I have heard a fair few pepole say in 2012 we will win a flag or go close. Personally I think it could be a bit longer. Here are the age groups of players in 2012. There a a few variables but I included This years Draft.

2012 Players ages. Key players.

18-23

Jack Watts- 21

James Frawley - 23

Tom Scully -20

Sam Blease- 21

Colin Garland- 23

Cale Morton - 22

Jack Grimes - 23

Jamie Bennell - 21

Kyle Cheney - 22

Neville Jetta - 22

Adam Maric - 22

Tom Mcnamara - 22

Ricky Petterd - 23

Pick 2 or 3 - 20

24 - 29

Clint Bartram - 24

Matthew Bate - 24

Simon Buckley - 25

Aaron Davey - 28

Lynden Dunn - 25

Brad Green - 31

Paul Johnson - 27

Brock Mclean - 25

John Messen - 25

Brad Miller - 28

Brent Moloney - 28

Jarred Rivers - 27

Colin Sylvia - 26

Shane Valenti - 25

Matthew Warnock - 28

Austin Wanna - 23

Robbo, Bruce, Macca, Wheatly and Whelan will be gone by this time.

But my thoughts are it still looks a very young side in 3 years. I think 2013 +

Thoughts?

yes, a bit early to be assuming pick 1 & 2/3, let alone to assume it'd be scully.

You don't even wait until the half way point of the season...

yes, a bit early to be assuming pick 1 & 2/3, let alone to assume it'd be scully.

You don't even wait until the half way point of the season...

Not really, Id say getting picks 1 and 2 or 3 are moer likely then unlikely.

Oh for Christ's sake.

Enough with the planning based on a priority pick.

Did no-one else notice that we just pushed West Coast at Subiaco to the limit, and then backed that up with a one-goal loss to a top four team six days later?

To get the priority pick we must win just three or fewer games for the rest of the season. Out of more than a dozen games left. Our first half of the season has been/will be the toughest draw of any club, by a long stretch. We would need to win just one game in every five from here to quality for the priority pick.

The chances are very slim. Be ready to let it go and accept that we HAVE a team which can develop to stellar heights over a few years.

The chances are very slim. Be ready to let it go and accept that we HAVE a team which can develop to stellar heights over a few years.

Truth of the matter is, we don't HAVE a team at the moment that can develop to 'stellar heights' in a few years. Let alone 'premiership heights'. We lack in important areas, these areas need to be addressed to reach those heights.

The chances of a priority pick may seem 'very' slim, but they are realistic IMO. After Round 4 after being 1 and 3, I thought by after Essendon in Round 12, we would be 1 and 11 at worst; 2 and 10 at best. We're currently 1-7. Hawthorn, St.Kilda, Collingwood, Essendon to follow.

Whilst the last 2 games have been encouraging against West Coast and a flat Bulldogs outfit (minus R.Murphy), I believe the next 4 weeks will really test the teams mental application. With our young players, it's only natural that they will start to feel the pinch as the season progresses.

We're currently 1-7. Hawthorn, St.Kilda, Collingwood, Essendon to follow.

Whilst the last 2 games have been encouraging against West Coast and a flat Bulldogs outfit (minus R.Murphy), I believe the next 4 weeks will really test the teams mental application. With our young players, it's only natural that they will start to feel the pinch as the season progresses.

Of that lot, the 'Pies look the most vulnerable at the moment. I'd be happy to pick up our next win against them on QB.

With or without one extra pick this year, if this team isn't having a serious and sustained impact on finals by 2012, I'll buy a hat just so I can eat it.

Good post.

Based on the age breakdown we probably haven't lost much more by 2014 but our good picks from this year and the previous couple will have enough experience under their belt.

Good post.

Based on the age breakdown we probably haven't lost much more by 2014 but our good picks from this year and the previous couple will have enough experience under their belt.

Always amuses me the negativity on a hypothetical..lol (edit..not yours Rogue..!! lol )

An opportunity to play serious finals action say in 2012 is as much about us as it is the nature of and place in their respective cycles of the opposition we face.

We are building in many areas. We are adding to our list and adding experience to those already on it. Confidence is growing as well as the understanding and ability to execute the Bailey plan. Bodies are maturing and gettting stronger; results are improving.

Yes we are still currently on the bottom ( and may well we stay there..lol ) but the effort and intensity at the ball is markedly different currently as opposed to a year ago. If we arent damn careful we'll start winning games.

This is how far we've come with only one decent preseason in better facilities. Put two more seasons behind us and I think a lot of folk here are seriously undestimating where we can be in 3 years.

Some of these kids still have inches and kilos to put on..still have spped to gain to say nothing of the value of experience.

I, as many others will have noticed have borne witness to many attemptes at adhoc rebuilding with the varying degrees of success and resultant disappointment. What we are currently seeing is a very different era in its infancy. There jsut out of crawling and learning to walk are many of the MFC.. alittel more time they wil be running hard.. More fool the team that takes us lightly in seasons coming

Im no longer thatconfident we will snare the double pick come seasons end . Not unless some serious "management" is introduced But given we wil stll get a couple to top up the list much bodes well.

Other than the top 2-3 teams currently there really isnt a lot between a lot of teams on the day. Once the boys click and those 2-3 of posessions currrently given to missed opportunities...when the routines actually work on game day and not just the paddock , when a few more points become goals , when thinking becomes a tad more astute then we WILL be there.

