News There's no finals in May

[josh the gent]

Jeez, you come on here after a loss, and it's like a morgue. So many of the posters on here must be the saddest bunch of sods in real life, keep your bloody chins up, the Dogs'll come good.

At this stage last season, the ladder read:

Saints 10-0
Cats 10-0
Dogs 6-4
Blues 5-5
Pies 5-5

So look on the brightside - our record is the same in 2010, we have a percentage 13% higher than last year, we are only 1 game out of the top 2, and just 2 off first place this year. Really, it's not so bad at all...

Many teams at just average records after 10 rounds and go on to win the flag. Sydney were 5-5 in 2005, as were Brisbane in 2001 - the point being, you need to be an IN FORM TEAM IN SEPTEMBER, only preferably with a top 4 with a home final first week, to have a real crack at the flag. The real key is being in form, AT THAT TIME.

Yes, it was disappointing to lose on Friday night, but keep it in perspective, we are hardly out of the race for a top 4 position. If we lose the next few, then yeah, maybe drop your bundle a bit, but jeez.

IMO, we have more class all over the field than I can ever remember, we have the experience of 3 decent finals runs in the last 4 years, and for once, we even have a couple of premiership players in our ranks. We have some really good young players too, incredible really, given our good finishing positions in the last few years. And... we have actually experienced WINNING a piece of silverware - that nab Cup final certainly had a final intensity to it.

So what, we just lost to Essendon - we're hardly the only team to lose to the Bombers, remember the Saints were being pantsed by them in r20 last year until a last quarter comeback last year - they were down by about 7 goals at one point.

Keep the faith, 2010 - Year of the Dog.

 

[Coooooooneyyyyyyyy]

Jeez, you come on here after a loss, and it's like a morgue. So many of the posters on here must be the saddest bunch of sods in real life, keep your bloody chins up, the Dogs'll come good.

At this stage last season, the ladder read:

Saints 10-0
Cats 10-0
Dogs 6-4
Blues 5-5
Pies 5-5

So look on the brightside - our record is the same in 2010, we have a percentage 13% higher than last year, we are only 1 game out of the top 2, and just 2 off first place this year. Really, it's not so bad at all...

Many teams at just average records after 10 rounds and go on to win the flag. Sydney were 5-5 in 2005, as were Brisbane in 2001 - the point being, you need to be an IN FORM TEAM IN SEPTEMBER, only preferably with a top 4 with a home final first week, to have a real crack at the flag. The real key is being in form, AT THAT TIME.

Yes, it was disappointing to lose on Friday night, but keep it in perspective, we are hardly out of the race for a top 4 position. If we lose the next few, then yeah, maybe drop your bundle a bit, but jeez.

IMO, we have more class all over the field than I can ever remember, we have the experience of 3 decent finals runs in the last 4 years, and for once, we even have a couple of premiership players in our ranks. We have some really good young players too, incredible really, given our good finishing positions in the last few years. And... we have actually experienced WINNING a piece of silverware - that nab Cup final certainly had a final intensity to it.

So what, we just lost to Essendon - we're hardly the only team to lose to the Bombers, remember the Saints were being pantsed by them in r20 last year until a last quarter comeback last year - they were down by about 7 goals at one point.

Keep the faith, 2010 - Year of the Dog.

I'm not to bad about the loss just, If we lose this week you will expect real sh*t to hit the fan from me, We need to stamp our selves and beat Collingwood.

 

[_Mike_]

Jeez, you come on here after a loss, and it's like a morgue. So many of the posters on here must be the saddest bunch of sods in real life, keep your bloody chins up, the Dogs'll come good.

At this stage last season, the ladder read:

Saints 10-0
Cats 10-0
Dogs 6-4
Blues 5-5
Pies 5-5

So look on the brightside - our record is the same in 2010, we have a percentage 13% higher than last year, we are only 1 game out of the top 2, and just 2 off first place this year. Really, it's not so bad at all...

Many teams at just average records after 10 rounds and go on to win the flag. Sydney were 5-5 in 2005, as were Brisbane in 2001 - the point being, you need to be an IN FORM TEAM IN SEPTEMBER, only preferably with a top 4 with a home final first week, to have a real crack at the flag. The real key is being in form, AT THAT TIME.

Yes, it was disappointing to lose on Friday night, but keep it in perspective, we are hardly out of the race for a top 4 position. If we lose the next few, then yeah, maybe drop your bundle a bit, but jeez.

