Paul Roos - not the messiah

[master bate]

No one is thinking Melbourne are targeting finals next year. They would have to almost double their wins. They will be aiming for 10 wins or so, putting them on track for 2017.

The club have said they are targeting finals. 10 wins is probably a more realistic aim and depending on the circumstances of the win/loss it could be a good year. But finals would be better. The Dogs aimed high this year and have produced. There's still too big a gap in my mind of seasoned quality performers for us to make it but if you want to ever win finals consistently then I think you have to make it early and start getting the experience. That's what the Dogs have done this year and what Geelong and Hawthorn (obviously that's really raising the bar) did. Same with the young Saints. Even Freo 2010 even having some really good senior players they jumped up the ladder from a 6 win season.

 

[JackOutback]

http://m.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl...-members-by-2017/story-fni5f91a-1227208198696

They themselves call it an aspirational objective and acknowledge that it seems optimistic. Just PR spin to keep the fans happy; I very much doubt they believe it.

 

[gavaniacono]

They themselves call it an aspirational objective and acknowledge that it seems optimistic. Just PR spin to keep the fans happy; I very much doubt they believe it.

Aren't all targets objectives? That's what they said. They didn't say play a final in 2017. They said 2016.

 

[The Dr]

Seven wins is clear progress from four the year before, and two the year before that.

Looking back, it's a weird season for Dees supporters. We had some great wins (Tigers, Bulldogs, Pies, Cats) and broke some long-time hoodoos (winning in round one, winning at the Cattery, winning at Etihad).

On the other hand, we had some absolute shockers - getting belted by the Saints, and losing the Dons and Blues when they were really struggling.

I would give the season a pass mark, and we should be shooting for at least 10 wins next year.

 

[JackOutback]

Aren't all targets objectives? That's what they said. They didn't say play a final in 2017. They said 2016.

Aspirational is the key word. I aspired to bed Keira Knightley, but it wasn't exactly realistic (we live in different countries, the tyranny of distance).

 

[Baudelaire]

I would assume Gold Coast and Essendon would be two that would overtake Melbourne on the ladder. I don't think they should use finals as a pass mark or aim, the aim should be improving, even one more win at this stage.

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

No one is thinking Melbourne are targeting finals next year. They would have to almost double their wins. They will be aiming for 10 wins or so, putting them on track for 2017.

We need to make sure we win the games against sides like Essendon and Carlton, not self-implode like we did v St Kilda, and hold on to games where we had a ~30 point lead like v Port and GWS. All of our wins this year have been by comfortable - all 24 points plus - where we've gotten onto a roll and buried our opposition. We still play some of that football each week, but clearly just not enough.

 

[Bollox]

Mini-congrats to the Dees.
Competitive apart from 1 or 2 whacks from the top 6ish mobs. Even top 6 mobs get the odd whack and they burn twice as much.
When you win you win pretty well, and when you lose they arnt invariably the crawl under the nearest rock type losses.
Dogs may have got hold of them recently but didnt you also beat them earlier in the season ? Some good wins against some older Melb club rivals which must feel great. Lifted to beat Geelong at Kard Pk yeah ?
Not one club can now simply expect a massive % booster win as it was a little while ago.
All clubs take the Dees game very seriously.
Great way to end the season beating a mob above on the ladder...GWS would have been just as desperate for exactly the same finish.

Media doesnt dine out with "basket case" stories.
Club isnt in the press every week for the wrong reasons.
All players, coaches and officials make the odd verbal gaff or something doesnt quite come out right in front of camera's...let them all fly thru to the keeper.

In terms of Roos, ignore the pebbles thrown at him. If he was half the jerk others claim he would be desperate to do what other coaches try to do...stitch up a huge early contract extension on the basis of a slight improvement. He's had to make some huge list decisions and will make more and its not easy to finish the careers of young guys...must live and die by those but decisions must be made. No Pay Cheque players and make it bloody hard to secure a spot and further your career. Make the culture such that you can boom at the Dees, rather than feeling you need to change clubs to somehow even get noticed.

Good chance Goodwin will be doing more coaching than Roos next season...my guess is Roos will simply want to ramp up the internal competitiveness for slots and make it like a honeymoon period where they are trying to impress the new coach for their own survival.

Ignore the irrelevant crap from irrelevant people. Wasnt long ago Sanderson was the messiah, then out the door. Hinkley became the messiah now already disappointing compared to expectations. Coaches come and go, so will Roos. Right now its only about whether you think the overall club and list has improved. 10 wins next yr must be the goal i imagine...with competitive showings and the odd win against top 8 mobs.
Lots to look fwd to.