BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!!

[tha8ball]

I put this in another thread...then thought it warranted its own glory


I wonder why expectations are down on what we achieved last year? Why has Mike put us 11-13th and ppl said yeah we have to go back to go forward??

From last year in terms of our list, we have lost Kellaway, Chaffey, Rodan, Stafford and a few lesser likes. We have gained Polak, Kingsley and regained Newman and Browny from injuries - while cogs misses both years. SO in that respect have we lost anything? No....in fact i would say we have gained.

Saying we only beat 2or3 of the top 8 teams last yr - to me means we didnt win some lucky ones against better teams...it means we beat teams below us and a couple against teams similar to us. So does that suggest that last year we didnt play above ourselves - we ended up where we deserved to be.

Coming into 07 - i think our list looks very good. We have another year under the likes of Lids, Meyer, Bling, Patto, THursty, Axel, JON, Clevey etc. And we have gained some VERY good juniors in Connors, Jack and Edwards who will all be able to contribute in some way this season. Another bonus on 2006.

So what is causing this drop or slide in position? Are we a younger team than last year? Yess... but not dramatically.DO we have little depth...well in some areas we do. The ruck is a concern...however, we are in the same position as last yr - excpet we have patto with another yr under his belt and some added killos to go with it. Can we cover big injuries? You can never cover Browny, Richo, Joely....however i wouldve thought with the addition of experienced players in KK and GP we are in a better position than ever to cover these guys...and with our kids almost ready to go in the middle...the rotation on the older guys will be a lot friendlier.

All in all....i think our biggest problem is the draw...its a shocker. I for one have great optimism going into 07. We have a fresh young promising CHB who potentially could form a combination with a guy called Jay that could set us up for the next decade, we have the return of a seriously good player in Chris Newman and we have Browny back who alone can almost drag a team into the finals...and who knows these early injuries may work in our favour and we see less injuries for the real stuff....and for once we see Richo play 20+ games....touch wood!

We finished 9th last year and we were nothing special...

Positive thoughts everyone....
8ball

 

[U2Tigers]

mikes forward line was *smile*.

Only 2 talls, I sometimes wonder if hes to busy to think about what he writes.

Although some of his story was good.

Also very much agree we ended where we should have ended.

I seriously think we are one or 2 big/developed players away from the eight. By thatr I mean a couple of players who won't be brushed aside. Quite the opposite, we are 2 players down who brush the other side away.

 

[Freezer]

As I said in the other thread, a near perfect summation, 8ball..! :clap

 

[Freezer]

I seriously think we are one or 2 big/developed players away from the eight. By thatr I mean a couple of players who won't be brushed aside. Quite the opposite, we are 2 players down who brush the other side away.

I think adding Kingsley, Polak, Brown, Newman and another preseason under the belt of Deledio, Raines, Foley and Polo et al, will see us hold our own a bit more in this regard in 2007. We won't quite be on par with a team like Sydney in terms of mature bodies around the ball but we're gettin' there.

 

[zips]

The draw is the biggest hurdle this year, however, as much as we may have gained some players, you also need to look at how the other sides have improved their lists.

 

[geoffryprettyboy]

'The night is at its darkest just before dawn' - GPB!

 

[Tigers of Old]

Positive thoughts everyone....

At least until rnd 1 8ty. ;D

Nice post BTW.

 

[Harro12]

I seriously think we are one or 2 big/developed players away from the eight. By thatr I mean a couple of players who won't be brushed aside. Quite the opposite, we are 2 players down who brush the other side away.

I think adding Kingsley, Polak, Brown, Newman and another preseason under the belt of Deledio, Raines, Foley and Polo et al, will see us hold our own a bit more in this regard in 2007. We won't quite be on par with a team like Sydney in terms of mature bodies around the ball but we're gettin' there.

Freezer, you have won something as far as I'm concerned. That Avatar is the best I've ever seen along with the name. Well done mate!!!!

 

[Talon]

Good to have Newman back, absolute tragedy with what's happened to Coughlan, Kingsley was a poor choice in recruiting as I said in a previous post in regards to his injury. Polak, the jury is still out, his disposal and pace has always been questionable, he has a good pair of hands but always seems to be the third man in to a marking contest, I've never seen him win a one on one duel, who know's he might be able to turn it around with a fresh start, but I have my doubts