The season is now officially shot. We cannot even technically make finals. Everything is about planning for next year. At least we have found that Petty can take a strong contested mark and is only 19. His performance yesterday was revelatory. He could develop into anything.

Also we have found Hore who has become a key part of our remade back half.

Then there is Baker who has some serious pace and dash as he showed in the twos yesterday where he was a class above. And that's without counting Lockhart who is developing nicely.

There have been some gains amid the injury carnage. The rest of this year has to be viewed as an extended preseason for 2020. Look at it through that lens rather than what might have been if the footy gods had been kinder.

You can add that Frost has become a much more reliable defender, although we know he will provide a "what the..." moment in every game. And Salem has become more consistent.

This has been the year from hell, with a terrible pre-season, consistent injuries and extremely poor form resulting in the disaster we have right now.

My silver lining:

- Marty Hore looks a solid player

- Oskar Baker could be a great wing option

- Harry Petty looks to be a great key position prospect at just 19

- Hunt has got back in some good form

- We will most likely have a pick between 2-4

- We will get an easier draw next season

We better put any players with niggling injuries in for surgery early so we can actually get a full pre-season or I'll be [censored].....

I'm not convinced about Hore, and I think he and Lever will ultimately fight for one spot in the team. Neither is great one-v-one and you can't have two defenders running wildly into packs all the time.

Baker has some good qualities. Hopefully he gets another extended run in the seniors before the end of the year.

Lockhart will benefit from a full preseason, but there are already signs that we are coaching the innovation and dare out of him, as we have done with Petracca and others.

I've always liked Petty and am sure he will be a good player with some more time in the gym. I'm happy for him to play forward for the rest of the year.

I think it's pretty clear that 7-8 players simply aren't good enough and hopefully they will be moved on at year end. Our lack of depth was obvious to me last year, but it wasn't exposed to the level that it has been this year.

Having an easier draw is a massive boost to our chances of rebounding, but it doesn't guarantee anything. We barely beat GC17 and Carlton, and were thrashed by St Kilda.

The number 1 positive is the chance to add quality kids to the list. Hopefully we can find 2 or 3 who can step straight in and contribute on their way to being long term AFL players.

 

I think another silver lining, will be getting games into players in the back end of the season, so that they are raring and fit for pre-season.

Up until this point in time there's no doubt this season has been the biggest disappointment i can remember for some time. IMO the gains have been little to none. What I do hope, but so far seeing NO signs of happening is what the Bombers were able to achieve last year (and to some extent this year). They were able to scrap and fight and will themselves into some wins and momentum across the back half of the year even with finals out of reach in 2018. They came home with a wet sail and really built some hope and excitement leading into this year. 

Our season is dead and buried.. All I ask for is a bit of fight, to dig deep and to win some games of footy. Not just splutter along like yesterday and fall short.. We never looked likely yesterday. The emotion i've usually got bubbling away during a game was non-existent as the players at times look disinterested. 

How far we've fallen.. my concern is that our players won't have the drive to finish the year on a high. Which honestly will set a sour tone for the 2020 pre-season. (Sorry no gains here)

Might be a bit of a backhander, but my "gains" would be that the year has been THAT bad that significant change will now happen where it needs to, which may not have happened had we had another year with mild success.

Top 3 draft pick

Our percentage improved because we didn't lose by much

the gains have been very small.. the wreckage on the other hand

the problem is that when we thought we might get something out of the remainder of the season which would give cause for optimism in 2020 we are at best treading water if not slipping backwards.

Viney seems to be finding some form which is a late season plus

Depends how you look at it.

We have been able to blood a few players who have shown something this year.  While inconsistent, as younger and inexperienced players can, guys like Lockhart, Baker, Petty and to a lesser extent, Dunkley, have shown that they have the ability in the coming years to become good AFL players.  The problem is that they aren't really ready to be, but with the injuries and form we've had, we haven't had much choice.  

Another gain could be that we've seen enough of some players.  ANB surely moves on at the end of the year (although I have this sinking feeling that he'll be there in 2020).  Stretch and JKH will probably go as well.  We can look to let some go and fill in the gaps on our list as best we can.

The season has been a shocker, but I think we have the ability to bounce back next year if we get a clear run at it.

  On 14/07/2019 at 23:37, Collar-Jazz-Knee said:

This has been the year from hell, with a terrible pre-season, consistent injuries and extremely poor form resulting in the disaster we have right now.

