Time to think about Finals as we're a good chance of playing them. I was going to start this thread last week but thought I would give it one more game to see the improvement.
There's always one fairy tail team each year that rises from the depths and I reckon its us this time.
We've had enough talk of high draft picks which go with finishing well out of the finals. Winning makes premiership teams not high picks.
Time to think about Finals as we're a good chance of playing them. I was going to start this thread last week but thought I would give it one more game to see the improvement.
There's always one fairy tail team each year that rises from the depths and I reckon its us this time.
We've had enough talk of high draft picks which go with finishing well out of the finals. Winning makes premiership teams not high picks.
Oh dear. Someone has taken the lid off and thrown it over the cliff edge.
This isn't going to end well.
Realistically, we play saints twice, lions twice, bombers and pies again....and melbourne.
we SHOULD win all 7, taking us to 11 wins.
Somehow i doubt we'll get 11 wins this season.
we've beaten 4 very ordinary teams in Fremantle Essendon Collingwood and Port Adelaide....It's good to win but we are no chance of making finals.
Time to think about Finals as we're a good chance of playing them. I was going to start this thread last week but thought I would give it one more game to see the improvement.
There's always one fairy tail team each year that rises from the depths and I reckon its us this time.
We've had enough talk of high draft picks which go with finishing well out of the finals. Winning makes premiership teams not high picks.
It's certainly good to see people getting pumped and having positive thoughts about the team, but no.
Oh dear. Someone has taken the lid off and thrown it over the cliff edge.
This isn't going to end well.
Realistically, we play saints twice, lions twice, bombers and pies again....and melbourne.
we SHOULD win all 7, taking us to 11 wins.
Somehow i doubt we'll get 11 wins this season.
According to the ladder predictor i did the other day, but aside from absolute ridiculous amount of surprise results, we will end up outside of finals by 3 matches even if we somehow win 11.
We need 13 wins to play finals IMHO, and even then a few results have to go our way.
absolutely... no reason why we can't...
Just have to win 10 more games.....
;D
What"s the F word. Go all out and go the P word....lol!
14 games to go. We have a very soft draw but games we won't win:
Norf, Geelong, GWS, Adelaide H, WetToast H, Sydney & Dawks.
That has us on 11 wins. Realistically we'd have to knock off crows and eagles here plus win all of the other 7 to be even a slight chance. Would be a big effort.
I will say this - we are noticeably better each week. The difference between the Freo/Ess wins and the PA win is vast.
I would LOVE to be in the finals, but I honestly do not think we are ready. We have taken some major steps, but we are still nearer the start of our rebuild than the end. There is more talent to import onto our list. There are some kids who have to mature. We have serious structural problems to overcome.
I can't see us getting to the finals this year.
That said, wouldn't be a cracker if we did. There were plenty of self appointed seers out there who thought we wouldn't win a game. It would be nice to show these zeros that we have evolved. Pity they haven't. :))
Eleven wins would seem to be the most we can realistically expect.
No finals for us but we could very well help to determine who does play finals.
I would LOVE to be in the finals, but I honestly do not think we are ready. We have taken some major steps, but we are still nearer the start of our rebuild than the end. There is more talent to import onto our list. There are some kids who have to mature. We have serious structural problems to overcome.
I can't see us getting to the finals this year.
That said, wouldn't be a cracker if we did. There were plenty of self appointed seers out there who thought we wouldn't win a game. It would be nice to show these zeros that we have evolved. Pity they haven't. :))
To be honest our rebuild has barely started.
We were the third average oldest team in round 9.
F is obviously for top FOUR.
I have that unsettling feeling that any talk of finals this year will disappear after this weekend.. ::)
The only decent sides we have met so far this season have shown us the early exit door.
No finals for us but we could very well help to determine who does play finals.
^ ^ ^ ^
THIS...
I've looked at the draw and to be honest I can't see us losing another game.
Yeah, no.
I can imagine posters from other Clubs looking at this thread laughing saying ha... after 4 wins they think they're making finals :o
No - i'm happy with improvement each week, weed out the boys that aren't up for the challenge of the hard slog, build the culture - build towards something, not some half arsed Richmond attempt at finals.
