This place will absolutely go off if we dont play finals this season. I've noticed that there seems to be an over ridding feeling that most posters think natural evolution will see us playing finals next year like its our right and are therefore quite ok with watching us flush our chances down the toilet this year. Doesnt work like that peeps, development IS a natural progression I agree, but form isnt, form comes and goes so do key injuries. What if Ivan's form goes downhill next season? what if we get a couple of key injuries? What if the determination and steely resolve that we're on the right track (thats obviously there at this moment) waivers next season? All of a sudden we go backwards and where does that leave us? Another rebuild bc "we dont have the cattle obviously?" lol
In footy you need to take your chances even if you're not "ready" according to the blueprint. We have missed the boat this year - whatever anybody says, we HAVE been good enough this season, its just we have blown chance after chance after chance. A club like ours needs to take these chances bc the experience of playing finals a year earlier would stimulate and grow confidence and development two-fold over pre season.
Now unfortunately, the pressure will build into a frenzy for next season, MARK MY WORDS - we are one disrupted preseason and one bad start to the season away from having the supporters and more importantly the players start to waiver and lose faith that we are on the right path. We are then well and truly stuffed. There are too many mitigating circumstances that can affect a footy club year on year so when a chance comes along YOU stuffING GRAB IT!!!! Dont live in the future, live in the now ffs but yeah a bit late for that now
Totally agree with this tony
Imagine the pressure next year on these guys to perform
Imagine if maric gets injured or has a form slump, its possible he will have a form slump next year. He has not been managed well this year due to vickerys injury all season.
Cotch, martin or lids go down?
Jack goes down?
We get a tougher draw than this year? Instead of playing your melbournes or freos twice, we play collingwood and hawks twice as well as bombs and blues. And still only play gws and gc once.
The list could go on
Last year: 8.5 wins. Should have held on st kilda game, beat port and gc. And bang 11 wins and in the 8
This year: beat at least of our close games freo and gc and bang on 9 wins and a game ahead of saints, nort freo and blues. Next year could have been 3rd year finals campaign.
Fact is: fitzroy still has more finals apperances than us in last 30 years and ffs they be gone for 16 years.
Do ppl on here just think we gonna make finals next year or year after and win a flag? September football is different again to h&* season...