My silver lining:

- Marty Hore looks a solid player

- Oskar Baker could be a great wing option

- Harry Petty looks to be a great key position prospect at just 19

- Hunt has got back in some good form

- We will most likely have a pick between 2-4

- We will get an easier draw next season

We better put any players with niggling injuries in for surgery early so we can actually get a full pre-season or I'll be [censored].....

Agree with Hore, Petty, Baker and Hunt. Add to that Lockhart who has shown a bit.

Salem has certainly stepped up in fitness and dependability and along with Hunt is about the only senior player to have improved. That is a real indictment regardless of the excuses. Maybe you could include Frost who has become a weapon albeit with some reasonably large flaws

We also learned a lot about players who are unlikely to be long term.

I'm well and truely over this season. only focusing on positives going forward.

It's great seeing the youngsters like Petty, Lockart, Baker, Hunt and Hore performing well, a more favourable draw will be welcomed, top 3 draft pick, a long overdue new fitness guru coming on board.

#happydays#2020

  On 15/07/2019 at 00:46, Lord Nev said:

Might be a bit of a backhander, but my "gains" would be that the year has been THAT bad that significant change will now happen where it needs to, which may not have happened had we had another year with mild success.

This. 

Our atrocious performance this season is going to force our hand to make important but hard changes and turn over more players and coaches than we would have had we had an average season.

You learn a lot from a season like this, and for me the biggest learning (other than injuries are a killer... duh!) is that we need to find some quality ball users and small forwards. We lack defensive pressure forward of the Centre and we also lack quality kicks and leg speed. 

I hope with an early pick we go all out to recruit a good kid and then work hard to trade in the sort of players we are missing. I also hope the club gets a good solid group of experienced coaches around Goodwin. 

Petty took a barely contested mark and drew a couple of free kicks. I’ve always been a fan but pump the breaks. He doesn’t have an athletic advantage as a forward - fitness is ok, speed is below par, agility is good but not great. I still think his future is as a CHB.

Lockhart and Hore are both useful. Preuss probably has use as a back up.

2 of the baby draft picks have missed most of the year, the other 3 have had decent development seasons. Bradtke doing enough I guess, this year was about getting him used to footy.

Fritsch tick, Baker probably a tick given no preseason, Spargo an awful year.

In terms of young talent time it’s not great but not a disaster. 

Fritsch is the only guy who looks like a top 10 in the side player any time soon, but if the rest of these guys are 18-28 on the list it’s not too bad. 

Theres a bias to the new toys but overall they’ve had a better year than the likes of Oscar, ANB, Stretch, the Wagner’s, JKH none of which seem salvageable. 

The likes of Hore, Baker, Lockhart, Petty have all shown they have what it takes ro succees at AFL level. I think Petty will be a beauty, and thats not off the back off yesterdays game. He reads the play well and has a really goos kick on him. Just needs to add muscle over the summer.

Not enough credit has gone to Lockhart. The bloke has played 11 games on the back of working as a labourer and having no AFL pre season at all. I would think with what he has shown so far his upside is quite high. Baker should be playing instead of Neale Bullen.

If the club was smart then you put a line across Alex Neale Bullen and Oscar McDonald and look at trading these guys out. JKH, Wagners, Keilty, Maynard, TSmith will all be delisted.

Stretch to stay on a 1 year deal.

Biggest gain is that we hopefully get to see the back of some plodder list cloggers!

  On 15/07/2019 at 05:02, dazzledavey36 said:

The likes of Hore, Baker, Lockhart, Petty have all shown they have what it takes ro succees at AFL level. I think Petty will be a beauty, and thats not off the back off yesterdays game. He reads the play well and has a really goos kick on him. Just needs to add muscle over the summer.

Not enough credit has gone to Lockhart. The bloke has played 11 games on the back of working as a labourer and having no AFL pre season at all. I would think with what he has shown so far his upside is quite high. Baker should be playing instead of Neale Bullen.

If the club was smart then you put a line across Alex Neale Bullen and Oscar McDonald and look at trading these guys out. JKH, Wagners, Keilty, Maynard, TSmith will all be delisted.

Stretch to stay on a 1 year deal.