We want sustained success, we want a powerful team - if that takes a year or 3 then so be it.
And agree with pp, after North kill us, i'm sure this thread will be shut down O0
Its ridiculous to even be discussing Finals. We re so far from a top 8 side its not funny.
We re still to play North, Cats, Hawks, and Giants and Swans away. We re bound to cope hidings in most of these games.
Its ridiculous to even be discussing Finals. We re so far from a top 8 side its not funny.
We re still to play North, Cats, Hawks, and Giants and Swans away. We re bound to cope hidings in most of these games.
If Port had won, they would be in the 8 - but you're right, we're a middle of the ladder team at best.
Its ridiculous to even be discussing Finals. We re so far from a top 8 side its not funny.
We re still to play North, Cats, Hawks, and Giants and Swans away. We re bound to cope hidings in most of these games.
x2...We have MK injured again, Cripps banged up and a NB's team that are getting hammered each week...not really a
scenario for finals...
Just need to remain competitive, beat the teams we should beat and make sure we engineer a good position for the draft
where we can loot and pillage GWS...
I've looked at the draw and to be honest I can't see us losing another game.
Nice
Wouldn't it be nice.....
but probably not this year. Now if you wanted to talk about next year....!!
Fevola! :D
I've slept on it and had a re think about this...
If Leicester City can do it .... why can't we ??
Da di da di darr... ;D
F is obviously for top FOUR.
Mediocrity. F for First!
Mediocrity. F for First!
F for flag.
Well shucks, it could be next year but someone had to start the ball rolling.
Well shucks, it could be next year but someone had to start the ball rolling.
Don't sweat it - it's good to think positive.
Don't sweat it - it's good to think positive.
Only way to be mate, others can have their negative threads.
Well shucks, it could be next year but someone had to start the ball rolling.
Damn straight.
These bandwagons don't start themselves !!!
F for Fyfe from freo?
To be honest our rebuild has barely started.
We were the third average oldest team in round 9.
I heard that earlier in the week but I remember when we beat Freo we had 10 players in the team who'd played less than 30 games.
A bunch of them got injured of course and Army / Walker / Jamo / Everitt / etc. returned.
This thread doesn't want to lie down.
There should be a few more optimists after todays win. Since we've found our mojo we've one five and lost one to the ladder leader. Player who've been written off by many have made valuable contributions and the team is playing the best football it has this century.
I am still torn if making finals would be a good or bad thing.
I am hopeful that this administration would see finals as a result of hard work, not the end game.
Torn.
No. Not at this stage of the journey. Need a spanking week one like a hole in the head.
Yes. F yea, gotta be in to win it.
Equal top of the form ladder over the past 6 weeks.
Winning breeds belief - winning a couple of finals would be fantastic - go Blues, the sky's the limit!
It's possible, but I'm still kinda scared to believe !!
F will be a bonus if we get there this year, I was only hoping to get out of the bottom 4, well I reckon we have that covered, but F is a big step up from there.... !!
9-10 wins I would think.
could be 7-5 into the break.. I think we will come close as will need to win some five games after the break.
could be 7-5 into the break.. I think we will come close as will need to win some five games after the break.
Lets not get to far ahead of ourselves.
I would like to think we have come along a bit to beat Brisbane, but St Kilda wont be easy, they are in good form and play Etihad well.
Give me 6-6 and I'll be happy. We will lose one we should win.
Lets not get to far ahead of ourselves.
I would like to think we have come along a bit to beat Brisbane, but St Kilda wont be easy, they are in good form and play Etihad well.
Give me 6-6 and I'll be happy. We will lose one we should win.
Boy, I'm agreeing with everyone this morning. 6-6 will do me fine, although I do like that winning feeling - makes one greedy.
Boy, I'm agreeing with everyone this morning. 6-6 will do me fine, although I do like that winning feeling - makes one greedy.
Why settle for mediocracy Paul? I don't think the team will.
