2 hours ago, buck_nekkid said:

just bounce the bloody thing....

Haven't the AFL changed that rule yet?

Have to admit, the hype around us is similar to that of the Eagles in 2005. They'd had an average year in 2004 and finished 11-11 in 9th place. Almost every prediction in the pre season had them finishing top 4 in 2005.

35 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I wonder, though, whether the club thinks this is considered an "acceptable risk". In other words, the club thinks the attacking gameplan will score more goals than will be given up going the other way. As long as we score more than the opposition, I don't really care how they get their goals. 

If last year is anything to go by, i think you maybe right. 

There was no perceptible change to match day tactics when we had those lapses. 

15 minutes ago, praha said:

Have to admit, the hype around us is similar to that of the Eagles in 2005. They'd had an average year in 2004 and finished 11-11 in 9th place. Almost every prediction in the pre season had them finishing top 4 in 2005.

yep, they sure were Flying HIGH around 2005.

 

'acker' couldn't understand it?   The Eagles running power. How strong it had become, almost overnight.

6 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

A good start to cliche season. Well done.

One cliche does not a summer make....

2 hours ago, praha said:

Have to admit, the hype around us is similar to that of the Eagles in 2005. They'd had an average year in 2004 and finished 11-11 in 9th place. Almost every prediction in the pre season had them finishing top 4 in 2005.

And they finished second, played in a GF and lost by 4 points?

5 hours ago, jnrmac said:

And they finished second, played in a GF and lost by 4 points?

Well yeah

8 hours ago, daisycutter said:

how about one goal at a time, ethan? 

One stoppage at a time?

20 minutes ago, small but forward said:

One stoppage at a time?

One possession at a time ...

13 hours ago, radar said:

My fear is we do the Cats in a thriller - then drop the Brisbane game

I've had many a sleepless night over the summer as a result of this. I even had a nightmare where we lost both and then had to face our biggest bogey team in North. I am an admitted MFCSS sufferer.

13 hours ago, BigFez said:

And all teams (particular the lower ranked teams) will think they're a real chance against us and bring their best.  The North Melbournes, Brisbanes, Carltons.  We need to smash these teams off the park so they don't get their confidence up when they play us.  They always seem to be 'on' against us because they know we are gettable.  That needs to change before we are a real threat.  Hopefully this year!

We were not able to crush teams in 2017 either. This has to change in 2018. Winning is one thing. Being ruthless and not letting up is where we have to take our game.

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

We were not able to crush teams in 2017 either. This has to change in 2018. Winning is one thing. Being ruthless and not letting up is where we have to take our game.

Agree. The great teams show no mercy and smash lower clubs. They also manage to win when not playing at their best.