Will you be satisfied with the Season of 2021 even if we lose the Preliminary Final

[Engorged Onion 10,215]

Will you be satisfied with the Season of 2021 even if we lose the Preliminary Final

[KysaiahMessiah 725]

We're on the path to a flag, or multiple flags.  This is the start, so yes.  But when you get this close, you need to make the most of the opportunity, as it is very hard to get to the point we are at.

[The Reverend 1,736]

I guess, in time, I would be satisfied, but the closer we get the more my expectations rise. I know I would be bitterly disappointed if we were to lose the prelim but I would get over it and accept that it was a pretty good year. However, if we were to win prelim and then lose the grand final I'd be absolutely devastated. There's a lot of MFCSS at play here.

GO DEES!

[Smokey 4,389]

Absolutely will be. Anything can happen on any given day of footy, and a loss in the prelim will not take away from the huge improvements we've made across the board. Of course this depends on how much we were to lose by. 

Don't ask me on game day though, my response will not be anywhere near as rational 

[Dante 2,739]

No

[KysaiahMessiah 725]

4 minutes ago, The Reverend said:

I guess, in time, I would be satisfied, but the closer we get the more my expectations rise. I know I would be bitterly disappointed if we were to lose the prelim but I would get over it and accept that it was a pretty good year. However, if we were to win prelim and then lose the grand final I'd be absolutely devastated. There's a lot of MFCSS at play here.

GO DEES!

It doesnt make sense I know but I think I'd be more devastated playing a Prelim against Geelong and losing, than making the GF and losing.  Its a reflection on my disdain for Geelong obviously.  To beat them twice in H&A and lose to them in a Prelim would be the pits

[Guest]

Very satisfied! We’ve gone way further than anyone ever thought we would. And I suspect this wonderful season is NOT a one-off. ❤️💙

[BDA 22,755]

Depends. If Geelong or GWS come out all guns blazing and beat us fair and square then i'll cop it. They are both capable teams and sometimes you get beaten by a better opponent on the day. We've had a great season no matter what.

If we waste our chances and kick 8-15 on the other hand I'll be frustrated as all hell

Edited September 3, 2021 by BDA

[Left Foot Snap 2,403]

If we lose like we did in 2018 to WCE, then No. If we lose a close one after giving our all and fighting to the death, then we just need to keep building in the same direction.

[DubDee 25,875]

If we get smashed then no.

If a close one, I would not be satisfied with the outcome of 2021 but I would be satisfied with the direction of the team

[DubDee 25,875]

The real question is:   will Goody review the game afterwards?   

this is critical to any future success  😂

[Ted Lasso 19,518]

I'd be bitterly dissapointed, we enter Preliminary final week with a healthy list, in good form and as the best side in the competition, any result other than a flag in my opinion would equate to a choke. 

I think at the start of the year i would have been happy with making the 8 but when you win the first 11 games or whatever we did, the goal posts shift.

[whatwhat say what 22,766]

no

it will be a massive opportunity missed

[TRIGON 4,783]

Voted no, but it's a nuanced no.

1. At the start of the year my primary concern was that if we didn't click now we may start to bleed quality players who'd go looking for greener pastures; we've managed to lock most (not all) key players into long-term contracts which bodes well for the future and that's a big tick.
2. However we have had a great run, for the most part, with the health of the list. This sets up an opportunity that is relatively rare and so it would be disappointing if it were to be squandered.

Edited September 3, 2021 by TRIGON

[drdrake 3,174]

If we do go out, after a 30 day cooling off and sobering up period, I would be satisfied for the entire seasons performance.  However, the bar has been raised, the standard has been set you can't cop a drop off in 2022.  The club just can't take the massive steps forward this year and drop out of the 8 next year, we need and deserve an extended period of finals that will hopefully include a couple of flags

[Gawndy the Great 9,011]

We are in the box seat:

1. Form

2. Health of playing list

3. Game plan.

If we can get to the big dance, then i might change my mind as anything can happen on the big day. 

But this premiership is ours to lose.

 

I don't think Port pose any threat give their form against top 8 is quite poor i think. Their win against the Cats was more a capitulation of Geelong more than it was the Port stamping their authority.  I think Lions / Dogs are the more likely team(s) to get through on that side of the draw. 

[furious d 464]

I’d be optimistic and excited for what’s ahead, but not satisfied. Only a flag will satisfy me

 

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,837]

Yes. Satisfied but not happy.

We were projected to finish outside the 8 according to many scribes, and most of us had us finishing 5th - 8th with a possible finals win. We've smashed those expectations and the next 5 years look very promising for this reasonably young but highly talented list. 

And despite what others think, I think we've got some stiff competition in Port and Bulldogs who schooled us in round 19 so it's not our flag to lose. Those two are our major threats. Not to mention if Geelong click on prelim night.

 

Edited September 3, 2021 by Bring-Back-Powell

[GCDee 3,199]

Sure at the start of the year if I was told we would be in another preliminary final I would have taken that. 

But the way this year has played out, we absolutely deserve to be there grand final day. 

[cantstandyasam 700]

1 hour ago, Engorged Onion said:

Will you be satisfied with the Season of 2021 even if we lose the Preliminary Final

No

[Pates 9,660]

I’ve said no. I think years down the track I would recognise this was an excellent season but this is far and away the best opportunity we’ve had in decades. To not take this chance to get into a GF would be a very bitter pill to swallow. 

[Sir Why You Little 37,039]

Not at all. Chances must be taken and seized upon when they arrive 

We will NEVER have a better chance at the “elusive” 13th than this one 

I will be furious if we have not broken The Curse Once and for all

[david_neitz_is_my_dad 4,083]

Making Grand Final is the pass mark. I wont say winning it is the pass mark yet as form and injuries can come into it still.

[titan_uranus 25,020]

If you asked people before the season if they'd take a prelim appearance, I suspect the majority would have said yes. It would be hard not to have said yes, coming off two seasons not even in the finals. Making a prelim qualifies for "going deep into finals", so it's pretty hard to top it other than by winning a flag. As is clear, we have demonstrated significant improvement in almost all facets of our game, as well as in what we do off-field.

However, given what's happened this year, there's no doubt many of us will be disappointed if we don't win it this year. There are no guarantees in football: the Dogs had one run at it in 2016, happened to grab it, and then didn't win a final for 5 more years. We've had an incredibly good run with injuries this year which may not be the case ever again. And we finished 1st having only lost 4 times all year. If we don't win it now, many will argue if we'll ever win it (although, to be fair, we missed a number of home games and/or home games with crowds, and have to play a prelim on neutral territory).

Demonland will be a very interesting place if we lose the PF or the GF this year, that's for sure.

[deelusions from afar 1,810]

Would depend on how we lose - but with the week of, fit list, confidence etc I think it would feel like a wasted opportunity - moreso than 1998 which many see as the closest we've come to winning it in the last 30+ years.