Have been rewatching the some old games on the AFL Live app on the IPad. I was watching our last win in 2014. Round 13 where we beat Essendon by 1 point. That games was more Essendon lost it more then we winning due to some poor goal kicking from them. We were able to grab momentum back when we lost it and hold on for the win. Round 13 2014

10 games later our next win Round 1, 2015 versus Gold Coast was a game where we truly beat our opponents down. They tried coming back but we had all the answers and we won convincingly by 26. Round 1, 2015

The improvement in our footy between these two matches was incremental and it was gratifying to see that the hard work come to fruition in the first game of the season. 

2014 was frustrating for us as I could see moments of good football surrounded by bad football. I could also see how it all has came together for the games we won.

2015 was less frustrating as those moments of good Football translated into 7 wins, but there were dark times also rounds 15, 17 & 21 (Essendon, Saints, Carlton)

But on balance I am excited to see how our footy has improved from the last win in round 23 2015 GWS and to see who we beat first up this season.

Roll on 2106 and Go the Dee's!

32 minutes ago, felixdacat said:

Roll on 2106 and Go the Dee's!

I know we have to be patient  but i hope we see a flag before then

Watching the last game last year against the GWS, I can't help but feel it was some sort of turning point.

TheGiants are probably slightly ahead of us , with a very talented list list, but our very young team , beat them and beat them well that day , and the future was on show with Hogan, Harmes ,White, Stretch,Viney ,Neal Bullen ,Oscar Mac ,and a few others really showing the footy world the talent we have got.

The last time I felt like that was when I saw a young group consisting of Stynes ,Lyon,Viney Scwarz etc, who went on to be a very good side.

Round 23 was a good win to get the monkey off the back at Etihad, to make a statement for the year and also to get one back on GWS, which became even more important now we play them in round 1.

But both teams were missing so many I don't think we should overreact to it. Mumford alone drastically changes that game, yet alone any of the other class players from both sides.

I think there were some lessons worth taking in terms of backing in the young players, competition for this upcoming season, rotating roles with various players etc.

The Geelong game gave me the most excitement. They were injured and rubbish but we controlled that game and with more confidence and talent (we had so many battlers in that day) we could've beaten them convincing. Which means this year we have to raise the standards again and believe we can win away games against top teams.

15 minutes ago, DeeZee said:

Watching the last game last year against the GWS, I can't help but feel it was some sort of turning point.

TheGiants are probably slightly ahead of us , with a very talented list list, but our very young team , beat them and beat them well that day , and the future was on show with Hogan, Harmes ,White, Stretch,Viney ,Neal Bullen ,Oscar Mac ,and a few others really showing the footy world the talent we have got.

The last time I felt like that was when I saw a young group consisting of Stynes ,Lyon,Viney Scwarz etc, who went on to be a very good side.

Because they had a full list....

As luck would have it we have them on our turf in about 11 weeks. 

Actually our first five : 

MCG - Giants 

MCG - Drug cheats

Blundstone - North

MCG - Pies

MCG - Tigers

3 wins at an absolute minimum, 4 is possible. 

Lets start the season well, then we've turned the corner and I'll get excited.

7 minutes ago, Georgiou R.R. Martin said:

Round 23 was a good win to get the monkey off the back at Etihad, to make a statement for the year and also to get one back on GWS, which became even more important now we play them in round 1.

But both teams were missing so many I don't think we should overreact to it. Mumford alone drastically changes that game, yet alone any of the other class players from both sides.

I think there were some lessons worth taking in terms of backing in the young players, competition for this upcoming season, rotating roles with various players etc.

The Geelong game gave me the most excitement. They were injured and rubbish but we controlled that game and with more confidence and talent (we had so many battlers in that day) we could've beaten them convincing. Which means this year we have to raise the standards again and believe we can win away games against top teams.

We will really know things have changed when the players know , and show it in their faces, not just winning a game by a small margin and being stuffed, but by

the not stopping we're going to bury them look. I can't wait for that look and impetus. Just like those Finals under Daniher.

Giants - win

Drugs - win

North - can we get beaten up again or will we finally stand up for ourselves?

Pies - win - their midfield is looking good and has s couple of years on ours but I think our back and forwards are better and can nullify their backs and forwards.

Tigers - we own them

 

The big question is when will we come to play every week? Having done it for years. So could just as easily be 1-4 or 2-3.

I'm so excited

I just can't hide it

I'm about to lose control

And I think I like it.

 

Well, tha't's what the Pointer Sisters reckon.

38 minutes ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

...

Actually our first five : 

MCG - Giants 

MCG - Drug cheats

Blundstone - North

MCG - Pies

MCG - Tigers

3 wins at an absolute minimum, 4 is possible. 

Lets start the season well, then we've turned the corner and I'll get excited.

That North game is the important yardstick in all of that.

I thought that last year for the first time we had North's measure. They jumped us in the first, we clawed our way back in the next two and outscored and outplayed them, then we ran out of legs in the last. We got our selection wrong (didn't Ben Brown get a few - five straight or something? - and we didn't have a match-up for him), and we got our structures wrong until we tightened up in the second and third quarters.

In 2016, we have to beat North (do we get a second crack at them, or is Round 3 the only time?). I don't think we're ready to beat the top 3 or 4, but we really need to beat more of the "pretender" teams like North & Richmond & maybe even Port & WCE if we're going to really move forward in 2016.

1 hour ago, Akum said:

That North game is the important yardstick in all of that.

I thought that last year for the first time we had North's measure. They jumped us in the first, we clawed our way back in the next two and outscored and outplayed them, then we ran out of legs in the last. We got our selection wrong (didn't Ben Brown get a few - five straight or something? - and we didn't have a match-up for him), and we got our structures wrong until we tightened up in the second and third quarters.