IMO, we have more class all over the field than I can ever remember, we have the experience of 3 decent finals runs in the last 4 years, and for once, we even have a couple of premiership players in our ranks. We have some really good young players too, incredible really, given our good finishing positions in the last few years. And... we have actually experienced WINNING a piece of silverware - that nab Cup final certainly had a final intensity to it.

So what, we just lost to Essendon - we're hardly the only team to lose to the Bombers, remember the Saints were being pantsed by them in r20 last year until a last quarter comeback last year - they were down by about 7 goals at one point.

Keep the faith, 2010 - Year of the Dog.

People are facing the reality that the dogs (while they're sitting at 6-4, as they were at the same point as last year, yada yada...) currently look like they do not have the legs, fitness and skills to carry through or get back to that form.

Theres not going to be any miraculous turn arounds with the problems that are there now.

 

[fred cook]

Jeez, you come on here after a loss, and it's like a morgue. So many of the posters on here must be the saddest bunch of sods in real life, keep your bloody chins up, the Dogs'll come good.

At this stage last season, the ladder read:

Saints 10-0
Cats 10-0
Dogs 6-4
Blues 5-5
Pies 5-5

So look on the brightside - our record is the same in 2010, we have a percentage 13% higher than last year, we are only 1 game out of the top 2, and just 2 off first place this year. Really, it's not so bad at all...

Many teams at just average records after 10 rounds and go on to win the flag. Sydney were 5-5 in 2005, as were Brisbane in 2001 - the point being, you need to be an IN FORM TEAM IN SEPTEMBER, only preferably with a top 4 with a home final first week, to have a real crack at the flag. The real key is being in form, AT THAT TIME.

Yes, it was disappointing to lose on Friday night, but keep it in perspective, we are hardly out of the race for a top 4 position. If we lose the next few, then yeah, maybe drop your bundle a bit, but jeez.

IMO, we have more class all over the field than I can ever remember, we have the experience of 3 decent finals runs in the last 4 years, and for once, we even have a couple of premiership players in our ranks. We have some really good young players too, incredible really, given our good finishing positions in the last few years. And... we have actually experienced WINNING a piece of silverware - that nab Cup final certainly had a final intensity to it.

So what, we just lost to Essendon - we're hardly the only team to lose to the Bombers, remember the Saints were being pantsed by them in r20 last year until a last quarter comeback last year - they were down by about 7 goals at one point.

Keep the faith, 2010 - Year of the Dog.

People need to stop watching Dr Phil and Oprah and being so postive

We have played crap all year its that simple

Oh by the way the two top sides in May in 2009 played in a Grand final

The END

 

[minters]

People are facing the reality that the dogs (while they're sitting at 6-4, as they were at the same point as last year, yada yada...) currently look like they do not have the legs, fitness and skills to carry through or get back to that form.

Theres not going to be any miraculous turn arounds with the problems that are there now.

I agree with you Mike. Last year we had to have a strong last half of the season to get to the top four.... I'm not sure we can do it this year. Aker had a great year, our forward set up was working well (with Johnno playing well) and our midfield was dominating including Ward who we sorely miss as another option, at the moment.

There are too many bad signs and the opposition is hunting us and exposing us with their pace. I hope I'm wrong but our game plan with big Baz isn't as potent and our slow starts along with the lack of intensity that has been evident almost all season is certainly a concern. As a matter of fact, if it wasn't for our tight defence, (with the exception of a rather indifferent Williams), we would have a pretty bad win / loss ration as well as a poor percentage....

I would love to say that we will finish top four, however I have serious doubts that we will and as far as this week against the Pies is concerned, let's all be honest. Does our form suggest that we deserve to or will win?

 

[Dogs Rule]

The lack of intensity is the real problem.

Do the players really want it? Or are they prepared to be losers for another year?

This week is a huge week in the club's history in so many ways (Aker, the Pies) and will define the course of our season.

 

[Spectre]

The lack of intensity is the real problem.

Do the players really want it? Or are they prepared to be losers for another year?

This week is a huge week in the club's history in so many ways (Aker, the Pies) and will define the course of our season.

