Whether or not you think we will make finals in 2015, it should at least be the AIM to make finals at the beginning of each season. To say our goal is to just make ONE final by the end of NEXT year is pretty poor PR if nothing else.

I don't think we'll make finals in 2015 but it's not a foregone conclusion. Lots of things can happen in a season, look at 1987, 1994, 1998 - why put a ceiling on things?

We are finally looking like a club that knows what it is doing rather than the laughing stock we have been for too long. To announce the aim to play a final in 2016 sits comfortably with me. To announce we aim to play finals this year after finishing 17th - smacks of stating a goal because it is an expected statement rather than acknowledging how far back we are coming from. Remember Schwab ( Hawthorns coach) stating that they were going to win the premiership ?

You can state goals that will have follow on consequences. I would like a goal to be that the games where we lead or are in the game in the last quarter we win - by extension, last year , that would have got us close to the finals.

I remember having this argument on here a few years ago when Jim Stynes said before one season that Melbourne "will not" make the finals. I'm a huge Stynes fan but he lost me a bit with that one.

I don't care what you say behind closed doors but, externally my belief is that you always say the aim is to play finals, every year. Yes, Jackson is being honest but keep that stuff to yourself and don't try and lower supporter expectations.

Clint we are going to disagree on this one.

IMO he was stating the bleeding obvious

The MFC started season 2013 as a VFL standard Team on and off the field.

It is a long way back from that position that will not be cured in one or two seasons.

We are finally looking like a club that knows what it is doing rather than the laughing stock we have been for too long. To announce the aim to play a final in 2016 sits comfortably with me. To announce we aim to play finals this year after finishing 17th - smacks of stating a goal because it is an expected statement rather than acknowledging how far back we are coming from. Remember Schwab ( Hawthorns coach) stating that they were going to win the premiership ?

You can state goals that will have follow on consequences. I would like a goal to be that the games where we lead or are in the game in the last quarter we win - by extension, last year , that would have got us close to the finals.

Amen nutbean

Hard work will get the results not hair chest statements.

That explains why we didn't have a game plan that worked.

We had 2 coaches controlled by 2 different Boards.

And development of young players was below par

Clint we are going to disagree on this one.

IMO he was stating the bleeding obvious

The MFC started season 2013 as a VFL standard Team on and off the field.

It is a long way back from that position that will not be cured in one or two seasons.

But what does saying it achieve?

Did PJ say we wouldn't make finals this year, or that the aim is to make a final by 2016? There's a big difference. If it's the latter, he's not necessarily placing any limitations on 2015.

Thanks to those providing reports for us interstaters.

Normally I would agree that making a statement that we won't make finals this year seems inconsistent with marketing 101. But given we've been so bad for so long any other statement would place unimaginable pressure on the club and in particular the players and the coaches. Yes, he could have said "We aim to make finals every year" or something like that, but that would just be seen to be the cliche that it is.

I'm interested that Plapp and Byrnes are on the MFC payroll. There's a lot to like about having that control...but I wonder if the real story is that Casey doesn't have enough money, or at least there's not enough confidence that it will continue to have enough money, to pay them for the 2015 season.

But what does saying it achieve?

It says to me that we have a thought through plan that gives us a realistic chance of finishing eighth in 2016.

Probably helps that it fits my thoughts

So a small amount of self justification involved.

Did PJ say we wouldn't make finals this year, or that the aim is to make a final by 2016? There's a big difference. If it's the latter, he's not necessarily placing any limitations on 2015.

Thanks to those providing reports for us interstaters.

That is my understanding P-man

He did not say Finals are out in 2015

I'm absolutely fine with PJ's comments. He has set high but achievable aims. Exactly what he and the club should be doing.

The Great Robert Flower said that he went into every single game thinking the team was going to win, otherwise what was the point of playing.

PJ is the opposite of Robbie.

His comments about playing one final in 2016 is a completely defeatist attitude. So basically this year is write off. According to PJ don't bother going to the games or signing up new members as we are still rubbish and we have no hope of making the finals this year.

After years of suffering inept displays on the field - generated by a poor list or not - and listening to "motherhood" statements from the previous administration, that were vague, poorly defined and a bit like listening to chalk squeaking on a blackboard, it is so refreshing to see people speak on behalf of this famous football club, who can articulate a vision and a strategy that is both practical and therefore realisable.

While participants on here may disagree on a range of issues, what is so different on here now is that I think almost everyone believes we have the right people in place - finally - which will make going to the footy as a Dees supporter, a far more enjoyable experience than in the last decade.

Well done PJ, PR and the Board.

The Great Robert Flower said that he went into every single game thinking the team was going to win, otherwise what was the point of playing.

PJ is the opposite of Robbie.

His comments about playing one final in 2016 is a completely defeatist attitude. So basically this year is write off. According to PJ don't bother going to the games or signing up new members as we are still rubbish and we have no hope of making the finals this year.

Are you for real.

Take a look where the team is coming from..PJ has said the aim is to make september action within 18 months of now.

That will take a lot of hard work.

So no 2015 is not a write off...Neither is instant (add water and stir) success

Edited February 4, 201510 yr by Sir Why You Little

After years of suffering inept displays on the field - generated by a poor list or not - and listening to "motherhood" statements from the previous administration, that were vague, poorly defined and a bit like listening to chalk squeaking on a blackboard, it is so refreshing to see people speak on behalf of this famous football club, who can articulate a vision and a strategy that is both practical and therefore realisable.

