Just can't agree Clayman. We have some glaring holes in our list but there is still enough ability for 5th-8th IMO. Bottom 4's a bit harsh.

I think we can even be higher but it will depend upon the fitness of Henderson, Warnock & Waite and the improvement in Cripps, Watson, Docherty, Graham, Yarran, Casboult, Bell, Lucas, Bootsma, Menzel. It's that lot that need to start to step up.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

I think Yarran will be our big improver this year. Unleash him into the midfield!

If we get a decent improvement from him and a 5% improvement from the rest of our midfield, we will be a better team.

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Koperek.

Gibbs to have the until-now-hinted-at-brilliant-injury-free year in the middle to replace a failing Judd, moving space and time on a more consistent basis and with the grunt seen somewhat unfairly by many to be largely lacking from his game.

(Or he won't and never will and he really isn't the second coming...)

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'People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.'
Soren Kierkegaard

Top 4

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No Guts, No Glory

I think the problem with us last year was not being able to finish off teams when we were in the
position to. Eg. Collingwood the first time round, Essendon* both times. And the midfield not applying themselves for a full match. Eg. Bulldogs loss. If Waite decides not to have a spaz attack and keep his body right it allows for us to be so more potent. Watson or White, if they can hold down a regular spot down back, Hendo can push forward and give us another option

Relying on wait to be fit and disciplined may not be the best recipe for a successful year.

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“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
Turkish Proverb

Stuffed for the next 5 or so years.

About this time of year for the last 2 years I've predicted we'd be a MOR team and finish between 6th-12th. I think that upset some posters who felt we were top 4 bound, mainly on the back of a competitive loss in a semi final to WCE in 2011.

I get the impression now that there's a better awareness of where we're at as a footy club. There's a good post in the Talking Players thread by cretylus in which he articulates issues that we've had for a number of years and he uses last year's semi final against Sydney to illustrate the point. Myself and others said 12 months ago that it wouldn't take Malthouse too long to realise a mini rebuild is required. And I reckon it's started.

This isn't a free pass for Malthouse, but it does take time to reprogram players and build lists. I think we're paying for some coaching, recruiting and list management mistakes during 2008-2012. I also think the club has some cultural issues going back further than that.

It's not all doom & gloom. I think we'll stay competitive. I don't agree with bottom 4. I just don't believe top 4 either. I desperately hope I'm underestimating us, but I think I've said that the last 2 years too.

The window for the experienced group of the current team (Judd, Scotland, Simmo, Waite, Carrots) to be part of a flag has been missed and it's our own fault. We SHOULD be top 4 by now. But it ain't gonna happen. Hopefully the likes of Murphy, Gibbs, Kreuzer, Thomas, Hendo & Tex will still be around when we get there. Watch for major renovations over the next couple of years, on and off field. If we do it right, we won't need to bottom out.

But there might be some more pain ahead, unfortunately.

9th.

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It's never as good as it looks and it's never as bad as it seems.

Finals again then

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#DonTheStash

Hope so!

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It's never as good as it looks and it's never as bad as it seems.

Want a bet on that?

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dane's trolling again

No thanks. I'd feel shit if I won that bet. Feels dirty betting against the Blues.

Look, if we have an above average run of luck with injuries and close games, we should sneak into the 8. Top 4 seems a way off to me though.

Doesn't mean I like it, trust me I don't. This is a thread for predictions.

I'm paid up and proud for another year. Hope you are too.

Go Blues!

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It's never as good as it looks and it's never as bad as it seems.

I think we are a top 6 side. I will be devastated if we don't make the 8.

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dane's trolling again

I agree.

Position is hard to judge. Too many outside factors.

I look at it this way. With our draw, a good run with injuries and winning our fair share of tight games I see us as a 12-14 game winning side.

However, factors including development, fitness, injuries, confidence, luck, the opposition can make us much much better or much much worse. Given that I am still confident of significant improvement from last season.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

So will I. But I think it's definitely on the cards unless a lot of things fall into place.

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It's never as good as it looks and it's never as bad as it seems.

..bottom half of the eight, unless the wheels fall off in a Major way.. ..not sure about top 4, but often 4th can be within sight of 5th, and sometimes 5tgh isn't that much better than the few teams below them.. ..i think a team can sneak into 4th..

..i think we could jump up actually.. ..players like Hendo are ready to start dominating games, smart midfield coaching poised to exploit the ruck advantage that we should have vs most opponents will likewise help us enormously.. ..i think we will continue to be a prolific goal scoring side, and more than ever our goals will be spread with us looking to have 10 goal kickers most weeks..

..and i think our gameplan and structure and style will now really to take hold..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

Same.

I think other teams are going to have to focus more on how to match up on us. In turn we don't play as much to negate other teams and rather play our own brand.

In a way - simplistic, I know, but bear with me - we just about went from relying on Fev to relying on Eddie. Hopefully the new crop coming through will spread the love, aided by a (hopefully not too) seasoned coach.

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'People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.'
Soren Kierkegaard

Great Dane - is bottom 4 still talking tripe?

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It is not as bad as you are lead to believe.......it is %$#^& worse!!!

If DeLuca kicks this goal...

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Congratulations CK95