JTG, read this. This is why we've 'dropped our bundles'. It's not so much the poor skills (which have been well documented) or training loads dictating form, or off field media fiascos, or anything like that. It's that the playing group, as a whole, don't seem to want it as much as the opposition. They seem to, on the whole, be happy to just turn up, cruise, and go home. For a year which is supposedly our best chance, such a mentality is borderline criminal, and yet it seems to be there. If you have any solutions on how to solve this (or if you have solid evidence to the contrary), I reckon you'll be cheering a LOT of people up. Otherwise, I suggest that you consider that with the field being as even as it is this year, if the other teams competing for the 4/8 outplay us in terms of pure intensity and work ethic, there wont be (much? ANY?) finals in September for us, either.

 

[nate drake]

This shits me a bit. There's no indication at all that we'll "come good" at some stage. Last year we were a level above every side below us in the end - do we think that Geelong aside, we're at a comparable level this year? I wouldn't have thought so.

Given each team's fixture, I can't see us finishing ahead of St Kilda, Fremantle and Collingwood on what we've shown.

Of course I hope we come good, but it just looks like business as usual for another year.

 

[Before I Die]

I agree with you Mike. Last year we had to have a strong last half of the season to get to the top four.... I'm not sure we can do it this year. Aker had a great year, our forward set up was working well (with Johnno playing well) and our midfield was dominating including Ward who we sorely miss as another option, at the moment.

There are too many bad signs and the opposition is hunting us and exposing us with their pace. I hope I'm wrong but our game plan with big Baz isn't as potent and our slow starts along with the lack of intensity that has been evident almost all season is certainly a concern. As a matter of fact, if it wasn't for our tight defence, (with the exception of a rather indifferent Williams), we would have a pretty bad win / loss ration as well as a poor percentage....

I would love to say that we will finish top four, however I have serious doubts that we will and as far as this week against the Pies is concerned, let's all be honest. Does our form suggest that we deserve to or will win?

Correct me if I am wrong, but haven't the Pies just lost two in a row? So yes, our form suggets we will win.

What I love (sorry, hate) about all the negative posts is that in a few weeks if we turn it around, there won't be any "oops we were wrong" posts. Just, rationalisation that what was said earlier was true, but that it is no longer applicable with the current form. Well Der!

One week at a time. No jumping off bridges and no building a new trophy cabinet.

 

[SCRAY72]

Yes but finishing 7th and not playing in a GF for the 49th consecutive year
is a real possibility.Now that would be bad news.

 

[crownie]

so we were 6-4 last season?

well lets all jump up and dance around for the fact we havn't improved and we have gained a reputation of being flat track bullies and plus we just lost to essendon.

yay!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Before I Die]

Keep the faith, 2010 - Year of the Dog.

I am with you JTG, but a positive post (or even a neutral one) on BF after a Dogs loss draws more vitriol than......., well anything.

It is also guaranteed that more than one poster will point out that you are the reason the Dogs haven't won a premiership in 50 years. Apparently demographics and the consequential financial constraints which led to us repeatedly selling our stars to stay afloat has had no bearing on it at all.

 

[Hot Spenny]

so we were 6-4 last season?

well lets all jump up and dance around for the fact we havn't improved and we have gained a reputation of being flat track bullies and plus we just lost to essendon.

yay!!!!!!!!!!

Last time I truly frequented the Dogs board was about this time last year when we were struggling. Good to see everybody still has a doom and gloom approach to it all!

 

[crownie]

Last time I truly frequented the Dogs board was about this time last year when we were struggling. Good to see everybody still has a doom and gloom approach to it all!

and then we make the prelim and get all happy cause 2011 will finally be our year?

 

[minters]

Correct me if I am wrong, but haven't the Pies just lost two in a row? So yes, our form suggets we will win.

What I love (sorry, hate) about all the negative posts is that in a few weeks if we turn it around, there won't be any "oops we were wrong" posts. Just, rationalisation that what was said earlier was true, but that it is no longer applicable with the current form. Well Der!

One week at a time. No jumping off bridges and no building a new trophy cabinet.

Thanks for the response BID. I appreciate you clarifying the form of the two sides, however I wasn't referring to the last two weeks. I was referring to the (almost) first half of the season.... If you can honestly suggest to me that on the performances you have seen from our beloved team comes close to those of our much despised opposition this week, I'm afraid you are either dreadfully wrong or I must be dreaming!!!! Our form has been extremely ordinary for a team that is meant to be on the cusp of a long awaited greatness that I have not experienced in my relatively long lifetime..

