https://www.sen.com.au/news/2018/03/06/dees-will-struggle-to-make-the-eight-again-blight/

Yeah, and probably thinks GCS will win the flag....

If you look at what he sais, it’s that we lack the experience compared to other sides - only eight 100-game plus players compared to Hawks’ 17 for instance

He’s not wrong that experience counts, but whether that puts us outside the 8 at the end of the season remains to be seen

Stupid stupid man. Who cares what he thinks. Irrelevant comment for press. Dragging up the dregs for comments.

Yeah ok. I don't like him. I know.

 

Cornes has us making the top 4?

yeah..... but he's a [censored]

 

and no i didnt bother reading it.... just going off the headline!

“Pretty important this. Melbourne only have eight 100-game players, Hawthorn have 17.

“That is a massive difference.

“It doesn’t mean you can’t win but I’ll guarantee you, you won’t.”

Just now, DemonAndrew said:

If you look at what he sais, it’s that we lack the experience compared to other sides - only eight 100-game plus players compared to Hawks’ 17 for instance

He’s not wrong that experience counts, but whether that puts us outside the 8 at the end of the season remains to be seen

I think we've got enough going for us to make the 8 even top 4 but the lack of experience in the playing group & senior coach could go against us in a serious run at the flag this season.

 

 

6 minutes ago, BAMF said:

“Pretty important this. Melbourne only have eight 100-game players, Hawthorn have 17.

“That is a massive difference.

“It doesn’t mean you can’t win but I’ll guarantee you, you won’t.”

That's the most stupid thing he has ever said, that does not guarantee you won't win, does he know we won more games then the hawks last year! makes his comparison look stupid

Perhaps I have been blinded by the Blight.  Most seasons past, I would have been (at best) 55% pessimist and 45% optimist.  However this year, I am more 40% pessimist, 60% optimist.  I see these ahrse hats calling out a single thing (resilience, not enough hundred gamers, or whatever) as a reason we will fail.  This year I see something different emerging.  I believe we have more talent, depth, star potential players, focus, game plan and focus than I have seen in 20 years.  

I will disagree with commentators like Blight, but remember all the years the Dees looked good and screwed the pooch.  I believe we will make the 8, and may have a crack at being a serious player in the finals if things go our way. (Please......)

14 minutes ago, BAMF said:

“Pretty important this. Melbourne only have eight 100-game players, Hawthorn have 17.

“That is a massive difference.

“It doesn’t mean you can’t win but I’ll guarantee you, you won’t.”

How many 100 gamers did the Hawks have in 2008? Crawford, Croad, Dew....

5 minutes ago, rjay said:

I think we've got enough going for us to make the 8 even top 4 but the lack of experience in the playing group & senior coach could go against us in a serious run at the flag this season.

Yep, we need finals experience but it would great for the group to win a final or 2 rjay ... of course we need to reach the finals but given a decent run with injuries,  we should do.

I'd rather the players take more note of those who reckon we won't play finals ... there's your natural motivation right there.  Talking up the teams chances from outside sources can be dangerous. 

We've got a lot of young players who simply need to concentrate on winning the next game in front of them.

I agree with him.  Have a look at our draw.  If we're anything at all like we were last season, we're going to drop some important games and be borderline for the eight. 

I have us romping it in for the flag.  

Get stuffed, Blighty.

35 minutes ago, buck_nekkid said:

Perhaps I have been blinded by the Blight.  Most seasons past, I would have been (at best) 55% pessimist and 45% optimist.  However this year, I am more 40% pessimist, 60% optimist.  I see these ahrse hats calling out a single thing (resilience, not enough hundred gamers, or whatever) as a reason we will fail.  This year I see something different emerging.  I believe we have more talent, depth, star potential players, focus, game plan and focus than I have seen in 20 years.  

I will disagree with commentators like Blight, but remember all the years the Dees looked good and screwed the pooch.  I believe we will make the 8, and may have a crack at being a serious player in the finals if things go our way. (Please......)

Tend to agree not sure what it is, but this year just feels different good run with injuries I see no reason a top 4 berth can’t happen, I have a good feeling about the year ahead, which is strange as I really hated the club and had enough after round 23 last year 

59 minutes ago, Demonland said:

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2018/03/06/dees-will-struggle-to-make-the-eight-again-blight/

Blighty is trying to give the boys a wake up call.

46 minutes ago, DemonAndrew said:

If you look at what he sais, it’s that we lack the experience compared to other sides - only eight 100-game plus players compared to Hawks’ 17 for instance

He’s not wrong that experience counts, but whether that puts us outside the 8 at the end of the season remains to be seen

That's right, we do.

