your post scares me blueman

I'm pissed off we did not make finals this year.

If we do not make finals next year it will be a disgrace and heads will have to roll.

Finals minimum 2009.

This war could break out anytime from September 2008 onwards.

I feel a little differently..IMO we're not a legitimate contender for a flag until at least 2011 onwards, so my expectations for the seasons until then are all formulated in that context...we might might be in the finals next year and that will be very exciting for us - but I don't care if we don't. I'm all about the bigger picture now. I just want the core group we have to continue to gel and develop as a team and as players. If we have a shocker next year or even the year after, it's all part of that process, and we shouldn't lose our heads.

Geelong were maligned for years for promising everything and delivering nothing and now they look unstoppable. We need to get that even spread of players in the 100-150 games bracket like they, and every other recent premier, have

If we keep the core team together and fit we will challenge seriously 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. That's when I will start worrying about expectations.

I feel a little differently..IMO we're not a legitimate contender for a flag until at least 2011 onwards, so my expectations for the seasons until then are all formulated in that context...we might might be in the finals next year and that will be very exciting for us - but I don't care if we don't. I'm all about the bigger picture now. I just want the core group we have to continue to gel and develop as a team and as players. If we have a shocker next year or even the year after, it's all part of that process, and we shouldn't lose our heads.

Geelong were maligned for years for promising everything and delivering nothing and now they look unstoppable. We need to get that even spread of players in the 100-150 games bracket like they, and every other recent premier, have

If we keep the core team together and fit we will challenge seriously 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. That's when I will start worrying about expectations.

I feel a little differently..IMO we're not a legitimate contender for a flag until at least 2011 onwards, so my expectations for the seasons until then are all formulated in that context...we might might be in the finals next year and that will be very exciting for us - but I don't care if we don't. I'm all about the bigger picture now. I just want the core group we have to continue to gel and develop as a team and as players. If we have a shocker next year or even the year after, it's all part of that process, and we shouldn't lose our heads.

Geelong were maligned for years for promising everything and delivering nothing and now they look unstoppable. We need to get that even spread of players in the 100-150 games bracket like they, and every other recent premier, have

If we keep the core team together and fit we will challenge seriously 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. That's when I will start worrying about expectations.

With the age of our list, its difficult to imagine too many players dropping off from 2008. Fev, Scotland, Stevens, Carrazzo could, but that would be more than balanced out by the natural improvement of everyone else.

I am aware of many things at a political level that are going on right now that are setting us on a drift towards a massive conflagration. there are many things that could be done to prevent the war or else protect people from its effects - but these things just arent being done.

Instead many politicians both here and also overseas say that they are acting in your best interests - but instead, they are actually betraying your interests.

Its not appropriate to talk about these things at length in a post like this though..

However I do think that widening conflict will be the backdrop for our 17th flag - just as it has been for quite a few of our flags in the past.

So I am sorry to say that it will be a scary time.

In many ways I would like Carltons next flag to not occur during a war - because there will be many people, driven by jealousy and hatreds who will do their best to make our triumph out to be not as good as it will actually be.

But the truth will be that Carltons next flag will indeed be one of the best in our long history. But many people will resent that this is the case.

I like Elroy's theory in terms of not losing our rag if we tread water in terms of wins/losses next year, however, while I can live with that, there'll be plenty here that won't.

Below is the 2008 ladder at the completion of the 2008 season.

In 2009 I expect the teams in cyan to finish above us, the teams in white to finish below us. The majority of the teams in yellow are the teams I think we'll be fighting with for a spot in the 8.

Geelong
Hawthorn
Western Bulldogs
St Kilda
Adelaide
Sydney
North Melbourne
Collingwood
Richmond
Brisbane
Carlton
Essendon*
Port Adelaide
Fremantle
West Coast
Melbourne

Well summed up Camelboy however I will be disappointed if we don't finish above both Sydney and Port Adelaide next year. I realise that the Power lost a lot of close matches this year and Chad Cornes was injured however we should still be better than them IMO. The Swans are in decline and it wouldn't surpirise me if they ended up in the bottom 4.

Five flags in a row................!


kindest regards tommi













maybe three................but more than likely five..........!