I actually think we're a sneaky chance to steal a flag this year. How's that for optimistic? The responses are predictable, but our best footy is as good or not better than anyone's this year, the harder-nosed teams are mostly languishing down the bottom, and we have home-ground travel advantage over the fancies. GWS are also as young and as inexperienced as us in the big dance. The problem is making the 8, and hopefully avoiding a trip to WA.  

As supporters we are still overlaying the past onto the future even though we have mainly new players/leaders (Petracca, Oliver, Hibbered, Lewis, Hunt etc) who were not part of the Melbourne past.

Goodwin has said many times we are a young team and still learning. He and the team new that if they were in the top 2/4 of the important stats & KPI's & been in a winnable position in every game this year then then most likely that when they had learnt how to do it for a majority of the game that a win may result.

On Saturday night it all came together. The team now has a full game example of what to do and how to play.

All this 'must win the next three', 'we dont win when we are favorites' 'the demon curse' etc is more a matter of supporter baggage than Maths. Let go and enjoy the ride up the sign wave.

 

1 hour ago, Skuit said:

I actually think we're a sneaky chance to steal a flag this year. How's that for optimistic? The responses are predictable, but our best footy is as good or not better than anyone's this year, the harder-nosed teams are mostly languishing down the bottom, and we have home-ground travel advantage over the fancies. GWS are also as young and as inexperienced as us in the big dance. The problem is making the 8, and hopefully avoiding a trip to WA.  

Yep, same same 1990

 

make the finals - play to best of your ability 4 weeks in a row. 

 

Not impossible 

Also despite major injuries and key personnel missing from our side , Gawn, Hogan,Brayshaw, Vandenberg etc. yeah we still believe we can win.

In fact....Since the beginning of the 2007 season till the end of 2016 season, we have made the 8, six times at the end of a home and away round. In 2011 we did it 5 times. Rnd 4 - 7th, Rnd 5 - 7th, Rnd 6 - 8th, Rnd 7 - 7th and Rnd 14 - 8th. Thats six times in 10years. We weren't in the 8 at all last year.

So far this year, we have been in the 8 five times, from 8 rounds. Kinda says something doesn't it.

 

http://afltables.com/afl/seas/ladders/ladderstbt.html#11

There's only one man to determine if we are positive enough.

Saty, the floor is yours.

On 17/05/2017 at 10:03 PM, Wadda We Sing said:

In fact....Since the beginning of the 2007 season till the end of 2016 season, we have made the 8, six times at the end of a home and away round. In 2011 we did it 5 times. Rnd 4 - 7th, Rnd 5 - 7th, Rnd 6 - 8th, Rnd 7 - 7th and Rnd 14 - 8th. Thats six times in 10years. We weren't in the 8 at all last year.

So far this year, we have been in the 8 five times, from 8 rounds. Kinda says something doesn't it.

 

http://afltables.com/afl/seas/ladders/ladderstbt.html#11

Yeah. It says we’re grasping at straws...

I felt like this in the Cats win two years ago when Max broke out. We were clearly improved, and improving. The next season I loved the look of the list and expected 10 wins which we got, including the Hawks win. Then this year Adelaide win... It's all up and up.

My only question now isn't are we going to be ok... It's what's the ceiling. Brayshaw + Trengove really hurt, as they're both great talents. And Will Jesse stay...

Haven't been this excited to follow dees in my life.

On 2017-5-17 at 10:03 PM, Wadda We Sing said:

In fact....Since the beginning of the 2007 season till the end of 2016 season, we have made the 8, six times at the end of a home and away round. In 2011 we did it 5 times. Rnd 4 - 7th, Rnd 5 - 7th, Rnd 6 - 8th, Rnd 7 - 7th and Rnd 14 - 8th. Thats six times in 10years. We weren't in the 8 at all last year.

So far this year, we have been in the 8 five times, from 8 rounds. Kinda says something doesn't it.

 

http://afltables.com/afl/seas/ladders/ladderstbt.html#11

Think about that all the time. I have fond memories of looking at the paper to see where we were at on the ladder and what we'd need to do in the next 2-3 weeks to maintain our spot. It's been that long since we were able to do that seriously. So I'm loving it this year.

8 hours ago, Chook said:

Yeah. It says we’re grasping at straws...

Um nooo, its says we are in a place we havent been for a long time.