What gives you hope for next season?

[Knuckles 73]

On 8/23/2019 at 4:09 PM, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Aside from the cluster F that was the Sydney game, we haven't been too far off the mark since the bye round:

Fremantle - good win against a side on a 4 game winning streak (although they were down to 2 men)

Brisbane - good first half. Lost our way in the second half. Who knows what would've happened if Hipwood didn't kick 5 goals in 5 minutes.

Carlton - That win stacks up now, as underwhelming as it was at the time, 40 odd points up at one stage with T Mac kicking 6 goals in 3 qtrs. 

W Bulldogs - An 8 point loss against a team that has caught fire since the break is a decent effort. One of the rare games Lever and May played together.

West Coast - Another more than competitive effort against the reigning premiers, as we were in front at 3 qtr time. This performance was better than some of our (rare) wins. Again, Lever and May played together.

St Kilda - Bitterly disappointing performance to lose against what I consider a poor side but we lead with 10 minutes left, before our skills and fitness fell off the cliff. May didn't play.

Richmond - A meritorious first half going into the sheds on even terms. Kept the margin somewhat respectable.

Collingwood - Bitterly disappointing middle 2 quarters however had a rare good last quarter. Inaccuracy cost us dearly in this one as we lost by only 17 points.

Sydney - A disgrace.

Hopefully next year, the Dogs, WC, St Kilda and Collingwood losses are turned into wins.

I have been thinking this as well.

Also it needs to take into account how deep into our list we were looking to select a team each week. it was amazing we were even competitive when ANB, Wagners x 2, Stretch, JKH, Dunkley, Spargo and Chandler were making up over a quarter of our team over the second half of the season. 

At best we could carry two of this type of player but six or seven every week was just too many. The number of times their lack of skill, decision making, strength and experience stopped momentum was massive. And it is not necessarily a knock on these individuals, its simply that when you have so many depth players in the same team it is impossible to hold form for four full quarters. 

Not having a functioning forward line after the Carlton game didn't help either. 

Edited August 29, 2019 by Knuckles

[Surfer Dee 210]

Panic about us is completely out of control. Should have beaten Adelaide, Westcoast, North, Essendon and Bulldogs if it wasn’t for poor kicking for goal. Outrageously young team with serious injuries. 

The game got faster this year and our runners were injured. That will be addressed. Game fundamentals addressed. Fitness improved. Draft #3. Draw easier. I see us getting 10 wins easily. Hopefully improved polish and some grit will get us into the finals. 

[Colm 2,155]

I guess it’s a glass half empty or full thing. But I can’t get hope from all the games we had a chance to win but lost this year. Good teams with a winning mentality find a way to win. We seem to find a way to lose.  I remember hearing interviews with Tmac and Melksham in the days that followed finals win over hawks- both started their interviews along same lines ‘after hawks started well and scored first goal we felt oh no this isn’t going to be our day’. That’s a terrible mindset to have have and we clearly brought that mindset into the west coast final. 

My hope is that we bring in enough quality assistant coaches that help install a new mental togetherness and toughness, help reinvent our game style and skills. A good draft, good draw and big Max as captain would go along way too  

 

[binman 42,972]

On 8/23/2019 at 5:08 PM, Rusty Nails said:

We will know by about Rnd 8 or so in 2020 BBP.  8 months is quite a wait!

We'll know round one I reckon.

[Wrecker45 3,378]

Ooooze

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

1 hour ago, binman said:

We'll know round one I reckon.

[Deemania since 56 6,639]

On 8/24/2019 at 6:28 AM, beelzebub said:

Nothing yet. The same fools in charge

Ill wait and see what the makeup of the FD looks like.

If one bozo from the box comes out with idiotic idioms professing hard tough footy..or mentions "our brand" fair dinkum id be tempted to hit someone. 

Hardness, toughness are givens ffs. Its not a weekend  dance club out there. Brand..wtf..what is Brand. We've  been shown we play footy with all the verve and style of a Cornflake packet.We play like Fruitloops meets CocoPops and run out of NutriGrain by 3/4 time.

I actually  want to hear NOTHING from us. I want to see some intelligent  craft creeping into our game. I want to see the intuition  and inherent  skill of players exploited not snuffed out.

I want all the nqrs on a bus to anywhere. I want ONE captain. I want NO ONE coming back til theyvare fully fit and match ready. 