3-4 years ?? I think so..certainly in the mix at the right end of the table !!

Truth of the matter is, we don't HAVE a team at the moment that can develop to 'stellar heights' in a few years. Let alone 'premiership heights'. We lack in important areas, these areas need to be addressed to reach those heights.

Yes we do.

Have a bit of faith HT...

The chances of a priority pick may seem 'very' slim, but they are realistic IMO. After Round 4 after being 1 and 3, I thought by after Essendon in Round 12, we would be 1 and 11 at worst; 2 and 10 at best. We're currently 1-7. Hawthorn, St.Kilda, Collingwood, Essendon to follow.

We'll beat Collingwood if their injuries last for the next 3 weeks. Our team v Bulldogs would have beaten their team v Carlton (I think any team would have beaten them).

People have mentioned how hard our draw has been: we, the wooden spooners of 2008, were given a 5 week period in which we faced each member of the 2008 top four, plus a trip to Perth in the middle. If that's not the toughest 5 week run a team could get I don't know what is.

The chances are very slim.

sadly and Happily I think you are correct. Bailey will be hard pressed to hold this team back. He's creating a monster!!

I don't think 2012 is too early to expect big things. Hawthorn proved anything is possible.

Always amuses me the negativity on a hypothetical..lol (edit..not yours Rogue..!! lol )

An opportunity to play serious finals action say in 2012 is as much about us as it is the nature of and place in their respective cycles of the opposition we face.

We are building in many areas. We are adding to our list and adding experience to those already on it. Confidence is growing as well as the understanding and ability to execute the Bailey plan. Bodies are maturing and gettting stronger; results are improving.

Yes we are still currently on the bottom ( and may well we stay there..lol ) but the effort and intensity at the ball is markedly different currently as opposed to a year ago. If we arent damn careful we'll start winning games.

This is how far we've come with only one decent preseason in better facilities. Put two more seasons behind us and I think a lot of folk here are seriously undestimating where we can be in 3 years.

Some of these kids still have inches and kilos to put on..still have spped to gain to say nothing of the value of experience.

I, as many others will have noticed have borne witness to many attemptes at adhoc rebuilding with the varying degrees of success and resultant disappointment. What we are currently seeing is a very different era in its infancy. There jsut out of crawling and learning to walk are many of the MFC.. alittel more time they wil be running hard.. More fool the team that takes us lightly in seasons coming

Im no longer thatconfident we will snare the double pick come seasons end . Not unless some serious "management" is introduced But given we wil stll get a couple to top up the list much bodes well.

Other than the top 2-3 teams currently there really isnt a lot between a lot of teams on the day. Once the boys click and those 2-3 of posessions currrently given to missed opportunities...when the routines actually work on game day and not just the paddock , when a few more points become goals , when thinking becomes a tad more astute then we WILL be there.

3-4 years ?? I think so..certainly in the mix at the right end of the table !!

It was not negative. Simply saying that we are young and do have a bit longer to go.

Always amuses me the negativity on a hypothetical..lol (edit..not yours Rogue..!! lol )

[...]

This is how far we've come with only one decent preseason in better facilities. Put two more seasons behind us and I think a lot of folk here are seriously undestimating where we can be in 3 years.

No worries

I do agree that we could be up and about in 2012, but I think the improvement from then to 2014 will easily outweigh any losses we incur in that period (based on what we know about the age of our current list, which obviously excludes any unforseeable trades etc).

Im no longer thatconfident we will snare the double pick come seasons end . Not unless some serious "management" is introduced But given we wil stll get a couple to top up the list much bodes well.

I agree.

Other than the top 2-3 teams currently there really isnt a lot between a lot of teams on the day. Once the boys click and those 2-3 of posessions currrently given to missed opportunities...when the routines actually work on game day and not just the paddock , when a few more points become goals , when thinking becomes a tad more astute then we WILL be there.

3-4 years ?? I think so..certainly in the mix at the right end of the table !!

For sure, me too.

It's a good feeling

Im no longer that confident we will snare the double pick come seasons end . Not unless some serious "management" is introduced But given we wil still get a couple to top up the list much bodes well.

Whilst the last two games have been really competitive and winnable games thanks to some much improved output and fine tuning of the game plan, given the position (1-7) at present with approx. 75%, I would be most disappointed if we ended up on 5-6 wins. I agree with your view, I am no longer that confident either re: double pick.

I can see the improvement, the cohesion starting to come together, the synergy...slowly but surely. However, do we want to reach finals action asap with an ok list, or do we want to top up with 'quality' at years end, and I mean quality, to achieve higher. Ie. Greater Premiership chance.

I recall last season before the trade period, posters quoting, enough is enough, "I want a premiership" , "I want sustained success for a longer period for our club."

Well, how do we do that? By giving ourselves the best chance.

Now, I will still back the people in the positions to do their job at the fc that is in the best interests of the club under the rules that govern the game. To achieve the best possible outcome.

Hawthorn, StKilda, Collingwood and Essendon are on the horizon. Perhaps they could look at the likes of Newton in the seniors again after the Gabba game. IMO he needs another go.

Perhaps they could look at the likes of Newton in the seniors again after the Gabba game. IMO he needs another go.

I'm happy to see this happen, but only if (when?) Newton finds form at Casey in consecutive games and is kicking well.