WARNING: POSITIVITY AHEAD

As we head into round four, we are getting an early indication of the lay of the land.

Prior to the season, many predicted the bottom sides to be some regulars of recent times in St Kilda and the Bulldogs, with Carlton to make a further drop as they finally come to grips with the state of their list. Whilst the Bulldogs have started a lot better than was predicted, a 70 point belting from the Hawks shows they are still a fair ways away and will struggle at times throughout the year with currently a very inexperienced 22. The other two have shown they will be bottom four material.

Added to these teams are some unexpected names:

- Brisbane, whose much hyped midfield has failed to make up for a lack of key position players

- Gold Coast, who have fallen off the perch in dramatic fashion with no immediate signs of recovery

- West Coast, whose B grade midfield is now coupled with an injury list that has exposed a lack of depth.

In total, that is six teams that it doesn't take a wild imagination to see us beating and finishing above on the ladder.

Then there are teams who could still push for finals but could just as easily finish mid table or below:

- Richmond, the perennial plodders

- Geelong, whose aura is finally diminishing with a heavier reliance on younger players, the majority of whom are yet to show much

- Collingwood, also a young team with some stars filtered throughout. A tough ask but far from impossible.

That's nine very beatable teams. You can throw in the annual upset against Essendon and it's ten.

We still look every bit a developing side, but the potential for this season to be one to make a jump up the ladder remains high. I saw getting out of the bottom four as the pass mark. That remains the case, but with the above mentioned teams and the possibility of an upset or two, I'm starting to think that a finish of 10-12th is very much a realistic aim.

Am I nuts?

Edited April 19, 201510 yr by P-man

If Roos can sort out the dysfunctional fwd line we can win games

If not we are still bottom 4

Jamar should have retired 2 seasons ago

We need mobile tall players

WARNING: POSITIVITY AHEAD

As we head into round four, we are getting an early indication of the lay of the land.

Prior to the season, many predicted the bottom sides to be some regulars of recent times in St Kilda and the Bulldogs, with Carlton to make a further drop as they finally come to grips with the state of their list. Whilst the Bulldogs have started a lot better than was predicted, a 70 point belting from the Hawks shows they are still a fair ways away and will struggle at times throughout the year with currently a very inexperienced 22. The other two have shown they will be bottom four material.

Added to these teams are some unexpected names:

- Brisbane, whose much hyped midfield has failed to make up for a lack of key position players

- Gold Coast, who have fallen off the perch in dramatic fashion with no immediate signs of recovery

- West Coast, whose B grade midfield is now coupled with an injury list that has exposed a lack of depth.

In total, that is six teams that it doesn't take a wild imagination to see us beating and finishing above on the ladder.

Then there are teams who could still push for finals but could just as easily finish mid table or below:

- Richmond, the perennial plodders

- Geelong, whose aura is finally diminishing with a heavier reliance on younger players, the majority of whom are yet to show much

- Collingwood, also a young team with some stars filtered throughout. A tough ask but far from impossible.

That's nine very beatable teams. You can throw in the annual upset against Essendon and it's ten.

We still look every bit a developing side, but the potential for this season to be one to make a jump up the ladder remains high. I saw getting out of the bottom four as the pass mark. That remains the case, but with the above mentioned teams and the possibility of an upset or two, I'm starting to think that a finish of 10-12th is very much a realistic aim.

Am I nuts?

Not nuts at all P-man, although we still need plenty to go our way to finish that high up the ladder.

Friday night will be a good test for us. We are back on our home turf against a side that I believe we aren't too far behind. If we can bring the effort from Round 1 and 3 into most of our games this season then we are a good chance of knocking of more teams than we expected.

Still a big if though.

Yeah Im optimistic, I think apart from whatever happened against GWS, weve done OK. The Ruck dept worries me the most. If we can get a few more forwards to fire a la round 1 then we will start to rise. WE are 1 game out of the eight, but some tough matches coming up. Hey we even went up a spot on the ladder this week....This side is way better than what weve had.

Yeah Im optimistic, I think apart from whatever happened against GWS, weve done OK. The Ruck dept worries me the most. If we can get a few more forwards to fire a la round 1 then we will start to rise. WE are 1 game out of the eight, but some tough matches coming up. Hey we even went up a spot on the ladder this week....This side is way better than what weve had.

Yeah,good post fella.

I also think the forward line has looked better this year and shows signs of kicking a score.

To help win Friday night we need who ever is playing on dance to take him away from the hole.

To help win Friday night we need who ever is playing on dance to take him away from the hole.

Dawes needs to get him the [censored] away from Hogan. Drag him to the fat wing if he can. That's just about as much as he can do for the team ATM.

Dawes needs to get him the [censored] away from Hogan. Drag him to the fat wing if he can. That's just about as much as he can do for the team ATM.