One week at a time.
Why settle for mediocracy Paul? I don't think the team will.
I hope the team keeps doing what's it's been doing this season, because it seems to be working.
I'm also going to keep doing what I've been doing , i.e keeping a lid on it, because it seems to be working.
I hope the team keeps doing what's it's been doing this season, because it seems to be working.
I'm also going to keep doing what I've been doing , i.e keeping a lid on it, because it seems to be working.
And I'm not, which also seems to be working. :)
And I'm not, which also seems to be working. :)
Maybe it's a yin / yang thing.
This thread is about Finals? Aw, I was getting all worked up ready to spout my disgust for Franchina's performance in the '99GF.
One week at a time.
From what I can gather we go out each week with a plan to play better than last week and to eliminate more errors from our game. That way the boys won't get ahead of themselves. This is the way BB works and I don't think they talk about winning or losing.
We seem to learn more from our losses.
Contested ball and clearances were crape against North, as were our forward entries...
Fast Forward vs Geelong...
9-10 wins I would think.
Easy tiger... can't see us winning that many in a row.
Easy tiger... can't see us winning that many in a row.
I think he's including finals there.
You guys...
I hope the team keeps doing what's it's been doing this season, because it seems to be working.
I'm also going to keep doing what I've been doing , i.e keeping a lid on it, because it seems to be working.
LOL, good call !!
Finals would be a Bonus but not going to happen in my opinion. We will still have ups and downs.
No matter what happens from here this season is a Win for me and probably even the equivalent of playing finals. A win like that against Geelong certainly gives me the same satisfaction.
We are the perfect example of how fans can be satisfied with a loss, as long as our players give everything they have got. 100%. The thing I now love about our Club is that it's so obvious that every player is aware that 100% commitment is a non-negotiable. You either give it, or you don't play.
Players like Garlett, Yarran and Menziel wouldn't have bought into that I wouldn't think.
One week at a time.
Exactly. I guess as supporters we can get ahead of ourselves but I pray the players don't. All that matters is Brisbane at ES this Saturday. The end.
Exactly. I guess as supporters we can get ahead of ourselves but I pray the players don't. All that matters is Brisbane at ES this Saturday. The end.
I think that the players are well and truly on message Baggers; this season is about effort and pressure, wins and losses aren't in the KPIs.
However, I reckon we could just about . . . ;)
I think that BB has had an easier time changing the culture of the playing group than anyone would have changing the culture of this forum.
For instance when I read in the post game thread someone congratulating White on his excellent play but then going on to say that we'll be better when he leaves. ::)
I think that BB has had an easier time changing the culture of the playing group than anyone would have changing the culture of this forum.
For instance when I read in the post game thread someone congratulating White on his excellent play but then going on to say that we'll be better when he leaves. ::)
I had a chuckle at that myself :)
If White can continue to play like he did in the last quarter, he'll be a monty for a new contract.
I think that the players are well and truly on message Baggers; this season is about effort and pressure, wins and losses aren't in the KPIs.
However, I reckon we could just about . . . ;)
It all depends.
Ive been taught since juniors that the ladder and finals football is the reward for effort at the end of the season, and that includes winning anything.
You don't look at the ladder for anything during the season proper.
It puts additional pressure on the group to win certain matches, and you effectively want to treat every contest the same. Like it will be your last.
Only a short article, but in his own repetitive way, Bolts is keeping a lid on it.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/carlton-coach-brendon-bolton-says-talk-of-finals-would-be-foolish-20160530-gp7nxe.html
Is the F Word Finals or Foolish??
Is the F Word Finals or Foolish??
Both.
It would be foolish to be thinking we will make the finals at this stage.
Thinking of finals doesn't hurt any of the supporters, but should not be on the mind of the players. That would be the club thinking in the opposite direction to what Bolts appears to be teaching them.
