I am not sure if Essendon will make the 8 next year

[bogan_blue]

For the simple reason that I think St.Kilda will make the finals next year (top 4 if things go right) and the only team from this year's finals that looks the most shakiest is Essendon IMO. They haven't exactly improved their list with Murphy and Allan, have they, and I don't think any of their young kids are ready or talented enough to have an impact.
Essendon, seriously will finish around as high as 7th/8th or as low as 12th.
St.Kilda on the other hand is young, energetic and $hit loaded with talented. I think Luke Ball is going to emerge next year as a genuine class player and they certainly have the edge over Essendon in almost every department except the foward line and perhaps the ruck division.


They may make the finals, but they are far from a flag threat.
Their midfield is aging and they are far too reliant on Matty Lloyd for their goals. I think Hird's best years are behind him, and perhaps as soon as next year he might spend more time on the bench. The dominent Essendon era of the late 90's early 00's is certainly over, and they have only one flag to show for it.
And for those predictable trolls don't bother comparing Carlton with Essendon, I know we are it and am very comfortable at Carlton's situation.

 

[bucksisbest]

Bogan blue if you don't think the dons can make the finals this year then it is as good as over for them.
Don't bother turning up this year Essendon it's now official you will not make the finals.

 

[Yianni]

It must be awful for you to not be sure that Essendon will make the finals.

The rest of us are all sure. 100% sure.

Give us a yell once your surety shores up.

 

[rednugget]

Originally posted by bucksisbest
Bogan blue if you don't think the dons can make the finals this year then it is as good as over for them.
Don't bother turning up this year Essendon it's now official you will not make the finals.

Darn I was just about to renew my membership aswell.

 

[Banger35]

It has got to the stage where we all just pencil in Essendon for a top 8 spot. Must be something about that 'respect' I keep hearing a certain coach mention. Anyway when I was trying to work out which teams in the 8 we can replace, Essendon seemed the obvious choice.

However if Fletcher and Hird play full seasons, they are certainties for top 8. But how many times recently has that happened. Anyway the only teams I can see dropping out of the 8 are Sydney, West Coast and Essendon.

 

[bogan_blue]

Originally posted by Banger35
It has got to the stage where we all just pencil in Essendon for a top 8 spot. Must be something about that 'respect' I keep hearing a certain coach mention. Anyway when I was trying to work out which teams in the 8 we can replace, Essendon seemed the obvious choice.

However if Fletcher and Hird play full seasons, they are certainties for top 8. But how many times recently has that happened. Anyway the only teams I can see dropping out of the 8 are Sydney, West Coast and Essendon.

Mind you the Crows are aging, and if Mcloud and Riccuitio get injured for a few months, then they will struggle obviously.
But the Bombers for mine, are the 'weakest link' out of all the finals sides in 2003.

 

[Banger35]

Originally posted by bogan_blue
Mind you the Crows are aging, and if Mcloud and Riccuitio get injured for a few months, then they will struggle obviously.
But the Bombers for mine, are the 'weakest link' out of all the finals sides in 2003.

Yeah but if Buckley and Burns or Goodes and Hall go down they look vulnerable to. Would take a fair bit for the Crows to miss out.

 

[bacon buster]

hird missed basically 8 games, ramanauskas missed the bulk of the season, and fletcher also missed 8 games. these players would be in our top 5. also, hille improved with every game he played, we got nothing out of mercuri.

i agree that our young players aren't ready to have an impact at this stage, but we don't really need them to. on paper, we will have a better team than last year - even if allan, murphy and alvey aren't successful. but i think they will be (alvey and allan at least)

 

[bogan_blue]

hird missed basically 8 games, ramanauskas missed the bulk of the season, and fletcher also missed 8 games. these players would be in our top 5. also, hille improved with every game he played, we got nothing out of mercuri.

I hope and pray Ramanasuskas recovers from his illness and plays again, however I'm not too sure if he'll be available at any time, if at all next year.
I do think Hille will take the next step in the ruck, but I don't think Mercuri has much left in the tank, ditto Misiti, and that is where the Bombers will struggle IMO.

 

[bacon buster]

Originally posted by bogan_blue
I do think Hille will take the next step in the ruck, but I don't think Mercuri has much left in the tank, ditto Misiti, and that is where the Bombers will struggle IMO.

what?
by getting the same from mercuri, misiti and ramanauskas that we got this year?

 

[Banger35]

Originally posted by bacon buster
what?
by getting the same from mercuri, misiti and ramanauskas that we got this year?

Yes but you will have to improve on last year, not simply match it. And I think the only one of your 3 recruits that will have any impact will be Alvey.

 

[Stevo]

I'm not sure either.

Of the teams that finished in the eight this year, I do agree that we would be one whose position looks tenuous more than others.

