My expectation is that if we start to string together some good form and push up into the top 8, all the media will start talking us up as the next WB.

Whilst I do think we will improve next year, I'm also one in the camp of being cautiously optermistic and realistic.  I'm thinking if we do make finals, I'll be somewhere on the spectrum between releived and elated.  If we don't make finals, I won't be totally supprised and so long as we don't completely capitulate or regress, I'm not sure I'll be all that concerned or dispondant.

I think I've seen enough good signs this year to indicate that we have the core talent, work ethic and solid coaching/off field support to set us up to make a really decent crack of it in years to come.  Sounds a bit cliche and perhaps I've been drinking a bit much of the Paul Roos bathwater, but I'm really more looking forward to a few years time, when we will find out if we have developed into just a good team capable of making finals or a great one that is capable of winning them and going all the way.

Other than that I do expect us to finally beat North and St Kilda and I'll take those as my moments of joy for the footy year. They say that every game is worth 4 points, but I think there is a bit of a physiological victory to be had in winning those ones which is worth more than just the 4 points, similar to the Hawks win this year.

I genuinely think we are capable of playing finals in 2017. I wouldn't call it an expectation because there are too many variables e.g injuries, but given a clean bill of health we should be there.

On 5 December 2016 at 2:23 PM, WAClark said:

I genuinely think we are capable of playing finals in 2017. I wouldn't call it an expectation because there are too many variables e.g injuries, but given a clean bill of health we should be there.

So much rests on Max Gawn remaining uninjured for the entire season.

 

On 6/12/2016 at 6:20 PM, Ron Burgundy said:

So much rests on Max Gawn remaining uninjured for the entire season.

 

I know whereas you are comming from, but I disagree in principal.

If we are going to become a successful side, then we need to develop ways of winning without a dominant ruckman.  Very few sides have a ruckman close to the dominance of big Maxy, yet there were around 10 that finished above us this season.  Even if he is fit and in form for the majority of the season, we will need to win games where Maxy is beaten/nutralised or has an off day.

2 minutes ago, Chris said:

How? If you win the first 22 you would surely be on top of the ladder, then it is 3 wins to the flag. Do you have us playing an extra game against the AFL all star team after we win everything? I would certainly be up for that. 

I very much doubt it Chris.  Too many hangovers amongst the playing personnel, coaching staff and Demonlanders for such an event to be viable.

Just now, Deeoldfart said:

I very much doubt it Chris.  Too many hangovers amongst the playing personnel, coaching staff and Demonlanders for such an event to be viable.

Deleted my original post as I saw it had been raised on page 2. 

I never said when the match would occur, maybe a Christmas eve extravaganza leading into Carols by Candlelight. We should all be over our hangovers by then, especially as turning up to Christmas lunch hungover or drunk is usually frowned upon, leaving Christmas lunch in that state is another question.