We have a particularly hard draw (assuming other teams perform as well as they did this year in 2019). If we make the finals again we will have done well hopefully top 4 then who knows. 

If we make finals next year given our draw we will have certainly earned it and will have consistently beaten some of this years finalists to get there. If we drop a couple games we should win (a habit that seems hard to break) things may get a bit tough

21 hours ago, willmoy said:

Just lost 50 goals plus gimme in Hogan, Gained a full back who can play, Does a good defence beat a great offence? i dunno.

Top four and see what happens with injuries..........

Lost 50 goal plus! Hogan has not kicked 50plus in a season.

I imagine someone will replace Hogan and they should kick a few. So it is wrong to say we lost 50 goals.  

Edited November 9, 20186 yr by ManDee
typo

Pass mark is realistically the same I set for last year... namely finals and win one final.

Expectations and hope are different but luck is so important. In our two final wins we should have blasted Geelong off the park by half time and against Hawthorn if Gunston had kicked 8:3 instead of 3:8... well.

We saved our worst performance for the prelim and it bought back memories of our GF's in 1988 and 2000.

I am confident about 2019 simply because in the home and away season we had little if any success against the top 8 teams yet we won well (Saints aside) against the other teams. If we can step up our performance and get some wins against the top teams a 17 or 18 game winning season is not beyond us.

Make no mistake the next two to three years as Brayshaw, Oliver etc hit their peaks are the best we will be for quite a while.

The draw is a [censored]. Given our opponents, if we finish in the 8 we'll already have improved on this year.

Let's not forget that in most of the home and away season this year, we'd hardly beaten anyone in the 8.

Incremental improvement will do.

Will finish in the 8 but anything more I can't predict. 14-8 or 15-7 for me.

We have a very tough draw and 12-14 wins will be a extremely creditable performance.  I think making the 8 is a pass.  We are building a body of work. Top 4 will be a bonus.

Edited November 9, 20186 yr by BillyBeane

Finals:  first hurdle to pass.  Means making the 8.

Double chance:  significant benefit.  Means top 4, much more difficult with our draw, and will be a big improvement on 18.

the big dance:  means winning at the right time, in good form, few injuries.  A distinction effort

flag:  wowee!  Smashing expectations.

21 hours ago, ManDee said:

Lost 50 goal plus! Hogan has not kicked 50plus in a season.

I imagine someone will replace Hogan and they should kick a few. So it is wrong to say we lost 50 goals.  

Define someone, they and few please......

47 minutes ago, willmoy said:

Define someone, they and few please......

I'm not sure where you were at the end of this season maybe in a coma?  Sam Weideman came in when Hogan went out and kicked 8 goals in 5 games, and goals in every game - all against high quality opposition, 3 of them finals matches.  That translates to 35 goals across 22 games.  There's a reasonable expectation that with another pre-season Weed will be even better next year.

My understanding is that Sam has just finished growing taller and has not yet done a full pre-season. He isnt even 22 until late June. It is fair to hope for a lot more each year from now. I was a convert, but those that know more than me, expect greatness.

 

3 hours ago, Fifty-5 said:

I'm not sure where you were at the end of this season maybe in a coma?  Sam Weideman came in when Hogan went out and kicked 8 goals in 5 games, and goals in every game - all against high quality opposition, 3 of them finals matches.  That translates to 35 goals across 22 games.  There's a reasonable expectation that with another pre-season Weed will be even better next year.

"Political" answer to a footy question by yourself, even in my dazed (ai "coma") state. I really think/hope you just could be right as so could i.....

 

I'd like to see us be  Pertinent next year without us being the only AFL club without a home training facility

On 11/8/2018 at 4:17 PM, willmoy said:

Just lost 50 goals plus gimme in Hogan, Gained a full back who can play, Does a good defence beat a great offence? i dunno.

Top four and see what happens with injuries..........

Our foward 50 operates more fluent with out Hogan. His goals will come from others. Exactly who? A number of possibilities. Our defence is now elite. Forward line is very dangerous. Now, ironically I think we lack that midfield depth weve enjoyed for a while.. 

7 minutes ago, Ithinkimgawnalever said:

Our foward 50 operates more fluent with out Hogan. His goals will come from others. Exactly who? A number of possibilities. Our defence is now elite. Forward line is very dangerous. Now, ironically I think we lack that midfield depth weve enjoyed for a while.. 

? Classic handle @Ithinkimgawnalever

 

The reward for finishing 4th rather than 9th is a tougher fixture list. That means a 2019 4th place finish means that the team has improved.

Having said that, MFC needs to aim higher. I am anticipating that Richmond (with the addition of Lynch) will finish top and be likely grand finalists. MFC is one of a bunch of 5 or 6 fighting for a top 4 finish. Achieve that and the chances of a prelim or better increase dramatically.

So targets need to be.

1. Don't lose games that should be won against lower teams
2. Become like Richmond at the G.
3. Steal a few away games that you are expected to lose.
4. Win those games against the other teams in the mix.
5. Finish top 4.
6. Target the first final. Makes it easier.
7. See what happens. 

I reckon 2020 will be the year. Think we might drop away next season.

12 hours ago, Aus in Engerland said:

So targets need to be.

1. Don't lose games that should be won against lower teams
2. Become like Richmond at the G.
3. Steal a few away games that you are expected to lose.
4. Win those games against the other teams in the mix.
5. Finish top 4.
6. Target the first final. Makes it easier.
7. See what happens. 

I think that sums it up, our success towards the end of year means we have a tougher draw, it means we are now judged against the best. Making the G a fortress is critical, we have to make teams fear playing us at home, we also can't allow anymore slip ups against lower teams. 

Target top 4 to get the double chance and go from there. 

On 11/10/2018 at 11:04 AM, willmoy said:

Define someone, they and few please......

Someone - a Melbourne listed player (probably Weideman) 

They - Weideman or other Melbourne listed players like Preuss or Frost, Smith

Few - more than one. 

I expect whoever takes Hogan's place will kick at least 1-2 goals per match. (Hogan 2.1) 

My point being that we are not 50 goals a season worse off and we will defend better. I expect our percentage to be better next season.

Make finals: Pass
Make semi-final: Credit
Make preliminary final: Distinction
Make grand final: High Distinction
Win grand final: Dux!

On 11/12/2018 at 4:35 PM, dee-tox said:

I reckon 2020 will be the year. Think we might drop away next season.

Woo hoo. 2020 here we come. 

On 11/8/2018 at 1:53 PM, Bring-Back-Powell said:

15 wins in the H & A.

Then a respectable loss in the prelim is my pass mark.

Wasn’t far off my pass mark...

Ohhhhh.............

drinking that 2018 bathwater was so wonderful

Now..............

On Monday, November 12, 2018 at 7:35 PM, dee-tox said:

I reckon 2020 will be the year. Think we might drop away next season.

Ĺ

A pass mark should not be what we are aiming for and why we will not be ultimately successful. For any real team anything less than a premiership and being the best team in the country, is a fail.

Edited September 2, 20196 yr by Mental Demons