46 minutes ago, MT64 said:

Stupid stupid man. Who cares what he thinks. Irrelevant comment for press. Dragging up the dregs for comments.

Yeah ok. I don't like him. I know.

 

He's trying to aid us.

47 minutes ago, Doodle Dee said:

Cornes has us making the top 4?

Cornes wants us to be complacent and over ego'd, thinking ahead of the season proper. And wants us to fail.

If you look at most experts opinions on us 90% are sitting on the fence no one has the balls to back us in, but that’s ok it’s how I like it 

That’s terrific Mal.

 

41 minutes ago, don't make me angry said:

That's the most stupid thing he has ever said, that does not guarantee you won't win, does he know we won more games then the hawks last year! makes his comparison look stupid

Pretty sure the Tigers had 11 by the time they made the grand final.

We have 8 right now. We will probably have 11 by the end of the season.

It doesn't mean anything. All that matters is which team is better than the other.

Can't wait for the real thing to start. The media are turning to the idiots to continue pumping out stories.

You can find a fun fact or statistic to support any argument you like. Preseason footy news is so full of this kind of thing. I put this right up there beside Champion data's 'Collingwood has the number one midfield' statistical analysis piece. 

Gotta sell news somehow...

5 minutes ago, DV8 said:

Blighty is trying to give the boys a wake up call.

That's right, we do.

He's trying to aid us.

Cornes wants us to be complacent and over ego'd, thinking ahead of the season proper. And wants us to fail.

Out of the 2, I feel confident which one is more likely to put the fire in the belly and I already think the steely resolve is already evident when you see them train. The other thing I'm starting to see is "Team first" and a desire to help and support that I haven't seen before. Belief is a wonderful thing and I think after the R23 loss they went away and said "that's not us"  as opposed to all and sundry who continue to doubt. That #log Robbo is a great case in point " I can't trust them" he says. Who cares, they only need to trust and support each other and it's these aspects I'm seeing more and more of.

I love stats too, but Blight is being lazy.  It's all numbers and zero analysis of the personnel.

In his myopic world Oliver doesn't win a B&F as a teenager with less than 40 games and Hogan doesn't kick over 40 in his first 20 games.

This is not a knock on Blight, because I agree that numbers paint a picture, but they won't tell the whole story.

I don't think we'll win the flag in 2018, but I do believe it's possible.

2019/2020 is far more likely.  !0 of our best 22 will pass the 50 game mark this year injuries permitting.  The future is bright.

Well what a wide sweeping statement without the appropriate research, thought Blight was better than that.

1993 Flag Essendon : 7 with 100 games, 7 with more than 50 games, 6 with less than 50 games (total 20 players)

1997 Flag Adelaide : 5 with 100 games, 9 with more than 50 games, 7 with less than 50 games (total 21 players)

1998 Flag Adelaide : 8 with 100 games, 7 with more than 50 games, 7 with less than 50 games (total 22 players)

2008 Flag Hawthorn : 9 with 100 games, 10 with more than 50 games, 3 with less than 50 games (total 22 players)

2016 Flag Bulldogs : 6 with 100 games, 7 with more than 50 games, 9 with less than 50 games (total 22 players)

2017 Flag Richmond : 11 with 100 games, 4 with more than 50 games, 7 with less than 50 games (total 22 players)

2018 Demons at end of home & away : 10 with 100 games, 10 with more than 50 games, 2 with less than 50 games (total 22 players)

Difficult to really make a valued argument that the Dees wont have the experience to make finals on the above comparisons.

Malcolm Blight - is not the messiah he is a very naughty boy!!!!

1 hour ago, BAMF said:

“Pretty important this. Melbourne only have eight 100-game players, Hawthorn have 17.

“That is a massive difference.

“It doesn’t mean you can’t win but I’ll guarantee you, you won’t.”

If you broke it down, there’s actually a few ‘weighting factors’ to take into consideration since the 70’s 80’s 90’s and 00’s - because the game has changed!

-Experience (major factor)

-Game Plan (major factor)

-Team Dynamics (major factor)

-Athletic Ability (major factor)

-Technical Execution (major factor)

There’s probably others to list, but just look at these elements alone. Let’s look at Vince, Lewis and Jones for example (all of which I love). There’s no doubt that their experience has counted for plenty over the years and certainly in recent times, but rarely have we won off the back of that element alone. In today’s modern and high paced game, athletic ability, the actual game plan, the teams (everyone gets a lick of the ice cream) cohesion and the technical execution in my mind, at least, have far more importance than the number of individuals who have 100+.

Absolutely nothing story, sorry Blighty, but Hunts (inexperienced) torp into the wind was better!!!