PaulRB

Yeeeeesss

With Hawk loss plus nic nat and ceglar injured, the door opens a touch wider.

So Sue, if we win and the Swans win this week, are we looking at starting Round 23 with 16% chance then, when we beat the Cats, moving to 50%..? i.e. 1/3 x 1/2 = 16% them 1/2 = 50%

The cupboard must be bare at Carlton - one change to the team that lost to Brissie, while we change three from a 40 point win in Adelaide over Port...

Love it! All this hand wringing about Hogan is a sure sign he's going to kick 7... Good job guys.

Feels like Heritier has lost his mojo...

Who's looking in there when we're still a chance at finals!!?

More... http://m.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-08-17/maynard-joins-melbourne-as-rookie

New player added to list - Corey Maynard!!! http://m.afl.com.au/news/2016-08-17/demons-slam-dunk-as-former-nbl-player-signs

That's the key question. What happens if we win one? or even two? Most supporters, commentators and even players would say we have "over achieved" just to play finals and would be ecstatic should we play and win one or two... so we'd go into the pre-season felling pretty good, like that wasn't too hard, we're certainties to be top four in 2017, blah blah blah... Or we win our two games and North win Vs GWS by a point. Ouch! Grrrr [censored] [censored] [censored] bring on 2017, we'll show them... Have you seen "The Hustler"?

There is a school of thought that believes that you can not win finals and a GF without having experienced the pain and angst of coming close but coming up painfully short. We've allowed the season to unfold in a way that has our finals appearance (or not) in the hands of others (i.e. North losing two). Should it not fall our way, and we don't make it, the boys will have to face that it was their own fault and they need to burn brighter and more ruthlessly next year if they are to make it. Should it fall our way, and we make it, play a final or two before being bundled, the boys may not really learn that lesson and think it's easier than it actually is. So there's probably some merit to Damo's arguement.

Having followed and loved the journey into two GF appearances thus far, I agree, it's MUCH better than a spoon. However, both times we got there on a burst of inspired footy and found ourselves massively out of our class up against a genuinely champion team, in their prime. From that I've learnt to discern and hope that next time we find ourselves in a GF its us who is the genuinely champion team. Fingers crossed. Third time a treat... and all that.

Can we not talk about the 88 GF... please?

I remember that month so vividly, was at Fooscray through till the tragic end, was rush, thrill and heartbreak. First time I felt the addiction and high of finals footy fever, with the inevitable cold turkey as we fell short. Bring it on!!

The Big Yellow Taxi has arrived for the Hawks... they just don't realise it yet.

Hahahaha gosh!

Others highlight how spot on it is as well.

I think if you look at the players from that period there are several aspects to why so many failed or were nominated and failed to develop Liam and Aussie struggled with footy lifestyle (and were speculative, high pick - high risk projects) Gysberts and Blease were entitled kids who needed a strong club culture to have them do the work required to succeed at this level, the fact both continued to fail at other clubs indicates to me that their character flaws were the predominated feature of their being unable to realise their talents at AFL level. Trengove and Grimes were of good character and found themselves in a club devoid of leaders burdened with leadership at the expense of getting their bodies and footy right. Agree we appear to be doing things better these days.

My point was about this years crop being a good sign. Your point was about the 2008-2013 period (now revised to 2008-2011), and the validity of the RS nom as a talent indicator... I'm not really getting your point, or what you think we're "debating" here? Rising star nominations still on list C Garland, J Grimes, J Trengove, J Garlett (@ Blues), J Melksham (@ Dons), TMac, D Tyson (@ GWS), J Viney, A Brayshaw, J Hogan, C Petracca, C Oliver, J Harmes, OMac. Aside from the first three on that list who appear to be struggling, it (the RS) seems a good pick of top 22 talent.

Add Melksham, Tyson and Garlett who earned RS noms at their first clubs...

I've got no idea how many between 2008 - 2013, feel free to provide the data... tbh that period is of little interest to me. I'm comfortable praising the present crop's arrival as players, and to dismiss the RS out of hand (again feel free to provide data to back your assertions) seems ignorant of the many new players omitted from nominations who are destined to have short and mediocre careers. Rising star nominations 2008 - A Wonaeamirri, C Garland 2009 - J Grimes, L Jurrah 2010 - J Trengove, J Garlett (@ Blues), J Gysberts, J Melksham (@ Dons) 2011 - S Blease 2012 - TMac, D Tyson (@ GWS) 2013 - J Viney 2014 - none 2015 - A Brayshaw, J Hogan 2016 - C Petracca, C Oliver, J Harmes, OMac Its not a bad indicator of talent and potential give that during this period 2008 - 2016 we must have cycled several dozen players through the club without them being nominated

Would settle the "debt" in my book.

Can we really be that sad given whose face Harvey smashed...? Karma, and may more players feel encouraged to treat Mitchell likewise.

That we've got four players nominated (Oliver, Pertacca, Harmes, OMac) over 20 rounds in an 18 team comp, with another couple worthy (Hunt, Stretch -ineligible I know) puts into perspective the amazing performance of our recruiters and development coaches over the last couple of years.