We have to make the finals, either this year or next.

[Cassiew 1,903]

Know why? If we don’t, it will be the first decade since the 70’s The we failed to qualify for them.

[Rod Grinter Riot Squad 5,654]

This year.

 

No more excuses.

[brendan 3,446]

It will be this year, relax we got this 

[FarNorthernD 5,861]

Next year? Given where we finished last year, the age profile of the group, the number of games played but mainly because of the maturing talent at the club anything less than finals this year is a fail. The proverbial drovers dog should be able to coach this group to finals. This year. 

[mauriesy 7,418]

2019 is still in this decade, but I get your angst.

[Guest]

I think it has to be this year. PJ was initially aiming for 2016 so 2019 is a stretch.

While mental frailty was part of the equation last year as to why we missed, injuries also played a part. If we have a relatively clean injury sheet but still miss, conditioning, game plan and man management need to be looked at.

Edited March 11, 2018 by Colin B. Flaubert

[Cassiew 1,903]

22 minutes ago, mauriesy said:

2019 is still in this decade, but I get your angst.

?? I know, that’s why I said this year or next year. It’s 2018 right now 

[loges 6,767]

Next year ?

[jnrmac 20,287]

If we aren't one of the best 8 teams in the comp this year then we might as well give the club away.

[Hellaintabadplacetobe 4,297]

3 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

If we aren't one of the best 8 teams in the comp this year then we might as well give the club away.

Yep, last year's missing finals was pathetic,  it's simply unacceptable this year, would be a massive fail. 

[praha 11,253]

Hmm if we can't make finals this year, another mini rebuild might be in order. You would think the current crop has the foundation with a good amount of depth and veterans. Should we miss I imagine some tough decisions, even tougher than moving on Watts, would be made. 

Goodwin might also find himself under a bit of pressure.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

Definitely thread-worthy.

[sue 9,201]

3 hours ago, Cassiew said:

?? I know, that’s why I said this year or next year. It’s 2018 right now 

Actually some of us pedants would argue that 2020 is in this decade too.  But this year will do fine thanks.

 

[What 18,810]

Cant even bear the thought of not making finals this season.  It would be a disaster.

Any other club with this list and depth of talent would walk into the top 4 .   We will find out very soon if we have finally buried our demons and turned the culture around.

Edited March 12, 2018 by Petraccattack

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

4 hours ago, Cassiew said:

Know why? If we don’t, it will be the first decade since the 70’s The we failed to qualify for them.

Pretty amazing statistic isnt it........the 70s was bad.

[sisso 2,588]

I'm not sure I could cope if we missed the 8 yet again.....even though it does feel like it's never going to happen after last year 

[Hot as Hell 466]

3 minutes ago, Wadda We Sing said:

Pretty amazing statistic isnt it........the 70s was bad.

In just about every respect, other than being an MFC supporter, l loved the silly 70s.

Life was so much simpler and honest then, without computers and digital technology and BS in your face every blinking minute. 

Skyhooks playing on the Yarra, V8s everywhere, flares and a great pub scene for new bands, amongst other things.

Bloody Melbourne, l hated Saturday afternoons at the G. No wonder l lost so many brain cells on Saturday nights. 

[Cassiew 1,903]

3 hours ago, Wadda We Sing said:

Pretty amazing statistic isnt it........the 70s was bad.

Thank goodness I can’t remember it. The 70’s sucked. I loved the 80’s. Great memories for me apart from mum dying. Was the 70’s the Only decade we never qualified for the finals?

Edited March 12, 2018 by Cassiew

[Demons11 7,111]

MELBOURNE finished 4th in this years JLT comp and Richmond finished 4th last year, so I take that as the 2018 flag is ours. 

[leave it to deever 17,596]

6 hours ago, jnrmac said:

If we aren't one of the best 8 teams in the comp this year then we might as well give the club away.

Seems to have reached this point for many I think. 

But what are you going to do?

You know you should do something but.......

[leave it to deever 17,596]

4 hours ago, Hot as Hell said:

Skyhooks playing on the Yarra, V8s everywhere, flares and a great pub scene for new bands, amongst other things.

And World series cricket.

[jnrmac 20,287]

14 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

Seems to have reached this point for many I think. 

But what are you going to do?

You know you should do something but.......

Its non-negotiable. We will get to finals and we will win at least one.

[Uncle Fester 2,848]

1 hour ago, Cassiew said:

Thank goodness I can’t remember it. The 70’s sucked. I loved the 80’s. Great memories for me apart from mum dying. Was the 70’s the Only decade we never qualified for the finals?

From 1920 onward - yep (I don't know how they ran the finals before then. Round robin, I think). The 70's was the first decade from then that we didn't snag a flag too.

[praha 11,253]

5 hours ago, Hot as Hell said:

In just about every respect, other than being an MFC supporter, l loved the silly 70s.

Life was so much simpler and honest then, without computers and digital technology and BS in your face every blinking minute. 

Skyhooks playing on the Yarra, V8s everywhere, flares and a great pub scene for new bands, amongst other things.

Bloody Melbourne, l hated Saturday afternoons at the G. No wonder l lost so many brain cells on Saturday nights. 

I am certain I read an analysis that showed that, statistically, we were far, far worse between 2008-2016 than we were throughout the 70s.

Without GWS, and if you include having finished equal last on wins with the Saints in 2014, we would have "won" 4 wooden spoons over a 9 year period.

[Lord Travis 10,793]

We should have made finals in 2017. We have to make finals in 2018. Finals is the minimum pass mark. If we don't make finals I expect the club to refund all members and publically execute Goodwin.

There are no excuses. The off-field is finally in good shape. The playing list is top 5 in quality league-wide now. It now comes down to how well Goodwin and co can motivate the players consistently. It's as simple as that.