What gives you hope for next season?

[Gawndy the Great 7,476]

2 hours ago, Rusty Nails said:

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

I reckon we will know by the pre season games.

 

[Cam Schwab's Whiteboard 209]

It can't get any worse... I think?

[Demon Dynasty 15,559]

14 minutes ago, CYB said:

I reckon we will know by the pre season games.

 

Very sketchy CYB.  Depends on who's in the team, who isn't and what stages they're at in their individual programs.

Rnd 6 is usually a reasonable block of games and should tell the story.

[Graeme Yeats' Mullet 6,296]

A full preseason, A clean out of coaches and 8+ likely list changes gives me hope

[Ethan Tremblay 28,427]

34 minutes ago, CYB said:

I reckon we will know by the pre season games.

In the past I would have disagreed but the last two seasons the pre-season games have reflected our form in the season proper. 

In 2018 we were AFLX champions of the world and had a good win over Norf (I believe it was) and the boys looked excited and full of energy. 

This year we were flat and disinterested during our pre-season games. 

[TeamPlayedFine39 8,177]

4 hours ago, 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.

And of course two weeks prior to that Weid misses a kick after the siren to win against Adelaide.

The reason we haven’t copped the media heat and scrutiny this season is because, as bad as we’ve played, we haven’t been annihilated week after week.

[titan_uranus 22,456]

2 hours ago, 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.

You really need to stop taking your anger and sadness out on people who see things differently to you. 

Whether you like it or not, nothing BBP said was wrong. 

We absolutely “looked like winning” the Brisbane and WC matches, and neither the Fremantle nor Carlton games looked as bad as you are suggesting (if we hadn’t had three injuries including TMac vs Carlton it’s completely reasonable to suggest we’d have won by 7+ goals).

2 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Sad isn’t it...

I would suggest the “sad” one is you, and anyone else like you who isn’t capable of seeing anything positive. 

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

I just reckon we’ll turn it around, and quite quickly. I’m hoping we will have learnt a lot from this year.

It may have been the recession we had to have.

We’ll get a good first rounder and should get a good draw. Hopefully we’ll not have 75% of the list either out injured or out of form.

A significant refresh in the coaching department, some minor tweaking with the list, and the end to complacency should produce good pre-season and a much more determined, hard-nosed approach next year.

The playing list lost its innocence this year. Next year, I’m hoping we’ll play with a ruthlessness that comes through having been knocked around a bit and having endured a few bruises in life.

This year could very well be the making of us.

 

Edited August 23, 2019 by Ron Burgundy

[kev martin 9,215]

Some of our problems are easy to see. Opposition scoring from turnovers, missing for certain times in games and conversion from the entries into the 50. If we have a good pre-season we should be able to improve in these areas.

We were close in a lot of our games making us more than a competitive team.

Next season opposition teams won't be setting themselves to beat us as we arn't a big scalp.

Our midfield is still strong.

Plenty of players with something to prove. 

Players shouldn't have such an interrupted season again.

Younger group got plenty of games at the highest level into them.

Easier draw next year.

More determined because of this years pain. 

Hopefully we will have many alternative game plans and are able implement them when required. This year we were too one dimensional as we were trying to just get the basics right.

[AllMyTeamsAreWank 563]

11 minutes ago, kev martin said:

Some of our problems are easy to see. Opposition scoring from turnovers, missing for certain times in games and conversion from the entries into the 50. If we have a good pre-season we should be able to improve in these areas.

We were close in a lot of our games making us more than a competitive team.

Next season opposition teams won't be setting themselves to beat us as we arn't a big scalp.

Our midfield is still strong.

Plenty of players with something to prove. 

Players shouldn't have such an interrupted season again.

Younger group got plenty of games at the highest level into them.

Easier draw next year.

More determined because of this years pain. 

Hopefully we will have many alternative game plans and are able implement them when required. This year we were too one dimensional as we were trying to just get the basics right.

