I'm in the serious belief that the Dees could have a spot in the finals next year.

In the season just gone, I watched in disbelief in many games as our defenders and midfield worked hard

To get the ball to our forward 50 only for it to be rebounded out again and again. This was particularly evident after Mitch got injured. In picking up Dawes, Pederson, Byrnes and Rodan I Can't see our attack falling down at half forward anymore. Especially with Viney and Wines (hopefully ) joining the midfield and our draw (GWS and GC both twice) I am very excited about 2013.

Am I justified in this thinking or am I an over enthusiastic optimist?

Hahahahahaha...has cardiac arrest but still does not stop laughing Hahahahaha....

Thanks i needed that!

Am I justified in this thinking or am I an over enthusiastic optimist?

The second one.

.......... and Caroline turned into a fairy godmother.

ps. sorry Deemachine, just a bit of light hearted fun at your expense.

Edit: added post script.

Edited November 8, 201212 yr by Deeoldfart

The second one.

I thought as much. Sigh.

I thought as much. Sigh.

nice try though dm....

I'm in the serious belief that the Dees could have a spot in the finals next year.

In the season just gone, I watched in disbelief in many games as our defenders and midfield worked hard

To get the ball to our forward 50 only for it to be rebounded out again and again. This was particularly evident after Mitch got injured. In picking up Dawes, Pederson, Byrnes and Rodan I Can't see our attack falling down at half forward anymore. Especially with Viney and Wines (hopefully ) joining the midfield and our draw (GWS and GC both twice) I am very excited about 2013.

Am I justified in this thinking or am I an over enthusiastic optimist?

I love the enthusiasim.....Keep it up......If you don't aim high,nothing will ever improve......

I thought as much. Sigh.

Look at it this way. You'll have a quality bump on your hands if by some divine miracle we do make finals next year.

I am happy to join you Deemachine and hope the team emulates your name to produce the result you predict

It is going to be THE real test of Neeld and the coaches to get the effort and impact from every one of the squad and to position them for the structures they have for the variety of teams and conditions they will meet.

It appears we have improved but we must remember that all other teams will also improve. I think with the youth and talent we had there is greater improvement than most teams will be able to reach. With the careful additions we have made our game plans should provide extra improvement.

And I look forward to such improvements being noted and reported from training. Was a little concerned that it may be leaking improvement to the opposition but Hey lets make them worried about us, lets get them prepared for the toughest game of the season every time they play us and let some of that be because we have so much skill and so many options that they still will not know what to expect

YEP I'm positive!

GO DEES

maybe, just MAYBE, if everything - and i mean EVERYTHING - goes right for us on and off the field, we MIGHT scrape in.

ill be happy with 8-10 wins.

There is very little chance of this happening but stranger things have happened in football, that's for sure.

I think realistically we will win 6 - 8 games and finish 14th ahead of GWS, GC, Port and the Doggies.

Will be very happy to be proven wrong though!

How good would it be? I put my hand up to be first to pay fcukwit Barrett a visit.

That said, we've got no chance.

On first look this might seem ridiculous and we have been conditioned in this regard because of all the BS hat has gone on in the last 12 months. Looking at our list changes and with some rapid development in players fitness, skills and execution of a game plan and it probably isn't as far fetched as some might think. We also have a soft football draw to help along the way.

As pointed out by biggestred we would need everything to go right which again, just doesn't seem to fit in with what has been happening.

Move over Deemachine, I'm jumping on your bandwagon even if we may be a bit lonely

I admit I am a Neeld believer, the bloke has a plan and has the resources both in terms of facilities and of the human kind.

If, and it is a big if, we can win a couple of early games the players may start to believe. Confidence is a huge thing and if they follow the game plan and have success then it can snowball.

We also need some luck, something that has been in short supply of late; luck with injuries, a lucky bounce can change matches and change mind sets

Anyway here's hoping

I'm in the serious belief that the Dees could have a spot in the finals next year.

In the season just gone, I watched in disbelief in many games as our defenders and midfield worked hard

To get the ball to our forward 50 only for it to be rebounded out again and again. This was particularly evident after Mitch got injured. In picking up Dawes, Pederson, Byrnes and Rodan I Can't see our attack falling down at half forward anymore. Especially with Viney and Wines (hopefully ) joining the midfield and our draw (GWS and GC both twice) I am very excited about 2013.

Am I justified in this thinking or am I an over enthusiastic optimist?

Deemachine

There are now very good drugs that help mate.

please seek Help.

The offseason does funny things to some people...

Is the the first of the mandatory off season posts?

I'll tell you one thing, if we make the finals before Richmond do....I would very much enjoy that.

I'm with ya OP.

Each year I get just as excited, to only be let down again and again.

But in those years it was examples like waiting for Jack Watts to debut and watching the Scully/Trengove midfield invasion etc.

But there is so much more on offer next year. Our forward line and midfield have drastically changed. Just looking at the AFL's best 22 for each side next year, showed only 2 players (with more than 2 years at the Dee's) from memory. They had Clark, Pederson, Dawes, Byrnes, Silvia and Howe.

I have huge faith Dawes will spark. He absolutely hated the back up ruck role and went missing this year. Pederson is another who could easily pick up his form and dominate his position again.

Then with Viney and possibly his buddy Wines, surely these 2 are going to run a muck in the middle. Jones will feel the assistance immediately.

I think if off field dramas stay away from the club next year, I put us in our just outside the 8.

Well ...they are training the house down this year.

Glad I'm not the only hopeful one.

Is the the first of the mandatory off season posts?

Sorry mate, you can probably tell that I'm new here. Didn't realise this type of thread was a common occurrence, trying to be a bit positive amongst the 5,008 Tanking threads.

I have huge faith Dawes will spark. He absolutely hated the back up ruck role and went missing this year.

Dawes will go nuts next year. He was injured in 2012 and was played out of position. Neeld is the man to lead change, he is having to spend some time reversing Bailey's era of rubbish and next year will be the beginning of something great.

I never said we'd win the premiership in 2013, just think we might have a shot to sneak into 8th.

Hard thing when predicting our fortunes for next year is the extent we'll bounce back. two years ago we were sitting beneath the Roos and above the Tigers in the pecking order. This year we were renovating, next year I'd hope we can surge back to at least between those two teams... if not higher.

The key is us gathering some momentum and confidence... our draw is good and we couldn't possibly have the headwind of the numerous dramas we had this year recur in 2013.

Not beyond the realm.

Hard thing when predicting our fortunes for next year is the extent we'll bounce back. two years ago we were sitting beneath the Roos and above the Tigers in the pecking order. This year we were renovating, next year I'd hope we can surge back to at least between those two teams... if not higher.

The key is us gathering some momentum and confidence... our draw is good and we couldn't possibly have the headwind of the numerous dramas we had this year recur in 2013.

Not beyond the realm.

Are you sure?

I reckon we'll scrape in next year.

Lock it in.

Edited November 8, 201212 yr by McQueen

Yes, how could we top this?

1. Team pre-season reveals them to be well off AFL level fitness
   
2. Forward involved in suspicious car crash (and leaves the scene)
   
3. Revered President dies of cancer
   
4. Coach accused of racial discrimination
   
5. Star forward involved in machete attack and plays one game for year
   
6. Previous years B&F has sulks and has mentally left club mid-season.
   
7. Key star forward breaks down mid season with foot injury.
   
8. Club accused of tanking in 2009 and under investigation by AFL
   
9. Club comes under concerted attack in The Age led by a frothing CW
   
10. Casey in financial trouble not paying it's players since round 5 and may fold...
    
11. Year is not over yet...
    

Go Dees