Hopefully he repeats this

Dawes needs to get him the [censored] away from Hogan. Drag him to the fat wing if he can. That's just about as much as he can do for the team ATM.

I reckon Rance will go to Hogan, Talia did, I reckon Rance will.

I reckon Rance will go to Hogan, Talia did, I reckon Rance will.

Hope not Gor.

Kind of sad that after only 3 games Hogan is acknowledged by the opposition as the no1 forward for us. Speaks poorly for Dawes if so.

it's clear the team now understands the game plan and their intensity at the contest is greatly improved. They also seem to be a much happier and united group - how that translates into more wins I don't know but I am sure we have started to turn the corner.

it's clear the team now understands the game plan and their intensity at the contest is greatly improved. They also seem to be a much happier and united group - how that translates into more wins I don't know but I am sure we have started to turn the corner.

Good point Chook.

It may be a case of everything 'clicking' so to speak - that could be Round 7 or 12 or 15 - but if we keep the effort and the unity up then it's bound to click for us and look awesome in the process.

Hope not Gor.

Kind of sad that after only 3 games Hogan is acknowledged by the opposition as the no1 forward for us. Speaks poorly for Dawes if so.

It says nothing about Dawes and everything about Hogan. He is already an elite contested mark - it's no indictment on Dawes that clubs want to play their best stopping defender on the player who leads the comp for contested marks.

I reckon Dawes is intelligent and pragmatic enough that he himself would laugh if you asked him who was better out of himself and Hogan.

Our midfield is so one paced it really worries me, we are stocking up on inside players but have no outside speed

We are 3 x 80-100 games players away from being a very competitive side.

If you believe the rumors, we are working hard behind the scenes to secure that type of player. Kelly O'Donnell is going to be a very busy boy over the next 6 months or so.

We might go close on Friday as the toiges have always had issues playing us at the G even when we're underdogs. But i would savour the win if it comes as i can't see us going beyond bottom four. And if you think we will leap frog out of the bottom 4, then yes i think you just might be joining this bloke P! ....

Edited April 19, 201510 yr by Rusty Nails

P-Man, don't discount the possibility that you can be both nuts and correct.

What I like about this thread is that after three rounds of football ,we (the supporters) haven't all given up on the season already. I like that. It makes a nice change.

We should have won 10-12 games last year.

Not winning that this year would be a failure.

Edited April 20, 201510 yr by praha

It's all about our (in)ability to take our chances when they arise. We are more competitive in the midfield, despite having a useless ruckman, so hopefully the days of 30 inside 50's for a game are over.

Garlett and Kent should do nothing other than take goal kicking practice this week. Dawes should do nothing other than practising leading, marking on his chest, and kicking for goal.

The most important decision that the coach / selectors have to make this week is the second ruckman, because Frost is not (currently) the answer.

I am looking at the fixture differently than I was a month ago - we have played 10 quarters of AFL footy and it is heartening.

Keep up the focus and intensity at that rate for the rest of the year and we will be an AFL team (as opposed to what we have been) and we will win games of footy.

Our midfield is so one paced it really worries me, we are stocking up on inside players but have no outside speed

This is where the development of Toumpas & Stretch going forward is going to be important.

I expect in the offseason our recruiting team will focus mainly on Rucks and outside mids/half backs. Also wouldn't suprise me to see them look for another tall forward option from the state leagues as back up.

Not nuts at all P-man, although we still need plenty to go our way to finish that high up the ladder.

Friday night will be a good test for us. We are back on our home turf against a side that I believe we aren't too far behind. If we can bring the effort from Round 1 and 3 into most of our games this season then we are a good chance of knocking of more teams than we expected.

Still a big if though.

Actually it isn't our 'home turf', it is our third 'away' game in as many weeks! Notwithstanding it being a Richmond 'home' game, I am quietly confident that we can give them a run for their money despite playing 'away'!

p.s. We should never have opened the door and allowed Richmond, Collingwood, Essendon, Hawthorn and now Carlton take up residence in our traditional (& spiritual) home!

This is where the development of Toumpas & Stretch going forward is going to be important.

I'm not sure about Stretch but Toumpas does not add pace to our midfield.

What I like about this thread is that after three rounds of football ,we (the supporters) haven't all given up on the season already. I like that. It makes a nice change.

I actually think we can derive a ton of benefits from this season in developments terms win, lose or draw any of our games. Hopefully with the right trades and games into our kids - by the end of this year, we are ready to take the next step in regards to our playing group.

It says nothing about Dawes and everything about Hogan. He is already an elite contested mark - it's no indictment on Dawes that clubs want to play their best stopping defender on the player who leads the comp for contested marks.

I reckon Dawes is intelligent and pragmatic enough that he himself would laugh if you asked him who was better out of himself and Hogan.

I think it says a lot about Dawes that teams will send their best defender to a 3 game player instead of a premiership winning forward.

They know that Dawes isn't going to damage them even if they give him their second best, which is disappointing.