I have listened to our own coaching staff discussing our indifferent form, so unless I have been living in my own 'world of negativity and gloom' I'm afraid to say that we are NO WAY NEAR A FLAG and that this year is shaping up to be another 'Groundhog' one. As a matter of fact I could swear that I have been waking up the last couple of mornings to the chirpy voices of Sonny and Cher serenading my waking moments with "I've got you babe!!!"

In my opinion and I am sure in many other negative and extremely passionate Doggies supporters' (and memebers'), our team has been extremely ordinary in many fundamentals of this great sport and this one week at a time philosphy might be acceptable to you but certainly not me!!!..

So regardless of the slant or spin you would like to apply to us, rather adverse minded supporters, our team is continuing to show the same dispirited efforts against sides that are likely to be prominent competitors at the 'business end of the season'. Hence I can say (and I belive I have every right to do so, as a paid up member for over 15 years), that my faith is waning considerably and I am extremely dissatisfied with what I have seen up until this point (in 2010).......... And let me make one further clarification.....

A win against the Pies this week won't make the rays of optimism shine upon me..... In fact, the only thing that will do that, (in addition to exorcising the demons of bitter disappointments occupying my psyche over the last 40 years of my life), will be our captain and coach holding up the 2010Premiership Cup and the unveiling of the Premiers flag flying high from a flagpole at the whitten / western oval, over the streets that my family and I once called home!!!!

 

[josh the gent]

A win against the Pies this week won't make the rays of optimism shine upon me..... In fact, the only thing that will do that, (in addition to exorcising the demons of bitter disappointments occupying my psyche over the last 40 years of my life), will be our captain and coach holding up the 2010Premiership Cup and the unveiling of the Premiers flag flying high from a flagpole at the whitten / western oval, over the streets that my family and I once called home!!!!

Exactly!!!

Who really gives two hoots if we aren't playing on top of the world at the moment, so long as we are in striking distance after Round 15, then pick up some form leading into the finals.

Nobody was saying any of this rubbish when we won the nab Cup - so many people were on here saying we will win this year and rah-rah-rah. We had just smashed a team that had barely lost a match for 18 months, and had great intensity, and approach. We are still obviously capable of playing that well, it was only 3 months ago!

The facts remain that we are 6-4, two matches off top place in the competition, with 12 rounds left to slowly pick up form and finish in the top 4.

The fickleness of some people on this form is pretty ordinary really, it has been the same around here for ages. Remember, act like a bunch of losers and you get what you deserve.

I remember only a couple of months ago saying that Jarrad Grant looks like he'll come good this year and boy did I get bagged out. Now look at some of the posters saying how good he'll be...

Fickleness gets you nowhere - keep the hope for 2010.

 

[minters]

Exactly!!!

Who really gives two hoots if we aren't playing on top of the world at the moment, so long as we are in striking distance after Round 15, then pick up some form leading into the finals.

Nobody was saying any of this rubbish when we won the nab Cup - so many people were on here saying we will win this year and rah-rah-rah. We had just smashed a team that had barely lost a match for 18 months, and had great intensity, and approach. We are still obviously capable of playing that well, it was only 3 months ago!

The facts remain that we are 6-4, two matches off top place in the competition, with 12 rounds left to slowly pick up form and finish in the top 4.

The fickleness of some people on this form is pretty ordinary really, it has been the same around here for ages. Remember, act like a bunch of losers and you get what you deserve.

I remember only a couple of months ago saying that Jarrad Grant looks like he'll come good this year and boy did I get bagged out. Now look at some of the posters saying how good he'll be...

Fickleness gets you nowhere - keep the hope for 2010.

Mate, even though you instigated this thread does not mean you have the right to totally disregard the different feelings and thoughts that other posters may have. You have your attitude and are satisfied where the team is currently situated, others are not. And I am one of them. I wasn't one who became overjoyed with our pre-season feats... I believe that as a passionate member and supporter I have every right to demand more than what this team has shown so far.... I am not happy and I am not one who will be satisfied ...UNLESS WE WIN THE FLAG!!!

I give a damn about our form and gameplan...Our form doesn't suggest we will win the flag, even this far out. In my opinion FORM is everything... Look at Geelong.. Gee I wonder if their supporters would be more satisified than us? They were consistent all year when they won their two recent flags...... Consistency is everything... So you may refer to people who do not share your assessments or thoughts as "fickle" but I tell you something I believe that these so-called fickle posters have a greater grip on what is required to achieve the ultimate success in this competition. Unfortunately, I don't think you do!!!!!