While participants on here may disagree on a range of issues, what is so different on here now is that I think almost everyone believes we have the right people in place - finally - which will make going to the footy as a Dees supporter, a far more enjoyable experience than in the last decade.

Well done PJ, PR and the Board.

That covers it completely iv'a

Now lets get on with it.

The Great Robert Flower said that he went into every single game thinking the team was going to win, otherwise what was the point of playing.

PJ is the opposite of Robbie.

His comments about playing one final in 2016 is a completely defeatist attitude. So basically this year is write off. According to PJ don't bother going to the games or signing up new members as we are still rubbish and we have no hope of making the finals this year.

That's drawing a very long bow I reckon. Imagine - PJ says, "enough of this, we are aiming to win the flag in 2015" Question from the floor - "How are we going to do that?" Answer - "Ah, I don't know, we just are"

Cue the headlines in the tabloids the next day, and the likes of Robinson and Denham's editorials. Not good reading I would have thought. Cast your mind back to the prognostications of Wallace at Richmond and Carlton's ludicrous motto; "They know we're coming".

Stupid and left both clubs open to considerable ridicule, both from the media and the footy public in general. "Defeatist"? Hardly!!!!! Just - and finally - a realistic, rational and achievable plan, both on and off the field.

The Great Robert Flower said that he went into every single game thinking the team was going to win, otherwise what was the point of playing.

PJ is the opposite of Robbie.

His comments about playing one final in 2016 is a completely defeatist attitude. So basically this year is write off. According to PJ don't bother going to the games or signing up new members as we are still rubbish and we have no hope of making the finals this year.

Well, your forum name would seem to be appropriate... a comedian.

There is a very big difference between being a defeatist and being a realist. The fact that he is saying we expect to play finals next year (without discounting this year, by the way), would indicate that he expects our climb up the ladder to start this year and so there will be plenty for supporters to hold onto in the mean time.

The Great Robert Flower said that he went into every single game thinking the team was going to win, otherwise what was the point of playing.

PJ is the opposite of Robbie.

His comments about playing one final in 2016 is a completely defeatist attitude. So basically this year is write off. According to PJ don't bother going to the games or signing up new members as we are still rubbish and we have no hope of making the finals this year.

What a lot of troll like nonsense. It hurt my brain reading it.

I went. PJ said the goals is finals or pushing for finals in 2016. He made no comment about this season at all. He put no limitations on our performance this year, no ceiling and not a hint of negativity.

Where is the defeatism? Why would this year be a right off?

People around me at the AGM were rapt in PJ's comments and far from defeatism the mood was triumphal.

But perhaps you are trolling. More fool me then for engaging.

The Great Robert Flower said that he went into every single game thinking the team was going to win, otherwise what was the point of playing.

PJ is the opposite of Robbie.

His comments about playing one final in 2016 is a completely defeatist attitude. So basically this year is write off. According to PJ don't bother going to the games or signing up new members as we are still rubbish and we have no hope of making the finals this year.

You have taken a comment from PJ and embellished. If we win 13 games, finish 9th and miss out on the finals by percentage and bad umpiring is this year a write off ? Are we still rubbish or will this be a dramatic improvement ?

I had the pleasure of talking a few years back to Robbie and he never ever said that he went into every game thinking the team was going to win - misquoted. He said that he went into every game thinking the team COULD win. There is a huge distinction there.

Your argument by extension is that we should not aim to just to make the finals but win the premiership every year - nice sentiment but realistic ??? (nah)

Edited February 4, 201510 yr by nutbean

RE: Finals.

When Roosy took over we were basically at Expansion club level of performance. Imagine how silly GWS would have sounded by saying they would be playing finals their second year. In wrestling terms under PJ we have now entered the Reality Era.

I interpret the "finals 2016" statement as being, "We must have played *at least* one final by 2016". I'm certain they have an aim to be as good as they absolutely can this year.

Bit late on this but surely the notion of aiming to play finals in 2016 does not preclude one from doing so in 2015 if form allows. People need to listen and understand instead of just hearing what suits their own biases.

RE: Finals.

When Roosy took over we were basically at Expansion club level of performance. Imagine how silly GWS would have sounded by saying they would be playing finals their second year. In wrestling terms under PJ we have now entered the Reality Era.

Funny you should mention this but I'm pretty sure 'Gubby' said they would win a flag in 2015.

Yep he did..

http://aflfeeds.com/article/gws_predicts_2015_premiership_success

Funny you should mention this but I'm pretty sure 'Gubby' said they would win a flag in 2015.

Yep he did..

http://aflfeeds.com/article/gws_predicts_2015_premiership_success

And how stupid does that look?

In the money section of last night, PJ mentioned $124,000 returned to the MFC from an insurance company. He said it was to do with an AFL investigation. I can only assume it was the tanking. Does anybody have any idea what this is about?

As someone else said, possibly Daniel Bell concussion related. Or possibly related to Dan Bates/ drug controversy? Very little was said about that other than Trengove had been given something for his foot and Bates was terminated. I vaguely remember the AFL were looking in to us over that.

RE: Finals.

When Roosy took over we were basically at Expansion club level of performance. Imagine how silly GWS would have sounded by saying they would be playing finals their second year. In wrestling terms under PJ we have now entered the Reality Era.

No one is suggesting this.

The wording is to be "aiming" for finals, not "will play" finals. There is a massive difference.