Everyone keeps telling me what a great list we have,and that we should push for the top 4, but I find it so hard to feel genuinely optimistic.

I guess it's because of the persistent heartbreak we've suffered over the last 53 years.

One thing I am optimistic about, is that once we have some good seasons,it will start a positive feedback, of more supporters, more members, less home game sales, more Friday night games,and a better deal from the umpires, due to more Demon crowd pressure.

A lot depends on injuries,and emergence of some players to elite level.

 

 

 

4 minutes ago, old dee said:

Its time TT

thank you, gough

Just now, daisycutter said:

thank you, gough

We are probably among only a few that understand dc.

Sorry but I could not help myself.

1 hour ago, old dee said:

We are probably among only a few that understand dc.

Sorry but I could not help myself.

Ah Hmm !!

Don’t know why, but I felt nervous before games last year. Never felt this before.

Im going to be a wreck sitting in the crowd come Rd1.

Despite the pathetic efforts to end last season, I'm confident the players will stand up and we'll be playing finals in 2018. Realistically we should be aiming for top 4, but finals is a benchmark considering we haven't partaken since 2006. 
- Our list IS top 4-6 in terms of quality.
- We are now stable off-field from a financial perspective.
- We now have good training facilities and more money than ever being poured into coaching and fitness staff.
- We have more supporters and members than ever rocking up to games and shelling out the cash to support.

If we fail to make finals in 2018 I'd consider it our biggest failure of a season since 2007. We're now 5 years into the Roos rebuild (of the rebuild, of the rebuild...) and barring major injuries to every single one of our key players, there is literally no excuse not to play finals this season. Top 4 is a successful season. Finals is a pass mark. Anything lower is an utter catastrophe. 

I know what you mean. 

On the basis of the following there is logically a growing expectation of this year being a breakout year :-

- linear improvement;

- the demographic of the team with a solid core of players reaching a competitive level of development; 

- the raw talent;  and

- what I believe is an excellent coaching panel with a gameplan that at stages last year showed it could beat the best teams.

However there are some intangibles we've suffered in the past two years that make me understand what you are saying. They might be cultural issues or maybe they were caused by too young a list. My three keys to correct for success are :- 

1. I reckon we've played 3 x 4 quarter games in the past 11 years. Dogs and Eagles last year. Hawks the year before. When we start playing 4 quarter games watch out. 

2. We've had too many games where we fade out and fail to close out games. 

3. The last two years we've had bad drop offs in the last month.

Maybe 2 & 3 can be explained by too young a list or maybe there's a more inherent cultural issue. Lets hope its the former and the list has reached a critical mass of physical and footy development. 

In my experience the transition from being grateful for any improvement to an expectation of good footy brings plenty of frustration and gnashing of teeth. (I'm being very restrained here). I was fractionally too young to remember '64 so my first experience of this transition was '86/'87 and we're in that window now for only the second time since '64. The competition is more even and plenty of teams around us are improving so there's no guarantees. 

My gut tells me the footy injury gods are finally going to shine on us and we are in for a big improvement but the logic of our experience as Dees supporters won't let that queezy feeling go away until its proved otherwise. 

Go Dees

 

3 hours ago, Tony Tea said:

Leicester, Cubs, Astros, Cronulla, Bulldogs, Richmond, Philly Eagles... the more these drought-breaking outsiders win championships, the less confident I am that Melbourne will break its drought.

As good as a drought breaking premiership is, what next for these teams? One and they're done? Screw that, I don't envy Footscray, look at them now! The more these drought breaking teams rise and fall, the more confident i am that when we finally break the drought, it won't feel like that big a surprise and we'll be the ones that have built a solid foundation that holds us in good stead because of the last 5 (or 50) years of toil. We'll be fighting for premierships over the next five years and beyond unlike any teams from that list above. Our list is starting to look more like Geelong of 2004-2007, than any of the last two years teams progressions, so no envy here!

we have all been let down and feel scared to dream of success ...  

well thats how I feel , I want to believe , I need to believe 

but i need to see wins , I need to see finals 

I believe we can do it but won't tell myself that yet !

 

Barracking for Melbourne is like staying at the Hotel California. You can checkout any time you like, but you can never leave 

I think we’ll be in for more of these sick in the gut moments over the next couple of years as the stakes rise higher, ....with finals .... prelims (and dare I say it grand finals). 

It’s now our time though , I just hope to god this football club takes its chance when it comes along 

13 hours ago, doc roet said:

Having been a Demons supporter since switching from Carlton under peer pressure from taunting school mates in 1964. I have been living with hope every year that the next year will be the one.

