So far in season 2023, the fluctuating form of the Blues has not been one to excite anyone.
The first four weeks yielded three wins and a draw but truth be told, they weren't with any authority or system. A horrible loss to the Crows in RD 5 jolted everyone back to reality, it was just so bad on all levels. The week after, in what was another poor game, the margin in the Saints loss flattered us. Last week's total annihilation of the Eagles, we were on a hiding to nothing there really, we were expected to win and win well, thankfully we did but it wasn't without some genuine errors and breakdowns in cohesion.
The month of May has us lining up to face four very serious opponents :
RD 7 - Brisbane (Docklands)
RD 8 - Dogs (Docklands)
RD 9 - Pies (MCG)
RD 10 - Swans (SCG)
There is no doubt in my mind that these four weeks will determine our fortunes this year, in fact I'll go as far to say this month IS our season. Keep serving up the same crap we have and it will get really embarrasing !!
Win 0 - Lose 4 : its season over right there
Win 1 - Lose 3 : its close enough to the end
Win 2 - Lose 2 : the door is still open, slightly
Win 3 - Lose 1 : we are well in the hunt and for good reason
Win 4 - Lose 0 : we are a serious contender again
So, in the month of May, will we create total mayhem across the league or will we be sending out the mayday signal ??
I'd be happy with a 2-2 split.
With 23 games It's probably going to take at least 14 wins to make finals.
So it might be touch and go at the end.
If we are 6-4-1 after round 11 (ie 2-2 in the next 4), that's not too shabby. With an improving injury list, we may be able to launch something.
Having said that, if we can't beat at least 3 of the next 4 opponents, we simply aren't good enough to be in the mix at the end of the year.
Agree Tonyo....we've beaten GWS, North, West Coast and Geelong when they were still in first gear coming off the back of the flag. And the draw with Richmond. Lose 3 or 4 of the next month and we'd only be making up the numbers if we sneak into the 8 on the back of a good run home against teams in the bottom half.
Brisbane haven't travelled too well in recent times so this is the week to get some real credibility on the board. The injury list is getting smaller and I'd suggest only Owies and maybe Martin and Cottrell are the "outs" who would be in our best 22....excluding Williams of course who's gone for the season.
Win 0 - Lose 4 : its season over right there
Win 1 - Lose 3 : its close enough to the end
Win 2 - Lose 2 : the door is still open, slightly
Win 3 - Lose 1 : we are well in the hunt and for good reason
Win 4 - Lose 0 : we are a serious contender again
Its far from season over and it doesn't make us serious contenders.
It makes us either lucky or unlucky.
It makes us learn a few hard truths (which may work in our favour)
or
It may make us get ahead of ourselves (again) and think its all easy from here.
Forget about win/loss records over that period and work on our consistency and put in a 4-quarter performance. If we do that each of those weeks, then we are a contender.
A couple of wins in the next 4 weeks will give the boys and us some genuine self belief that we can not only match it with the better teams, but that we can match it with them more regularly. That has to be the next step. Beating up on the West Coasts of this world, even if we win by 1000 points, counts for nought if we can't take that next step.
I would not be at all surprised to lose all 4.
I would be shocked to win all 4.
I’m hopeful of winning 2-3 of the next 4 and would be very happy with that result.
But my gut tells me there is some system issue with how we play, it is not cohesive, it is not clean, it does not hold up well to pressure.
I would not be at all surprised to lose all 4.
I would be shocked to win all 4.
I’m hopeful of winning 2-3 of the next 4 and would be very happy with that result.
But my gut tells me there is some system issue with how we play, it is not cohesive, it is not clean, it does not hold up well to pressure.
If we pick the right side every week, play properly to our strengths (play our way) and execute well, we can win all 4 no question ifs or buts about it. We cannot afford passengers, we cannot rely on a few stars to carry all the load, its 23 blokes all in pulling their weight for 120 mins. Anything less we lose.
If we pick the right side every week, play properly to our strengths (play our way) and execute well, we can win all 4 no question ifs or buts about it. We cannot afford passengers, we cannot rely on a few stars to carry all the load, its 23 blokes all in pulling their weight for 120 mins. Anything less we lose.
Absolutely!
If we have our best team on the park and they’re in the right frame of mind, we can account for any team in the competition. If we’re not switched on, we will lose, regardless of who the opposition is.
Ive tipped Brisbane tomorrow night. They have shown form that makes me think they could win the flag this season.
We have not at this stage, but we have been in most of our matches (bar Adelaide) with a shout to win it.
These days we are a fairly easy side to read, but the manner in which we made mistakes even in our West Coast demolition means that I can't necessarily think we are going to beat everyone we play against. If the Lions are on, they have the quality to beat us even if we bring the heat. If we are on, we might win but not if the Lions play their best footy (which they tend to against us). Ergo, I think they are more likely to win. That's the summary of our season thus far, and it can turn and turn quickly but the question is if it will.
To date, there is a rather uncontrolled manner in our play that doesn't fill me with confidence.
