1 hour ago, DubDee said:

We should want/demand success now.  we have been looking to the future for too long - and we know the future doesn't often work out how you plan.

Making and playing in finals will bring much needed belief to the group and expedite our rise to being a quality team

Sometimes the present doesn't work out as you plan...

4 hours ago, 640MD said:

I enjoyed the ride this year,   as I did last year.   but the ending  leaves a sour taste in the mouth,   like a love affair.  Poor ending and don't really know how I feel.   Carn a DEES

I've hated it overall. It's been fun at times but some of the losses have had me angrier than I've been in a while. Freo, Hawthorn, North x2...Geelong and Richmond are hard to stomach in hindsight. It's been a Rollercoaster. I haven't enjoyed a season in a while..wish I could fast forward to to round 23 just so I know whether we're in or not.

4 hours ago, DubDee said:

We should want/demand success now.  we have been looking to the future for too long - and we know the future doesn't often work out how you plan.

 

Everyone wants success now, but supporters 'demanding it' (not even sure what this is, other than people being impatient and childish online) won't change the results of the next 3 matches, or change a thing about the way the club heads into next season.

We do need to take the opportunity we have now. Should we miss and go down fighting, I can live with that.

9 hours ago, Demons1858 said:

Got it ... lost it for a moment ... or more.

Yes we are unclicking at the moment as a team. But the ingredients are different these last 3 weeks. Easier draw, injured players are back having had a run, 8 day break, not travelling, and playing back at the home of footy. All pretty important drivers of success.

So its time to start clicking. We have no excuses and need to put our best foot forward.

Problem is we need to click this week. Because it's to late after that

On 07/08/2017 at 10:20 PM, At the break of Gawn said:

We'll know by 10:30pm Saturday night how big Sunday will be. Either Dogs and Dons will have to lose as I doubt they'll drop either of their last two. 

Agree.  If the Bulldogs and Bombers win, they will certainly win the last 2 games.  It's a crucial week.

54 minutes ago, praha said:

I've hated it overall. It's been fun at times but some of the losses have had me angrier than I've been in a while. Freo, Hawthorn, North x2...Geelong and Richmond are hard to stomach in hindsight. It's been a Rollercoaster. I haven't enjoyed a season in a while..wish I could fast forward to to round 23 just so I know whether we're in or not.

I tend to agree @praha and since those loses I have taken on board what my grandmother always used to tell me. 'Hope for the best but prepare for the worst'. I must admit I am getting sick and tired of always knowing I have to prepare for the worst, knowing that these last three games will see yet another season out for our wonderful club. 

1 hour ago, DemonWA said:

Everyone wants success now, but supporters 'demanding it' (not even sure what this is, other than people being impatient and childish online) won't change the results of the next 3 matches, or change a thing about the way the club heads into next season.

Yeah no sheet. I'm talking about the club as a whole. Culture and attitude play a massive part in all this

Pre season expected 12-13 wins.

When Gawn, Hogan etc injured, & suspensions thoughtmaybe 10 wins.

Performance rounds 4-17 getting us to 10-7 great effort when taking into account key injuries.

North round 18 just ugly!

GWS round 19 in pain, but at least they can play.

Games 20-22 we already look stuffed, but maybe the 8 day break helps, beat the Saints & maybe find a little confidence & form, then roll Lions & Pies!  At 13 wins with a spot in the 8 would be a terrific year!

Anything less will be disappointing, but injuries & tough travel drawer have hurt. Compare it to Port's season - hardly an injury, or Bombers soft drawer!

Finals & a win would be brilliant, but we have progressed this year. Only need another key back, key forward to step up and a polished midfielder and we will be very close in 2018!

If we miss finals this season, it's a failure full-stop. We should've made finals last year, this year we should be a top 6 team.

9 hours ago, layzie said:

We do need to take the opportunity we have now. Should we miss and go down fighting, I can live with that.

Worth repeating!

Couldnt agree more Dr.

18 hours ago, jnrmac said:

Exactly. As I said. 

But Hogan is not the saviour that many on here hoped for and hold out for. He's a good, smart player but needs to improve significantly in my view if this team is to grow.

FWIW I happen to think he will be better player when Weids is in the team regularly but our fwd line in general hasn't functioned very well when he has been the focal point.

I was trying to politely point out how tactless it is to simply waive away those life events (aside from the collar bone) in the critiquing of Hogan's year.

He either gets a pass for having a sick father, dealing with his death, and then dealing with cancer - or no-one gets a pass for anything in life.