Back end of the year we had clearly adjusted our style of play to try and hold possession and slow it down. You could tell the players just weren't comfortable with it and it looked slow and cumbersome. Overhauling a game plan mid year when you've already had the confidence sucked out of you from losing is basically like pissing in the wind. In some ways I guess it's better than experimenting on each other for the first time next pre season, so maybe that's a silver lining. 

I'm of the belief that with a few decent pick ups and hopefully a full pre season we will turn it around. I just worry we don't have the cattle to run this game style. If we find a balance between crash & bash and possession footy maybe we can bounce back strong, because I don't think we can overly favour one style over the other. 

I'm optimistic every year despite the torture. 

Edited August 23, 2019 by AllMyTeamsAreWank

[rjay 23,925]

What gives me hope is that Goody finally admitted we got it wrong this year.

That recognition is crucial and how we go about fixing it will see us bounce back in 2020.

...but the first step is always admitting you got it wrong.

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,246]

4 hours ago, 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.

What part of:

1) being 6 points up against West Coast at 3 qtr time 

2) being 8 points down with a couple of minutes left against an unconvincing  Dogs who couldn’t put us away 

3) being 3 points up against St Kilda with 10 minutes left...

meant we were always going to lose those games??? 

We were every bloody chance of winning those games.

Next year, our hopeful and anticipated improved fitness and accuracy will hopefully see us win those games.

Not to mention we kicked ourselves out of the WC (rd 9) and Adelaide games.

Edited August 23, 2019 by Bring-Back-Powell

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,246]

The loss of T Mac was absolutely shattering in a season that was bent but not yet broken.

We were showing genuine improvement when T Mac finally hit form against Freo and he was a genuine match winner vs Carlton. How many players can kick 6 goals in 3 qtrs of footy these days?

We could’ve won some of those close losses between rounds 17-19.

That’s why T Mac’s return to the side gives me hope.

[RalphiusMaximus 5,993]

There's far more room for improvement than there is for getting worse. 

[Jaded No More 58,135]

I’m getting married two weeks before the 2020 season starts. At least something good is going to happen next year for me. 

[titan_uranus 22,456]

4 hours ago, AllMyTeamsAreWank said:

Back end of the year we had clearly adjusted our style of play to try and hold possession and slow it down. You could tell the players just weren't comfortable with it and it looked slow and cumbersome. Overhauling a game plan mid year when you've already had the confidence sucked out of you from losing is basically like pissing in the wind. In some ways I guess it's better than experimenting on each other for the first time next pre season, so maybe that's a silver lining. 

I'm of the belief that with a few decent pick ups and hopefully a full pre season we will turn it around. I just worry we don't have the cattle to run this game style. If we find a balance between crash & bash and possession footy maybe we can bounce back strong, because I don't think we can overly favour one style over the other. 

I'm optimistic every year despite the torture. 

Agree. 

This pre-season I hope/pray that players train in their best positions and that is where we see them in 2020 - so Fritsch spends the summer in the forward line next to TMac and Weideman, Hunt forward, Petracca more in the middle, etc. I wonder how much of the 18/19 pre-season Fritsch spent in the backline/midfield or Hunt spent in the backline?

[beelzebub 22,225]

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.

 

[Bitter but optimistic 21,299]

Not much.

[Maldonboy38 5,930]

Going into 2019 season I actually felt optimistic and hopeful for the first time since Daniher left, only to have it violently deflated. Even by round 6 I was thinking "it will turn soon, it will turn soon", like some wearied battle cry from some arrogant military leader refusing to admit the truth.

So I refuse to engage in hope across the summer break. Apart from hope, my thinking about 2020 is as follows:

• I will renew my membership as usual because that is not dependent on performance. The club is its people and I am one of these. I am red and blue for life.
• The Club is in very good shape. Members, finances, personnel, vision, sponsors etc...
• Our list is strong, but we need some outside pace, and some elite kicking skills.
• Leadership needs a slap across the face and a boot up the a**e, but I believe Viney should retain the sole captaincy. He does need media training
• I remain a fan of Goodwin. Apart from easy goals against us on turnovers, his gameplan works. Our skills inefficiency is what kills it and makes it look as though it is not working.
• Skills training and 4-quarter fitness have to be the empahses on the preseason. Really. really disappointing how atrocious these 2 things have been this year.
• Most importantly, the HEART of the playing group has to alter. A hunger, a fierceness, a drive of some other kind has to emerge. Think of Hodge, Selwood, Barassi, Whitten, Voss - the heart of a lion. Not sure where this comes from for the Dees but we will be Preliminary finalists at our best unless this quality overtakes all else in the playing list.

