httpshttps://x.com/FOXFOOTY/status/1760418782198304889?s=20://x.com/FOXFOOTY/status/1760418782198304889?s=20

STRENGTH

The top end. The Dees are spearheaded by one of the best top-end lineups in the game. Max Gawn proved he is a one-man show in the ruck and leads the team with aplomb and he has some of the best in the game to tap to. Christian Petracca is an established star and Jack Viney had a resurgent 2023, while Clayton Oliver is a jet if he is fit and firing. In defence, Steven May and Jake Lever form a formidable combination. They combined to help the Dees concede the second-fewest points of any team in the competition. Up forward they have significant talent, with Bayley Fritsch key among them, but it’s further up the ground where their stars shine brightest.

WEAKNESS

Forward connection. It’s all about converting dominance up the field into scores. Max Gawn tried to be a forward but it just didn’t work, so there is plenty of faith being put into Harrison Petty to perform after injury cruelled much of his 2023 season. The Dees ranked 14th in the competition for scores per inside 50 and 14th for retaining kicks inside 50. Shane McAdam is a shrewd addition to the half-forward part of the ground, while Caleb Windsor has huge hype surrounding him heading into his debut season and can play as a connector. It’s all about putting it into action, however, which is what the Dees need to do to enjoy a better outcome this year, because it’s clearly where they’re at their weakest.

WHERE ARE THEY ON THE PREMIERSHIP CLOCK?

10pm: The Dees are perfectly poised for success right now, but they need to capitalise before some of their veterans start to decline. Max Gawn will be 33 at year’s end and plays in a bruising position, while Steven May is 32 with Jack Viney to hit 30 early in the season. There’s nothing to say they can’t keep on keeping on, but they really are in the sweet spot and should be making the most of it.

PREDICTED LADDER RANGE

1st-5th

PREDICTED OPENING ROUND TEAM

B: Adam Tomlinson, Steven May, Trent Rivers

HB: Judd McVee, Jake Lever, Christian Salem

C: Lachie Hunter, Clayton Oliver, Ed Langdon

HF: Alex Neal-Bullen, Bayley Fritsch, Charlie Spargo

F: Shane McAdam, Harrison Petty, Jacob van Rooyen

FOLL: Max Gawn, Christian Petracca, Jack Viney

I/C: Angus Brayshaw, Jake Bowey, Tom Sparrow, Jack Billings, Kade Chandler (sub)

Can’t argue with that headline 

Bombers of 2000 say hello. What a BS article.

Bulldogs biggest one hit wonders.

we had no forwards last year.

sweet jesus these headlines are getting ridiculous 

There are a myriad of one hit wonders in the AFL so what's the big deal. At least we got the high notes for once.

3 minutes ago, Jeremy said:

Can’t argue with that headline 

Only because the word 'could' means whatever you like.  They could, and then again, maybe they won't.   Given the difficulty of winning premierships where everything has to go just right....

The trouble with sports journalism, is that they have no substantial facts to go on.  So they blither and blather just to fill up media space with the bleeding obvious.  The world's dumbest AI engine could generate their guff.   Most sports journos will be redundant before the season is finished.

9 minutes ago, Gawndy the Great said:

Bombers of 2000 say hello. What a BS article.

Prelim 96

Prelim 99

Premiers 00

Runners up 01

Not to mention half a dozen won the flag in 93

Not even close

 

Click bait headline, good article 

12 minutes ago, Jeremy said:

Can’t argue with that headline 

Of course you can’t, all you’ve brought is negativity lately.

Well I agree. A 10 zip start to 2022 and crumbled. Not much better last year. All teams have injuries. Pies had Daicos missing for some weeks. 
A true forwards coach would be handy addition. I’m hoping McQualter can get a better ‘connection’ between Max and our on-ballers. (no offence Ooze).

This type of 'reporting' or 'journalism' is absolute garbage.

Would I be disappointed with 1 flag - yes. Does it make us terrible one hit wonders? No.