Sounds like a heady list. It isn't. .Its basic. Its how a proper club runs a team in the comp. Its something  we should try.

If not...refer...no hope.

 

Posited beautifully, beelzebub. A great deal of rational thought. 

[old dee 23,791]

I think we will improve quite a lot on 2019.

Why?

Because I am a Dees member, for  50 of the last 55 I have thought " next year year we will be better". 

Hope springs eternal. 

[binman 42,972]

One thing that gives me hope next year is the belief that surely our luck next year could not be as bad as it was this year. What could go wrong did go wrong.

I sincerely hope lady luck smiles on from now until October 1 2020 (and beyond).

Speaking of which i cannot wait unit this season is finished. 

[DeeSpencer 25,712]

FB: Jetta   May   Frost
HB: Salem  Lever  ######
C; Langdon   Oliver  #####
HF: Melksham  T Mc  #####
FF: Fritsch   Weid/Petty  ####
Foll: Gawn  Petracca  Viney
Int: Brayshaw  Harmes  and any of the rest of our depth players.

To bounce back hard I really think we need to fill 5 spots, with Langdon filling one. 

The Geelong team we beat in the finals last year added 5 new players to their line up and went from elimination finals to top of the ladder:

Rohan - trade
Dahlhaus - free agent
Atkins - mature recruit
Jordan Clark - first round draft pick
Miers - 2nd year player

All quick, all good 2 way players and a mix of skills. We've got guys like Lockhart, Baker and Chandler who could break out with good summers. We've got the chance to nail a draft pick or two. Skills will be important and especially at least one good goal kicking option but we don't have to work miracles to find the missing pieces to help the current team bounce back.
 

[P-man 13,366]

9 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

FB: Jetta   May   Frost
HB: Salem  Lever  ######
C; Langdon   Oliver  #####
HF: Melksham  T Mc  #####
FF: Fritsch   Weid/Petty  ####
Foll: Gawn  Petracca  Viney
Int: Brayshaw  Harmes  and any of the rest of our depth players.

To bounce back hard I really think we need to fill 5 spots, with Langdon filling one. 

The Geelong team we beat in the finals last year added 5 new players to their line up and went from elimination finals to top of the ladder:

Rohan - trade
Dahlhaus - free agent
Atkins - mature recruit
Jordan Clark - first round draft pick
Miers - 2nd year player

All quick, all good 2 way players and a mix of skills. We've got guys like Lockhart, Baker and Chandler who could break out with good summers. We've got the chance to nail a draft pick or two. Skills will be important and especially at least one good goal kicking option but we don't have to work miracles to find the missing pieces to help the current team bounce back.
 

I’ve seen enough of Lockhart to be convinced he’s the real deal. Moreso than Baker and Chandler. That’s not to say they couldn’t cement a spot but Lockhart would be a lock in my 22 to let him continue to develop at AFL level (same as has been the case with the young talent at Port and Geelong).

[AaronDaveyChipsAndGravey 390]

Being premiers

[DeeSpencer 25,712]

37 minutes ago, P-man said:

I’ve seen enough of Lockhart to be convinced he’s the real deal. Moreso than Baker and Chandler. That’s not to say they couldn’t cement a spot but Lockhart would be a lock in my 22 to let him continue to develop at AFL level (same as has been the case with the young talent at Port and Geelong).

I think so too and I was close to listing him as part of the side but at this stage he probably has to get his tank up and be more consistent both with the ball and defensively to lock down a half forward spot. There's certainly plenty to like with his hardness, speed and smarts around the packs.

 

[dimmy 1,307]

Jetta Frost Hore

Lever Petty Salem

Stretch Oliver  Dunkley

Petracca  TMac  Melsham

Fritsch Weid J Viney

Max Harmes Brayshaw

Jones  Lockart Hunt  Hibberd/ ANB/ Preuss/No 3(????)

• Dunkley and Lockart did not have preseason so will improve
• Petty is still a kid and will improve heaps (ala Wetering)
• HArmes could go back and Salem go centre as outside mid/ crossing with Melsham.
• Expect Trac to be a contested in the guts !!! Brayshaw getting it out and TRac making the play.
• Viney will forced to make decisions close to goal so will not hold things up around the ground. Plus will supply a lot of fwd pressure

My concern is the defence with Frosty the only Lock down bloke. Harmesy could do a job as could Jones

[P-man 13,366]

28 minutes ago, dimmy said:

Jetta Frost Hore

Lever Petty Salem

Stretch Oliver  Dunkley

Petracca  TMac  Melsham

Fritsch Weid J Viney

Max Harmes Brayshaw

Jones  Lockart Hunt  Hibberd/ ANB/ Preuss/No 3(????)