In 2016, we have to beat North (do we get a second crack at them, or is Round 3 the only time?). I don't think we're ready to beat the top 3 or 4, but we really need to beat more of the "pretender" teams like North & Richmond & maybe even Port & WCE if we're going to really move forward in 2016.

I had to check the match centre, couldnt remember, I know I didn't see the game as I was working. 

Thomas 5.2

Waite 3.1

Brown 2.2

Boomer 2.2

Higgins 2.0

and bloody Nahas with 2.0

+ a few with singles 

 

You make a good point with it being a yardstick game for us. Should (I know I know....) be coming of two wins while North play the Crows at Etihad the the Lions at the Gabba.

 

Edited January 10, 201610 yr by Bombay Airconditioning

7 hours ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

I had to check the match centre, couldnt remember, I know I didn't see the game as I was working. 

Thomas 5.2

Waite 3.1

Brown 2.2

Boomer 2.2

Higgins 2.0

and bloody Nahas with 2.0

+ a few with singles 

 

You make a good point with it being a yardstick game for us. Should (I know I know....) be coming of two wins while North play the Crows at Etihad the the Lions at the Gabba.

 

Nahas and Thomas got a couple of junk time goals when the game was over... I remember being annoyned as apart from the opening quarter we had played well and the final margin seroously flattered them and those two were snapping goals out of their ar $es

Really need to beat norf and the saints this year ..the  10 year winless streak against them is appalling... I can kind of understand the poor record against the  Hawks but the other two records are embarrassing... 

 

I've taught myself to go in to a season calmly. I'm not excited but I'm looking forward to it, if that makes sense. I've been let down way too much since 2010 and so it's easier to expect is to be mid-range then to set a higher bar for the club.

2 hours ago, praha said:

I've taught myself to go in to a season calmly. I'm not excited but I'm looking forward to it, if that makes sense. I've been let down way too much since 2010 and so it's easier to expect is to be mid-range then to set a higher bar for the club.

I hear you, imagine if "all" the players bought in like the supporters did....

I hate North.

I'd be far more excited if Petracca and Frost weren't injured.

For me, these are the types of payers who will take us to the next level.

16 hours ago, binman said:

I know we have to be patient  but i hope we see a flag before then

I believe 2107 will be our best chance for another flag as we don't want to put too much pressure on the players.

22 minutes ago, DemonFrog said:

I believe 2107 will be our best chance for another flag as we don't want to put too much pressure on the players.

now i am disappointed - I will be 148 years old in 2107 and am tipping that i will be a little too old to really kick up my heels after the premiership win.

If we don't win a flag before 2107 then very few over 20 will see another flag, but I think you ment to write 2017.

1 hour ago, nutbean said:

now i am disappointed - I will be 148 years old in 2107 and am tipping that i will be a little too old to really kick up my heels after the premiership win.

148 is the new 90.

3 hours ago, DemonFrog said:

I believe 2107 will be our best chance for another flag as we don't want to put too much pressure on the players.

Sounds a bit like the Terry Wallace 5 year plan at Richmond.  I'm sure they'd be happy with that 90 year premiership window . ..

17 hours ago, Akum said:

That North game is the important yardstick in all of that.

I thought that last year for the first time we had North's measure. They jumped us in the first, we clawed our way back in the next two and outscored and outplayed them, then we ran out of legs in the last. We got our selection wrong (didn't Ben Brown get a few - five straight or something? - and we didn't have a match-up for him), and we got our structures wrong until we tightened up in the second and third quarters.

In 2016, we have to beat North (do we get a second crack at them, or is Round 3 the only time?). I don't think we're ready to beat the top 3 or 4, but we really need to beat more of the "pretender" teams like North & Richmond & maybe even Port & WCE if we're going to really move forward in 2016.

the 2nd and 3rd quarters from that north game were our best 2 quarters for the year i reckon. we played unbelievably well and I think and hope it was a glimpse of what we are aiming for with playing and moving it quickly.

carn the Dees!  (Im excited too apparently)

19 hours ago, Akum said:

That North game is the important yardstick in all of that.

I thought that last year for the first time we had North's measure. They jumped us in the first, we clawed our way back in the next two and outscored and outplayed them, then we ran out of legs in the last. We got our selection wrong (didn't Ben Brown get a few - five straight or something? - and we didn't have a match-up for him), and we got our structures wrong until we tightened up in the second and third quarters.

In 2016, we have to beat North (do we get a second crack at them, or is Round 3 the only time?). I don't think we're ready to beat the top 3 or 4, but we really need to beat more of the "pretender" teams like North & Richmond & maybe even Port & WCE if we're going to really move forward in 2016.

Good point re brown, who do we have now, if anyone, who would go to him?

3 hours ago, Delusional demon 82 said:

Sounds a bit like the Terry Wallace 5 year plan at Richmond.  I'm sure they'd be happy with that 90 year premiership window . ..

Eggzactly and Jesse will only be 110 and still kickin 2 or 3 a game......still tho the rumours persist that he will go to freo after we win the flag...

13 hours ago, praha said:

I've taught myself to go in to a season calmly. I'm not excited but I'm looking forward to it, if that makes sense.   I've been let down way too much since 2010 and so it's easier to expect is to be mid-range then to set a higher bar for the club.

huhh, I've beeen doing this since the mid 90's..... & before 1983.

 

# hope had been  'all but'  extinguished by the time the 1975 season arrived

Edited January 11, 201610 yr by dee-luded

12 hours ago, Wadda We Sing said:

Good point re brown, who do we have now, if anyone, who would go to him?

I'd put McDonald on Brown and Dunn on Petrie