Three out of four "On the Couch" are saying will make at least the prelim

[Stretch Johnson 2,568]

Injuries are absolutely key now.

It is now time for Misson and all of those associated with fitness, injury and rehab to begin to prepare the squad to play an extra four games this season.

It has been a tough year with injury but there is a chance that with some good luck and management we could hit the finals reasonably healthy.

[Binmans PA 25,989]

10 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Interesting how different perceptions are out there. Our list looked to me, tired and average after 2006, i hated what happened, but it didn't suprise me. What did suprise me was how quickly it all crashed in all departments. 

2017 is reminding me Big Time of 1998, except this time the list is better, which is why i got angry earlier this year. I thought we had blown it, but Goodwin said something at Half Time of QB that worked.

It's definitely not that simple, mate. I believe we turned the corner by winning that QB match. A tight thriller in front of a big crowd, on a Monday holiday. 

It was always going to click at some point. We have a good coaching set up, a great young list. We just needed to learn how to win. It wasn't that Goodwin said something brilliant during that QB half time. It's just natural progression.

The more footy this group plays together, the better they'll be.

[Binmans PA 25,989]

1 hour ago, america de cali said:

An interesting aside is that that 10 of our players on Saturday were recycled players. 

9 by my count. Unless you're counting Hannan?

[The Chazz 4,077]

16 minutes ago, Stretch Johnson said:

Injuries are absolutely key now.

It is now time for Misson and all of those associated with fitness, injury and rehab to begin to prepare the squad to play an extra four games this season.

It has been a tough year with injury but there is a chance that with some good luck and management we could hit the finals reasonably healthy.

List wise, we need to be in a position to win 4 of the last 5 games.  In that time, we need to be seeing all of our best 18 reaching top fitness.  The likes of;

* Gawn - continue to increase his game time, so that by Round 16/17, he's back to pre-injury minutes and impact

* Hogan - if he returns this week or next, he too can use the next 2-3 weeks building his match fitness, so that by Round 17, he's also cheery ripe

* Jones - he hasn't missed as much as the big guys, but a return in Round 17-ish, will see him reaching his peak in Round 19-ish

* Salem - 4 weeks out now, will see him returning Round 19.  His base fitness won't be as compromised as the above given the shorter lay-off, so him slotting in to the Round 19 team will see him quite close to full peak.

* Watts & Gartlett - hopefully won't miss much footy at all (both are a chance to play this week).  That said, I'd imagine Misson considering resting Jeffy this week for the reasons above.  Watts' inclusion this week will definitely help us, but if Hogan gets up this week, I could potentially see Watts having this week off too.  (Hard to comment specifically on Watts and Jeffy due to the unknown degree of their soreness).

The above is half a dozen of our best team that, with the right management, could be hitting their straps for those last 5 games that I speak of (except for Salem who might be a week or two behind that).  It's why I am continually stressing the importance of this week's game.  We "pinch" this one, then back it up against Carlton the following week, we are in quite a situation to push for a top 4 spot.  If we drop this Friday, it does put a bit more pressure on those last 5 games.

[Sir Why You Little 34,430]

39 minutes ago, A F said:

It's definitely not that simple, mate. I believe we turned the corner by winning that QB match. A tight thriller in front of a big crowd, on a Monday holiday. 

It was always going to click at some point. We have a good coaching set up, a great young list. We just needed to learn how to win. It wasn't that Goodwin said something brilliant during that QB half time. It's just natural progression.

The more footy this group plays together, the better they'll be.

We were crap in the first half. The Coach said something that clicked...

[Binmans PA 25,989]

40 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

We were crap in the first half. The Coach said something that clicked...

And he didn't say anything in the other matches preceding?

There's more nuisance than that IMO. He will have said stick to the structures, we're going to implement a few different things in the second half and we're still in it. It's ours for the taking. Probably what he said against North as well.

It 'clicked' because of the indefinable. Maybe it's part experience, part luck, part something else, but I don't believe it's as simple as Goody finding the right words at half time in the Collingwood game. I refuse to believe that. We wouldn't need a $15mill FD if it were that easy nowadays. And we know it's not.

[Sir Why You Little 34,430]

1 minute ago, A F said:

And he didn't say anything in the other matches preceding?

There's more nuisance than that IMO. He will have said stick to the structures, we're going to implement a few different things in the second half and we're still in it. It's ours for the taking. Probably what he said against North as well.

It 'clicked' because of the indefinable. Maybe it's part experience, part luck, part something else, but I don't believe it's as simple as Goody finding the right words at half time in the Collingwood game. I refuse to believe that. We wouldn't need a $15mill FD if it were that easy nowadays. And we know it's not.

Same thing happened to Geelong in early 2007, the players "got it"

We have a long way to go to emulate the cats but i believe the same message got through. 

Players understanding (really understanding) Team Principles and why they exist. They "got it" at half time QB. 

I remember those moments at school when after years of listening to teachers i finally "got" a principle of Maths or Science. 

