Not to mention our record at Etihad.

We had better pick up some good rookies now, because the biggest fear with Etihad (and particularly so early in the season) is injuries... long term leg injuries. I know I am sounding pessimistic, but I would love to see stats on the numbers of long term injuries occurring at Etihad, compared to any other ground.

Barring any previous ground-scarring events Round 1 should see Etihad as good as it ever is.

Over the summer, with the sun high in the sky, there's a real chance of some actual UV bouncing around the venue and enlivening the sad range of sods which make up the surface. The last game we played there was quite promising, particularly on top of the 149 possession disposal-differential game against Norf not long before.

If we lose to the Saints and GWS,at least we'll have a new coach by Round 4

It won't be dragged out to mid season!

Hold your horses, people.

We haven't won a 1st round (or second round) match since 2005.

0-15-1

Stuff reality. I prefer to dream. I'm prepared to accept the consequences if the two don't line up.

Disappointing if the HUN's statement that this is a home game is true.

That will mean only 8 of our 11 home games will be at the MCG, and that's assuming there are no more Etihad home games.

Hopefully we get, for example, an away game against St Kilda at the MCG (like we did this year) to try to even things up a bit.

Vs Geelong rd 3 at TIO.

Disappointing if the HUN's statement that this is a home game is true.

That will mean only 8 of our 11 home games will be at the MCG, and that's assuming there are no more Etihad home games.

Hopefully we get, for example, an away game against St Kilda at the MCG (like we did this year) to try to even things up a bit.

This is all because of the MCG - Cricket arrangement. No games at the MCG because 3 people might be interested in a shield match.

It's an away game to St Kilda in Round 1.

Vs Geelong rd 3 at TIO.

That's the pre-season.

Also this game VS Saints is NOT a home game!

Pre-season games against Richmond (Etihad) and Geelong (Alice Springs).

Also this game VS Saints is NOT a home game!

I hope not but even the Age has this as our Home game and this was updated at 9.38

Watching live on AFL site...ST K. home game.

We play NM twice, Port Twice, WCE Twice, GWS and St Kilda twice...

I was watching the replay of our match v the dogs under Craig from earlier this year last night.

Almost for the first and only time this year they showed some real fight, particularly in the first half. Gawn and Jones starred, as did McDonald and Garland in the back half. There was a lot to like about that performance even though we had no Hogan, Dawes, Clark, tyson, vince (amongst others) and Trengove was badly down on form.

With the right coach we will improve hugely. The Saints will go backwards.

Demons for a win for mine.

why ??

I think they will struggle big time enduring much pain. Tell me why this wont be ..Just asking your opinion

LOL I have done a complete 360 turn around and now think we are a serious chance. After going through our list again and adding our new comers it does look a lot better.

For us to win though we need Clark, Hogan and Dawes all playing that day fully fit.

There defense is weak and Delaney and Bruce will have serious headaches trying to contain these 3. Remember Clark for us has never played against the saints so he adds a further 3 to 4 goals to our side. Running freely now so expect a full pre season for him. Dawes will still do majority of Pre Season after Xmas but we need his leadership out there. Hogan to kick 3 on debut.

We MUST stop Jack Steven! This guys is a gun and I expect him to explode next year and take his game to another level. Love the way he plays. They have lost a fair bit of experience through Nicky Dal but still have Lenny Hayes and Leigh Montagna in there which we still need to keep a close check on them. Savage will be good for them but so will Michie, Tyson, Cross, and Vince for us on top of Viney, Jones, Toumpas, Mckenzie, Kent and MJones plus a pick 9 which hopefully is Freeman who will add some serious pace and X factor.

Josh Kelly will debut for them and I want us to shake him up. Whether is through a big hip and shoulder its time to start getting fair dinkum with ourself's. Not just Him but the whole side. That last game against the doggies proved to me that we do have fight in us just need to show it more often.

All in all we need a fit 22 come round 1. Jamar has to play given their lack of experience in the rucks. We have them covered in that area and up forward.

If McDonald or Frawley keep Reiwoldt down then we will win the game. Milne has retired which is good for us as he always carves us up so their forward line is a bit light now.

Go Dees

I can only say I told you so......

