Well a new season is almost here and I am very excited.......Improving players....new players to watch

Votes to be got in the Brownlow and the Bluey........Goals to be kicked....Good games to watch and poor ones

Umpires to be yelled at and things to be thrown at the TV......Crap to be taken from the media....arguements to be had with fellow D'landers

Supercoach points to be gained

I love this time of the year....It may not last long but I love it while the hope is still there.....

I wish the players and the supporters all the best for this brand new season.....

let's hope you feel the same at quarter time next Sunday!

let's hope you feel the same at quarter time next Sunday!

As I said....It might not last long.......

I have some excitement this year because coaches and players are on the line in 2013.

Improve and they will be fine. Another year like last year and they could be in a world of pain.

The choice is theirs..There is nothing wrong with demmanding improvement as a supporter base after last years disgrace.

I am hoping Mark Neeld feels the same.

Im not excited , just very nervous......hope the boys can step up for us this year.

let's hope you feel the same at quarter time next Sunday!

Indeed.

I was excited before the Lions game last year.

This year my excitement is well tempered.

I too am excited by the prospects this year. I think Sam Newman is selling us a bit short, although others are also giving us a bit too much credit. However, if we manage to get a decent injury run we'll do ok this year.

No smashings, a few good wins and a couple of upset wins would be fantastic this year, Jack watts looks set for a good year!

Shane Crawford has us finishing above port footscray and the expansion franchises, with up to eight wins. (Herald Sun)

Begining of every season for the last decade my expectations have been moderately to significantly higher to what we have actually achieved. This season my expectations are bottom 3. Is there any chance I will get it right eventually?

I too am excited, but unlike some, I'm not expecting my excitement to wain early-on. On the contrary, I'm expecting it to start out slowly, and build as the season progresses, and we see:

• the players (new and old) begin to gel as a team;
• the kids get some games under their belts, and start to adjust to the demands of footy at the highest level;
• implementation of the Neeld game plan(s) start to become second-nature and instinctive;
• each player build confidence in his own abilities, and those of his mates; and
• some of the rewards from a tough pre-season campaign.

I'm not expecting this to culminate in more than about seven or eight wins, but I'm genuinely excited about the prospect of seeing my team graduating along the road to becoming " the hardest to play against in the AFL".

Edited March 19, 201312 yr by Deeoldfart

Not the greatest highlight vid ever made, but it works for me.

It's a fresh start. We have to be positive.

Im remaining ambiguous to tell the truth. Id like to think THIS IS THE YEAR do take a step up. To get serious about this game , to galvanise all the hard work and list rejuvenation.

And yet I see very littel happening . A lot of huff andf puff and very little in terms of cohesion.

I know it will happen ( in some fashion ) ...eventually.

Ive seen far too many false dawns over the years.

I dont need to prove anything to anyone. I barrack for Melbourne. Ive earnt the priveledge of this kind of ambivalence.

I want success. I crave success. Ive forgotten what success is.

Ill just sit, watch and see if it comes.

thats all

I'm not getting to excited, but after a few games I won't be getting too depressed either, I think we will be better towards the end of the year than the start.

the really hard thing about supporting us is that we can play well for 3 quarters and get demolished in the other. We can put in a solid effort and beat a top side, then lose to a bottom side the next. We can be pushing top 4 at a late stage of the year and only just slip in, or we can be on top at R18 (see below) lose the last 4 and be knocked straight out of the finals week 1... so even when things are looking good you always have to hold something back

C&B, when was the last time we put a solid effort and beat a good side? That description sounds very last decade-ish.

C&B, when was the last time we put a solid effort and beat a good side? That description sounds very last decade-ish.

Thought the same thing I must admit.

I'm not getting to excited, but after a few games I won't be getting too depressed either, I think we will be better towards the end of the year than the start.

I agree with this.

That said, if we knock to off Port and then Essendon, I will literally be bouncing off the walls ...

C&B, when was the last time we put a solid effort and beat a good side? That description sounds very last decade-ish.

We did beat the bombers when they were 8-0 (or whatever). They might not have been good, but they were good at something.

I too am excited by the prospects this year. I think Sam Newman is selling us a bit short, although others are also giving us a bit too much credit. However, if we manage to get a decent injury run we'll do ok this year.

Trying to get attention and stay relevant is what Newman is all about, his opinion isn't worth much.

Im remaining ambiguous to tell the truth. Id like to think THIS IS THE YEAR do take a step up. To get serious about this game , to galvanise all the hard work and list rejuvenation.

And yet I see very littel happening . A lot of huff andf puff and very little in terms of cohesion.

I know it will happen ( in some fashion ) ...eventually.

Ive seen far too many false dawns over the years.

I dont need to prove anything to anyone. I barrack for Melbourne. Ive earnt the priveledge of this kind of ambivalence.

I want success. I crave success. Ive forgotten what success is.

Ill just sit, watch and see if it comes.

thats all

I'm in a similar mindset, but REALLY thinking of it, I conclude that this season can go any way.

But I don't expect more than 5-6 wins. I just want more than 2 wins against Melbourne clubs.

Melbourne finished last in 2012 with 1 win. That's the way I saw it.

let's hope you feel the same at quarter time next Sunday!

Stuff quarter time, I want to feel hope at full time.

I must say that I am historically enormously optimistic at this time every year.

This year however I must say I can raise little enthusiasm, despite a few months back after the draft and trades feeling very positive.

Maybe a case of being let down too often.

How about it guys? Give us all something to get excited about especially over the first few rounds.

Round 1 last year hurt big time considering the build up and significance, and it is fresh in the memory. It was a bloody horrible day to be fair. Expectations have been tempered, but positivity is still key.

Despite any shortcomings in the midfield, our back line and forward line still stand up well alongside any team and are superior to Port's. A win in Round 1 is crucial and it is well and truly on the cards, but a very good performance will be required to get over the line.