I live in Sydney and go to a few Swans games. It always amazes me how low people's opinion is of the Swans. They have recruited very well over the past couple of years and have several out and out champions such as Goodes and O'Keefe, yet people still think they are a walk over. Don't know why you think we're going to beat them especially in Sydney where we haven't played for so many years. Don't know why so many posters think we should already be better than Essendon who are several years ahead of us in development. Not to say on any given day we couldn't give it a shake but I wouldn't pencil it in.

I just think we match up very well against both Sydney and Essendon. I'm not sold on Sydney's recruiting - their older players are getting old (Goodes, O'Keefe, Bolton), and I think our young players are at least on the same level, if not a bit better than theirs.

In Essendon, I don't think they have recruited well at all. I watch them fairly closely, and I think we are actually a better side than them. Our forward line will be hard for them to match up on, and our backline is our obvious strength (especially against their forwards).

I just think we match up very well against both Sydney and Essendon. I'm not sold on Sydney's recruiting - their older players are getting old (Goodes, O'Keefe, Bolton), and I think our young players are at least on the same level, if not a bit better than theirs.

In Essendon, I don't think they have recruited well at all. I watch them fairly closely, and I think we are actually a better side than them. Our forward line will be hard for them to match up on, and our backline is our obvious strength (especially against their forwards).

Who was their gun recruiter to allow this to happen????

Wins:

Brisbane @ G

50/50s:

Richmond @ G

WB @ G

STK @ G

Sydney @ SCG

Essendon @ G

Losses:

WCE @ PATS

Collingwood @ G

Carlton @ G

Slaughterings:

Hawthorn @ G

Geelong @ Doomsday park

My consensus is that yes we have a tough first half of the year (esp considering we play Haw & Coll in last 2 rounds of NAB cup). I believe that it all comes down to the 50/50 games in the 1st half of the year (Rich,StK,Wb,Syd,Ess) and whether we can win 2-3 of them. Hopefully in the others we can compete and maybe pinch 1 of them along the way (maybe Carlton or WCE). I think if we go in halfway with 4-5 wins we are still in a good position to play finals footy which has to be the objective for this year!

Just to add- on reflection is it a worry that I can only see 1 certain win in half a year of football????

I just think we match up very well against both Sydney and Essendon. I'm not sold on Sydney's recruiting - their older players are getting old (Goodes, O'Keefe, Bolton), and I think our young players are at least on the same level, if not a bit better than theirs.

In Essendon, I don't think they have recruited well at all. I watch them fairly closely, and I think we are actually a better side than them. Our forward line will be hard for them to match up on, and our backline is our obvious strength (especially against their forwards).

Well you were right about Essendon last year. Here's hoping you are right about both this year. I wouldn't discount Goodsey, he's lost nothing and Bolton had his best year ever last year. But how sweet it would be to see a win up here. They won the last time they played at the SCG in 2007.

Just to add- on reflection is it a worry that I can only see 1 certain win in half a year of football????

We are not a good team, so no.

Remember there are "NO MORE EXCUSES".

No there are not.

With your rock solid policies the 5 year plan going forward will still be in progress in 2023...

We are not a good team, so no.

Not yet.

No there are not.

With your rock solid policies the 5 year plan going forward will still be in progress in 2023...

Some days you dont even have to bait the hook just jiggle.....

Firstly it was never a 5 year plan and any rebuild from the depths we were was going to take longer than that. Issues like Scully only add to the challenge. And anyone with half a brain can see where the side is truly at.and still coming developmental stage. And mindless rants do nothing to address it.

Secondly, you have already shown that you cant count to five.

Not yet.

I'll tell you when we are.

Is that a shot at me RR? If so, perhaps you should move on? If not, I apologise.

Anyway, I believe we are capable of 4 wins - Brisbane, Richmond, Sydney and Essendon. The Richmond game doesn't sit well with me - I don't think it's a game that we can pen in at this stage. On the other hand, I picked a loss against the Bulldogs and Saints, I think these 2 games are winnable, I just didn't pick us!

What I want to see in 2012 are victories against sides that we are, or should be, better than. We ARE better than Brisbane, Port Adelaide, GWS and Gold Coast, we SHOULD be better than Richmond, North and the Western Bulldogs (Hall always seemed to be the difference between us and them), and we should bloody near be better than Sydeny, St Kilda, Essendon and Freo/Adelaide at the G. Based on that theory, and given our entire draw, we play those teams/scnearios 16 times. If we can win 12 of those 16, as well as knocking off a "big scalp" like West Coast at the G, or maybe even Carlton in one game, 12-14 wins should be the expectation of 2012.

That is the attitude Billy...The MFC must start to punch beyond its weight division. Sure we will get knocked down at times, but it is a matter of coming back and doing it again. The only way to gain respect. At present we have no respect on the field, & do not deserve it.