So now I am saving for a nice bottle of 15yo The Dalmore Scotch, to watch some cricket sipping a wee dram or two, and watch another team (not and never mine!) win the AFL premiership. 

2019 - you can bugger off.

[Sir Why You Little 34,592]

12 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

You really need to stop taking your anger and sadness out on people who see things differently to you. 

Whether you like it or not, nothing BBP said was wrong. 

We absolutely “looked like winning” the Brisbane and WC matches, and neither the Fremantle nor Carlton games looked as bad as you are suggesting (if we hadn’t had three injuries including TMac vs Carlton it’s completely reasonable to suggest we’d have won by 7+ goals).

I would suggest the “sad” one is you, and anyone else like you who isn’t capable of seeing anything positive. 

Sorry. I don’t see anything positive in this lousy stinking 2019 season

My standards go a lot higher

[R.I.P. Troy 185]

A better preseason with fewer surgeries.

Better assistant coaches. Alan Richardson is a brilliant signing. More  like that please.

Fritsch playing forward all season, along with a fresh and firing Tom McDonald.

Nathan Jones playing for Casey. Or better yet, not on the list at all. If we must play him, it needs to be deep forward pocket and nowhere else.

[Pennant St Dee 11,324]

20 hours ago, Maldonboy38 said:

Going into 2019 season I actually felt optimistic and hopeful for the first time since Daniher left, only to have it violently deflated. Even by round 6 I was thinking "it will turn soon, it will turn soon", like some wearied battle cry from some arrogant military leader refusing to admit the truth.

So I refuse to engage in hope across the summer break. Apart from hope, my thinking about 2020 is as follows:

• I will renew my membership as usual because that is not dependent on performance. The club is its people and I am one of these. I am red and blue for life.
• The Club is in very good shape. Members, finances, personnel, vision, sponsors etc...
• Our list is strong, but we need some outside pace, and some elite kicking skills.
• Leadership needs a slap across the face and a boot up the a**e, but I believe Viney should retain the sole captaincy. He does need media training
• I remain a fan of Goodwin. Apart from easy goals against us on turnovers, his gameplan works. Our skills inefficiency is what kills it and makes it look as though it is not working.
• Skills training and 4-quarter fitness have to be the empahses on the preseason. Really. really disappointing how atrocious these 2 things have been this year.
• Most importantly, the HEART of the playing group has to alter. A hunger, a fierceness, a drive of some other kind has to emerge. Think of Hodge, Selwood, Barassi, Whitten, Voss - the heart of a lion. Not sure where this comes from for the Dees but we will be Preliminary finalists at our best unless this quality overtakes all else in the playing list.

So now I am saving for a nice bottle of 15yo The Dalmore Scotch, to watch some cricket sipping a wee dram or two, and watch another team (not and never mine!) win the AFL premiership. 

2019 - you can bugger off.

Really well articulated and pretty much sums up a lot of my thoughts.

Some will accuse us of having low standards, but each to their own 

[GCDee 3,012]

1) Misson not being around to mismanage our players.

2) Goody hopefully gets a kick right up the [censored] and realises if we start next year the way we started this year he is jobless. This could lead to him being less stubborn in the box.

3) We have higher than expected trade currency for this year. 

4) Fritta being played as a permanent forward and kicking 50 goals for the year. 

5) Refer to point one.... Getting our players back on the track and some continuity at team selection

6) Maxy becoming sole captain

[P-man 13,224]

+ Ed Langdon ?

[Demon Dynasty 15,559]

1 hour ago, P-man said:

+ Ed Langdon ?

Is it a done deal though P-man?