Same when i learnt to first run a Mac at work in 1991. It took me a long time to really understand what was in front of me other than just accepting what i was eing told. 

QB Halftime was the "Light Globe" moment for Goody and his team after months of teaching. 

Let's hope it all keeps rolling....

[radar 1,848]

RDB

coached

BLIGHT

coached

GOODWIN

[Demons1858 1,658]

I wish I had the time to research what individual commentator where saying about our prospects after round 9 or earlier and see what they are saying now ... don't think the bandwagon can take any more passengers ... love it though!

[Roger Mellie 3,487]

Was it Kingy who said Adelaide would go through the season undefeated?

 

[jnrmac 18,945]

4 hours ago, Ron Burgundy said:

The first half of the season was characterised by several competitive losses that we should have won.

Since the second half of the Suns' game, it has been characterised by several epic wins, a couple of which we might easily not have won.

There is clear belief in the team now. Nothing bonds a squad more tightly than these sensational team-oriented wins.

I reckon injuries going forward hold the key. We're good enough now.

 

I think in every single game we have been either leading, level or 2pts down at some point in the last quarter. No other team has that record. It hasn't been noticed by the football community.

We have had a shocking run with injuries and have filled gaps admirably.

We are a very competitive side now that has the belief it can win from almost any position.

[P-man 13,168]

7 hours ago, pinkshark said:

In London, visiting the better halves family, have a bit of time to kill so im thinking I might just add my two bobs worth, which, like everyone else on here means jack [censored] at the end of the day, but oh well, here I go...

Firstly, I love this club and getting on the websites to check the scores with my two young lads in recent weeks (bulldogs and eagles) have been highlights of my fatherhood.  [censored] we have been excited when we check the scores.  Nervous as [censored]...

Drawing out the moment before we press the enter button on afl.com.  "You ready boys, I'm gonna press it",

"No, hang on dad (the eight year old sucks in a few big deep breaths like a woman doing breathing exercises in labour), righto do it.."

"Geez i'm nervous lads, I'd love to be 7/5 (Bulldogs game), we need to be 7/5, we gotta seperate ourselves a bit from this middle pack"   I say.

"Just press it Dad Press it" says the four and a bit year old. 

I hit enter.  A moment passes as we scan across the match centre scores.  Bang! there it is.

"We [censored] smashed em, we've [censored] smashed them...Holy [censored]...sorry for swearing boys but bloody hell, we've smashed them!!"  We go off.  Jump up and down like idiots.  The four and half year old gets belted accidently in the process..  "Sorry mate, you right?  Come here you little champion, you'll be alright mate, Daddy loves ya and daddy loves the mighty demons"  

Six days later...

"I reckon the game should be done by now boys lets check the scores  Now don't get to excited fellas lets remember two of our best players aren't playing, its in WA and and its hard for even the best teams to win over there, Big Maxy is back but its still a big ask.  We havent won 3 in a row for ages so lets just keep it in check.  But we're tough this year, we are hard to beat.  8 and 5 would be handy though and West Coast are soft at the end of the day...Come on you good things.  Ready?  I'm gonna press it."

"Press it Dad press it"

Bang!  Up pops a picture of TMAC being jumped on by his teammates with the headline MIRACLE IN THE WEST!  No need for a score check.  A picture says a thousand words.  We skitz out again.  The eight year old and myself mainly.  Junior has wised up and stands back a few feet.  Avoids concussion this time.  We watch the final two minutes as its the only video up at that point.   Olivers clearance.  Hibberds forward line entry...TOMMY MAC!!!

The reality is we are as good a chance as anyone else in the comp at the moment.  We are certainly hard enough.  We are probably talented enough.  My only question mark is are we experienced enough.  My head says no.  Is this a form of self preservation of ones emotions?  Probably.  Either way, I'm just most happy we are super competitive.  Because that has to comes first.  Before all else.  And that we most certainly are

One of the best posts I've seen in my time here  

[Dee Dee 1,043]

19 hours ago, pineapple dee said:

Jason Dunstall.  He did say he had us fifth though, god bless his little heart ❤️ 

I thought he was correct in saying the Melbourne team has no finals experience yet and that next year would probably be better.

I tend to agree with him.

[Dr. Gonzo 22,412]

11 hours ago, radar said:

RDB

coached

BLIGHT

coached

GOODWIN

JACK OATEY

coached

NEIL CRAIG

coached

GOODWIN

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/legendary-sturt-coach-jack-oatey-a-football-visionary-who-changed-the-game/news-story/7919f9420bcdb429e6f4a2198f418582

 

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

13 hours ago, The Chazz said:

List wise, we need to be in a position to win 4 of the last 5 games.  In that time, we need to be seeing all of our best 18 reaching top fitness.  The likes of;

* Gawn - continue to increase his game time, so that by Round 16/17, he's back to pre-injury minutes and impact

* Hogan - if he returns this week or next, he too can use the next 2-3 weeks building his match fitness, so that by Round 17, he's also cheery ripe

* Jones - he hasn't missed as much as the big guys, but a return in Round 17-ish, will see him reaching his peak in Round 19-ish

* Salem - 4 weeks out now, will see him returning Round 19.  His base fitness won't be as compromised as the above given the shorter lay-off, so him slotting in to the Round 19 team will see him quite close to full peak.

