It is bewildering we are back to here again after that big thumping from Hawthorn early last year with seemingly a set of very similar issues.

16 minutes ago, ProDee said:

I hasten to add that I'm not ''panicking'' and think we'll come good.

However, my present feelings are like putting on an old comfy pair of slippers.

Not so comfy for me.
More like having stones in my boots.
And having the corkheads into me at work 2nd round in is great fun.

Edited April 1, 20196 yr by Fork 'em

don't think we've ever had an easy season that I can recall.

Even 1988 we won seven of the first 8 ( I was overseas and missed it) and then proceeded to win regularly with a few losses until ... yep we lost five straight and just made the final 5 on 13 wins.

And then there was ??? when we topped the ladder with two rounds or so to go and beset with injuries we lost every game

If we lose to the bummers then it will be time to hit the shed. 

Welcome back to the Daniher years.

The druggies will think they're a huge chance with us.
They always do.

4 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

don't think we've ever had an easy season that I can recall.

Even 1988 we won seven of the first 8 ( I was overseas and missed it) and then proceeded to win regularly with a few losses until ... yep we lost five straight and just made the final 5 on 13 wins.

And then there was ??? when we topped the ladder with two rounds or so to go and beset with injuries we lost every game

Yep. even when we've been decent, we've been a mental basketcase.
How 'bout 2001, when we went from Grand Finalists to 11th.

3 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

... or not making finals is acceptable to you.  If the former tell me how given our fixture.  If the latter, well I just don't know what to say.

There are no givens in sport, and much of what happens is beyond anyone's control (e.g. injuries/luck, your opponent's injuries/luck). Acceptable or not doesn't come into it. If as a club we do everything we need to to get to the finals, and we still don't, then so be it.

Though I still think many here are seriously underestimating the impact of our non-preseason. Not in terms of player match fitness (though that's certainly a factor), but in terms of team play. If training together as a team wasn't important, players could just train their fitness individually then meet up at the club before each match. What we're currently seeing is exactly what you'd expect for a team that has had limited time *together*.

Short pre-seasons never bothered the Dawks or Cats when they were swapping flags.

 

Edited April 1, 20196 yr by Fork 'em

6 minutes ago, Fork 'em said:

Short pre-seasons never bothered the Dawks or Cats when they were swapping flags.

 

Off season surgery to 12 of their best players would have bothered them.

I'm sure they had their moments.
Just never used them as excuses.

15 minutes ago, Fork 'em said:

I'm sure they had their moments.
Just never used them as excuses.

For Fork's Sake, @Fork 'em - ? = Is the MFC actually using this as an excuse? Or is it supporters trying to make sense of things? 

There is no doubt 12 surgery's is a factor... 

54 minutes ago, Fork 'em said:

Short pre-seasons never bothered the Dawks or Cats when they were swapping flags.

 

But then the AFL and AFLPA reduduced the player/club contact hrs even further this year.  Add that to our injuries.

I'm not looking for excuses, more so that it provides hope that we will dramatically improve our form over the next few weeks.

I still remember how many wrote us off last year after the late season losses to Geelong and Sydney, only for us to go on and convincingly beat West Coast and GWL to lock in a solid top 8 position.

Zip and 5 would be hard to make much of a season out of (although didn't Sydney make a GF from there a few years back?), but if we can scratch out a few wins from the next 4, then we give ourselves a fighting chance to have a good back end of 2019.

At a bare minimum we need to win 2 out of the next 3 I think to get back into the season 

6 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Mere words

That’s generally what commentators have to offer on the radio 

3 minutes ago, Smokey said:

That’s generally what commentators have to offer on the radio 

Yes, a constant stream...

3 hours ago, A F said:

Yep, unfortunately where I'm at now. It worries me that a reasonably level-headed and reasonably positive football fan like yourself is at that stage, but how can we not be, after years of pathetic performances. And until we are consistent for more than one year (and I wouldn't even say 2018 was a consistent year), I don't think the club and its stakeholders could possibly/reasonably expect the supporter base to act or feel any differently.

Its funny watching you [censored] in someone’s pocket who is trying to be positive around here after the way you reacted to me recently. Fascinating really. I was accused of all but high treason haha. 

‘Perhaps I’m slightly less eloquent, but my message was similar. 

Edited April 1, 20196 yr by Smokey

2 hours ago, Fork 'em said:

The druggies will think they're a huge chance with us.
They always do.

Let us hope they do, Fe`.  Lets hope they do.   We need a good bloody blue, and a win.  Like a rooot in the brush.   We need it.

1 hour ago, Fork 'em said:

Short pre-seasons never bothered the Dawks or Cats when they were swapping flags.

 

More available depth, combined with maturity. we are still building our list. still in progress.

 

I need to read a training thread so I can invest in some garbage.

2 hours ago, Fork 'em said:

Short pre-seasons never bothered the Dawks or Cats when they were swapping flags.

 

Geelong 2006 and Hawthorn 2009 beg to differ.

2 hours ago, Smokey said:

Its funny watching you [censored] in someone’s pocket who is trying to be positive around here after the way you reacted to me recently. Fascinating really. I was accused of all but high treason haha. 

‘Perhaps I’m slightly less eloquent, but my message was similar. 

It's the complete opposite of what you were saying mate. You implied a bunch of our supporter base has a lack of mental resilience if we have a problem with the loss. PD was saying something very different.

1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

Geelong 2006 and Hawthorn 2009 beg to differ.

I was thinking that today, the Dorks were banged up after a big campaign in 2008 so struggled in early 2009. The trouble with the comparison with MFC 2018 is that the Dorks managed to win a flag 2008 that they should never have won, not sure.

5 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

don't think we've ever had an easy season that I can recall.

Even 1988 we won seven of the first 8 ( I was overseas and missed it) and then proceeded to win regularly with a few losses until ... yep we lost five straight and just made the final 5 on 13 wins.

And then there was ??? when we topped the ladder with two rounds or so to go and beset with injuries we lost every game

2004 on top & lost last 4 rounds & then to essendon in the elimination final.

We just always struggle with staying dominate for long enough

2 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Geelong 2006 and Hawthorn 2009 beg to differ.

Cats won flag in 07 & 08 lost to Hawks

2 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Geelong 2006 and Hawthorn 2009 beg to differ.

Better example, how about Adelaide 2018?

Improved considerably in 2017 to make the GF, were most people's flag favourites going into 2018 but their pre-season from hell and injuries wrecked their year despite them having a list stocked with talent.

Our pre-season was not good and it is impacting our form. It's magnified by the new runner rule and no Lewis - we haven't trained together enough and there's not a lot we can do about it mid-match because the runner can't get out there to yell at us and there aren't proper leaders in the back or forward line (meanwhile Gawn is getting physically annihilated and Jones is likely too busy focusing on his form).