7 hours ago, Good Times Grimes said:

It's nice to know that Roosy is thinking about finals as well, which hopefully means that we're not too delusional!

 

God Be Praised..The MFC should talk finals every year from now on. 

This club has been kicked and thrown around for too long

we have all witnessed it. 

 

I too just have the feeling that we have the foundations in place now.  I'm not sure we're quite ready for finals next year, but the year after, provided we don't suffer from some terrible luck with injuries or a Brisbane-style Mass Exodus, I think we should be right into the 5-8 bunch.  There's just that look of hardness about the team now that we've lacked for such a long time.  If we can keep that and add a little polish and firepower so we're not having those terrible 50 point games that hurt us so badly this year we'll be giving it a real shake. 

I'm thinking finals too, the only big question I have is who is going to kick us enough goals aside from Hogan and Garlett?

15 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

I'm thinking finals too, the only big question I have is who is going to kick us enough goals aside from Hogan and Garlett?

Geelong in 2015 was the 8th highest ranked for average game score at precisely 89.4 points per game (average score against 88).
Our average was 71.4 points (rank 16th).
That's exactly 3 goals a week.
Hogan is good for 1 more per week, for a total of 60-odd.
Garlett, kicked 40, you can't ask for more from a forward pocket..but if things click and we get more quantity and quality of inside 50s he could possibly get up to 50
Dawes surely can improve on 11 from 14 games. Put him down for another 10 to make 20.
Watts and Pedersen kicked 16 between them. They're better than that.
Can Petracca kick 15?
Weideman maybe 10?
Gawn surely will get more than 6
My point is 66 goals extra for the year is not that fanciful

note we have lost the behemoth that was Howe with 10 goals from 22 games (lol)

note: as an aside, we averaged 93 as a score against (rank 13th).
Port were 8th best in this regard with an average score against as 86 (they scored 91).

summary

port 91-86 (+5)

gee 89-88 (+1)

melb 71-93 (-22)

 

point?.. ummm.. 3 goal better side per week we play finals

Don't forget Kenty.

I'm quite bullish about 2016, although I think we are likely to see a far more even overall competition - a bit like the present EPL.

The reason for this is that five of the top sides had incredibly old lists in 2015 and at some point, old smart game-hardened bodies get niggles - so the likelihood of another injury-free lucky year for the likes of the Hawks, Dockers, Roos and Swans goes down.

Further to this the Saints, Giants, Pies and us are clearly developing teams that will be disappointed if they fall back.

Two of the top sides - Hawks and Swans - have already begun the process of getting rid of their oldies and I suspect are already worried about the style of attacking play displayed by the Dogs and Eagles and are seeking to replicate some of that defensive drive.

To me the two keys for us are:

1) whether Roosy has advanced his stoppage-style game plan to also include attach at almost all costs from defence.

2) whether Hogan, Petracca and Gawn can stay on the park - almost all other position can be covered given our improved depth.

As to my ladder. I know I'm way off what most of the conservative judges reckon because it's a lot simpler to just say - same as last year - but for what it's worth:

Sydney: Have already rebuilt and provided Buddy's depression/drug problem doesn't impact and Heeney, Mills don't get injured, will have the spark to challenge again.

W.Bulldogs: One year ahead of everybody else with their gung-ho style although Tom Boyd's a huge problem and could undo the club's major progress if he doesn't step up this year.

Hawthorn: They've already lost three of their premiership side - Hale, Lake, Suckling - and Mitchell's getting even slower but you can tell Clarko has started his defensive regeneration with an eye on the Bulldogs style.

Fremantle: It's third time lucky for Ross the boss with Bennell (Lovell 1, Sylvia 2) or maybe it will be three strikes and you're out. Either way they have kept all the old boys except McPharlin and are hoping that Pav can flourish again. Fyfe may well have to play forward. If he does, they will be dangerous.

Collingwood: I reckon we'll have a battle with our neighbour for most improved. Treloar, Howe are handy pick ups - don't rate Aish. The big question for them is the ruck and if their big American (Mason Cox) improves again, I reckon they may surprise everybody.

West Coast: They had a game plan forced on them because of a lack of tall defenders. But they have to figure out how to add MacKenzie and maybe Brown. Suddenly their press may not be quite as effective. Can Gaff, NicNat, Shuey and Wellingham have career years again?

