The Hard Road To The Premiership

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Re: The Hard Road To The Premiership

Reply #75 – February 14, 2016, 10:31:47 am

Quote from: Raydan – on February 14, 2016, 10:03:47 am

Sounds as if Jaksch has been training exclusively with the defensive unit this off season, doubt we'll see him up forward in 2016.

In that case, our 2015 list players are missing a key forward - unless Foster can step up.

McKay and Curnow's chances of breaking in to the side must be pretty good.

Re: The Hard Road To The Premiership

Reply #76 – February 14, 2016, 10:46:51 am

Quote from: Raydan – on February 14, 2016, 10:18:16 am

You're not holding out hope for Glass-McCasker EB? Great height, athletic ability and his best asset is to close down opponents, ideal for FB. Main down is his kicking but can be hidden a bit at FB, having Tuhoy, Docherty and Buckley all sweeping behind for a quick give.

I hope to have a Weitering/McCasker/Plowman trio of bigs down back. I also hope to have McKay/Jaksch/C.Curnow trio up forward. I don't see JK as a defender, he may be learning some stuff this season but ultimately he's a forward.

I dont have Plowman as a KP Gorilla defender...GWS were trialling him as an onballer and I see his future as further up the ground....my theory is Curnow will become a big onballer who rests forward rather than a specialist forward..I think SOSOS will take that Gunston type role.

Good lateral thinking on GlassMac Ray..forgot about him.. :- and yep he would have to figure in those down back plans for the future....the club will need to fastrack him onto the senior list to keep him as the WA clubs will be looking to entice him home and that might mean he gets some opportunities earlier than others...

Re: The Hard Road To The Premiership

Reply #77 – February 14, 2016, 11:37:04 am

Jaksch is one in particular I would like to see start to really emerge as a senior player this year, whether FWD or back. He cost us and was seen as a very important acquisition at the time, so it's equally important that he becomes a success story and we get value.

Re: The Hard Road To The Premiership

Reply #78 – February 14, 2016, 12:52:42 pm

My gut feeling is that we'll finish bottom 4 this year.

There are (as I see it), three ways we can move up the ladder :

1. benefit from a team on the decline
2. benefit from a team having an off year (injuries, form etc.)
3. have a greater rate of improvement than other teams, so that we can in essence "leapfrog" them.

One problem with looking at our list only, is that one can easily overlook or forget the quality on other lists, and also overlook the changes, tweaks, improvements that occur at other clubs. All teams put a lot of time and effort during the off season into improving across the board. No real point in us improving 10% if everyone else is improving 20%.

So far as I can see, the Bombers are the only team that might be a "guaranteed" basket case this year.

Re: The Hard Road To The Premiership

Reply #79 – February 14, 2016, 01:57:28 pm

Quote from: DJC – on February 14, 2016, 09:31:44 am

Definitely, provided Jaksch has improved his footy to the point where he is a genuine key forward.

It's not a top 8 line up but it would be competitive if the new coaching panel can get them to play to their potential and with an effective game plan.

I didn't intend to be a structure, more about personnel and can it improve. Throw those names wherever they are best suited.

Re: The Hard Road To The Premiership

Reply #80 – February 14, 2016, 02:04:53 pm

Quote from: PaulP link=topic=2545.msg144337#msg144337 date=1455414762 So far as I can see, the Bombers are the only team that might be a "guaranteed" basket case this year. [/quote

.

Wouldnt be so sure of this. That bunch of scum bags has managed to show enormous resilience in the face of great adversity over the last 3 years, I have envied that aspect of their journey and wish our blokes could do the same when their backs are agains the wall. I know 12 of their best players are out and they have assembled a cross between Dads Army and The Biggest Loser contestants however expect the unexpected with this bunch of prix.

Re: The Hard Road To The Premiership

Reply #81 – February 14, 2016, 02:43:03 pm

Quote from: Gointocarlton – on February 14, 2016, 01:57:28 pm

I didn't intend to be a structure, more about personnel and can it improve. Throw those names wherever they are best suited.

I think it does show that we're a key forward short of being a competitive, middle of the ladder team if we have to rely on those who were on our list last season. The other side of the coin is that we are starting to develop some depth in defence.

