Next flag that is. 

 

if anyone says we're closer than hawthorn tell em they're dreamin!

Tough to listen after one of them calls Tom Scully a better kick than anyone in our side.

I vote Dees.

We should be, but are we ?

Couldn't care less what these nuffies say. Last final we played them we won convincingly and also beat them last season.

End of the day it doesn't matter who is closer if neither eventually win.

Hawthorn don’t have the cattle to win a Grand Final. I think we do however I question if we want it enough and have the mental toughness that is required. 

Totally [censored] irrelevant question!

The real issue is how are we going to become tough/ good enough to claw our way above the likes of Richmond, Filth, WC, GWS .... ?

45 minutes ago, Luther said:

Tough to listen after one of them calls Tom Scully a better kick than anyone in our side.

Ed Langdon is a better kick than Scully.

24 minutes ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

Totally [censored] irrelevant question!

The real issue is how are we going to become tough/ good enough to claw our way above the likes of Richmond, Filth, WC, GWS .... ?

Out of the sides above, at least Collingwood and WC are running on borrowed time when you look at the age profile of the key/most talented players on their lists.  Richmond probably aren't that far behind in that respect either.  I'm not saying it's just going to happen, but I'm hoping that our developing talent is nearing its prime and we will start to dominate overtake the current power clubs as they fall away.  As Richmond showed in 2017, the transition between a side that's nearly good enough but inconsistent and one that wins premierships can be a pretty fine line.

Agree that Hawthon are irrelevant though.

Edited May 21, 20205 yr by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

57 minutes ago, Luther said:

Tough to listen after one of them calls Tom Scully a better kick than anyone in our side.

Salem needs some serious PR.  

Lol not even a debate we haven’t won a flag since 1964 while hawthorn wins them consistently each decade, anyone who says Melbourne is closer is kidding themselves 

3 hours ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

if anyone says we're closer than hawthorn tell em they're dreamin!

We're closer than Hawthorn with current lists...

They get more out of their players with better infrastructure, higher professionalism and.... a much better coach.

2 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Salem needs some serious PR.  

For sure, there is a bit of a gap in the stats!

I found the article to be quite interesting. Looking at our midfield with the inclusions of Langdon and Tomlinson and having May and Lever playing together on a consistent basis we seem to have the cattle to push upwards. More up than the wooden spoon I would think !!!. Now all we need to do is the bleeding obvious. Transition of the pill into our forward line.

Hawthorn have to win it in the next 2 years because after that their list is totally stuffed.  I think it is possible that they could win in that timeframe if everything goes right for them - they're at least equally as likely as us.  But we've got 5-8 good years ahead to pull it off.

 

Let’s compare Hawks have recruited Patton, Scully, Omera which didn’t cost much & with injury issues & Mitchel who won a Brownlow vs Melb Lever, May, Langdon , Tommlison. lever already done his knee, May come in poor shape  & we gave up a fair bit for them the other 2 are only in their 1st season. The question is we lost Hogan a gun forward understanding his issues nevertheless & we recruit  a defender in May , nothing against him but why? Don’t understand the strategy & risky expecting Macca a defender turned fwd with 1 good season??? Hawks strategy seems to be on target  though with risks in particular Patton x 3 knee recos.. based on history can just see it all working for them as much as I hate them! 

Edited May 21, 20205 yr by Hogan2014

None are really close. The top 4 seems to be set with Richmond, West Coast, GWS and Collingwood. Both can make it in the bottom half of the 8 with a host of other sides.

Biggest difference between the two teams in Al Clarkson. He knows how to coach a team, get the best of them and stay above the comp.

Goodwin hasn’t proved the ability to do that as of yet.

So much of the hope in our club depends on TMac either returning to form as a top forward or at least us creating a cohesion that means we kick a winning score. Our forward and midfield are on two different planets right now, doesn't help that our accuracy on goal is terrible.

1 hour ago, Pates said:

So much of the hope in our club depends on TMac either returning to form as a top forward or at least us creating a cohesion that means we kick a winning score. Our forward and midfield are on two different planets right now, doesn't help that our accuracy on goal is terrible.

Absolutely nailed it.

They’ll win first cos when the chips are down in a tight final - their way is to find a way to win. 
Great leaders - Graham Arthur, Parkin, Scott, Matthews, Tuck, Ayres, Hodge/Lewis/Mitchell. Coaches Kanga, Parkin, Jeans, Clarko 

19 minutes ago, radar said:

They’ll win first cos when the chips are down in a tight final - their way is to find a way to win. 
Great leaders - Graham Arthur, Parkin, Scott, Matthews, Tuck, Ayres, Hodge/Lewis/Mitchell. Coaches Kanga, Parkin, Jeans, Clarko 

Just like the semi in 2018 about time we all started looking forward we have them covered easy last time we played Tassie on a cold Friday night what happened? Time before ?Clarko has been unbelievable but the end is coming

5 minutes ago, Jack Russell said:

Just like the semi in 2018 about time we all started looking forward we have them covered easy last time we played Tassie on a cold Friday night what happened? Time before ?Clarko has been unbelievable but the end is coming

I know there is something to be said about being a one club coach, especially with his record. If hypothetically this year is another disaster, the only current coach I'd really be desperate for us to nab would be him.