50+ years on and it hasn't changed, however this upcoming season has me feeling more than ever that we can take the next step and really give it a good shake, but I am torn between putting all my emotional energy into a team that has ripped my heart out,or giving it another shot. I guess it's nature's way of  warning my body.

Mate... don't buy in! I haven't coz I reckon we will finish 10th and blow another chance because of Bulltish loses to teams like Norf, Collingwood and an abysmal Freo!

Relax, we will find ways to stuff it up yet again!

Put hope into something real!

I've heard the Real Easter Bunny will make an appearance this year!!

12 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

I'm feeling it too.  Have been thinking there is huge pressure on the team to make finals this year.  As much as I think they are primed and ready to make the next step, the last few years and watching other teams like Carlton and Collinwood and North that were also said to be building over the past decade, but then only falter into mediocrity, tells me it's no certainty.

I'm really looking for this Melbourne team to mature into something solid and dominant beyond MFC teams of the 90s and put a consistent season from start to finish, stitching up a top four position and setting it's self up for a realistic crack at the big prize, rather than scrapping out the last six rounds just to scrape into the top 8.

I am a sceptical one sometimes and have been like that for the reason of following a team like ours.However l feel this time and l believe so that they are switched on and ready to give their everything.  Maturity and a real talented squad  is there. Proud to jump on board and take that ride.

15 hours ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

One thing is for certain doc, we’ll finish above that rabble Carlton. 

Thats a dangerous statement,  ET.

8 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

Thats a dangerous statement,  ET.

I like to live on the edge.

Richmond winning the flag has cheapened the whole thing for me.

I’ll be appeased If we win the flag and knock Richmond out of the finals series every year for the next five years.

15 hours ago, Lord Travis said:

If we fail to make finals in 2018 I'd consider it our biggest failure of a season since 2007.

I really do wonder what the implications of missing the finals will be?

8 hours ago, P-man said:

Richmond and the Bulldogs winning the flag has cheapened the whole thing for me.

Edited for accuracy.

25 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

I really do wonder what the implications of missing the finals will be?

That in its self could be the title of a new thread.

I know for me I would be out.

Just couldn't/wouldn't do it again.

That being said, even though my stomach is churning as this season approaching I reckon we will go close to the flag. 

Sorry Picket.

58 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

I really do wonder what the implications of missing the finals will be?

What do you think """ Sack the Coach """""   is always the implication

Then questions are asked at board level 

then embarssing silence when all are assured that t hey have full support 

Then sack the coach!!!!!!!

From the way this thread has rolled, i do get the feeling that many supporters, here and elsewhere, are committed, as are the players, to go along for the ride. Great enthusiasm and perspective...........

23 hours ago, daisycutter said:

i've been feeling sick in the guts for 53 years.......toughen up princesses

That is one hell of a case of gastro --- been to the doctor about it, DC?

12 hours ago, P-man said:

Richmond winning the flag has cheapened the whole thing for me.

I’ll be appeased If we win the flag and knock Richmond out of the finals series every year for the next five years.

Tigers and Dogs winning the flag is great for the AFL, means anyone who has few injuries, good draw, bit of luck and can put together a very good last 6-8 weeks is in with a chance for the flag.

Demons best players still seem better suited to 2019/2020 for a tilt at the flag, but finish top 4 this year and you never know! 

2018 shapes up as an exciting year, just a little luck and we are finals bound, and our best will get us in the top 4, go Dees!

Like Klinger when he tried to eat a Jeep to get a section 8.

I was reading on the AFL site the other day about the MCC’s top 5 anticipated games for 2018, and Melbourne are playing in two of them, same as the “power” (gag) clubs... and it occurred to me that we may be more progressed as a team and a club than I’d allowed myself to believe. 

I read analysis of our list, both on here and in footy sites, and many are genuinely bullish, not just about a couple of players, but a dozen with many already blooming... 

i fear to acknowledge it, but I’m starting to feel we may be on the cusp of something very special, and I mean more than the Doggies and Tigers of the last couple. 

 

18 minutes ago, PaulRB said:

I was reading on the AFL site the other day about the MCC’s top 5 anticipated games for 2018, and Melbourne are playing in two of them, same as the “power” (gag) clubs... and it occurred to me that we may be more progressed as a team and a club than I’d allowed myself to believe. 

I read analysis of our list, both on here and in footy sites, and many are genuinely bullish, not just about a couple of players, but a dozen with many already blooming... 

i fear to acknowledge it, but I’m starting to feel we may be on the cusp of something very special, and I mean more than the Doggies and Tigers of the last couple. 

 

Do you have a link to the article, PRB?