But we're not really in a different boat to that of WC, who also struggled when their top players weren't available. I think that's to be expected: both sides are fairly young, so where there's an unsettled lineup and plenty of youth, there's always going to be inconsistency.

Fremantle, Collingwood and Sydney are also fairly young. Fremantle and Collingwood both had a good run with injuries, were able to settle their youngsters into a role, and developed some consistency and good results. Injuries to Ball and O'Loughlin hurt Sydney late in the year, and it showed. Apart from the QF, they weren't as impressive in the latter parts of the year as in the earlier parts.

Brisbane, Adelaide and Port both had a nasty run with injuries, and it's testament to their abilities that they still ended up where they did. But all of these sides are decidedly more experienced than WC, Essendon, Collingwood, Freo and Sydney. Those three sides are very professional and were disciplined enough to be able to cope with the loss of players due to injury.

Realistically, I think the sides most likely to fall are: Essendon, Fremantle, West Coast, Sydney, Collingwood. But all these sides have good lists, I think the reason for any large slide will be injuries. Injuries and inexperience equals inconsistency.

But as for Essendon, we finished with 13 wins after the H&A season. In the past that's been enough to finish in the top 4. Assuming a run with injuries that's similar to this year, I think our younger players will be all the better for this year's experience, and we'll be a better side next year. 12 wins is the minimum of acceptability for me, but we should finish on at least 13 wins again.

It remains to be seen whether St. Kilda and Hawthorn can turn it on when it matters.

 

[dave_27]

Essendon were the 3rd or 4th youngest side in the comp last year. Geez not bad to finish in the top 6 then.

I thought young teams improve with experience? According to u they do at St Kilda but not Essendon.

Im not sure whether Essendon will make the 8 or not but it wont be the youngsters that will be responisible for it if Essendon dont.

 

[ducky]

?

Originally posted by bogan_blue

I do think Hille will take the next step in the ruck,

what exactly is the next step, he was already Number 1 ruckman this year???

 

[IceTemple]

Nothing annoys me more than when others write of the Bombers! For pete's sake let us do that ourselves as we are very good at it.

Seriously though I have a ? about Collingwood and Port. Both these teams have had two very good years however both failed to acheive what they were aiming at and both in disappointing ways. Are they prone to a"downer" year in 04? I'm not trolling just wondering others opinion.

I think Sydney will be a little more shaky this year. I base this on the fact that they caught most ppl out with how attacking and free-flowing they were. I think this year other clubs will be much more serious in their approach and they wont be able to "surprise" in the same way.

Hawks can be exciting but again the ? is do they have the mental ability to keep the winning on a regular basis not in patches as they have done over the past few years.

The big improvers should be the Saints & as a "surprise" Geelong have the ability to turn it on & maybe even Bullies as they do have a decent team.

 

[FuManchu]

Who cares???

I'm not sure Santa will make it down the chimney this year either, but I wont let it interfere with what I've got planned

 

[kizza]

You've just gotta laugh at this rubbish. This year Essendon was supposed to drop out of the eight. Instead we finished in the top six, blooded many youngsters, uncovered a few gems (McPhee, Bolton, Cupido) and saw Hirdy and Lloyd regain some of their top form.

In my life, (since 1983), Essendon's missed the finals 3 times. It won't happen next year

 

[riccardo]

All I think anyone knows at this stage is that the fight for the 8 will be far more competitive this year than in previous years, especially like this year, whemn it was virtually decided after about Round 17.
None of the 8 want to drop out, and Hawthorn, St Kilda and possibly North and Geelong are all ready to take the step into the next level.
Someone will have to go, the 3 or 4 below them are just getting too good for the whole 8 to hold, but I'm not entirely convinced Essendon will be the ones to drop out.

 

[marcuz]

Essendon could easily drop out of the eight as all the top 8 teams could. Injuries and poor form can effect anyone. But you should never ever write off a team coached by one K.Sheedy. History shows you that his teams rarely miss the finals action..and if they do it isnt by much.

 

[SCRAY72]

The Bombers will make the finals.
Too much firepower, experience and class.

 

[anduril]

In my life, (since 1983), Essendon's missed the finals 3 times. It won't happen next year

Your post is full of blatant rubbish....I will allow Marcuz to correct your sorry ass on the above quote....

 

[marcuz]

87, 88, 92, 94, 97...do your own dirty work next time anduril

 

[anduril]

ta

 

[bogan_blue]

I still think it's pointless for the Bombers to make the finals as they are no where near a flag threat.

 

[Stevo]

Originally posted by bogan_blue
I still think it's pointless for the Bombers to make the finals as they are no where near a flag threat.

Bwahahaha. That's one of the most stupid things I've ever read.

Yeah, let's just try to lose every game, because we are nowhere near a flag threat, so we may as well play for priority draft picks.

Were you saying the same thing about Sydney last year?