Next 2 games after that are against Melbourne and Essendon. So the next 6 games are a Test. I'd like 4 from 6.
6 from 6 would be great but then i'd worry about being peaked too early too.
Surely Brisbane are favorites. While like others I like to think we are a chance, what gives me hope is that sometimes a big win helps give confidence in the system and it is often confidence that is the difference. (as long as it isn't false confidence!)
Like to think we are favourites at home.
This is a must win imho....
Next 2 games after that are against Melbourne and Essendon. So the next 6 games are a Test. I'd like 4 from 6.
6 from 6 would be great but then i'd worry about being peaked too early too.
Brisbane can be very poor away from home so we MUST capitalise on that. I heard the odds on radio the other day and with were very close. Its Docs 150th and MUST absolutely cap off his night the right way.
Like to think we are favourites at home.
This is a must win imho....
Carlton 1.84
Brisbane 1.96
Carlton 1.84
Brisbane 1.96
Seems fair enough...
Carlton 1.84
Brisbane 1.96
That is a surprise to me.
Looking like May is going to be a month of pain.
Teams know our plan and counter it. We have no plan B.
Looking like May is going to be a month of pain.
Teams know our plan and counter it. We have no plan B.
Forget game plans, it's so obvious to me now teams know we lack skill and smarts, they simply pressure us into mistakes. Ill say this again, its not the inexperienced kids, its the senior players. Teams give us no space, no corralling the man with the ball, straight at him to make him panic. Adelaide did it, StK did it, Brisbane did it, easy peasy.
WB, Pies, Swans, Melb, Ess will make a mess of us.
Carlton 1.94
Bulldogs 1.90
Carlton 1.94
Bulldogs 1.90
Some people don't know anything about football, and it isn't us.
RD 7 - Brisbane (Docklands)
RD 8 - Dogs (Docklands)
RD 9 - Pies (MCG)
RD 10 - Swans (SCG)
Carl 3.02 Coll 1.39
Sydney 1.94 Carl 1.90
Those odds seem about right to me. Collingwood deserve to start as warm favourites. Both us and Sydney are struggling and the SCG is not a fortress at the moment. The smaller size of that ground may even help with our scrubby disposal, and helps our contested game IMO.
Carl 3.02 Coll 1.39
I reckon you'd be silly not to have a shilling on that. ;)
A few things need to click for us.
They just have to be a bit overconfident.
We can't let them be behind at 3/4 time though. ::)
Can you imagine us being 8 goals up, knowing they were coming. :o
Better to let them lead so they can't play their mind games. ;)
But there's a danger there too.
Bugger it, I don't know how to play it. :-\
Take the 1.39 :'(
Carl 2.75 Coll 1.44
Carl 2.75 Coll 1.44
Thought it would closer given Collingwood have players in doubt as well as the weather likely to even up play a bit...
Thought it would closer given Collingwood have players in doubt as well as the weather likely to even up play a bit...
Probably means Ginnivan is out and free to have a big punt! ;D
RD 7 - Brisbane (Docklands)
RD 8 - Dogs (Docklands)
RD 9 - Pies (MCG)
RD 10 - Swans (SCG)
Sydney 2.00
Carlton 1.85
Sydney 2.00
Carlton 1.85
One of the few teams going worse than us are the Swans...never thought I would see us as favourites at the SCG even with all their injuries....
One of the few teams going worse than us are the Swans...never thought I would see us as favourites at the SCG even with all their injuries....
I like their odds of beating us at the moment. We look terrible at the moment.
I like their odds of beating us at the moment. We look terrible at the moment.
We are not great but the Swans have been terrible and stole their last win vs Nth. Its a game we should be able to compete well in that might actually suit our slower contested style of play and they dont have a Darcy Moore for us to kick to down back or that extra leg speed that we struggle with.
RD 7 - Brisbane (Docklands)
RD 8 - Dogs (Docklands)
RD 9 - Pies (MCG)
RD 10 - Swans (SCG)
****ing woeful !!!
I like their odds of beating us at the moment. We look terrible at the moment.
You were right Thry...what was I thinking?
You were right Thry...what was I thinking?
Don't be too hard on yourself EB1.
I didn't want to believe it either, but the Swans had this one in the bag for the exact reasons we can't get a win at the moment.
They are a tough team oriented football side who don't play too many bad ones.
I would not be at all surprised to lose all 4.
I would be shocked to win all 4.
I’m hopeful of winning 2-3 of the next 4 and would be very happy with that result.
But my gut tells me there is some system issue with how we play, it is not cohesive, it is not clean, it does not hold up well to pressure.
This is how I felt a month ago.
Sad.
RD 7 - Brisbane (Docklands)
RD 8 - Dogs (Docklands)
RD 9 - Pies (MCG)
RD 10 - Swans (SCG)
****ing woeful !!!
2023 over.
So pleased I upped our membership when $$ is tight 😭 (my own fault, I know!!!) but no one wants to go watch anymore, so can’t even spruik it as a night out. Never ever again. Never.