how our youngsters develop, essentially this question has far to many variables that could change this outcome.

 

[militiaa]

Unfortunately I can't see it happening

Don't worry, I'm in the same boat as you.

 

[calyam]

There's a lot of uncertainty and a lot can change over the next few years. But with Gold Coast and GWS rapidly improving, I just don't see it happening.

 

[JDavey]

I think we're a chance to challenge, if I had to put my life on the line, no matter what team you had in the OP the smart move is to always bet against...

 

[TheFrenchCut]

The good thing for us is our spine is young. Hooker, Hurley, Ryder/Bellch, Buckets, Daniher. That's what makes me think we're a chance of winning in the next five.

 

[JD11]

Would settle for just winning a final first. Maybe even being competitive for four quarters of a final.

 

[Jesse Custer]

I think we're building a good team but the final ingredient needed is finals experience.

 

[bombre-boy]

Until we get rid of the mental lapses completely we will struggle to win a final.
Let's hope we don't get flogged again this year come September and maybe make that the first step to getting back some respect and fear from other clubs.

 

[bombersfan4000]

The good thing for us is our spine is young. Hooker, Hurley, Ryder/Bellch, Buckets, Daniher. That's what makes me think we're a chance of winning in the next five.

the young spine will the strength of the club in the next few years usually the bigger blokes take longer to develop, but the pleasing thing is the smaller players coming through, hibbard and bagley off the half back, myres in the centre has added another big bodied player that can break packs and win clearances.
the only warry atm is the forward line Daniher Castile & ambrose will take a few more years to develop but its the smaller crumbing players, winderlinch wont be there next year & chapman will only be around for a year or two tops, players like gleeson look the goods but its to early to tell

 

[Nifft]

Would settle for just winning a final first. Maybe even being competitive for four quarters of a final.

I'd be happy if we can start doing this in the regular season.

 

[daffo]

I don't think it will happen. It could but I don't think it will. We still have issues with depth through the midfield and issues in the forward line.

 

[fishardansin]

I don't think it'll happen. If Winderlich, Watson and Goddard were all 3-4 years younger then yes, but my aunty doesn't have balls so she's still my aunty.

There is an outside chance that Daniher will blossom next year, Melksham will regain form and one of Pears or Steinburg will have a break year ... on top of Watson, Carlisle, Ryder, Hooker, Hurley, Hibberd, Dempsey, Heppell, Zaka, Myers and Hocking all playing near to 25 games and not losing form at any stage ... that we could go past Freo and Hawthorn but we'd still require Sydney to fall somehow. I think we'll go past Geelong.

However, if we don't win it next year forget about another flag for a decade. The plastic teams have not only stopped us from having a few extra 8-12 picks to round out our list, with players like Z. Merrett being a bonus, they will dominate even more than Brisbane did. The fact that there is two of them will see them stay stronger for longer as they compete with each other.

They won't be able to keep the ridiculous talent on their lists together as they all mature, but this will actually help them sustain their period of dominance. GWS will be a top four side and trade one of their gun KPPs for 2 picks in the top 10. Gold Coast will trade two or three of those mids as they go along and keep the top end talent coming into their squads ... adding more to the side. As their older players retire they will find it easy to attract free agents who can live in Sydney or Gold Coast for 2 years and have a chance to win two flags. If you have enough cash in the bank you would consider that to leave the game with a flag or two.

Trust me. You'll still love Aussie Rules, but by 2020 you'll hate the AFL.

 

[srobbo]

absolutely...if not the next 3.

 

[Doss]

absolutely...if not the next 3.

In the immortal words of one Matthew Knights- bullish.

 

[hurlygurdy]

I don't think it'll happen. If Winderlich, Watson and Goddard were all 3-4 years younger then yes, but my aunty doesn't have balls so she's still my aunty.

There is an outside chance that Daniher will blossom next year, Melksham will regain form and one of Pears or Steinburg will have a break year ... on top of Watson, Carlisle, Ryder, Hooker, Hurley, Hibberd, Dempsey, Heppell, Zaka, Myers and Hocking all playing near to 25 games and not losing form at any stage ... that we could go past Freo and Hawthorn but we'd still require Sydney to fall somehow. I think we'll go past Geelong.

However, if we don't win it next year forget about another flag for a decade. The plastic teams have not only stopped us from having a few extra 8-12 picks to round out our list, with players like Z. Merrett being a bonus, they will dominate even more than Brisbane did. The fact that there is two of them will see them stay stronger for longer as they compete with each other.

They won't be able to keep the ridiculous talent on their lists together as they all mature, but this will actually help them sustain their period of dominance. GWS will be a top four side and trade one of their gun KPPs for 2 picks in the top 10. Gold Coast will trade two or three of those mids as they go along and keep the top end talent coming into their squads ... adding more to the side. As their older players retire they will find it easy to attract free agents who can live in Sydney or Gold Coast for 2 years and have a chance to win two flags. If you have enough cash in the bank you would consider that to leave the game with a flag or two.

Trust me. You'll still love Aussie Rules, but by 2020 you'll hate the AFL.

I think Gleeson and Zach have given us a little look in next year... The team was already strong but just didn't have the genuine depth. The thing that needs to be remembered is that this team, without Zach, Gleeson and Chappy was playing for top spot in round 18 last season. We managed that while playing Hurley out of position and with the team as whole still a bit too young.
I agree that JD will need to blossom for it to happen, and we will need greater consistency from about half the team as a whole. But with what they have achieved so far, i don't see why we can't match it with the top four sides next year. Mind you i also don't see us being better than those sides so a flag remains unlikely.
An interesting thing about this year is that all the criteria have been met in terms of our list, to define a really good year, but the results have not reflected that. We have had stellar development from Heppell, Myers, Hooker, Bags and Colyer. Plus I think the supporters should take enormous satisfaction from the discoveries of Gleeson and Zach and should understand the year in the context of Carlisle going from a disaster area to being one of the most exciting forwards in the comp. If Carlisle had clicked straight away we would be top four right now without a doubt. I'm not greatly bothered if things don't go very well from now to the end of the season because i think that the ground work that has been laid for next year is about as good as it could be. 2015 has been the magic number for a while now and this year has set the stage magnificently despite the win loss ratio.

 

[Coldacre]

nope, don't think so. too inconsistent and the gap between our best and worst footy is too great. if we had a 70+ goal kicker maybe.... but it's too early to really know if Daniher is going to be a Hawkins