Don't forget, when you compare us to Geelong, that many of those players marked as Geelong pluses were just about written off at the end of 2006. Bad attitudes, inconsistency, front-runners, selfish, and it goes on. Many Geelong supporters HATED Ottens as little as six months ago.

We have a lot of players who can take big steps up - starting from Sylvia and Miller, throw in Carroll returning to 2006 form, Robertson freshening up, Davey returning to high-impact frightener rather than being under pressure to do the 'correct' thing.

And don't get me started on the potential of half a dozen kids.

Then of course, injuries. Blah blah blah. (Refers to difference from 1999 to 2000 seasons) You get the picture. It's a whole new season, we've made some big changes, dropped a lot of fringe players and have a lot of young talent which we haven't seen much of yet.

The moral of the story? The competition is very even and any team can challenge for the flag...

What a boring cliche, huh.

The most important thing for me is to see the toughness and determination return to our side. We didnt have stars in 1987 but they feared us then!

The moral of the story? The competition is very even and any team can challenge for the flag...

What a boring cliche, huh.

I agree, but as far as finals and potential Premierships are concerned.......how long is a peice of string ?!!!

the only problem with that is geelong's talent is about 100 times better than ours...

look down the spine.

N Ablett - Neitz........ the only win for us here, not enough to make up for all the other losses

Mooney - Miller........ well enough said really

G Ablett - McLean..... i love brock but he is no Ablett

Egan - Frawley?........ Chip will be good but not next year, development for him

Scarlett - Carroll....... we all know how chop struggles as a stand alone FB

Ottens - White........... one is in the prime, the other on the decline

and thats not mentioning Bartell, Johnson, Corey, Milburn, Harley etc.

finals will be a good effort for us next year... i would love to see the sylvia's, moloney's etc. really come on next year and form our core midfield group for the next 7-8 years.

Along with Newton and Frawley improving we will see some exciting footy in 08

yeah ok I'll remember that next September when the Dee's hold the Cup high overhead in glorious glory and chuckle to myself at your post.

The big top is gunna be in town and its gunna be in my jim-jammies.

GO THE DEES