It is obvious with this group, and he reiterates it after win or loss, he doesn't want them to read too much into their wins and he doesn't want them to read too much into their losses. Following this mantra, whether we make finals or not has no real saying on whether we are having a successful year. What matters is continuing to play football in the manner than ensures that when it all starts clicking, when the team plays like this every week and our list is where we need it, then we will be playing regular finals football. In other words the players should not even be aiming at all for the finals, if it comes as a by product, that is fine, if it doesn't... that is fine. I a, fairly sure Bolton would prefer we finish the last round missing finals, but never leave any game where our commitment to pressure football is questioned, than getting to the finals, but playing a couple of games where we are considered soft.
I think the season gets harder not easier as well, maintaining the message, maintaining the rage, not becoming stale after we do take some hard losses, ensuring that every week, every day, the same message goes through all and never falters, that is a bigger challenge than playing football in September.
I don't care if we make finals, I really don't at all. If I was betting on us, I would say it is probably the odds should be as much as 2/5 against us making the finals, but we are a chance.
We shouldn't be getting ahead of ourselves for sure but we shouldn't be setting any limits either - only the sky. Keep playing the way we played on Sun and results take care of themselves. Focus on our system and on improving!
Both.
It would be foolish to be thinking we will make the finals at this stage.
We have the 15th hardest, (hence 4th easiest) draw from here on out.
We play saints twice, lions twice, pies and bombers again. Win them and we're on 11 wins. 2 more guarantees you a spot.
Get on Freo for the spoon! Apprantly 2nd hardest draw from here on out. Ouch.
Given where we sit... next year would probably be a more realistic scenario.
But if it happens let's embrace it, even if we cop a hiding ... another great learning experience.
Given where we sit... next year would probably be a more realistic scenario.
But if it happens let's embrace it, even if we cop a hiding ... another great learning experience.
My projection has us playing a final next year but I'd happily settle for us to achieve that milestone a year early. I don't think we'll make it this year though. As Bolton warned, we should expect a few heavy and perhaps unanticipated losses before the season is out.
No reason not to have it in the back of our mind given we're 6-5 and 6 wins from 7 games. Focus is on development with finals as a bonus but it's not without a chance. We need to win next week to be 7-5 as after the bye the next weeks are brutal. The Pies, West Coast and Adelaide are very winnable in Melboune. After that 4 much softer games to finish.
Round 12 Sunday, June 12
STK v CARL ES 1:10PM
Round 13 BYE
Round 14 Saturday, June 25
GWS v CARL SPO
Round 15 Saturday, July 02
CARL v COLL MCG 7:25PM
Round 16 Sunday, July 10
CARL v ADEL MCG 1:10PM
Round 17 Sunday, July 17
CARL v WCE MCG 1:10PM
Round 18 Saturday, July 23
SYD v CARL SCG 1:45PM
Round 19 Saturday, July 30
HAW v CARL AU 2:10PM
Round 20 Sunday, August 07
CARL v STK MCG 1:10PM
Round 21 Saturday, August 13
BL v CARL G 1:45PM
Round 22 Sunday, August 21
CARL v MELB MCG 1:10PM
Round 23 Saturday, August 27
ESS v CARL MCG
Now that we're beating everyone in sight shouldn't we be setting our sights a little higher?
Should the F word be top Four?
Seriously though - just awesome to see how much this team is improving. Each week someone new jumps up. We seem to be really hard to beat (North game aside) and considering last off-season we sacrificed the here and now for 5 top juniors - and 4 of them aren't playing - just a brilliant season so far.
Last year was the worst season of footy I've ever endured. This season - easily the best in recent memory.
Totally agree jeza. Except with the top four bit, that is surely a delightful fantasy, but highly unlikely reality :o
But hey, fantasise all you like. It'll be good preparation for the success our club's building towards.
Go new Blues
experienced hardened bodies with finals experience playing a gameplan the players like. looks positive and a potent mix but don't think we will make the finals but will be in for a shout.
if we beat one of WCE, hawthorn or Sydney then I'm on the finals bandwagon
experienced hardened bodies with finals experience playing a gameplan the players like. looks positive and a potent mix but don't think we will make the finals but will be in for a shout.
if we beat one of WCE, hawthorn or Sydney then I'm on the finals bandwagon
Hopefully we beat St.Kilda first then our best chance of the next 6 are Collingwood, West Coast and Adelaide with te latter two at home. with the softer last 4 games you're then looking at a chance. Reality is though next week is a real danger game then the next 6 games is a brutal stretch but win the ones I spoke about then you never know your luck.