* Watts & Gartlett - hopefully won't miss much footy at all (both are a chance to play this week).  That said, I'd imagine Misson considering resting Jeffy this week for the reasons above.  Watts' inclusion this week will definitely help us, but if Hogan gets up this week, I could potentially see Watts having this week off too.  (Hard to comment specifically on Watts and Jeffy due to the unknown degree of their soreness).

The above is half a dozen of our best team that, with the right management, could be hitting their straps for those last 5 games that I speak of (except for Salem who might be a week or two behind that).  It's why I am continually stressing the importance of this week's game.  We "pinch" this one, then back it up against Carlton the following week, we are in quite a situation to push for a top 4 spot.  If we drop this Friday, it does put a bit more pressure on those last 5 games.

Good post. Thats the whole point really, we haven't really fielded our best team yet, apart from possibly rnd 1, but there were still a few missing, Hibberd i think. We probably wont do so till late in the season. Things look pretty good when you think about that.

Edited June 27, 2017 by Wadda We Sing

[BAMF 3,787]

10 hours ago, Roger Mellie said:

Was it Kingy who said Adelaide would go through the season undefeated?

 

Yep!

Its these guys who will be the first ones to say that we got ahead of ourselves if we lose.

I'm waiting until we have 12 wins before I start thinking about winning any finals.

[Skuit 9,166]

15 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Same thing happened to Geelong in early 2007, the players "got it"

We have a long way to go to emulate the cats but i believe the same message got through. 

Players understanding (really understanding) Team Principles and why they exist. They "got it" at half time QB. 

I remember those moments at school when after years of listening to teachers i finally "got" a principle of Maths or Science. 

Same when i learnt to first run a Mac at work in 1991. It took me a long time to really understand what was in front of me other than just accepting what i was eing told. 

QB Halftime was the "Light Globe" moment for Goody and his team after months of teaching. 

Let's hope it all keeps rolling....

This is quite the stretch SWYL. Several players have said that Goody is not the 'motivational speech' type. So it really would have to be some strange collective psych for them all to lightbulb at the same moment. However, if you had cited Daniher's moving address, then maybe there could be something in that. But then, we were seemingly down and out from an external perspective vs. Gold Coast as well. I think it's just steady, growing self-belief and learning how to win.

[Adzman 2,085]

If we beat the Swans and blues I will jump in on this madness. I'm just not there yet.

Finals: Yes

Flag: no

I will change my tune on our flag hopes if we roll the Swans and Blues.

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,578]

20 hours ago, Demons1858 said:

I wish I had the time to research what individual commentator where saying about our prospects after round 9 or earlier and see what they are saying now ... don't think the bandwagon can take any more passengers ... love it though!

 

20 hours ago, Roger Mellie said:

Was it Kingy who said Adelaide would go through the season undefeated?

 

I don't remember if he was on the panel this Monday, but go back only 4 weeks and after the North loss, Kingy was definetly stating that St Kilda were ahead of us in development and playing us down big time.

The media's obsession making all these outlandish statements and predictions is increadable.  Not only is it the career media types like Sheean, but you would think that the so called 'expert' panelists would know better than this stupid flavour of the month band wagon jumping and predictions.

One of the few I have developed a level of respect for is Brad Johnson.  Carries on like the village idiot a bit and doesn't take himself too seriously, which is what I think I like about him.  However you also sense an astute footy brain lurks behind the grin, which materialises in occasional gem of wisdom without getting into this band wagon jumping group think so much.  At the start of the 2016 season he made what seemed like the outlandish prediction that Freo would miss the finals after finishing on top or there abouts in 2015 - he was practically laughed at by the other pannelists, but in hindsight was right on the money there.

Edited June 27, 2017 by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,578]

On Monday, June 26, 2017 at 10:29 PM, Petraccattack said:

I did an experiment on AFL.com ladder predictor...  I had us losing the next 3 and slipping to 8-8.

And we were still 7th on the ladder.

Moral of the story is that at 8-5 with a very nice % we are extremely well placed to make finals, and if we keep up recent form we will finish top 4.

Only the MFC of old could screw this up!  Lets pray we really have turned the corner.

If we loose this week to Sydney, I think the lowest we can fall is to 6th place, courtesy of a 4 preimership points break to 7th and our healthy percentage.  Other than the beleif factor, it is one of objective reasons that the wins against the Eagles, Dogs and to some extent Collingwood were such huge 8 point games.

To some extent, beating Sydney then loosing to Carlton the week after would not be as bad as the other way around when it comes to our campaign for finals... not that I want to loose to Carlton again in a million years though.