From all available evidence, we are.

From what I’ve seen I think 18th is a distinct possibility.

No Curnow or McKay early on, McGovern not right either.

Midfield relying on cripps, Ed, murph and Walsh. No one else has shown their up to it beyond the odd cameo.

I haven’t seen any sign of improvement from and of our younger players which will make us any better.

Any before anyone arks up, aside from GC who could be worse than us, aside from a club imploding?

This is not a time for overreacting. Don't panic.
Off to get some dunny paper.

I hope someone quotes me at the end of the year to brag that I have NFI what I’m on about and I was dead wrong.

Deal. Haha.

I’ve definitely reset expectations (10-11 wins I thought) back down to 7 or 8.

But

We played good footy in the second half of last year with plenty of injuries. I’m still remaining optimistic. We can’t possibly have gone that far backwards over one preseason. Our skills and intensity over 4 quarters is just way off.

I’m going with the old training loads! (Which is always a baffling excuse to me...)

Adelaide

It’s more most other sides improve as well.

The concern I have is how poor we look whenever we put the non Walsh younger guys in the middle. Their either not ready or simply not good enough.

Just looking at the Suns, it seems to me Dew has found a way to motivate the kids to go in hard and apply constant pressure.

All we need from our 21-23yo is for them to show inner belief in their ability to win contests and a desire to hit hard and close down oppositions space.

I hate this corralling we do. I thought that was a Bryce Gibbs thing, but nah, it seems to be a Carlton disease.

The pressure the kids bought in the Freo and Saints games last year in the 2nd half od the game showed they can switch on.

We are too reliant oon the old heads to apply pressure and hardness at the ball and on the opponent.

I want to see more mongrel, otherwise they can find it in the VFL or elsehere.

The time is now.