Bombers 99/00/01 - arguably one of the most talented teams assembled and won one flag.

Port 04 - finished on top multiple times and won one flag.

Eagles 06 - had one of the best midfields ever assembled and won one flag.

Brisbane lately - multiple top 4s with one grand final appearance and no wins.

This media idea that we should be some unstoppable force that wins 3 straight flags is rubbish. Our team is talented, but nowhere near as talented as the Lions, Cats or Hawks teams that won multiple flags.

I really hope we get another one, but end of the day they are hard to win.

4 minutes ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

Brisbane lately - multiple top 4s with one grand final appearance and no wins.

Might be the greatest no hit wonder...

St Kilda has this title.

Bulldogs not to far behind them.

They are pretty hard to win, 2024 will be the most competitive season the AFL has seen.  The gap between top and bottom sides best 22 isn't that big.  To me 16 sides are chances to make the 8, I think North and WCE will be much better especially if WCE can keep their best 22 fit, but they are both a couple of years of finals.

Another garbage article from the very mediocre media

Geez the media sure do love potting us for anything and everything, including losing a glorified training run. Pies did the same to a worse opponent yet all the excuses under the sun for that.

46 minutes ago, Jeremy said:

Can’t argue with that headline 

I can. 
 

A one hit wonder would be the Bulldogs. Won a GF in 2016 and haven’t made top 4 since.

If we are one hit wonders at least we got the Flag I so wanted. 

38 minutes ago, Pennant St Dee said:

Prelim 96

Prelim 99

Premiers 00

Runners up 01

Not to mention half a dozen won the flag in 93

Not even close

 

They had the best team just about ever in 00 and won 1 flag.

We are half as good by comparison, that we haven’t made another prelim or granny doesn’t matter. It’s 1-1.

 

Our list has been continuously overrated by anyone who thinks we are a super team.

Great ruck and contested mids, great key backs, some other quality players but largely the rest has been closer to taped together than dominant.

The key forwards are the obvious one but down back it was ageing Hibbo and kids in Rivers and Bowey. Langdon had a fine 2021 but he’s never been a superstar winger and the other wing has been a tape up job. Midfield and half forward rotations have been role players similar to most sides.

The one emerging superstar that could’ve automatically upgraded the side last year and the next couple upped and left to Freo.

Perhaps our best staffer in Burgo left to Adelaide through no fault of the mfc.

The big mistake has been to think this super list will just win again rather than retool/reload which we are now been forced to do.

St Kilda in the 00’s got none. GWS mid to late 10’s got none. Pies under Mick/Bucks got 1, that’s the side we are most similar too. 

I was alive on planet earth for 45 years before I saw a flag. And I never, ever thought I would live to see it. 

Publish your headlines and be damned.

Bulldogs are the genuine one hit wonder. Finished 7th in their flag year and were assisted by some dreadful umpiring that got them the flag over the Swans.Dont think theyv'e got near top 4 finish for years,certainly not since their flag.

The media will twist the knife into the MFC every chance they get. Its relentless.

Were Collingwood one hit wonders after 1990 or 2010?

God i hope Collingwood and Carlton mupp it this year.

There seems to be a significant misunderstanding between ‘forward connection’ and ‘goal kicking accuracy’

 The latter is the biggest issue, for mine

Edited February 22, 20241 yr by whatwhat say what

1 minute ago, whatwhat say what said:

There seems to be a significant misunderstanding between ‘forward connection’ and ‘goal kicking accuracy’

 The latter is the biggest issue, for mine

Why is this constantly overlooked? We were one of the highest scoring teams for the year, we had no issue scoring for the majority. Towards the end we just about lost all of our scoring power to injuries. Fritta was there, but i reckon his foot was still numb in the finals.

Why does the media love to hate on the Dees?

BS "journalism".

what does the worst one hit wonder mean anyway?

are there good one hit wonders?

there are 18 teams it’s pretty common to only win one. And i’m sure teams like the Saints in 09 ‘10 would love to be a one hit wonder