16 hours ago, jnrmac said:

Not my point. We played better when those players were out iof the team

It is partly the same thing because when those players returned and were in the team they weren't much good because they were playing with a recovering injury. You may be right about when they were in the team before their injuries but not after. 

Edited August 8, 20178 yr by Skin D
.

On 08/08/2017 at 6:48 AM, praha said:

Flower was a league above Jones. Nate is half the player Flower was.

How many premierships did we win when he was in the team/captain?

To quote jackaub from December last year in the Your Expectations for 2017 thread:

"Sports bet have us at $23, tenth place behind Essendon. Go Figure!"

From my point of view, I believe that if we had not had the important player outs we have had this year, this thread would not have seen the light of day. 

7 minutes ago, Skin D said:

How many premierships did we win when he was in the team/captain?

You obviously were not around when R Flower was 

42 minutes ago, hardtack said:

From my point of view, I believe that if we had not had the important player outs we have had this year, this thread would not have seen the light of day. 

In my view if Vince and Lewis hadn't got suspended for irresponsible behind the play infringements leading to suspension we'd be sitting on 48 points and comfortably in the 8 with wins over Freo (Lewis) and NM (Vince).

That it was from senior players makes it even more galling, that Lewis is touted as an on field leader and coach setting examples for younger players is inexplicable. If we miss the 8 it will sit directly on the head of these two.

1 hour ago, rpfc said:

I was trying to politely point out how tactless it is to simply waive away those life events (aside from the collar bone) in the critiquing of Hogan's year.

He either gets a pass for having a sick father, dealing with his death, and then dealing with cancer - or no-one gets a pass for anything in life.

We all know what he has been through this year and I am not waiving away his personal circumstances. I love Hogan. Its just that he isn't the player we thought he might become - yet. Hasn't really dominated games and you just get the feeling he hasn't reached anywhere near his potential. 

His circumstances are certainly unique but he's not alone in that he hasn't reached anywhere near his potential. Salem is is another one. We can all see that he has the talent, skills and hardness but hasn't yet quite nailed it. They are young so there is time but we have had many players over the years that have shown these traits and not gone on to become A grade players. 

50 minutes ago, hardtack said:

To quote jackaub from December last year in the Your Expectations for 2017 thread:

"Sports bet have us at $23, tenth place behind Essendon. Go Figure!"

From my point of view, I believe that if we had not had the important player outs we have had this year, this thread would not have seen the light of day. 

We played better when we had all of the outs.

Just now, jnrmac said:

We all know what he has been through this year and I am not waiving away his personal circumstances. I love Hogan. Its just that he isn't the player we thought he might become - yet. Hasn't really dominated games and you just get the feeling he hasn't reached anywhere near his potential. 

His circumstances are certainly unique but he's not alone in that he hasn't reached anywhere near his potential. Salem is is another one. We can all see that he has the talent, skills and hardness but hasn't yet quite nailed it. They are young so there is time but we have had many players over the years that have shown these traits and not gone on to become A grade players. 

He kicked 80 odd goals in 2 seasons as a kid and then hasn't kicked on this year due to the issues outlined earlier in the thread.  He has played 8 games for the season, and even some of those had his father's illness hanging over his head.  

If he were to play every game next year and not show improvement then the points are valid, but I don't think we can talk about reaching his potential until he has been given the proper opportunity to reach it without the issues he has faced this year.

57 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

You obviously were not around when R Flower was 

Yes I was. We didn't win a premiership with him.

24 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

We all know what he has been through this year and I am not waiving away his personal circumstances. I love Hogan. Its just that he isn't the player we thought he might become - yet. Hasn't really dominated games and you just get the feeling he hasn't reached anywhere near his potential. 

 

Football becomes an escape in years like the one Hogan has had in 2017.

Certainly not a job that you can throw yourself into and dedicate yourself to - and that is how anyone improves in anything.

I don't think we can read anything into 2017 for Jesse Hogan.

1 hour ago, Skin D said:

Yes I was. We didn't win a premiership with him.

No that's right we haven't won a premiership with anyone for 53 years. Maybe go back and watch the final game of 87 and also the following finals, may give you a better perspective.

16 minutes ago, loges said:

No that's right we haven't won a premiership with anyone for 53 years. Maybe go back and watch the final game of 87 and also the following finals, may give you a better perspective.

I was present in the crowd at the 1987 preliminary final. It was exceedingly disappointing.

Edited August 9, 20178 yr by Skin D