agree completely with WA Tiger, need to play finals next year, otherwise we are just going around in circles, as has been the case for the last 10-20 years.
Same here Jack. We have put the 500 games into the Juniors that we were aiming to do for the last two seasons.
I expect to see last years draftees, Conca, Helbig, Batchelor and Derickx all really come on. Same goes for Astbury, Griffiths, Post and Grimes. They have had two or more pre-seasons now to build up some extra size and strength (although more will come with age) to compete with bigger sides. Maric and Morris will hopefully add a bit to the side this upcoming season. Even our first pick in the draft this year, and possibly pick 26 can also be there in round 1, depending on the type of player we take with respect to their body shape/size. Foley should be much better after another full pre-season.
Last season, we were in front of Carlton at 3/4 time in round 1, we were within 15 points or so of the Pies late in the third quarter, we copped the Hawks on a dirty dirty night weather wise (does not help a young side, and we had Astbury and Grimes as our 2 KPD that night IIRC), and were far from disgraced against Geelong. We certainly should have beaten Bombers the second time around as well. We MUST start beating sides like the Saints, Bulldogs, Swans and Kangas on a consistent basis.
As WP has posted however, a very bad injury run with our better players will really hurt us. But, I do not accept that we have the worst depth of all the finalist possibles. Take the top 3-4 onballers (our best players are largely our on-ballers) out of any side, Cats and Pies included, and they will struggle IMO. We still have a number of listed players that need to be moved on, but contract status stopped that happening this trade period. That will be fixed next year when the draft pool is much deeper.
But I agree with WAT, no excuses for 2012. Should at least make the bottom reaches of the 8 After all, it is part of our 3-0-75 plan is it not??
