Don't know why he's worried. It's not as if we're contending next year.

Every man and his dog has us finishing bottom 4. Anything above is a bonus.

Im not worried at all, we will be good to watch, Mc Vee replacable, Oliver made us competitive but not productive, Trac gave us an edge so hard to replace but I think Langford can be his equal.

I will go with my kids and grandson and enjoy the ride. Not like this is my or most supporters first rodeo. Merry Xmas

Our experienced players need to drive the standards both on and off the field (whilst we're regenerating and developing)

Standards need to improve (obviously) but the likes of Langford, Lindsay, Windsor, Taylor, Tholstrup, Culley, Latrelle et al need to be developed without having too much of an onus on their output

Looking at the list, there's 20+ experienced players who should all be pushing for selection on a regular basis

So it's not like we're going to be quite a youthful outfit (that can only happen if a number of the experienced players fail to deliver)

Just watched an ecological sciences video about a 'dead' forest which had been abandoned as a forestry zone but never actually given any work to restore a functioning ecosystem, so it was just a mass of the monoculture harvest trees left to go feral, blocking all light to the understory and stifling new growth. There was no birdlife, no small animals or even bugs, no mushrooms, and it was consuming groundwater to the extent of diminishing streams and agricultural water lower in the catchment.

A key part of the restoration strategy was to cut down some of the most established trees which were dominating the ecosystem without contributing to it, so that a more complex and resilient network could take hold.

The transformation happened surprisingly quickly. So, cheer up, Ox, our situation has solid metaphors.

17 minutes ago, Little Goffy said:

Just watched an ecological sciences video about a 'dead' forest which had been abandoned as a forestry zone but never actually given any work to restore a functioning ecosystem, so it was just a mass of the monoculture harvest trees left to go feral, blocking all light to the understory and stifling new growth. There was no birdlife, no small animals or even bugs, no mushrooms, and it was consuming groundwater to the extent of diminishing streams and agricultural water lower in the catchment.

A key part of the restoration strategy was to cut down some of the most established trees which were dominating the ecosystem without contributing to it, so that a more complex and resilient network could take hold.

The transformation happened surprisingly quickly. So, cheer up, Ox, our situation has solid metaphors.

The ox is slow.

I’d be worried about us if I still expected us to be a finals team (like in 2024 and 2025)

But it’s clear that there’s been a shift since King was appointed and Trac and Clarry were traded out

Happy for this to be a development / settling year where King develops his gameplan and our young players start taking the next step

And besides - we finished bottom 6 in back to back years with Trac and Clarry anyway, so what have we got to lose

There are good coaches and no so good coaches ( often career killers ) that determine the team's outcome . Under King I am sure we will make finals providing we don't have a lot of injuries.

Every year, I always worry about the dees. So what's new?

As for the forest analogy, as much as I liked Clarry and Tracca, they did not produce victories the way that they should have and so had to be cleared.

We shall see. My first preference would be for Caleb Windsor to be given a more attacking role. No more half back flank but a genuine running wingman.

20 hours ago, Coolx2 said:

There are good coaches and no so good coaches ( often career killers ) that determine the team's outcome . Under King I am sure we will make finals providing we don't have a lot of injuries.

I agree. Imho, he has identified the parts of our game and personnel that were weaknesses and is immediately addressing them. He's worked under the best coach in the game so he understands the assisgnment one feels. About time there was a Chris Scott coaching tree, eh.

If Gawn and Pickett stay fit, and Rivers and Langford can regularly influence games our midfield will be competitve. (These two are the most likely to have 25 touch, 7 score involvement, brownlown vote and match winning games). Steele/Viney to play defensive roles to stop other midfields getting off the chain. Need to bring them down to our level a fraction.

Backline is a wait and see. On paper the names were elite once but I sense watching May, Lever and Petty together will be like observing 3 aircraft carriers perform naval drills. Turner came along at exactly the right time.

Up forward is still a big worry. 2 injury riddled guys over 33 years old? Yeah, nah. Dreaming if we think this is an AFL forward line in 2026. Very positive JVR has trimmed up but i still have my doubts he has the natural forward instincts. Okay to give him half a season but if its not working there really needs to be some 'learnings' in the coaches box. Kentfield appears to have great timing and deserves a chance on bigger grounds and space.

Other minor worry is we will replace the "defence and contest" dogma with "we want to play an attractive brand of football". Winning is the most attractive brand and I hope this doesnt get trotted out too often. Ask Ange about this.

(Bris)Vegas has set our over under wins for next year at 6.5. I think thats too low by 2 games. Go Dees

Edited 13 hours ago13 hr by Jjrogan

There is a risk that we become the next West Coast / North Melbourne. I mean somebody has to replace that mantle. I expect North to get very close to Top 8 this year. West Coast will win more than 4 games and so will Richmond. There is always another team that just crashes out of nowhere (dont worry we have already crashed so i dont think its us). I suspect bottom 4 next year will be:
- West Coast, Richmond, Port, Melbourne

Not surprised if anyone of Collingwood, Essendon, Carlton also find themselves in bottom 4 contention.

Cats are a bit of an enigma, their time seems to be coming every year, but continue to find a way. Once Danger & Blicavs are out of the picture probably in 2027, i think we may see things a little clearer. Gezza and Stewart still have a few more year left i think.

3 hours ago, GS_1905 said:

There is a risk that we become the next West Coast / North Melbourne. I mean somebody has to replace that mantle.

I can see West Coast / North Melbourne becoming the next West Coast / North Melbourne for the next 5 years

1 hour ago, John Demonic said:

I can see West Coast / North Melbourne becoming the next West Coast / North Melbourne for the next 5 years

At which point North starts looking more like the next Fitzroy. Wouldn't ever wish it on them, but there's a little hint of background anxiety about it.

They are currently on the worst 6-season form run of any club in the AFL era.

O'Sullivan their only rising star nomination in 25, and since/including 2020 there's been Wardlaw, McKercher, Archer, Ford (since delisted), Sheezel, Jason Horne-Francis (traded), and Curtis Taylor (delisted).

Just 4 rising star nominees on their list from the six years they have been on the bottom of the ladder.

A lot hangs on Wardlaw coming back and the midfield reaching critical mass. If it gets moving, that young midfield could be absolutely game-breaking.

But West Coast, honestly, they are welcome to sit right where they are. I don't get enough to look closer!

On 21/12/2025 at 19:22, binman said:

The ox is slow.

I do love the story that Schwartzy parked his car, vanity plates and all, in the wrong spot - probably that of a board member or something. Anyway that guy came in and asked "Who's Theo X?"