Will a team improve enough to challenge us next year?

[Docs Demons 1,748]

We can improve which is scary HOWEVER it is above the shoulders that count. Keep our feet firmly on the ground and have the desire again then I think we can do it again. 

[DEE fence 4,923]

We are more like Brissy 01 to 03 than Essendon 00.

Brisbane has a list and a good coach. While they have some annoying players they have ability on every line. Our best is still better but I do think they have the best attack to break up our zone.

Port's window is closing and something NQR. Mental scars as well from some bad losses.

Essendon is coming and I wish to see them smashed by us, they do have some good players and always well resourced. Have some speed and i think the team running is coming.

Dogs are going to be there abouts, but like Melbourne sides of old there defence has a few too many holes, Easton Wood is on the way out, no ruck, and Libba had a mare in the GF and will need serious coaching after that loss. I think 22 will be a finals year but no threat.

Carlton,  personally I think Voss will not be the man to take these princesses anywhere. Voss was an awesome player but like Viney, who sets a fierce example, he doesn't quite have the EQ to relate to the more unconventional types. Hubris runs deep in Carlton as well despite the quality list. Voss might be the one to get Cripps firing again though. I am so glad the new Carlton is the old Melbourne.

Swans rapier like qualities, but is the defence up to finals specification? Team I need to watch more of as I understand the least.

Cats they have two issues, one is the obvious age/speed, the other is their forward line, we took apart Cameron and Hawkins 3 times (2 when Cameron wasn't playing) they have no other tricks. Will do well but are in same boat as Port.

Richmond, thereabouts, but seriously they have lost so many parts of an elite unit, and their bottom 6 look a lot more pedestrian than ours. Riewoldt is rusting before the eyes and Dusty as magnificent as he is cannot win it by himself (i think) will need to improve his defensive efforts to make up for gaps in the list.

Giants, this season they played like a team, I think they will be super dangerous in 22, less princess more machine like, have to resolve the Coniglio question, he is less suited to being Captain than Grimes and Trengove were has gone back further than Cripps. Coach was suspect but has survived a trial by fire.

Saints, nah, too many missing pieces, feel sorry for Steele, awesome player.

GC Who would swap Dew for Goodwin now. Will remain a feeder/farm team. Btw if Goodwin wins a 2nd GF, the offers from Adelaide will become unbelievable.

Adelaide in a few years.

Collingwood in more years. Board wobbles guaranteed.

Westcoast, ready for a rebuild not sure they know it.

Freo, need to bin some lazy players, too many pick and choose.

North, will be better but need two more good drafts, by which time they will be picking apples in Tasmania.

Hawks, have no idea there late run of form suggests they are not as useless as I had expected.

[faultydet 7,594]

Will a team improve enough to challenge us next year?

Interesting question.

I gave it some serious thought, then pre-ordered a 2022 framed premiership guernsey to match this years.

 

[bobby1554 1,233]

In a recent interview, Bontempelli said that we just went to another level during the latter part of the GF. It was the level that most of us knew this team was capable of. They will get enormous belief from that. So to answer the question of the post, no.

[Stevienic23 1,183]

If Close doesn't give away that deliberate in round 23 we probably don't win the flag. We only really flexed during the finals series. Still reckon Doggies and Brissy can get us on their day

[adonski 10,897]

15 minutes ago, Stevienic23 said:

If Close doesn't give away that deliberate in round 23 we probably don't win the flag. We only really flexed during the finals series. Still reckon Doggies and Brissy can get us on their day

Instead of beating Brisbane by 6 goals, we would have beaten Port so badly not even the cash cow handing out $50 notes at Adelaide Oval would have calmed the crowd down 

[BDA 22,288]

We may regress due to injury next year. We may not be as hungry. Not sure what Burgos departure means. It is possible we won’t perform to the same level

Far more likely imv is our unmatched, and genuine differentiator, ruck combo of Gawn and Dogga will torment the opposition. No other ruck can stay with Maxy around the ground and Dogga is a fourth midfielder for us at centre bounces. Where most teams don't have one decent ruckman we have 2 stars. They are an unbelievable weapon

All the youngsters will improve. Kozzy has more levels. Bowey is a beauty. Petty, Rivers, Sparrow, Jordan will get better.

BB has found his feet. TMAC is the only player who may be past their best.

We have competition for spots which will keep everyone on their toes.

In terms of other teams I think the Swans are a genuine threat. Real talent on their list and very well coached. GWS if they can stay injury free (Big if).

Doggies have genuine mental scars to deal with after the mauling they copped from us. Great midfield but no ruck, and very suspect defensively

Tiges might have one last hoorah in them

We’ll be favourites for the Flag and rightfully so. Yes teams will hunt us. That’s a given. But we can match anyone’s grunt and intensity.

