How much will Melbourne improve in 2020??

[old dee 23,922]

42 minutes ago, Baghdad Bob said:

I don't know if Brayshaw played injured but it did look like it.  Perhaps it was just his rotten preseason.

But he hasn't missed a session of this preseason which indicates to me there was no longterm harmful effect from the decision to play him.  And who would you have picked?  Jordan, Chandler, Bedford?  The reality was in the last half of the season an underperforming Brayshaw was better than the alternative.  And the fact that he hasn't missed a beat in preseason indicates the Club knew exactly what they were doing given his medical situation, whatever that was.

Probably correct BB or was he just out of form. It has been known to happen to Good players in any position.

[RDBhero 68]

On 12/18/2019 at 11:39 AM, Accepting Mediocrity said:

Pretty much nailed it I reckon. I think we have enough talent spread over the rest of the ground to match everyone but Richmond.

On paper, there's a lot to like. I can't see us playing finals if TMac can't get back to something resembling his best. Structurally, he's as important as Maxy IMO. When he's on, we're a completely different team and the rest of the forwardline falls into place. I rate the Weid and Petty, but I can't see either of them having a comparable impact just yet. Jackson will probably be a few years off.

I can't remember feeling as absolutely clueless about our prospects for an upcoming season. I feel we are just as likely to finish top 4 as bottom 4. But it sure beats knowing for certain we'll be sh*thouse!

Its all about getting team 'connection' so the better preseason should really help.

[TheoX 1,222]

Not much if at all. None of speed, kicking skills or a nonexistent forward line have been addressed. Better hope for a blessed run with injury otherwise norf might be getting pick 1?

[Demonised 1,361]

One way for us to have a better year is for other teams to have a stinker. Any idea on which club could plummet?

[tappysquads 618]

37 minutes ago, TheoX said:

Not much if at all. None of speed, kicking skills or a nonexistent forward line have been addressed. Better hope for a blessed run with injury otherwise norf might be getting pick 1?

Speed- Langdon, Pickett, Tomlinson, possibly bennel 

Kicking- a whole team doing pre season helps, may elite, 

Forward- AVB, Tmac, Jackson, Pickett, possibly bennel, and a handful of others who either missed most of the year or didn't have a pre season.

 

[TheoX 1,222]

9 minutes ago, tappysquads said:

Speed- Langdon, Pickett, Tomlinson, possibly bennel 

Kicking- a whole team doing pre season helps, may elite, 

Forward- AVB, Tmac, Jackson, Pickett, possibly bennel, and a handful of others who either missed most of the year or didn't have a pre season.

Langdon cancels out frost speedwise, thought tomlinson was more an endurance runner than quick. 

Avb will be huge if he stays fit agreed, but a raw ruck and 67kg guy that barely gets a touch and rarely kicks goals at u18 lvl are unlikely to help our fwd line next year. Bennell will be a bonus if he gets in the park but we cant expect too much from him. 

Heres hoping for no injuries?

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,065]

 MCG home games:

Gws - 30/70
FRE - 80/20
Rich - 20/80
Port - 60/40
WB - 50/50
Coll - 30/70
GC - 90/10
St k - 50/50
Syd - 60/40
Carlt - 70/30

I say we go 6-4 in our home MCG games.
Need to then beat dons and hawks as away games.

8-5 at the G.
Need to then beat Saints at Marvel and then win 4 of 7 interstate to guarantee finals

[Fanatique Demon 2,660]

Thanks B-B-P. Good to see someone thinking about other clubs. We can improve all we like, but the other clubs aren't standing still. There's probably a similar forum for every club where people like us are talking about how much the team will have learned from last season and how they have recruited better players. They're hoping for fewer injuries, natural progress from their youngster and a tightening of the game plan. And they're probably predicting a top 4 finish. 

Comparing our players to those in other teams is one way of thinking about the quality of our list and our chances next season. Yes, it ignores game plan, injuries, teamwork and Goody's famous "connection", but it might invite some interesting discussion. So I am going to start a new topic about which of our players would be in the best 22 of 2019's preliminary finalists.  Please contribute.