Let's beat St Kilda and then I absolutely seriously believe we are a chance.
Our percentage sucks though.
We can win the last 4... Beat saints that's 11 wins.
We have beaten Geelong who are third, so no reason we can't win a few more.
13 wins...
My view is that we shouldn't get to far ahead of ourselves so I am taking it one premiership at a time.
After the Coll game on the 7/5/16, I looked at the draw and predicated the following:
RIC L
SYD L
GCS L
WBD L
FRE W
ESS W
COL W
PA W
NM L
GEE L
BL W
STK W
BYE
GWS L
COL W
ADE L
WCE W
SYD L
HAW L
STK W
BL L
MEL W
ESS W
I had us winning 11 and losing to Geel (now a W). I really want to beat Haw and/or Syd, dont really care about the rest or making finals TBH, as long as we continue playing the way we are I'm more than happy. If we blood a few more young uns, thats another bonus. Having said that, if we keep playing the way we are now, the W's may well take care of themselves.
Go Blues
On current form and taking injuries into account, we should win this week against the Saints quite comfortably.
After that we have the bye which is always a danger game. :P
Then it gets really interesting :
GWS away - very tough ask, can't see a win there
Collingwood @ home - hmm, should be a win but who knows
Adelaide @ home - nah, they might be a bit good for us
WCE @ home - they don't travel well but they will be hard to beat
Sydney away - good luck, they are a damn good team
Hawthorn away - might be pinchable but more likely a loss
St. Blunda @ home - yep, should be a solid win
Brisbane away - should be another win
Melbourne @ home - depends on which Dees team turns up, should be a win
Essendon away - percentage booster
Overall, we are looking at an end of season win/loss ratio of 11/11 which should have us finish around the 11-12 spots on the ladder.
If we were offered that at the start of the season we would of welcomed it with open arms.
Barring compo picks, priority picks and any other weirdo bonuses, we will start of with draft picks #7, #25, #43, #61, #79 & #97.
I think it's unrealistic for us to continue our good form for the full season. I would expect us to drop one or two that others may pencil in. But then, I always err on the conservative side.
Pies might get some of their stars back by then, and Hawks will be too good. Not hopeful on either of those. Melbourne are in good form and playing good consistent footy - Roos has had a good length of time to develop them, and it's looks like it's starting to bear fruit. Anyone of Essendon, Saints or Brissie could be the upset loss.
I like our style of play against the Hawks. Not saying we would start favourites but we're not out of it entirely.
I think it's unrealistic for us to continue our good form for the full season. I would expect us to drop one or two that others may pencil in. But then, I always err on the conservative side.
Pies might get some of their stars back by then, and Hawks will be too good. Not hopeful on either of those. Melbourne are in good form and playing good consistent footy - Roos has had a good length of time to develop them, and it's looks like it's starting to bear fruit. Anyone of Essendon, Saints or Brissie could be the upset loss.
A lot will also ride on what injuries we may get. Our depth is pretty thin.
A lot will also ride on what injuries we may get. Our depth is pretty thin.
Another five wins is not unrealistic, provided we have a good run with injuries. We don't have a lot of blokes in the NBs demanding games and it would be preferable to play Charlie Curnow, McKay and Silvagni when they're ready, not because we have to.
I would have been happy with 6-8 wins at the beginning of the season, to have 6 already is amazing!
I reckon 10-12 now, which would see us just miss out on the top 8, but still a far better season than I could have imagined, especially after round 4 !!
I would have been happy with 6-8 wins at the beginning of the season, to have 6 already is amazing!
I reckon 10-12 now, which would see us just miss out on the top 8, but still a far better season than I could have imagined, especially after round 4 !!
