Where will we finish in 2025?

[Nathan Barley]

I think we saw this year that it takes something really special to win the premiership and I think we also saw a year that took a massive toll physically and mentally on the players and coaches

So I'm predicting that we'll continue the trend and slip out of the 8.

Too pessimistic?

 

[Grasshopper17]

I think we saw this year that it takes something really special to win the premiership and I think we also saw a year that took a massive toll physically and mentally on the players and coaches

So I'm predicting that we'll continue the trend and slip out of the 8.

Too pessimistic?

Funnily enough I tipped this fate for us in 2002. I just thought "yeah that team got on a massive roll, but prior to that they were wildly inconsistent, they're just as likely to spend the summer drinking their own bath water".

I don't think "drinking your own bath water" was a phrase back then, but you get the idea!

 

[Grasshopper17]

I think we saw this year that it takes something really special to win the premiership and I think we also saw a year that took a massive toll physically and mentally on the players and coaches

So I'm predicting that we'll continue the trend and slip out of the 8.

Too pessimistic?

As always, health and injuries will probably play a crucial role. Keep an eye on how many soft tissue injuries we have early in the season... This may be a sign that we've enjoyed our off season a little more than other clubs.

Provided we nail the above, for me it's going to depend on how we're able to tailor our ball movement for however many tall forwards we have roaming around at any point in time.

In 2023 we showed we could play well enough with just 2, but it was a bit clunky at times and it was possible to shut us down. The 2nd half of the prelim showed that we now have more wherewithal to play that way, however it's also possible that we'd get figured out if forced to play that way multiple weeks on end, let alone a whole season.

Then again, Richmond won a flag in 2017 with essentially just the one key forward, and even he wasn't super tall.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Funnily enough I tipped this fate for us in 2002. I just thought "yeah that team got on a massive roll, but prior to that they were wildly inconsistent, they're just as likely to spend the summer drinking their own bath water".

I don't think "drinking your own bath water" was a phrase back then, but you get the idea!

I don’t think it comes down to the bathwater, I think it requires giving 125% eg. Can Neale play well enough again to win a B&F with a broken foot?

Do we want it enough to put in that sort of effort?

 

[Grasshopper17]

Sorry, to answer the question, no idea, I suck at this sort of big picture stuff. I think I'll just wait for the fixture to come out and all the Squiggle models to work their magic on it.

I think we'll still have the talent to beat just about anybody, it'll come down to health, hunger and whether we are able to build a game plan to suit the personnel we have.

Looking forward to getting along to the intra-club matches to see if my amateur eye is able to spot anything we change

 

[rye]

lose a prelim

 

[knaf]

We’ve been a top four team for a number of years.

Joey is a big loss. “Unlucky” in previous years. “Lucky” this year? Perhaps loss of motivation due to finally achieving the ultimate.

On the other hand very deep list with younger players coming through. Good coaching and culture MAY mitigate any “big headedness”.

Top four finish again seems about right.

 

[Sproj]

It is an interesting situation because we have a bunch of players who will be in the side who didn't win it.

Coleman, McInerney, LAshcroft, Henry Smith, McCarthy, Gardiner and Doedee all to come back and given how tight knit the team is, I imagine this will keep them hungry. I do expect a slow start though.

 

[Maverick]

Top 4 should be the goal.

We will have a new higher level of confidence having won a flag, and done it playing attacking football playing the corridor.

Do I think top 4 is achievable. Absolutely.

From top 4…what will be required is (but this will be same of all teams):
1. Being in form
2. Not too many injuries
3. A bit of luck

(Yes I know we won from 5th this year…but not easy to do…every game an elimination and most games on the road).

 

[lionshine]

It will be near impossible I’d imagine to back up next year if we are fighting for finals all season and miss the top 4. Best chance of going back to back would be to finish top 2 and win two Gabba finals on the way to another GF appearance. To do that I think our start to the season will be crucial. Winning 2/3 of our first three games will take the pressure off and give us a bit of a buffer moving forward.

In terms of hunger and willingness to go again, as stated by others, the fact the likes of O, Linc, Kiddy, Lashcroft & Doedee missed out this year should drive the hunger. I also think the likes of Neale, Zorko, Andrews and Dunkley are mature enough to know they need to make the most of this current list as they may not get another shot.

On the other hand, the likes of Clug, Berry, Rayner, Bailey, Starcevich and Payne have essentially been grinding for a flag their entire careers and now they’ve won one their energy might drop half a percent which is all it takes for the side to drop. This could be at a subconscious level having broken through. You could also see the younger players such as Wilmot, Lohmann and Morris struggling to back up mentally after the thrill of this year.

Wait and see but I can’t see us missing the finals. This team is stacked and we may even see a psychological edge due to the pressure release of winning the flag.

 

[Nunez]

With a good run of injuries and fitness, we'll finish top four. Don't think it can be understated how adding a fit and firing Coleman, Doedee, McCarthy and Ashcroft to our squad makes us a much stronger team.

