This year we were rated top 4 by people who know alot about footy. I wonder what went wrong. With an injury-free side something like this and asterixed players having big consistent improvements, could we do a Melbourne yo-yo act and hit the finals in 2010?
Polo* Thursty Rance*
Tambling** McGuane Moore
Collins* Deledio** Cotchin*
Moreton Reiwolt* Cousins
Nahas* Richo Postman
Followers Vickery*Jackson*Foley
Int Ranga, No.3 pick*, Tuck, left-fielder
I personally think anything could happen. The keys for me are Deledio and Tambling becoming All-Australian midfielders, Reiwolt busting on the scene and kicking 70 goals, Nahas becoming Milne or Eddie Betts-like, and perhaps Vickery playing 22 games and becoming very important. Cotchin winning a brownlow would be the passionfruit icing! I reckon if we can pick up a big, angry ruckman on the wrong side of 28 for cheap to smash into people and take some heat off Vickery and Ranga, we should do it.
I think all these things are plausible and with Damien Hardwick adding hardness, discipline and a game plan that doesnt need a masters degree in logistics to execute, we could see a rapid rebound.
What do you reckon?