Last night on SEN, they were talking about how this year, teams may require 14 wins to make the 8. Its normally 12 but due to the evenness...
Last night on SEN, they were talking about how this year, teams may require 14 wins to make the 8. Its normally 12 but due to the evenness...
All any team is keep winning week after that. Except the North game, a reality check, we've done that very well in recent times.
Beating Brisbane by that margin, with the big names, not doing much is a very good sign.
Bookies on the Saints game:
Saints 2.25
Blues 1.61
Barring compo picks, priority picks and any other weirdo bonuses, we will start of with draft picks #7, #25, #43, #61, #79 & #97.
Don't we also have an extra pick from Geelong due to the Henderson deal ?
Don't we also have an extra pick from Geelong due to the Henderson deal ?
I'm pretty sure we used that in a trade ???
Most people think the 8 is set.
6. GWS
7. West Coast
8. Adelaide
GWS were on fire and after I declared they would win the flag have dropped two in a row.
West Coast and Adelaide look great at home but are vulnerable on the road.
We play the Giants away in rd 14 and the other two at the G in rd 16 and 17.
If we beat the saints and pies as we should on current form and win 2 of those 3 we will be in a good position.
It works out well that we have to beat the teams we want to replace.
Don't we also have an extra pick from Geelong due to the Henderson deal ?
We passed on the Hendo pick to GWS for pick 8 last year (McKay)
We do have the Doggies 3rd round pick for this year up our sleeve though.
Might be an opportune time for some people to revisit their thoughts on finals.
If we can't beat St. Blunda, then we are not worthy of playing finals and certainly won't win enough games to qualify.
We are a young team on the rise albeit it a slow one. However, we are still prone to brainfades & burnout purely due to inexperience and lack of battle fitness.
Naturally we should be aiming to win every match we play but having genuine intensity and competitiveness every week is so much more important to us right now.
Point taken Mr Sheik!
Its the debate that matters, nothing wrong with pushing the boundaries of positivism. :)
we belong in the 13/14th bracket loaded up on some more draft picks and build a real team
we belong in the 13/14th bracket loaded up on some more draft picks and build a real team
x2..
Still reckon we'll end somewhere between 10-12th. Unless we either really drop off in the back half of the season or take the comp by storm and wind up in the top 8 !!
Take all the players out of our list that wont be there when we are challenging and if you do that it's obvious we are very light on for talent.
Making finals would be a disaster IMO.
Need to get games into some of our younger players including Jakschs and start leaving the likes of Walker, Armfield and even Rowe out.
This will make us less competitive in the short term meaning we will drop a few spots on the ladder BUT will position us better for another draft assault which is vital for our longterm success.
Need to load up on the best talent again this year otherwise we will at best bob around in no mans land year after Year.
I don't like the talk of finals being a disaster, but I understand the point.
What we really need is to get games into our recruits and build for next season, if we can do that and win that would be ideal
Not upset about talk of finals. Absolutely shows how far the team has come in a short time, and having our boys as a real threat makes for a nice change.
It is so heart warming to see our boys enjoying their footy again.
Unlikely we will finished in the bottom 4, so where we finish in 9th to 14th is less of an issue for the value of our pick. This draft is said to be "even".
We are in the second half of the "expansion" period where looking an attractive destination for young men who want to move home, gives us much more capital at trade time, than one or two picks different at the back end of the top ten.
GWS and Gold Cost _must_ maximise their drafting of academy/local talent.
GWS especially has top ten picks, who have done multiple pre-seasons and can't get a game in their star studded line-up.
Any non-nsw players on the fringe could reasonably expect to loose out to academy players when a slot opens up in the firsts.
So they would have to ask themselves - do you want to spend your career playing seconds in NSW in the hope of getting a shot in a side of stars, or would you like to take a chance, move home, and play in a team you saw growing up, that really wants you, and is likely to be contending.
IMHO this year, presenting as a professional and desirable destination is much more important than a few draft positions. Very happy with how we are going.
"even" draft is recruiter slang for "no obvious no 1 pick" or "the clubs can't reach a concensus on the number 1 pick".