The betting in this morning's paper had us at $13 against making the Final 8.

Obviously the odds-makers cannot see much improvement in our side despite:

• the injection of Braywshaw, Hogan, McCartin, Frost, HL, Garlett, Stretch, Newton, etc,

• Toumpas, Gawn and Salem all having done a complete pre-season

and last, but not least,

• the reliable brigade of Jones, Tyson, Jetta, Dunn, Viney, Howe and McDonald.

What do other demonlanders think? Is this a good way to invest our nesteggs?

yep, look at ALL the ladder predictions on bigfooty. We are either last or second last in ALL of them...Boy...they're in for a big surprise.

This morning's paper had us, the western bulldogs and the saints all on the same odds. I prefer our chances rather than the other two.

We won't make the 8.

I predict 6 to 8 wins max, which will get us to around 12th or 13th.

We won't make the 8.

I predict 6 to 8 wins max, which will get us to around 12th or 13th.

Ditto.

We won't make the 8.

I predict 6 to 8 wins max, which will get us to around 12th or 13th.

agreed

No chance of making the 8.

From the 8 this season who would we be better than come next season?

15th with 6 wins is my prediction.

I have considered the draw on a number of occasions since it was released.

Add in a couple of players that should increase our ability and a 50% increase over 2014 is the max. I can see.

IMO we have a good chance in six games and a rough chance in another two to three.

If we don't beat Adelaide in round three we could easily arrive at round eight without a win.

We still have an ordinary list be it improved since 2013.

I would love to be way under but I struggle to see it happening.

The margin of error on any prediction for 2015 is enormous.

Hell, we could be looking top bottom 4 for six weeks, top-8 quality for seven weeks, then look like spoon material for another ten.

Variable 1 - Forward line. Will Hogan play, and play effectively? Will Garlett deliver 30+ goals? Will Dawes at least be fully functional in his role?

Varialbe 2 - Defence. Will Frost provide the additional solid defender? Will McDonald take another step? Will Garland get his head steady? Will Lumumba provide the drive we've been lacking? Will Grimes finally have a full, valuable season?

Variable 3 - Ruck. Will Jamar play a full season and will it be fully effective? Will either of Gawn or Spencer be able to contribute full AFL-quality games consistently?

Varialbe 4 - Midfield. Just what are we going to see from the young but as yet unproven group of Toumpas, Viney, Salem, Newton, Michie, Riley, Kent and presumably Brayshaw?

Variable 5 - 'X.' Between them, Howe and Watts can be anywhere from drably inadequate contributors to spectacular game-shapers.

If each one of those factors could make a difference of plus or minus two wins for the season, well, I predict we will win somewhere between zero and 20 games.

It is not crazy to think we could suddenly slip into top-8 contention. It is also not crazy to think we could languish in the bottom four after a couple of injuries remove our on-field leadership, cripple morale and force us to watch as the other 'gone' clubs regain some momentum around a core of genuine outstanding talent, even though their overall lists are incomplete.

Oh, but just to put myself on record, I think we will win ten games and uncover two (TWO) genuine rising stars of the game. Tyson, obviously, will be one of them.

Dead centre. 11 wins. 10th/11th place.

Rationale:

2014 MFC: 8.6 goals, 8.9 behinds, score 61 (score against = 89)
2014 AFL: 12.5 goals, 11.4 behinds, score 86

Kick 4 more goals per week and we are average

Hogan and Garlett provide new avenues.

Our backline is actually stronger with Lumumba and Frost for Frawley.

Pick 2 and 3 might give us a little extra something also.

PS It will be a cold day in hell before I give a rat's about what anybody in the media or on bigfooty has to say about this football club.

PPS We lost 6 by 20 points or less. Everyone seems to overlook that. That's a total margin of about 10 goals for the year being the diff between 4 and 10 wins. That's nothing. For starters, Hogan will kick 10 without breaking a sweat

Edited November 11, 201410 yr by Curry & Beer

14th

I'll reiterate what I put on the other thread on this matter back when

9th..with 111.11%

laugh...mock ...whatever.

The 8? No doubtful. Otherwise who t f knows.

if we can get a decent 22 on the paddock early enough and stay together they should be able to be competitive.

So much between the ears. We'll be a 5 player better team for starters...add in some stepping up.

The players will straighten up a bit with targets and knowing the plan better. i see no reason ( yet ) to be anything other than a little optimistic.

We'll be bottom 2 IMO.

GWS and Gold Coast will climb ahead of us.

MFC and St Kilda will be bottom 2.

Essendon is an unknown atm.

I don't see us making the 8 in the next 5 years.

We'll be bottom 2 IMO.

GWS and Gold Coast will climb ahead of us.

MFC and St Kilda will be bottom 2.

Essendon is an unknown atm.

I don't see us making the 8 in the next 5 years.

5 YEARS!?!?! that's going to make 13 consecutive year of no finals...can't see it happening...

I now think that we will win 9 games and be ready to have a real crack at finals in 2016.

The key is hogan and garlett to kick around 70 goals.

Tyson and viney will take another step forward.

JKH,Salem and toumpass will also help our team in the middle.

Then we have pick 2&3 to come in for some games.

I think our defence is strong with Harry O adding some much needed run from half back.

Max gawn will grab the number 1 ruck spot and have a real impact.

Then we have our captain jones who just gets better every year and some great leadership on each line with Cross( back) Jones & Vince ( mid) and Dawes ( forward ) to really drive the Paul Roos standards on field.

Then finally we have the best development coach for the young guy in Macca and Goodwin

Also another year under Paul Roos game plan will become stronger in 2015

9 wins is a realistic outcome for the dees in 2015.

GO DEMONS

I'll reiterate what I put on the other thread on this matter back when

9th..with 111.11%

laugh...mock ...whatever.

The 8? No doubtful. Otherwise who t f knows.

if we can get a decent 22 on the paddock early enough and stay together they should be able to be competitive.

So much between the ears. We'll be a 5 player better team for starters...add in some stepping up.

The players will straighten up a bit with targets and knowing the plan better. i see no reason ( yet ) to be anything other than a little optimistic.

In my view bb you are a bit better than " a little optimistic".

That looks aggressive to me but as you say "who t f knows.

We'll be bottom 2 IMO.

GWS and Gold Coast will climb ahead of us.

MFC and St Kilda will be bottom 2.

Essendon is an unknown atm.

I don't see us making the 8 in the next 5 years.

After 2014 I would say they are right now.

Don't think it will be five years but I cannot see it happening before 2017

I will be very dissapointed if we finish in bottom 4 again and will question my loyalty I doubt i would be alone thinkin ng this so we must win more games or as a club we are in serious trouble

Bottom 4 I'm afraid. I see the bottom 4 - 6 being very close on wins and percentage.

I can't see us winning many games looking at the draw... I hope my pessimism is completely wrong and I'm made to eat humble pie in large doses.

After 2014 I would say they are right now.

Don't think it will be five years but I cannot see it happening before 2017

gws has lost players... theyll fall back again

Chance to win 10 games

We won't make the 8.

I predict 6 to 8 wins max, which will get us to around 12th or 13th.

I think that's a realistic expectation. With poise and a bit more leadership we could've got about that this year. 2016 is where I'm hoping we'll start to push towards the 8. Of course next would be awesome!

Obviously the odds-makers cannot see much improvement in our side despite:

• Toumpas, Gawn and Salem all having done a complete pre-season

You say that like it's a given..

The more likely scenario is that Toumpas will do his appendix again and one of Gawn or Salem will contract Ebola.

100% top 18

14- 16