Smokey

He looks like he was carved out of an element scientists haven’t yet identified

Sure this post wasn’t meant for 4chan circa 2003?

Here come the hindsight brigade in full ceremonial dress

I knew this was coming. It wasn’t a question of if, it was a question of when. Time to refocus. Sydney is not an impressive scalp these days but given the circumstance and the fact it’s was at the SCG makes it highly pleasing indeed. If we can get 3 to 4 on the trot now we are well and truly back in it. Go dees!!!!

Well the sponsors wouldn't be too worried yet. No such thing as bad publicity, and there's been arguably more coverage of how bad we are right now vs what we would have got with a more expected start to the season.

Based on this, it would appear Jonesy is staying put on a wing * shudder *

All those saying players aren't buying into the game plan even though it's existed for 3+ years seems a bit off the mark to me. The game changed quite significantly with 666, and our game plan had to change to suit that. Our game plan is literally 3 rounds old, not 3+ years. Good example of this is that when we win clearances now, we rely on the midfield to deliver the footy into F50 more simply because our sweeping back flankers cant get there in time anymore. This is a good reason why connection has arguably gone backwards. Having said that, if players are going rogue and not "buying in" then that is more than a worry than the 3 losses themselves. Way to fill us with confidence demons. If by "not buying in" means not adhering to the game plan, then that's really bloody bad at this point of the teams development, and at odds with the perceived excellent relationships between players and coach. Alternatively, if by "not buying in" they simply mean putting in the work required to execute the game plan, then that's fixable. Hope not lost yet. A loss tomorrow will be really hard to swallow though. Frost needs to play out of his skin and shut down buddy otherwise we are in quite a bit of trouble.

Also somewhat of a fashion delivery service. I get a new scarf to wear every year, you could call the style "disappointment chic"

Yes Old Dee. Couldn't be happier. I love paying my MCC/MFC membership yearly, following the team religiously and frequenting this fan forum to engage in detailed analysis because I truly believe winning flags is unimportant. Lol.

I reckon you’d be far better off financially if you got 10 bucks for every time someone complained they’ve been following the demons for a long time and are sick of not having a flag on demonland

Move Hibbard up to a wing and try Jonesy as a lock down back pocket? Might solve two of our current problems this way. Otherwise I'd be happy to see Jones off to pasture on current form.

I reckon you're right on 3 straight, but I'm still reserved about whether our list and game plan makes us a realistic premiership contender, let alone fav. For all our perceived problems right now, none of them are particularly complicated and I reckon there's a good chance of us clicking soon.

Makes more sense, sorry for the misunderstanding

The FD doesn't owe you or any members an apology over a game plan that isn't working. It's football, sometimes people get it wrong and sometimes they get it right. The entitled attitude of some here is excruciating at times. Not trying to attack you here mate as I often enjoy your posts, but lets get real - the FD is under no obligation to apologize to you every time something goes wrong. They are not your therapists.

Can we just have 1 single thread titled "In hindsight ..." and all of this BS can live in there.

Instead of finding this comforting, it's making me feel more anxious that we will look even worse than we already do if we lose to Sydney.

Am I crazy or should we wait till May strings a few games together before we even consider talking about this? Without recruiting May we would not have had a replacement Omac. Would you rather Omac for the long term?

Simply making a link between the teams you've listed and their previous years performance and relative expectation for the following season. It mostly shows that teams that start with this record are generally expected to do so. Freo, and now Melbourne, are outliers to this. Freo obviously didn't turn it around, and whether we can or not remains to be seen. Of all the teams you listed below, the Freo 2016 team is really the only relevant one worth mentioning as the others were below average teams going into the year in question. 2019 Melb - 13, 18, 18 - Finished 5th in 2018, predicted to make 8 in 2019. 2018 WB 18,18,16 - 13 - Finished 10th in 2017, not predicted to make 8 2018. 2017 Freo 13,18,15 - 14 - Finished 14th in 2016, not predicted to make 8 in 2017. 2016 Freo 18,17,16 - 16 - Finished 1st in 2015, predicted to make 8 in 2016. 2015 Bris 13,17,18 - 18 - Finished 15th in 2014, not predicted to make 8 in 2015. 2014 Melb 14,14,18 - 17 - Finished 17th in 2013, not predicted to make 8 in 2014.

Good post. Did any of those teams finish top 4 the year previous however? Might be the difference worth clinging to at this stage.

Our list. While there are agreed flaws in its makeup, especially around outside runners. The fact remains we have one of the best midfield's on paper in the comp, a fantastic looking backline when all players are available and a serviceable make up of forwards which managed plenty of high scores without Hogan last year. If I were to base our seasons potential on current form then yes, I would predict a bottom 4 finish. But that's a really simplistic view I refuse to take. Form can change, it's really simple stuff. Do I think we have a premiership winning team? Probably not. But saying we are going to finish bottom four is a stretch right now.

Well that's your opinion of of course you are entitled to it. My lack of hysteria on DL is not an indication I haven't fully assessed our situation. We are not a bottom 4 team. Agree we look shambolic right now, but teams don't just go from a prelim to a guaranteed bottom 4 finish after 3 rounds the following year. You opinion may have more potency with me if we had more data to go off right now, but the fact remains we are only up to round 4 and clearly have plenty of ability as a playing group. We just need to get going. Happy to reopen this dialogue with you at round 10.

I'd like to see him on a wing before casting judgement on his capacity over a career

Suggesting we will finish bottom 4 is the most ridiculous reaction to the first few rounds I've heard so far. Make a cup of tea and relax, we are not that bad.

Well he ain’t exactly an unskilled contested bull is he chook. Our recruiting has not been unidimensional.

Love to hear you explain how lever and KK fit into that description