how good are we really

[Guest topflight2]

thinking around 7 wins next year we showed a bit then that carlton lose was a shocker so im still thinking 5 maybe 6 wins next year what do you all think still a very young side that makes alot of mistakes our side is to poorly skilled to think it can run straight threw the midfeild they should play pies style and try to defend more than attack and keep the loses to 5 goals instead of 10

[Tatu 416]

depends on 2010 fixture, but IMHO 8 - 10 wins is not out of the question.

[The Big Ticket 94]

I would hate it if we played like Collingwood do. Long kicking up the wings to a contest, not using the ball through the corridor, etc,etc I get extremely bored watching the Pies. Love our style of hard running, run and carry through the corridor - more a risky style but is very entertaining. That's why I think the game we played against the Doggies this year was one of our best games. Every time we rebounded from defence it was always very quick ball movement through the corridor.

[Guest topflight2]

I would hate it if we played like Collingwood do. Long kicking up the wings to a contest, not using the ball through the corridor, etc,etc I get extremely bored watching the Pies. Love our style of hard running, run and carry through the corridor - more a risky style but is very entertaining. That's why I think the game we played against the Doggies this year was one of our best games. Every time we rebounded from defence it was always very quick ball movement through the corridor.

turnovers cost and we are good and doing it

[RalphiusMaximus 6,110]

I've got us down for 7-9 wins I think. It depends on who we play twice of course. We should handle Freo, Richmond and the Roos comfortably. We're a chance against WC, Sydney and PA depending on who plays better on the day.

[DEES 0]

i am gonna go for the optimistic approach, C'MON TOP 8, GO DEES

[Dee Fan 3,247]

thinking around 7 wins next year we showed a bit then that carlton lose was a shocker so im still thinking 5 maybe 6 wins next year what do you all think still a very young side that makes alot of mistakes our side is to poorly skilled to think it can run straight threw the midfeild they should play pies style and try to defend more than attack and keep the loses to 5 goals instead of 10

By the end of the year we had our seconds playing because of the injuries and we were not exactly trying to win. With our best on the field and with our game plan developing I reckon we will finish top 8 next year.

[LITTLE STINGA 1]

i am gonna go for the optimistic approach, C'MON TOP 8, GO DEES

If Essendon can make the 8 anyone can. I think we have the side that will surprise a lot of people. I'm not suggesting that it's gonna be anything like '98 but there is no reason why the club shouldn't think they can make the 8 unlike this year when we had no chance.

Like every other club injuries will be the key we can only afford a couple of them to stay competitve.

[45HG 1,559]

I'm expecting 7-9 years.

We have a few players coming back, but will generally be putting lots of games into very young players - including first year players who will be taking the place of experienced players in Robbo, Wheatley and Whelan (if not more).

[R.I.P. Troy 185]

David Schwartz said in Inside Football last week that Melbourne will play finals in 2010, i think maybe i agree with him.

[Guest demons are hell]

David Schwartz said in Inside Football last week that Melbourne will play finals in 2010, i think maybe i agree with him.

i think we could make the finals if we have a injury free season

[Deeoldfart 8,165]

Given a reasonable run with injuries, and a half reasonable draw (which is the best we can expect from the AFL), I can see us pushing for, but probably not quite making the 8. I reckon we might struggle in the first half of the year with only a few wins, but as our kids get games under their belts, and the chemistry and game-plan start to gel, we might see 6 or 7 wins in the second half of the season.

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,357]

I've got us down for 7-9 wins I think. It depends on who we play twice of course. We should handle Freo, Richmond and the Roos comfortably. We're a chance against WC, Sydney and PA depending on who plays better on the day.

We will never beat North Melbourne in our life time. I don't know why this average footy club has the wood on us.

I'd expect to win 7 or 8 games and finish around 13th. Anything less and I'd be disapointed.

[Brayshaws' Helmet 143]

Given a reasonable run with injuries, and a half reasonable draw (which is the best we can expect from the AFL), I can see us pushing for, but probably not quite making the 8. I reckon we might struggle in the first half of the year with only a few wins, but as our kids get games under their belts, and the chemistry and game-plan start to gel, we might see 6 or 7 wins in the second half of the season.

Yeah well said, i think the first half of the season we will have a couple of wins, then turn it on later in the season. Although i hope they come out of the blocks hard first game....

So far away... i already miss it

[Rogue 585]

There are more than eight other Clubs who could reasonably think they will finish above us, so I don't think it's probable that we'll make finals. We certainly could make finals, but we'd need to be quite lucky and I think the chances are remote. However, 50% of teams make finals so it's certainly a possibility!

For those who think we'll make finals, which of the top eight sides do we deserve to go into 2010 thinking we should finish above them? A follow-up - do you also think we should expect to win more games than all the other bottom-eight sides, including Hawthorn?

[Ryan Dee 140]

Bottom 8

[H_T 3,049]

If Essendon can make the 8 anyone can. I think we have the side that will surprise a lot of people. I'm not suggesting that it's gonna be anything like '98 but there is no reason why the club shouldn't think they can make the 8 unlike this year when we had no chance.

