After round 7, we're 5-1-1. Fantastic start to the season, really. We also sit third on the AFL ladder.

Before the season started, did you have us in this position?

I have to be honest, I didn't, at all. I'm generally not a negative supporter, but I had us being about 2-5 or 3-4 after round 7, with wins against Richmond, and Gold Coast, and thought we were 50/50 against maybe Adelaide or Essendon*. Didn't expect us to beat Sydney or St.Kilda, nor was I confident against the Crows.

Player-wise, to date our less-experienced players have done very well, Yarran, Duigan, Curnow (until he got injured..), and our more experienced blokes have improved too - I speak of Jamison specifically.

How did you predict us to start the season, both results-wise and player-wise? Has the year panned out as you expected so far?

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Premierships: 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1887, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995.

"GIBBS."

I thought we'd beat Essendon*.
At the start of the season, I thought that Collingwood would be the only team to beat us to this stage.

In the lead up to the Sydney game, I was nervous though.

Although I didn't plan on the injuries/lack of fitness of Bower and Henderson.

Problem is many teams aren't performing according to their form from last year, so I doubt many of us would have picked us to do so well.

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So hard to earn, so easily burned
In the fullness of time
A garden to nurture and protect

#DopeThenStash

As I posted before the season started, the only games I was not confident we 'would' win (as opposed to 'could win') was against the Pies (twice) and I thought we may drop 1 against Geelong (although I picked us to win this) and 1 of the games we play against the Saints (twice) and the Bumbers (twice).

In other words I thought our best case scenario would be 4 losses for the year giving us 18 wins.
In the end I settled for 16 wins and a top 4 berth...and put money on it.

How could one not see the progress and the fact we should have won that finals game against the Swans (but for bad kicking) then to face the Doggies....giving us a 50-50 chance to win a Prelim and then a GF.

We weren't that far off last year imo...just a bit young and in need of more strength and experience...and the return of Kreuzer and Houlihan.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Never thought doggies would do well....so no surprise there.
Didn't expect Bummers to do quite so well...
Cats...that is a surprise.
Us...a little better than I hoped.

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

Problem for who??

At the start of the year, you would have expected a loss against Coll and at least one against St K and Sydney at SCG, possibly both. Adelaide was a danger and Essendon* is always 50-50 for us and thats how it turned out.
I would have taken 4 wins. 5 1/2 is very good.

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T E A M

Think we ll still end up 5th or 6th...

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James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

It's weird. I didn't expect us to be in this position, however we're yet to play anywhere near our best football yet (and diabolical at times). We've almost been winning in spite of ourselves.

The main thing I'm finding hard is gauging our opposition. The Crows and Swans teams we've beaten aren't the same level as previous incarnations that have embarassed us in the past, nor the Aints for that matter (and then there's all this garbage about Collingwood's "off-night"). But on the other hand, Richmond are on the improve, and no superlatives do Essendon* justice.

The Cats game IMO will be the one that truly gives us a sense of where we're at.

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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

Yeah, but if we win, they'll run it through the translator:

Carlton - 2 week break
Geelong - tough game the week prior vs the Filth

Result: moral victory for the Cats

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"I had to eat"

Definitely better than expected.

Considering that we've been playing with only Waite and Jamison as KPP that's an exceptional return.

We've been in losing positions against Richmond, Adelaide, Sydney, Essendon* and St Kilda, which suggests we're not quite as strong as our ladder position suggests. Poor

That we've ended up winning 4.5/5 of those games is a reflection of the physical and mental maturation of the group, as well as an ounce of luck.

Last season we had two slashing wins against Geelong and St Kilda and were 7 and 4 after 11. We ended up winning 4 of our last 12. I really think our best is ahead of us looking at the players we hope to regain during the season, assuming a decent run with injuries from here on.

Thought we'd be 2 & 5.

I'm most impressed with our mental approach to games. And that's why I'm constantly readjusting my expectations. I'm now only expecting two or three teams to trouble is - not seven or eight.

Our belief is outrageous and infectious. And I agree with whoever said we're not at our potential yet. Of all the teams currently in the 8, I think we're underperforming the most. Woot.

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"In better news for Blues fans, Jarrad Waite was not named on the club's injury list."

Add to that we've got a few players to come back into the team as well; Kreuzer, Houlihan, Bower, Henderson. It's going to be tough for players to keep their spot so they'd wanna keep winning.

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Premierships: 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1887, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995.

"GIBBS."

Before season I had this

Richmond - W
GC - W
Filth - L
Ess - W
Adl - W
Swans - L
Saints - L

So yes, we are doing better than I had expected. But like Don said we've played some bloody awful football in doing so.

Main thing for us to is keep this up for the rest of the season and no extended slumps. Will take one or two off games.

about where I hoped

but if you'd have said we'd be here with Hendo/Bower playing @#$%&! all games/having @#$%&! all impact I would have laughed. I am happy with the steps in intensity and will

still think we need Bower and Hendo


and Kruise may be the goose that lays the golden egg.

I wanted us to finish 6th - 3rd and I think that's what we'll get.

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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!

Shoulda got Rich.
Shoulda got Selwood.
McLean is a dud.
Russell must have photos.
Sakc Ratten.

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I'm a bit surprised about people's negative expectations for this year.
Last year was disappointing, but injuries killed us. The clean out/drafting and recruiting at the end of last year meant we have a significantly stronger/deeper list, plus all our young players have more experience and another pre-season.

I thought we would have at least 3 losses. Considering most would agree we haven't played our best football yet we are placed very nicely.

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"We used to sit around and talk about how bad the game plan was." Anthony Koutoufides

I didn't think we'd be where we are, I was hoping to be around 6th.

I hadn't counted on the Saints, Doggies, Hawks and Adelaide to be performing as poorly as they have.

But most of all I can't believe the complete change in game style. We are unrecogniseable from last year.

Happy to be third and I don't think there's an argument that say's we shouldn't be there.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

We are better than I thought would be but I am aware we were in a similar position last year.
I am not convinced that the style of footy can do damage in a final. I will judge that by the end of the year when Kreuzer, Henderson and Waite play in the same side
We need to get game time into some young kids in the twos asap. I don't want to end up like St Kilda in 2 or 3 years.

Pleasantly surprised. Improvement has come in no small part due to Curnow Laidler & Duigan. Having first year players exceed expectations like they have is just a massive bonus.

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#DonTheStash