Now can I ask the question I posed yesterday in a thread which was unceremoniously merged with another thread which had little to do with my question, which is::

Who are the key match ups in our opening game against St Kilda and where are we going to win it?

I don't know, what is our injury outlook 5 months out?

I don't know, what is our injury outlook 5 months out?

Fair question, but you could ask the Saints the same question.

I think Dazzledavey answered my question about the key match ups and where we are going to win it pretty well. He convinced me!

It's not a fair question...

Sigh, I really hate it when people don't know I'm being facetious.

I'm going. Taking the mrs who is a Saints supporter. God damn I hope we put on a good performance as it will be a long week or possibly year with her giving it to me

I think we'll know very quickly how next season might pan out - a disappointing performance against the Saints will make for another looong winter.

I'd have much rather a middle of the road side than another cellar dweller.

We'll find out very early where the side is at. I don't want to say it's must win, but it pretty much is. Saints are widely being tipped for the spoon.

I was watching the replay of our match v the dogs under Craig from earlier this year last night.

Almost for the first and only time this year they showed some real fight, particularly in the first half. Gawn and Jones starred, as did McDonald and Garland in the back half. There was a lot to like about that performance even though we had no Hogan, Dawes, Clark, tyson, vince (amongst others) and Trengove was badly down on form.

With the right coach we will improve hugely. The Saints will go backwards.

Demons for a win for mine.

Apart from the 2nd quarter when they kicked 9 goals, it should be admitted.

Apart from the 2nd quarter when they kicked 9 goals, it should be admitted.

Wrong game I think he's talking about the one we won - Dogs rampaged home in the last but I think the 9 goal quarter was in R23?

Just looking at it in terms of the three bits. If we can get at least Clark and Hogan out there together with Howe that ought to be headache enough for the Saints defence which isnt quite up there. Add Dawes, they have real problems. Their goal scoring is going to struggle a bit without Milne. Riewoldt is the concern but hes struggled against us in the past. Steven..well who knows. In the guts our new kid ought to negate their new kid but with Jones, Viney, Cross, Vince and Jordie playing a negating tagger we might just come out 50/50..Watts and grimes should initiate drives off of half back and Trenners and hopefully Dimitri help out in the guts Id give our backs a slight edge and our fwds the tick. All up it should go our way.

Any which way we'll know in the first 5 mins.....we always do lol

All I'm going to say is that this game will be interesting.

Last season it was the veteran players who gave St Kilda some semblance of competitiveness and respectability. A scattering of young talent, despite a few standouts, looked worrying inadequate.

As much as officially they've only lost Milne and Dal Santo of that group, the others aren't getting any younger and collective they'd put very, very few games into younger players. Ben McEvoy is a huge loss and one of not many serious player they have under 27.

Or, let's be blunt, Nick Riewoldt and a handful of veteran midfielders carried the Saints in 2013, and it is only going to get harder for them next year.

At least we don't have that issue. Our issue is that we have no real idea what we've got.

Wrong game I think he's talking about the one we won - Dogs rampaged home in the last but I think the 9 goal quarter was in R23?

Correct!

Laidley has bailed on the Saints.. They're looking a bit shaky !!

Just looking at it in terms of the three bits. If we can get at least Clark and Hogan out there together with Howe that ought to be headache enough for the Saints defence which isnt quite up there. Add Dawes, they have real problems. Their goal scoring is going to struggle a bit without Milne. Riewoldt is the concern but hes struggled against us in the past. Steven..well who knows. In the guts our new kid ought to negate their new kid but with Jones, Viney, Cross, Vince and Jordie playing a negating tagger we might just come out 50/50..Watts and grimes should initiate drives off of half back and Trenners and hopefully Dimitri help out in the guts Id give our backs a slight edge and our fwds the tick. All up it should go our way.

Any which way we'll know in the first 5 mins.....we always do lol

Yes you can see Vince, Tyson, Viney, toumpas, jones, Watts (all good long kicks) pumping the long ball down to Clark, Dawes, Hogan and Howe, particularly under the roof at etiad, and it would be a headache for oppositions to match up on. Add Lennon, either pumping it down long, or taking spectacular marks on the half forward line.

Either way it is all good.