While I am indifferent to OMac, I'm uneasy about dumping a young KPP that has room to grow. ANB is clearly not up to it but if Tmac and Jetta are any indication, then I think we can develop OMac into a solid player. He also showed in patches last year that he can be a very good player. At times he was even being lauded as a potential AA backman. The club has also indicated that they're developing him to build his strength. He's unlikely to go imo. At the end of the day he's a key defensive player with finals experience, that managed a few scalps towards the end of last year. He has always been a scapegoat for our troubles but any poor performance from him is typically a symptom of rather than a catalyst of our issues.

Edited July 15, 20195 yr by praha

my concern is that apart from our injuries many players have not progressed, and many have regressed - Spargo, Brayshaw, Oliver, Hibberd, Stretch, Hannan, , TMac, Weed, OMac, ANB, Fritsch, Garlett, Jetta. Salem and Frost the only big improvers. 

  On 15/07/2019 at 05:02, dazzledavey36 said:

The likes of Hore, Baker, Lockhart, Petty have all shown they have what it takes ro succees at AFL level. I think Petty will be a beauty, and thats not off the back off yesterdays game. He reads the play well and has a really goos kick on him. Just needs to add muscle over the summer.

Not enough credit has gone to Lockhart. The bloke has played 11 games on the back of working as a labourer and having no AFL pre season at all. I would think with what he has shown so far his upside is quite high. Baker should be playing instead of Neale Bullen.

If the club was smart then you put a line across Alex Neale Bullen and Oscar McDonald and look at trading these guys out. JKH, Wagners, Keilty, Maynard, TSmith will all be delisted.

Stretch to stay on a 1 year deal.

I always like the optimism that somehow players who apparently aren't good enough to be in team that is 16th on the ladder will somehow have trade value.

  On 15/07/2019 at 22:32, praha said:

While I am indifferent to OMac, I'm uneasy about dumping a young KPP that has room to grow. ANB is clearly not up to it but if Tmac and Jetta are any indication, then I think we can develop OMac into a solid player. He also showed in patches last year that he can be a very good player. At times he was even being lauded as a potential AA backman. The club has also indicated that they're developing him to build his strength. He's unlikely to go imo. At the end of the day he's a key defensive player with finals experience, that managed a few scalps towards the end of last year. He has always been a scapegoat for our troubles but any poor performance from him is typically a symptom of rather than a catalyst of our issues.

It helps put my mind at ease by applying this thinking across all of the players that have regressed this year and to be fair, Gawn is the only one who has continued to be a very good player in the face of this deplorable season. 

The catalyst lies somewhere amongst the game plan and team rules during match day. We’re a complete and utter shambles to watch and whilst I believe our skill level is questionable, I can’t accept the way we move the ball is ever going to result in a game style that kicks winning scores. Our football has gone from ‘chaos ball’ to absolute ‘uncontrollable ball’ and Goodwin has a lot to answer for let alone a a tonne of work in front of him this off season. 

  On 15/07/2019 at 05:02, dazzledavey36 said:

If the club was smart then you put a line across Alex Neale Bullen and Oscar McDonald and look at trading these guys out. JKH, Wagners, Keilty, Maynard, TSmith will all be delisted.

Stretch to stay on a 1 year deal.

Our forward stocks are so depleted that Tim Smith playing half a season is a far more structurally valuable addition than Stretch getting another year. Josh Wagner is decent enough half back depth that hasn't put much of a foot wrong.

Edited July 15, 20195 yr by John Demonic

  On 15/07/2019 at 22:49, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I always like the optimism that somehow players who apparently aren't good enough to be in team that is 16th on the ladder will somehow have trade value.

Did i say they have trade value? A club like Carlton and Gold Coast would give up 3rd round picks for these type of players. Adelaide or Port might look at a home grown boy like ANB for instance.

I'd even grab a 4th rounder at best for each.

You know you're struggling to think of any gains when Jayden Hunt's going to win the MFC leading goal kicking award with 25ish goals.

Players that have had career best years: Salem, Frost, Hunt (although he was probably better off half back in 2017) and possibly Gawn. You're not going to go far as a team when only 3 or 4 players are having career (or equal career) best years.

  On 16/07/2019 at 02:01, dazzledavey36 said:

Did i say they have trade value? A club like Carlton and Gold Coast would give up 3rd round picks for these type of players. Adelaide or Port might look at a home grown boy like ANB for instance.

I'd even grab a 4th rounder at best for each.

Sorry, Dazzle, I wasn't actually referring to you specifically, although I can understand why you might have thought so. It was meant to be a general observation about the schizophrenic approach to player value on Demonland.