Like every other club injuries will be the key we can only afford a couple of them to stay competitve.

Agree, injuries will be the key, if we can get the majority of our best players, playing together for long periods of the season, I cannot see why not that it's possible. However, I have said before on another thread 9-11 wins which is anywhere between 8th and 12th I'd assume.

David Schwartz said in Inside Football last week that Melbourne will play finals in 2010, i think maybe i agree with him.

He get's paid to make statements for Inside Football. Big call, but possible. Injuries will be the key.

There are more than eight other Clubs who could reasonably think they will finish above us, so I don't think it's probable that we'll make finals. We certainly could make finals, but we'd need to be quite lucky and I think the chances are remote. However, 50% of teams make finals so it's certainly a possibility!

For those who think we'll make finals, which of the top eight sides do we deserve to go into 2010 thinking we should finish above them? A follow-up - do you also think we should expect to win more games than all the other bottom-eight sides, including Hawthorn?

I'm not saying we 'will' make finals (unlike Ox), but I'd say it's possible. I'm expecting 9-11 wins which might put us on the cusp. I'd be dissapointed with less than 7 wins. Once again, injuries or interruptions to players game consistency will tell.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

We will never beat North Melbourne in our life time. I don't know why this average footy club has the wood on us.

Hence the first sentence. Unless Brad Scott is a miracle worker then our lives will be short.

There are more than eight other Clubs who could reasonably think they will finish above us, so I don't think it's probable that we'll make finals. We certainly could make finals, but we'd need to be quite lucky and I think the chances are remote. However, 50% of teams make finals so it's certainly a possibility!

For those who think we'll make finals, which of the top eight sides do we deserve to go into 2010 thinking we should finish above them? A follow-up - do you also think we should expect to win more games than all the other bottom-eight sides, including Hawthorn?

Fair summary. 2010 finals would be an achievement but a remote possibility.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

David Schwartz said in Inside Football last week that Melbourne will play finals in 2010, i think maybe i agree with him.

He also picked Cooney for the Brownlow... one year early.

I reckon we'll be like a LOT of rebuilding sides in that everyone gives us a hard time, until one year when we make a DRAMATIC climb up the ladder with the change coming in one off season. I don't think it'll be next year, but it'll come in the next 3.

[titan_uranus 25,211]

There are more than eight other Clubs who could reasonably think they will finish above us, so I don't think it's probable that we'll make finals. We certainly could make finals, but we'd need to be quite lucky and I think the chances are remote. However, 50% of teams make finals so it's certainly a possibility!

For those who think we'll make finals, which of the top eight sides do we deserve to go into 2010 thinking we should finish above them? A follow-up - do you also think we should expect to win more games than all the other bottom-eight sides, including Hawthorn?

Good question, but at this time last year, I'm sure the same things were being said by Essendon and Brisbane fans. Who'd have thought that Hawthorn would lose their spot in the 8?

Anything can happen. If you play well enough, you will win enough games to play finals.

I think we can more games than Sydney, North Melbourne, Richmond, Fremantle and Port Adelaide. That would put us 11th. But it's nigh on impossible to guess now what will happen over the next 12 months.

8-10 wins, 10th-12th on the ladder is probably where we'll end up.

[demons38 0]

22 wins

[jayceebee31 768]

thinking around 7 wins next year we showed a bit then that carlton lose was a shocker so im still thinking 5 maybe 6 wins next year what do you all think still a very young side that makes alot of mistakes our side is to poorly skilled to think it can run straight threw the midfeild they should play pies style and try to defend more than attack and keep the loses to 5 goals instead of 10

This question will come to light a little more on the 26th Nov. and completed by end of draft 15th Dec. However, in the meantime, we should have won at least 6/7 games, referring to our experiementation requirements etc..

As we lost two of our most promising recruits in Wonaeamirri and Garland virtually all season along with early major injuries to Jamar, Meeson, Bell and Buckley, this must have put extreme pressure on the whole list.As we all know Spencer was also injured for a reasonable amount of time and Johnson had to ruck solo.

I know there is tremendous upside already with natural progression and once we release the abilities of Blease and Strauss.

WOW- is all that I can say. I think seriously we can win 8/9 games and press for an eight position on the ladder.

[bjgc 0]

We will never beat North Melbourne in our life time. I don't know why this average footy club has the wood on us.

A lot of teams have the wood on us ATM that's why we are last.

[Guest delicious jurrah coffee]

A lot of teams have the wood on us ATM that's why we are last.

not for long, frawley, morton, grimes, watts, sylvia, delicious jurrah, pick 1 and 2, the future looks good ATM.

[bjgc 0]

For those who think we'll make finals, which of the top eight sides do we deserve to go into 2010 thinking we should finish above them? A follow-up - do you also think we should expect to win more games than all the other bottom-eight sides, including Hawthorn?

We CAN not SHOULD finish above teams from Brisbane down and there is usually a team that makes the top 4 who unexpectedly falls away and struggles to make the finals or doesn't make it at all like Hawthorn.