• Dunkley and Lockart did not have preseason so will improve
• Petty is still a kid and will improve heaps (ala Wetering)
• HArmes could go back and Salem go centre as outside mid/ crossing with Melsham.
• Expect Trac to be a contested in the guts !!! Brayshaw getting it out and TRac making the play.
• Viney will forced to make decisions close to goal so will not hold things up around the ground. Plus will supply a lot of fwd pressure

My concern is the defence with Frosty the only Lock down bloke. Harmesy could do a job as could Jones

No room for May? ?

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

One of our two major sponsors already signed up again (allegedly).

One to go.

[billyblanks35 33]

Our 2018 game plan works with the right personaell. We lost the personnel, so we adjusted the game plan. That didn't work. 

 

We need the balls to get the right personell and go back to the 2018 game plan. I know, huge call.

[spalding 1,128]

What hope? There is no hope. Haven’t you read the other topics?  apparently everyone is fighting with each other, the two afl quality players we have want to leave, and we are broke.

i hope I get my 2020 membership subs back if we fold before the season starts 

[Vineytime 847]

Watching the first qtr of round 1 replay vs Port, amazing how quick things can change, boys were on fire, playing great footy, yes I know we lost but reassured me we can do it, confidence, a big pre season and improved defensive structures will make a big big difference. 

[dworship 3,342]

On 8/23/2019 at 7:23 PM, praha said:

You know it's been a [censored] season when people put a positive spin on a 6 game losing streak. Fmd. We never looked like winning in any of those aside from the Carlton and Freo games, which were awful anyway. We were always going to lose the other matches. Open your eyes.

Don't need to, you have yours closed, get on board or f off

[dworship 3,342]

2 hours ago, spalding said:

What hope? There is no hope. Haven’t you read the other topics?  apparently everyone is fighting with each other, the two afl quality players we have want to leave, and we are broke.

i hope I get my 2020 membership subs back if we fold before the season starts 

You could always go lie on a desert isle.

[Richard Tionary 145]

Seeing Burgess' influence on the list.

Full seasons from Melksham (almost our most important player and one of the best half forwards in the comp, can actually hit a target going inside 50 and one of the best goal assisters in the league)

Full seasons from Lever and a tuned up May

Ed Langdon (and to a lesser extent KK) tearing down the wings

Bouncebacks from Guy Brayshaw, Sam Weideman and Tom McDonald (who had just started hitting his straps prior to going down)

Petty with a full offseason working as a forward 

Fritsch full season as a forward

Whoever we pick up in the first round (speed and kicking skills a must)

 

Jetta May Lever

Salem Frost Hibberd

Langdon Brayshaw KK

Petracca Tmac Melksham 

XXX Fritsch XXX

Gawn Oliver Petracca

Viney Harmes Vandenberg XXX

 

I have faith.

 

[DeeZone 9,843]

21 hours ago, dimmy said:

Jetta Frost Hore

Lever Petty Salem

Stretch Oliver  Dunkley

Petracca  TMac  Melsham

Fritsch Weid J Viney

Max Harmes Brayshaw

Jones  Lockart Hunt  Hibberd/ ANB/ Preuss/No 3(????)

• Dunkley and Lockart did not have preseason so will improve
• Petty is still a kid and will improve heaps (ala Wetering)
• HArmes could go back and Salem go centre as outside mid/ crossing with Melsham.
• Expect Trac to be a contested in the guts !!! Brayshaw getting it out and TRac making the play.
• Viney will forced to make decisions close to goal so will not hold things up around the ground. Plus will supply a lot of fwd pressure

My concern is the defence with Frosty the only Lock down bloke. Harmesy could do a job as could Jones

What about May.....????????????????????

[At Least I Saw a Flag 5,248]

Dead cat bounce.

[dimmy 1,307]

8 hours ago, DeeZone said:

What about May.....????????????????????

Sorry  must have assumed he would be injured. We have got more depth than I thought.