I think round this time we usually put down what we expect from the coming season and in recent seasons look back at how badly our expectations have been let down. My expectations for this season are
* We're out of PP territory
*No more 100pt thrashings
* Rarely badly beaten (10 goals or there-abouts)
* Big steps by many of the younger players
* Jarrod Waite to finally play consistently to his talent level
* Walks to really establish himself as a star
* Someone from the 2004 draft (Russell Harts or Blackwell) to show that they will be a regular player who plays 100+ games - that's hope more than expectation
* All players have basic skills - ie able to short pass 20-30 metres to a teamate's hands, not his feet or over his head - ditto for handball
* No more excuses - players, coaches, recruiters, development staff -to all take full responsibility and not be looking to blame each other

I would take 8-10 wins and competitive in most games - there will be the occasional hiccup.

At the end of the season we will know a lot more about
- our young players, who is going forward, who has stalled, who won't make it.
- Our coach - he's on a 2 year deal, a reasonable season may see him setting up a career as a coach. A season like any of 02-03/05-07 and many thrashings like 02-07 and Ratts will be coming from a long way back in 09
- Wayne Hughes - has had picks recruiters dream of, many of these picks need to start delivering, we can't live on the 'they are young' forever. Time for excuses for the 04 draft will be over. At the end of this season, if Harts, Blackers or Russell haven't established themselves then
they will probably be delisted, and a draft that produces no players is very hard to justify, particularly for a side with our list. Need our 05 draftees to step forward too (hopeful re Bower and Edwards) Be interesting to see how Josh K and Ryder go. At this stage Ryder is miles in front and even tho Josh is gone, we still need to analyse all our picks, especially our high ones, to make a genuine assessment of how well we have used the draft over a number of years compared to other clubs

So a big year for everyone.

Great analysis.

Agreed that the time for excuses is over....We blamed Pagan.. he's gone.. We blamed the draft penelties.. we've had 3 consecutive years of plum picks to fix that...We blamed off field issues affecting the team.. they no longer exist...

THE NECESSARY MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT TO BUILD UP OUR FOOTBALL DEPARTMENT...NO MORE EXCUSES... TIME TO DELIVER!!

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James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

terrific post, summed it up well,

agree that I won't be able to stomach the thrashing every four weeks scenario any more.

I'll take only two defeats above 10 goals & would be satisfied with 8+ wins. I also hope that many of our younger players put their hands up and put pressure on the likes of Wiggins, Houla etc

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Between our dreams and actions lies this world

Im expecting the Baggers to win somewhere between 8-11 matches.

Anything less than 6 will be unacceptable!!!

I wont touch the PP...yet!!!

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Walk on, Walk on,
With hope, in your heart,
And you'll never walk alone,
YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE!!!

08/02/1981 - GATE 7...Our brothers will never be forgotten!!!

Yeah, but what would you know GAVROMAN You said Stevo was injured .

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end of message

Fair expectations gerry



I'll take 8-10 wins and no thrashings, as that would imply we have taken small steps in the right direction. That result would have to be coupled with the expectation that the whole team will be taking another step up from 2008 in 2009 and playing finals.

The hard part is trying to determine what the other minnows will achieve in 2008. Will we pass them or will they improve?:

Bumbers: without Hird? They look very fast and still have elite talent, although their window will close when Lucas, Fletcher and Lloyd retire. They look difficult to contain and have focussed on pressure on the opposition.

Demons: will they improve or stay the same? Who knows? I expect to beat them, given what I saw in the last round.

Richmond: I expect us to thrash them. Twice. (We just need to contain Richo)

We got close to The Pies late last year and that was a sign of things to come imo. But then again it's a brand new season; anything can happen.

I expect a new game plan that is not one dimensional. I also expect Waite to play forward.

We may have the measure of the Doggies, (I may fly down on Friday to see first hand where we sit against them and with Judd. We did show some fight against the Hawks the other night; outscoring them in the last 3 Q's. The Blues look promising.

It's going to be interesting. I like to view our future with rose coloured glasses, but I'm also scarred by my past expectations.

Nevertheless, I expect Murphy, Gibbs and Walker to become stars this year. I also expect Kreuzer to have a bigger year than Port's Westoff did in 07, and I'm sure Jamo is going to cement a spot in the backline.

Go Blues...I'm itchin for the first bounce.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

A reasonable expectation is that all players who don't perform in the seniors get dropped to the Bullants, not just the usual group ie Bannister, Wiggins, Blackwell, Saddington.

No more passengers - you will have to earn your spot

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

- I expect no one to be dancing with their sisters.

- I expect no more piss running down our backs.

- I expect no more "Geez...the boys tried their heart out today, but..."

six to eight wins

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Dut, de dut, de daaa!

Agree with all of that...nice work Gerry...

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"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

sometimes you have to go back to move forward - I actually think there will be games this year when we will be shit awful. The kids are learning a new game, are learning to hold the ball, to find options, to think their way through pressure and then the opposition will toss things up and they'll have to learn their way through that.

I remember how shit the hawks sometimes looked under Clarkson while they changed their style.

Unless we have 22 @#$%&! geniuses I think it will take us this year to work out the kinks and then we'll imrpove.



and I think we'll win 15 games, make the eight, scare the shit out of everyone and just miss the flag - na @#$%&! that we'll win the flag!

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

I expect 8-10 wins providing we have a reasonable run with injuries, however I also believe we are a realistic chance of making the finals if things go our way.

Last year I thought both Collingwood and the Kangaroos would end up in the bottoom four so you never know...we just might surprise!

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There is no footy god

I expect much the same as the last 6 weeks of the 2007 season, but with the occassional win thrown in.

I'm sorry guys, but I can't see too many wins or a significant move up the ladder for this year. I think that the young players will find it hard to improve their foot skills, improve their decision making, improve their intensity and learn how to play tempo footy, how to overcome a flood and whatever the heck Ratts wants them to do all in one year.

If they were to make a big leap forward, I suspect that Pagos stocks, already poor would become non existant.

What I expect, no DEMAND is that by the end of this year we will know you will be our FB, CHB, Ruckman and CHF because we have had no idea what a Carlton spine looks like for too bloody long.

Silvagni
Dean
Williams
Spalding
Kernahan

Wait a minute, they're not around anymore are they? Shit

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WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

Good post.....fair assessment. The 8-10 wins might be dictated by injuries to key players.

Regards Cazzesman

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Ricky Gervais - “Everyone has the right to hold whatever beliefs they want. And everyone else has the right to find those beliefs f***ing ridiculous.”

FINALS

and I expect to be saying "They'll learn from that" to the other teams

3 out of the next 4 flags would satisfy me.