Let's face it we done it in a canter this year beating Brisbane impressively we would have smashed them if not for Charlie Cameron's 5 goals belted Geelong and belted the Bulldogs. Is there a team out there that can improve enough to challenge us?

Goldcoast will explode one of these years 

GWS with an injury free run always a top 4 chance 

GWS is the obvious one to me. No doubt someone else will surprise. Still expecting to win next years flag though.

If we continue our form from finals then we should be able to beat anyone, however there's no guarantee form and momentum carries into the next year. For what it's worth I don't see any team being definitively better than us

Beware the hubris my friends.  This sort of thinking never won anyone a flag.  Stay hungry, stay humble!

I think Brisbane will come back hard - losing Cam Rayner for the season who has the potential to be their Dusty / Petracca type player and then losing Hipwood and McStay for all the finals.

They were very unlucky to lose to the dogs - I think they're only a player or two away from being very dangerous.

GWS and Sydney certainly have enough talent on their lists to trouble anyone if it all comes together (including injuries and suspensions) at the right time of year.

I think Carlton will come good under Voss but would think it would take a few years of "learnings" to get them playing the right way.  Don't we know about that!

Yep fully fit Brisbane are a worry,

Finals experience now and have got same great young kids with Rayner a virtual new recruit.

 

It is remarkable how often a middling team suddenly emerges as a power viz. lions in 01, catties in 07,  dorks in 13, doggies in 16, toiges in 17, dees in 21.

So far as I can recall, none of the above were accurately predicted in advance of that season.

So we must stay cautious of all teams and plan to emerge even further in 22. Stability, fitness, competition for spots and the chance for a home GF win should make us hungrier.

Go dees

 

Edited October 29, 20214 yr by tiers
Clearer

We are gonna win 4 in a row, the improvement will come from 8 premiership players under 21

We have a young side and whilst the other sides mentioned on here will/can improve, so will we. We're not a side that has fallen in to a flag in the last years of out window, we have won it at the very beginning of it.

 

As Leigh Matthews once said, to win a premiership everything at the club has to be in lockstep right down to who cooks the sausage sizzle or something like that. So we must keep the BBQ in good shape, source the best sausages, bread, sauce and onions plus make sure our sausage turner’s contract is extended so not poached by other clubs.

Edited October 29, 20214 yr by John Crow Batty

Collingwood in ‘10 and Essendon in ‘00 say hello.

Brisbane with Hipwood, McStay and Rayner will be tough. While maybe not what they once were, the Tiges will be much better with a September break and a fully fit Dusty. The Giants were hobbled by injuries as well. 

Yep - Richmond will be one, Brissy the other, GWS, and of course the Dogs are going to be better again with another year into their forward line. The other two I'd mention are St Kilda and Carlton. They'd be ones who might ride a wave of belief from what we did this year and with an easy draw, find themselves in a good position. 

In saying that, I think our injuries are the only thing getting in our way, but there are probably 13 clubs who are aiming for the 8 this year. 

Lets not forget, if you include pre season, the doggies and dees were 2-2 last year. As we know, the GF was also a much tighter game than the scoreboard showed as well. So they dont even have to "improve" that much, the doggies are right there ready to pounce if we're not 100% switched on. I also think the blues may come with a rush...just not all the way. 

We must be ready for multiple serious challenges 

They will come 

1 minute ago, John Crow Batty said:

As Leigh Matthews once said, to win a premiership everything in the club has to be in lockstep right down to who cooks the sausage sizzle or something like that. So we must keep the BBQ in good shape, source the best sausages, bread, sauce and onions plus make sure our sausage turner’s contract is extended so not poached by other clubs.

In this instance the best sausages are the home made ones. By that I mean we must continue to source the best young talent and not do what other clubs do, which is trade all your draft selections for established talent at other clubs. 

Examples are Geelong and Hawthorn who have traded away their future for a chance of now, they are both packed with ageing stars and either are delusional like Geelong or stuck with stars that won't be around when you are challenging again like Hawthorn.

I'd rather train a up Petty to replace May than go out and buy someone that we have to pay a heap for and upset the balance of power at the club.

3 minutes ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

Collingwood in ‘10 and Essendon in ‘00 say hello.

Brisbane with Hipwood, McStay and Rayner will be tough. While maybe not what they once were, the Tiges will be much better with a September break and a fully fit Dusty. The Giants were hobbled by injuries as well. 

Spot on.  Collingwood's flag team was very young and everyone predicted a long dynasty.  We al saw how well that turned out.  We were also very blessed with injury this year.  Anything can happen next year.  Everyone laughed at anyone who suggested we'd come good in 2021.  12 months is a long time in football.

Having said all that I hope nobody gets near us.

Richmond. 

Casey

28 minutes ago, John Crow Batty said:

As Leigh Matthews once said, to win a premiership everything at the club has to be in lockstep right down to who cooks the sausage sizzle or something like that. So we must keep the BBQ in good shape, source the best sausages, bread, sauce and onions plus make sure our sausage turner’s contract is extended so not poached by other clubs.

Interesting way to describe Adem Yze. Never knew he was a sausage-cooker, nor adept at procuring the best sausages, onions, sauce, bread rolls and potato salads. 

Doggies, Swans and Giants will challenge us for years to come. They make me nervous whenever we come up against them. They're all young sides with star players about to hit their peak and with young guns emerging. I think Carlton and Freo will make finals next year. They both have good lists and will be giving the top sides a run for their money. 

In saying that, I still think Melbourne should dominate the competition over the next 6 years. And hopefully we can snag another 4 Premierships. 

First of all we have to make top 4.

Two games out from finals this year we were staring at fifth position.

We had a magnificent finals series.

While we won the home and away comp a quiet review of several matches shows we were often scratchy and off target. We rode our luck on the back of a decent gameplan supported by a great backline.

Looking forward to 2022 but in no way drinking the bathwater

Injuries 

1 hour ago, tiers said:

It is remarkable how often a middling team suddenly emerges as a power viz. lions in 01, catties in 07,  dorks in 13, doggies in 16, toiges in 17, dees in 21.

So far as I can recall, none of the above were accurately predicted in advance of that season.

So we must stay cautious of all teams and plan to emerge even further in 22. Stability, fitness, competition for spots and the chance for a home GF win should make us hungrier.

Go dees

 

Dorks in 2013 are not the example of this 

They were runners up in 2012 beaten by less than 2 goals in arguably an upset. Also lost narrowly less than a goal in 2011 to Pies in Prelim.

Not much middle order about this but your point is very valid.

Port Will win soon and Bombers are future potential flag winners and if Lions can stiffen up their defence and on ballers plus have all forwards free from injury they can also kick enough goals against all but us to be in the frame I reckon. 

45 minutes ago, rpfc said:

Injuries 

injuries, bathwater and no burgess