Re: The Hard Road To The Premiership

Reply #82 – February 14, 2016, 04:11:14 pm

Quote from: Gointocarlton – on February 14, 2016, 02:04:53 pm

[quote author=PaulP link=topic=2545.msg144337#msg144337 date=1455414762

So far as I can see, the Bombers are the only team that might be a "guaranteed" basket case this year.
Wouldnt be so sure of this. That bunch of scum bags has managed to show enormous resilience in the face of great adversity over the last 3 years, I have envied that aspect of their journey and wish our blokes could do the same when their backs are agains the wall. I know 12 of their best players are out and they have assembled a cross between Dads Army and The Biggest Loser contestants however expect the unexpected with this bunch of prix.

Agree. What we might have here is a band of cut throats out to make as much mayhem in 2016 as they can! They've got nothing to lose really and they're not really playing with any true or legitimate strategic objective in mind. Could be very dangerous for the unwary!

Re: The Hard Road To The Premiership

Reply #83 – February 14, 2016, 04:22:28 pm

Appreciate what GTC and cookie are saying, but there's too many good players out, and too much last minute patching up for Essendon to do much. They might start well, but will fade pretty quickly IMO.

For what it's worth, this is my guess at the way teams will finish this year. I'm tipping Freo EDIT or Hawks for the flag - reckon the penny might've finally dropped for ol Toss. EDIT : on further thought, if the reduced rotations have a big impact, then lean and mean teams like Hawthorn would have an advantage over bigger bodied teams like Freo. Hmmm............

I do wonder whether the reduced rotations will encourage teams to play frenetic 1st and 2nd quarters, to build up a substantial half time lead, in anticipation of running out of steam late in the game ?

1-4
Fremantle
Sydney
Hawthorn
West Coast

5-8 ( in no particular order)
North Melbourne
Collingwood
Western Bulldogs or Geelong
Richmond

9-14 ( in no particular order)
Essendon or Brisbane
Giants
St Kilda
Crows
Port
Western Bulldogs or Geelong

15-18 ( in no particular order)
Melbourne
GC
Carlton
Essendon or Brisbane

Re: The Hard Road To The Premiership

Reply #84 – February 14, 2016, 05:39:50 pm

@Paul

I guess if we can show a real strong improvement in our competitiveness and fight games out to the final siren, and at the same time get some good draft picks it would be a good outcome.

Re: The Hard Road To The Premiership

Reply #85 – February 14, 2016, 05:45:56 pm

Quote from: cookie2 – on February 14, 2016, 05:39:50 pm

@Paul

I guess if we can show a real strong improvement in our competitiveness and fight games out to the final siren, and at the same time get some good draft picks it would be a good outcome.

Yes, and I wonder whether the club is thinking the same.

Re: The Hard Road To The Premiership

Reply #86 – February 14, 2016, 08:39:51 pm

I reckon we are least likely to play four quarters this season over any other in recent history.

Reduced rotations and lots of green players combined with a new game plan...

I think Paul is pretty close with how it will go.

Re: The Hard Road To The Premiership

Reply #87 – February 15, 2016, 11:34:03 am

Geelong wont make the eight, especially if Selwood misses the first part of the year.

Re: The Hard Road To The Premiership

Reply #88 – February 15, 2016, 12:21:07 pm

i reckon we'll surprise a few - even ourselves.

Pretty solid core if up and about fitness wise?

Gibbs, Smurf, Daisy, Special K, Walks, Simmo, Jamo, Everitt, Kerridge, Weitering, Docherty. Oh and that other spud, Cripps.

Bit of class there, not to mention young Plowman (former #3 draftee), E & C Curnow etc.

I'll say 8 to 12 finish.

Re: The Hard Road To The Premiership

Reply #89 – February 15, 2016, 12:29:49 pm

Quote from: flyboy77 – on February 15, 2016, 12:21:07 pm

i reckon we'll surprise a few - even ourselves.

Pretty solid core if up and about fitness wise?

Gibbs, Smurf, Daisy, Special K, Walks, Simmo, Jamo, Everitt, Kerridge, Weitering, Docherty. Oh and that other spud, Cripps.

Bit of class there, not to mention young Plowman (former #3 draftee), E & C Curnow etc.

I'll say 8 to 12 finish.

Nice to see some optimism Flyboy

I'm hoping for 8-12 but I suspect 11-14 is more realistic.