I think that overall, we did okay. The problem is that the season probably unfolded in reverse to how many of us expected it to unfold - i.e., we expected to struggle a bit at the start but come home strongly, whereas in reality, our first half of the season was great but our second half of the season was not so impressive. Still, we lost a lot of experience and quality (Fevola and the oft-overlooked impact of Nick Stevens, as well as the phasing out of Thornton).

Making finals is probably a 'pass' mark for mine. But barring a huge injury list next season, I'd expect to push for top 4.

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Formerly Blues-Back2003.

Forwards....

2009 We were Coming

2010 They smelled what we were cooking

2011 We served them up on a Plate!

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Stay tuned We're in for a BUMPY ride

gotta admit that i was totally gutted after the loss, and felt sick to the core, mainly due to the fact the boys tried so damned hard all day. i could even forgive the errors, as it was not for lack of trying, mebbe the pressure got to them.

HOWEVER, once my rationality returned i started to look at some positives for the year and the game, and Dannyboy, mate, gotta say that yours has to be the post of the year!!!!

makes me feel positive again

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my last one was rubbish

2009 Lost the Final with a whimper

2010 Lost the Final with a bang

Our fitness has to be up there with the best in the league - able to run games out in the final rounds. The problem is when we play catch up football.

Lets work on our starts, lets work on our decision making, and improve our execution. There is upside and improvement to every player that played on the weekend - perhaps with the exception of Scotland who I would be satisfied if played at the same level next year. I am excited by the prospect of Gibbs, Murphy and Henderson with another pre-season under their belt.

For those who weren't on the park yesterday Kreuz will be back, don't write off Brock yet, Lucas looks a likely type and Yarran will be a gun.

I watched with disappointment and a broken heart yesterday but my immediate reaction was that we will definitely push top 4 next year

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Ecclesiastes 1:4, "One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but The Blues abide forever."

From a combined coaching and playing perspective we failed to adapt when opposition teams worked us out. We were beaten tactically and mentally and those are the areas we MUST address this preseason.

I agree. I have always thought this would be a transition year after losing Fev and Stevens. That is years of experience and ability gone all of a sudden.

We had a great start to the season, shithouse patch midseason and tracked at where we thought we'd be at in the last part of the season - beating the crap teams, losing to the top teams and our last 3 losses (Syd, Dorks, Geel) were all hard fought IMO.

We lost Kreuzer midyear with a season ending injury and also had players like Houlihan, Bower and Walker affected by injuries and in and out of the side. New recruits Lucas, McLean and White were hit by injuries and unable to really show us what they've got.

Players like Garlett, Henderson, Jacobs, Ellard, Warnock, Davies were all given the chance to develop and improve and they all have, Jeffy, Sauce and Hendo in particular.

We finished around the same position as last year which was better than I had anticipated - yes I was one of the doom sayers after Fev's departure - and we were looking unlikely to make the finals mid year.

Our midseason slump was worrying because our skills and decision making were appalling and our confidence and mental strength completely shot. Mental strength is one area I think we really struggle with and will be a concern. We improved our skills and decision making towards the end of the year though. As mentioned our fitness is good and we run out games well. We improved our intensity and matched the Swans well yesterday. Consistency and stringing together 3-5 wins should be an aim for next year.

Overall I am reasonably OK with our 2010 year.

BRING ON 2011!

We need a CHB. I dont know if Austin/White-Austin didnt get a game this year?-will come on so we need to trade or maybe there's one if the VFL. Jamo and Bower are too often left out on their own and unable to cope.

If the kick out isnt worked on this summer The Coaching staff can all all stuffed. Crikey how hard is it to copy what Geelong or the Pies do and just work on it all over the pre-season?

I thought our kick-outs were 300% better yesterday. The plan on the majority of occasions was to move the ball on quickly to a short leading target ... most of the time to one of our better midfield ball users about 20 or 30 metres out from goal. It meant the secodn kick ended up closer to the wing than the 50 metre line. I thought this was a marked improvement on the rest of the year and showed some coaching nous. We don't take it coast to coast as much as the top 4 teams because our kicking skills aren't up to scratch all over the field (including conversion in front of goal).

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In WADA we trust

2010 was a step forward for mine. Our last two games were great efforts but we lost. We saw how the Hawks handled Freo over at Subi. Who made a better fist of it...

We played some great games and some shockers. But if you look at other clubs they can say the same.

The best clubs just don't have the shockers. Sure they lose the odd game but their best and worst aren't far apart.

That's our challenge.

I'm wrapped with Hendo, even though I think he probably cost us yesterday. Hope it burns in the young fella all summer.

Garlett is fantastic, Jacobs Hammer and Warnock all have massive upside.

Lucas and Kruize will be great next year and Yazz could be anything.

When can I get next years membership....

2011 is too far away !

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I support the Navy Blues whatever happens!

I'm 50/50.

I think the worst thing is, for yet another season, we have proved that at best, we are Predictably Inconsistent.

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

You are right, our kick outs were better than they have been for a long time....BUT...the Swans didn't put the full court press on in the manner of the Saints and the Pies. They actually set up back beyond the 50 arc on most occassions giving us an easy outlet. I have no idea why, but they certainly gave us any easy path.