I reckon the only team that can beat Melbourne next year is Melbourne. But if motivation is needed to ward off any hint of complacency then we should remind them that they haven’t won a flag in front of the faithful at the G. I can’t think of a better motivator for this group than lifting the cup at the home of footy with all the fans there to enjoy and celebrate with. It was the only missing piece in any otherwise dream season for us this year

I’ll think I’ll head to the bookies now and put my money on the Dees.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 10,851]

A strong preseason for all will make it hard for other teams to close the gap with our outside 22 depth and scope for improvement in the youngsters on our list. Dogs will be there about again obviously and ignore the GF they had our measure at other points in season. I see a fit Richmond with some youth injected, injury free Giants and potential growth from Essendon as the most likely to contend, 

[sue 9,018]

I have just watched the first final against Brisbane.  We could easily have lost that and who knows what would have happened if we did.  Too much hubris around here.

[leave it to deever 17,462]

19 hours ago, DubDee said:

I understand people thinking GWS will be a threat next year based on some of their stars and their second half of this season but I don't see them as anything more than an also-ran:

• They lack culture and professionalism - no coincidence their injury list is the longest every year. 
• Their captain has fallen off a cliff the likes of which I have never seen. 
• Their VC will miss a third of a year at least
• their senior leadership in Ward and Davis are past their best
• They lack tall fwds - as much as I wish Hogan the best I doubt he can perform consistently
• their backline is inexperienced, although they found some good youth down there, you don't win a flag with a young backline
• they have 5-6 stars of course but their bottom 6 is poor

Plus it wont be long until Toby g gets a season long suspension. I guess they are a good club with lots of depth and I would be surprised if they didnt improve but So will we.

Edited October 30, 2021 by leave it to deever

[leave it to deever 17,462]

Its fair to say many of the players were driven by the drought factor and fanbase. Will we be as hungry now its broken?

Perhaps a g final at the mcg will be a factor.

In terms of talent I cant see us beaten....it will simply be a question of injuries and motivation.

Im certainly looking forward to next season. It will be very exciting to see the young ones improve.

Edited October 30, 2021 by leave it to deever

[Caligula's cohort 1,014]

18 hours ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Swans and Giants, yes. Doggies? I reckon we blew their whole gameplan out of the water for a long, long time. 

Doesn't mean they can't improve. They did beat us this year, so not really a long time. 

[rpfc 28,052]

1 hour ago, sue said:

I have just watched the first final against Brisbane.  We could easily have lost that and who knows what would have happened if we did.  Too much hubris around here.

‘Easily lost that’ is not quite right. We had so many scoring shots and controlled the game. Play that game 10 times and we would lose one or two and thrash them by 10+ goals 3 or 4 times.

They we’re in it because of their midfield and Cameron. But we are more complete and were injury free.

They really weren’t near us and that bore out when they went out in straight sets.

Edited October 30, 2021 by rpfc

[sue 9,018]

14 minutes ago, rpfc said:

‘Easily lost that’ is not quite right. We had so many scoring shots and controlled the game. Play that game 10 times and we would one or two and thrash them by 10+ goals 3 or 4 times.

They we’re in it because of their midfield and Cameron. But we are more complete and were injury free.

They really weren’t near us and that bore out when they went out in straight sets.

But I bet you were feeling nervous in Q4.  They had significant injuries, we didn't.   Yes, we were probably the better team, but if they got an extra goal at a critical time, who knows...  I'm just saying the gap between the teams is not as large as some on here are saying. 

[PaulRB 6,297]

58 minutes ago, sue said:

But I bet you were feeling nervous in Q4.  They had significant injuries, we didn't.   Yes, we were probably the better team, but if they got an extra goal at a critical time, who knows...  I'm just saying the gap between the teams is not as large as some on here are saying. 

Hey Sue, I hear you and agree we should be cautious, humble etc... however when close games consistently go your way, and open up to solid wins, you are the better team. If thats happening more often then it used to you are also getting better quicker than your opposition and this is a reason for genuine optimism...

I felt nervous in every game, but, increasingly not worried, especially after the Rd 23 comeback. That game was our step shift game when we realised we were genuinely the best team in this competition, and never out of the game. Take that shift, plus the sheer joy we just experienced winning the Big one and the non-22 players wanting in, into 2022,... and we shall be very hard to beat.

Harder to beat than we were in 2021.

In my opinion, significantly so.