So many variables though such as injuries, form etc can come into play, but suspect the boys will be extremely motivated for a run at back to back for the guys that missed out - let alone Oscar.

If all that happens we could absolutely go all the way again, but am opting not to vote for anything other than seeding at this point. If we stay fit and healthy though, we are absolutely a top four seeded team.

 

[martinson]

I'm a bit in Nathan's corner that this year guys like Daniher ,Neale ,Zorko and Lester realised in GF week it's now or never. A role player in Ah Chee somehow morphed into an A grade gun in consecutive finals games . Oscar going down and the way he responded inspired his teammates. McCluggage was off the charts in the first quarter of the GF. The Swans weren't ready for the intensity we were able to bring despite players in pain . A bit like 2003. Unlike 2003 we didn't carry the weight of expectation being underdogs in our last 3 games and I think that helped us take risks we hadn't taken in the past.

The aim in 2025 will obviously be to make Top 4 . From there we have the confidence to know we can do it and it will be up to the coaches to find a way of motivating us to bring similar levels of intensity. Because someone else probably will.

We did win 13 of our last 15 games and threw away the two we lost so without getting ahead of ourselves you'd think we'll be up there in 2025.

 

[GenericUsername202]

Im predicting a transitional year. I think finishing 6th and getting ready for another premiership tilt in the next 2 years would be a positive season for us. Of course winning the flag would be amazing, but without Joe, I think Fagan will have us play a little bit differently.

 

[jonnobackpocket]

I think we saw this year that it takes something really special to win the premiership and I think we also saw a year that took a massive toll physically and mentally on the players and coaches

So I'm predicting that we'll continue the trend and slip out of the 8.

Too pessimistic?

The most pessimistic thing I have ever heard. There is absolutely zero % chance we miss the eight.

 

[Nathan Barley]

The most pessimistic thing I have ever heard. There is absolutely zero % chance we miss the eight.

Yeah because teams never win the premiership and miss the 8 the following season….

 

[Section 5]

I think we finish in the top 6 again top 4 is obviously better.

The comp was pretty even this year and last year too.
The early games will be hard with a shortened preseason
Happy to play a bottom six team in rounds 1-4.
In the last 5 years the first round of the season the Lions have lost 4 and won 1
Playing Geelong first up will be extremely difficult to win.
Playing the Tigers would still sell The Gabba out

 

[BRAB]

Yeah because teams never win the premiership and miss the 8 the following season….

Name ONE time

 

[Elixuh]

Progress is linear, I'm struggling to see us losing a flag until the Ashcroft's retire.

 

[Nunez]

Progress is linear, I'm struggling to see us losing a flag until the Ashcroft's retire.

Seriously though, what is this midfield capable of with another year into Will + a ready to go mid in Levi to rotate in at times. That is a scary thought alone, without even considering another Cam Rayner pre-season/rise up the Danny rankings!

 

[jonnobackpocket]

Yeah because teams never win the premiership and miss the 8 the following season….

Yeah because teams never win the premiership and miss the 8 the following season….

So because it’s happened before it’s going to happen to us is it? Are we not playing at the Gabba anymore? Coleman, Ashcroft, McCarthy, Doodee and likely improvement from Rayner, Will, Lohmann, Morris, Fletcher and others. No chance we miss.

 

[Nathan Barley]

So because it’s happened before it’s going to happen to us is it? Are we not playing at the Gabba anymore? Coleman, Ashcroft, McCarthy, Doodee and likely improvement from Rayner, Will, Lohmann, Morris, Fletcher and others. No chance we miss.

Not the point I was making. I was taking issue with you saying there was no chance when recent history points to it being likely

 

[jonnobackpocket]

Not the point I was making. I was taking issue with you saying there was no chance when recent history points to it being likely

Well sorry for offering a positive opinion. ‘Likely?’, 6 or 7 times in 24 years, hardly ‘likely’.

 

[mpal6]

I think we saw this year that it takes something really special to win the premiership and I think we also saw a year that took a massive toll physically and mentally on the players and coaches

So I'm predicting that we'll continue the trend and slip out of the 8.

Too pessimistic?

Well we've scaled the peak with at least 5 players in their 20s and regulars missing out.

I expect regulars like Coleman, McCarthy, Gardiner (plus unlucky Big O) will come back with added motivation to win their place back.We have LAshcroft and Marshall being added to the rotation, increasing our depth. McLachlan, Beecken, Brain will be up for the fight too. That's 9 names outside the 23 that won premiership this year.

We can go up to a prelim or another Granny with a strong playing list in its prime. Our list is batting 30 to 35 deep now which is pretty unusual to be honest. it'll be a shame if we didn't cash in.

 

[Sherrinator]

I think our biggest issue will be persisting with Day and taking too long to play a small forward line.

 

[Lace Out]

Starting 2-1 instead of 0-3 might make it easier