Round 2 will be astruggle, but after last year i expect the club to have a real solid dip.

The other 10 games i would expect to be thought of as some chance as we do have some talent in the list.

How quick do they learn once the black cloud has dispersed?

And how much better are the other clubs when pressured?

Under Bails we could only apply pressure sporadically, but when it did occur it was very good.

Maybe i am too optimistic but i like to think this list will learn fast now that 2011 is consigned to history.

Some days you dont even have to bait the hook just jiggle.....

Firstly it was never a 5 year plan and any rebuild from the depths we were was going to take longer than that. Issues like Scully only add to the challenge. And anyone with half a brain can see where the side is truly at.and still coming developmental stage. And mindless rants do nothing to address it.

Secondly, you have already shown that you cant count to five.

Oct 2007-8-9-10-11-March 2012 is well into a fifth year Rhino...What is so funny???

Mindless rants...talking to yourself?? You are the most negative persoon on this site.

Oct 2007-8-9-10-11-March 2012 is well into a fifth year Rhino...What is so funny???

Mindless rants...talking to yourself?? You are the most negative persoon on this site.

4 seasons have passed in The Great Restoration ©.

And the best player we got through that period has played 37 games.

He's captain, but.

Oh, and other teams have senior players who are a net benefit.

Ours were a crap sandwich in 2011.

I won't be judging progress in the first 11 rounds on wins and losses. I'll be judging it on the execution of a game plan and an incremental improvement in the individual players performances. If that means no more than 2 wins in the first 11 games I won't be freaking out. They already showed promising signs of structures and game plans on the weekend and it is all they are talking about in interviews now. It's the new mantra .

That's a massive confession that the four years under Bailey were almost a complete waste. The fact that after four years of "rebuilding" we still can't look at win/loss ratios is a big worry.

4 seasons have passed in The Great Restoration ©.

And the best player we got through that period has played 37 games.

He's captain, but.

Oh, and other teams have senior players who are a net benefit.

Ours were a crap sandwich in 2011.

Yes 4 seasons & 5 Preseasons, that is a fair wack of time to sort out and be well into the rebuild. By no means done mind you but well into it.

Compare us to the Saints and the Dogs- they will slide big time .Mark my post!

Long term decision making will serve us well .

Rpfc you are a charming [censored]! I love it!

Rpfc you are a charming [censored]! I love it!

I concur with that! He choices his words well always.

I concur with that! He choices his words well always.

A bit off topic but congratulations to WYL on 12,000 posts!!!

A true passionate Demon with plenty of wise words, a stalwart to Demonland.

Enjoy the 2012 season ol' boy!!

A bit off topic but congratulations to WYL on 12,000 posts!!!

A true passionate Demon with plenty of wise words, a stalwart to Demonland.

Enjoy the 2012 season ol' boy!!

Really!! I have been on the iphone lately so i couldnt see a count.

12,000 is too much but what the hell...GO YOU DEMONS.

Brisbane at the G - W

WCE in Perth - L

Tigers at the G - L

Bulldogs at the G - W

Saints at the G -W

Geelong in Mordor - L

Hawthorn at the G - L

Sydney in Sydney - W

Carlton at the G - L

Essendon at the G - L

Collingwood at the G - L

Trying to be realistic. Losses to teams that finishes above us last year, unless I think that team has dropped off and will finish below us.

Really!! I have been on the iphone lately so i couldnt see a count.

12,000 is too much but what the hell...GO YOU DEMONS.

Pity we do not play as well as you post mate!

the GF would be in the bag

Pity we do not play as well as you post mate!

the GF would be in the bag

Just doing my bit for the club O.D!

Back to thread topic..

there are about 7 teams who all think they can or will make the finals. We are one of them.

That is about the only true prediction i will make at this point. An "easy" back 11 coming home may not be good enough. The front 11 will sort out a lot.

there are about 7 teams who all think they can or will make the finals. We are one of them.

This doesn't sound right...

There are less teams thinking they can play finals than spots in the final 8?

?

I would say that we are better than GWS, GC, BL, Ess, WB, Adel, PA and about the same as or a bit behind NM, Rich, St K, Syd and Freo and way off of Carl, Geel, Haw, Coll, and WCE.

So at least, 10 teams are thinking they are above us and you can add Adel, Ess, WB and BL to those teams that will think they are a finals chance...

That's 14 teams.

This doesn't sound right...

There are less teams thinking they can play finals than spots in the final 8?

?

I would say that we are better than GWS, GC, BL, Ess, WB, Adel, PA and about the same as or a bit behind NM, Rich, St K, Syd and Freo and way off of Carl, Geel, Haw, Coll, and WCE.

So at least, 10 teams are thinking they are above us and you can add Adel, Ess, WB and BL to those teams that will think they are a finals chance...

That's 14 teams.

far be it for me to speak for wyl

However I took it as meaning 7 teams outside of the top 8 from last year.