Edited October 30, 2021 by PaulRB

[Watson11 2,216]

1 hour ago, sue said:

But I bet you were feeling nervous in Q4.  They had significant injuries, we didn't.   Yes, we were probably the better team, but if they got an extra goal at a critical time, who knows...  I'm just saying the gap between the teams is not as large as some on here are saying. 

I agree. The gap is never as large as it appears. This time last year we never imagined we would be so dominant. But the thing about AFL these days, is if you have a weakness it gets exploited badly come finals.  Like the dogs defence.  Our run on may have been stopped after the first Fritz goal if May was full back for the dogs. Until the GF their defence was saved by atrocious weather against Essendon, a depleted Brisbane forward line and poor umpiring, and an inept Port midfield. 

Brisbane have a lack of midfield and defensive leg speed. Rayner is needed in there for the explosiveness but is 2 or 3 years away from really impacting. Scott will spend more time there.  Ironically, I think they are a more dangerous team without Lachie Neale.  

And in the first final our weakness was defensive ground balls and we probably had the wrong matchup with Smith. If Hibberd plays I suspect we win by a lot more.

We have no apparent weaknesses at the moment.  But a few injuries and weaknesses can appear and we will be challenged.  
 

[faultydet 7,594]

3 hours ago, sue said:

I have just watched the first final against Brisbane.  We could easily have lost that and who knows what would have happened if we did.  Too much hubris around here.

We are still celebrating a flag sue. I don't think it's too much to worry about.

I expect people will still be nervous come the pre-season games, as we have all seen Premiers fall off a cliff the following season and we also know the dream run we had with injuries. That is highly unlikely to be repeated.

 

Can see the Bulldogs being thereabouts again. Very solid list.

Sydney and GWS to improve if things go their way injury and form wise.

Geelong - Nope, it's over. Far too old.

Brisbane, if injury free AND if they can get the monkey off the back regarding their woeful performances at home will be right up there.

Port to finish high on the ladder but stumble again come the finals.

 

Next seasons biggest improvers?

Carlton and Adelaide. (Would have said essedon but they had a big leap this year)

Biggest sliders?

Geelong and West Coast.

And I reckon North is a couple of years away from climbing, given the midfield talent they have/are bringing in.

 

[Deemania since 56 6,562]

3 hours ago, Caligula's cohort said:

Doesn't mean they can't improve. They did beat us this year, so not really a long time. 

That is turning the clock back; still, they may improve but other than two or three players, they just don't have the weaponry - and have enjoyed too many games against too many other teams ( the Dees, included ) affected by the decisions and charity of the umpires. 

[Bitter but optimistic 22,066]

Funny, no one has mentioned Jeelong as threatening improvers.

[Gator 17,261]

Who knows what's going to happen, but I do know one thing.

Whomever improves enough to do it will be doing so from within, because none of them got better during the trade period.

[Sir Why You Little 36,668]

"You must always strive to be the best, 
but you must never believe you are the best" 

- Juan Manuel Fangio

[Fork 'em 6,940]

On 10/29/2021 at 11:22 AM, FritschyBusiness said:

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

I'm with you man.
This side will get that 4peat we missed in the 50's.

[58er 5,996]

18 hours ago, sue said:

I have just watched the first final against Brisbane.  We could easily have lost that and who knows what would have happened if we did.  Too much hubris around here.

And how many quarters do you think it would have taken the Lions to overcome us? What happened if we kicked straighter or Charlie Cameron suffered an injury? 
The general result of that game by neutral opinion was we beat them by a far larger margin than the final result indicated.

Yes we had a bit of luck with McStsy being injured but that is footy!! 

[58er 5,996]

16 hours ago, Watson11 said:

I agree. The gap is never as large as it appears. This time last year we never imagined we would be so dominant. But the thing about AFL these days, is if you have a weakness it gets exploited badly come finals.  Like the dogs defence.  Our run on may have been stopped after the first Fritz goal if May was full back for the dogs. Until the GF their defence was saved by atrocious weather against Essendon, a depleted Brisbane forward line and poor umpiring, and an inept Port midfield. 

Brisbane have a lack of midfield and defensive leg speed. Rayner is needed in there for the explosiveness but is 2 or 3 years away from really impacting. Scott will spend more time there.  Ironically, I think they are a more dangerous team without Lachie Neale.  

And in the first final our weakness was defensive ground balls and we probably had the wrong matchup with Smith. If Hibberd plays I suspect we win by a lot more.

We have no apparent weaknesses at the moment.  But a few injuries and weaknesses can appear and we will be challenged.  
 

Who is Scott for Brisbane?

[Watson11 2,216]

3 hours ago, 58er said:

Who is Scott for Brisbane?

Getting my Bailey Scotts and Zac Baileys mixed up.