Melbourne: I just reckon that we finally have the run to break lines and the depth to make sure we are never pushovers. And if Petracca and Hogan can kick as many as Healy and Jackson did in 1982, this could be our year.

Geelong: Perhaps it's because we beat them this year but I just don't rate their depth. Dangerfield will help them win enough games to sneak into eight and both Selwoods will be handy but give me a break if Murdoch, Lang and Cockatoo are stars. Enright is 34 and Bartell is 32 for god's sake. 

Big falls:

North: Eventually they have to play like the retirement home that they are. Key game will be our trip to Hobart to play them in Rd 3.

Richmond: They still have an impressive coach, but even he can't keep motivating them to overachieve and if Martin is banned, the pressure is right on Cotch and Lids.

Adelaide: Having lost one of the top four players in the game, it's a big ask for a new coach to get them up week in, week out.

I reckon we will win 10 this year, probably just miss the finals but be right in the mix for the 8 at the pointy end of the year.

On 12/7/2015 at 1:36 PM, CityDee said:

My expectation for 2015 was 8-12 wins so Ill say the same again , hopefully we beat the teams below us on the ladder , and 3-4 above us . Would leave us somewhere 9th to 12th and with a lot of luck the f word comes into it at some stage . Start well and be in the 8 for six weeks or so . Confidence builder , would do the world of good . 

To have any hope of real improvement we must start well and soundly beat all the teams currently below us.

Confidence grows and allows the possibility of beating better teams on the day.

Another 4 or 5 zip start will kill the momentum and lead to a dissappointing season with no evidence of improvement

There is talent on our list, but we simply don't have enough experience in our youngsters to expect massive improvement this year. When Gawn, Brayshaw, Salem, Petracca, Hogan, Stretch and this year's draftees are at or around 50+ games we will have a group that can match it with the best.

I think we will finish around 13-15 this year, hopefully with 8 or 9 wins. I suspect 2016 may be a more even season than 2015 outside the top 3 or 4 sides, so there may be only 4 wins or so between 5th and 15th.

Having said that, we are only a serious injury to Hogan or Gawn away from being a bottom two side. We have no depth in either position.

If we only win one game this year and that win is against North Melbourne, I'll be ok with that. Better be a shellacking though.

The points that Poita made are quite valid and reasonable in the context of next years final position.

There are other factors that could play a role too, being that we seemed to have game plan  inconsistency with implementation, and still a definite lack

of concentration to quell run on's.

The ability to optimize "run and carry" will stem from a slightly different and faster Backline next year as well, so this could well be where things

need to be up and about.

 

2 hours ago, poita said:

Having said that, we are only a serious injury to Hogan or Gawn away from being a bottom two side. We have no depth in either position.

This is my biggest fear for next season. It is also why drafting Weideman and Hulett this year was so important in creating some depth at FF for the future. 

1-4 currently at 1.43% 

 

bleak.

 

* i voted 1-4

Edited December 15, 20159 yr by 3Dee

2 hours ago, Jesus Hoganshaw said:

If we only win one game this year and that win is against North Melbourne, I'll be ok with that. Better be a shellacking though.

I don't even want to go there!

Wash your mouth out.

 

Bloody Hell if Leicester can be top of the EPL a week out from Christmas then the MFC can make the 8 next year...

 

bye Bye Chelsea....

4 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Bloody Hell if Leicester can be top of the EPL a week out from Christmas then the MFC can make the 8 next year...

 

bye Bye Chelsea....

Sounds like you need to go and join in on one of Saty and Salem's conversations. Post a gun pic while you're at it, please.

34 minutes ago, Good Times Grimes said:

Sounds like you need to go and join in on one of Saty and Salem's conversations. Post a gun pic while you're at it, please.

Chelsea supporter Grimey??

1 minute ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Chelsea supporter Grimey??

Might be a job for Roosy there after he's done with us...

1 minute ago, rjay said:

Might be a job for Roosy there after he's done with us...

Chelsea have paid Cash for every piece of Silverware they possess, and by that i mean there is no substance at "The Bridge"

May it continue.....

48 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Chelsea supporter Grimey??

Nope, not really into the soccer. Just reminiscing about Demonland's good old days