One of your better posts...

Could we go backwards? No. If we do, it's unacceptable. I'm confident improvement on 2012 will happen. I like the decisions the FD has made to the playing roster and I'm excited to be watching the likes of Jack Viney go around in 2013.

So an improvement is expected IMO, just how much of an improvement remains to be seen. Those hoping for a significant improvement (ie.finals) may need to review their expectations. Much would need to go right for that to come to fruition.

Its not only about catching those ahead, it's also about keeping ahead of the 2 new teams. They will be coming with a roar sooner than later. No guarantee we are going to win all four of these games. Lets hope so but sooner or later it could happen.

It all looks rosey at the moment but it always does pre Christmas

My understanding of Mitch Clark's foot injury is that it is a 12 month recuperation. If he is just doing slow laps now, I cant see him playing unrestricted by his foot before the middle of the year.
He is the worst injured of our team ATM.
If he comes back as good as he was before it broke, fantastic; and if that wasnt until round 15 I would still be happy.
I see Mitch Clark as the first pick in the forward line. Surrounding him with other teams... castoffs i.e. Pederson and Dawes.

This could actually be great for all concerned as Dawes and Pederson may flower under Clark. But Clark is easily a level better.
Its possible that North and the Pies might say "Gee should we have given up these payers that cant make our 1sts?"
I doubt it.
If it is left to those second stringers without Clark straightening them up, to hold the ball in and assist goals, I cant see it happening for four quarters. Without attending training I actually prefer Dunne to Pederson in the forward line, if Dunne is fit enough to play out/concentrate the whole game.
I stand by my assertion I have made lots of worse posts than this one.

Edited December 3, 201212 yr by Franky_31

Its not only about catching those ahead, it's also about keeping ahead of the 2 new teams. They will be coming with a roar sooner than later. No guarantee we are going to win all four of these games. Lets hope so but sooner or later it could happen.

It all looks rosey at the moment but it always does pre Christmas

I very much doubt it. GWS arent really anything but a collection of TAC cup and post tac cup players...theyre kids in other words. Some are big kids, some are wet behind the ears. Ive mentioned elsewhere that some are 'banked' some are project . Put them against MEn and they wont last 4 qtrs of horrid attention. it will be 5 years before they make any serious inroads.. 3 before theyre off permanent cellar duty.

GC. I actually thought theyd be more competitive than they are and this too points to why GWS will take a bit longer than all will think. It simply takes a few years to get your mojo happening and get some size about you. Theyve got a few more older bodies amongst them but as we see even this isnt sufficient to deliver week in week out. Very surprised they didnt adopt a bit of moneyball themselves.

I have no fears of these two clubs what soever. Theyll put up a game ...and we will win.

My understanding of Mitch Clark's foot injury is that it is a 12 month recuperation. If he is just doing slow laps now, I cant see him playing unrestricted by his foot before the middle of the year.

Where do you get this understanding from. The Club and he have said all along he was going to be back in training at the beginning of pre season. He has done that right on schedule. Have a look at the post on today's training. He is already doing 3/4 pace run through's and is kicking with both feet. Richo did same injury and was back for the full season the following year. Take a chill pill. The secret to this injury is identifying it early enough and treating it correctly. It can be a shocker if this doesnt' happen but very luckily it was identified immediately and given the best treatment through surgery. Having said that, you never know but all indications so far are that he is ahead of schedule and going perfectly for a full recovery and playing round 1.

Edited December 3, 201212 yr by It's Time

My understanding of Mitch Clark's foot injury is that it is a 12 month recuperation.

From whom ?

I have searched for 30 minutes and cant find anything to support my (mis)understanding of the injury to be hampering him for a year. Quite Happy to be wrong. If he can do a pretty full pre-season we should improve. In my mind he and Jones are now our most important players.

Its possible that North and the Pies might say "Gee should we have given up these payers that cant make our 1sts?"

I doubt it.

Correction: Dawes was always in the firsts, except when injured.

As for "other teams' cast-offs", it seems too simplistic a reading of their situation for mine. Sellars has shown himself to be a good pickup, and probably a solid first-22 player, but was even more on the outer at Adelaide than Pederson was at North. Not to even start on the "cast-offs" that Sydney have managed to find a place for (and more) in a premiership team.

Not to keep coming back to one of my pet themes re all these trades, but they create competition within the team. Pederson and Gillies are certainly going to keep the likes of Dunn and Sellars honest, and even if that's all we get out of them (which I'd be suprised about), it'll be a step forward.

I have searched for 30 minutes and cant find anything to support my (mis)understanding of the injury to be hampering him for a year. Quite Happy to be wrong. If he can do a pretty full pre-season we should improve. In my mind he and Jones are now our most important players.

I think you're right to exercise caution re Clark, there's still a long way to go. But there have been plenty of success stories with that injury, it's not all doom and gloom. Having said that, if he manages more than a half of footy in any of the NAB cup matches, I'll be pleasantly surprised.

Correction: Dawes was always in the firsts, except when injured.

As for "other teams' cast-offs", it seems too simplistic a reading of their situation for mine. Sellars has shown himself to be a good pickup, and probably a solid first-22 player, but was even more on the outer at Adelaide than Pederson was at North. Not to even start on the "cast-offs" that Sydney have managed to find a place for (and more) in a premiership team.

Not to keep coming back to one of my pet themes re all these trades, but they create competition within the team. Pederson and Gillies are certainly going to keep the likes of Dunn and Sellars honest, and even if that's all we get out of them (which I'd be suprised about), it'll be a step forward.

Is there more than one Sellar or are we talking about Peter Sellars? Birdie num num!

I don't think we'll go backwards, but I can't imagine us going beyond, say, 6-7 wins.

I'd be happy with one win over a top-8 side, and at least 3 wins against Melbourne clubs or non-GC/GWS.

I don't think we'll go backwards, but I can't imagine us going beyond, say, 6-7 wins.

I'd be happy with one win over a top-8 side, and at least 3 wins against Melbourne clubs or non-GC/GWS.

Summarises my thoughts - we look to now have a list which is committed to Neeld's vision which on its own mean we will be more successful. That said every other team is improving as well so it is a matter of how much we improve in relation to our competitors.

I don't think we'll go backwards, but I can't imagine us going beyond, say, 6-7 wins.

I'd be happy with one win over a top-8 side, and at least 3 wins against Melbourne clubs or non-GC/GWS.

It's not surprising that many supporters have low expectations, as we're well and truly conditioned to think that way. But having genuine tall targets to kick to improves the midfield; Viney, Toumpas, Rodan, and M. Jones add grunt, pace and class to the midfield; an improved midfield helps defence; a fitter group of players keeps us in games for longer; and competition for spots is healthy for the team and the catalyst for improvement.

Footy is a game if inches. If we improve in lots of small areas it can add up to big things.

Edited December 4, 201212 yr by Ben-Hur

Yes we could.

Also in "could/might/maybe" happenings: a giant comet could strike the Earth.

But there's nothing to be gained in thinking about it. You're just keeping yourself awake at night.

I agree completely Ted. I've always been an insomniac, but if I'm compelled to lie awake at night, I'd much rather do it with my head full of anticipation and promise of a new day, and the dawn of a new era at the Melbourne footy club.

Competition for spots is great and comes with the bonus of being able to effectively cover positional holes on the field when injuries come. Hence, not compromising the teams adherence to the game plan.