2 or 3 wins against teams in the top 6 in 2008 would stamp us as a genuine finals side.

But I fear that we arent quite good enough for such a task at the moment.

We are getting there, but arent good enough just yet...

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My Blue Heaven

What would the crowd be like if we make the finals?

I've never been to a final, would love to go. I was 13 the last time we played in a final

It's been a while......

It's a great thought, but I can't see it happening this year. Our top 7 or 8 players are very good, but then we taper off pretty quickly, mainly due to lack of experience. We have too many kids with too little playing time under their belt. And there a few on our list still that would not be on the lists of other finals contenders. Also our rucks are not up to it. With the exception of Cloke, who is going great guns, there is just not enough grunt or experience. IMO we need someone like King or Hudson next year to play for a couple of years until Kruise, Hammo, and Jacobs really hit their straps, as they will by 2010---2011. Next year we might be a chance for finals and after that the sky's the limit, I reckon. I'd love them to prove me wrong of course!!! And make it this year.

not this year
but the following 10

The more I watch the teams who are supposed to make the 8, like Collingwood and St.Kilda, the more I think we will make the 8.

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

Exactly

I'd be happily suprised if we did make the finals this years, but god I hope we do.


And this is why. I would love to see this young team with the chance to play even one final and get a feel for what September is like. If they get some of that this year then I think it would make a big difference to September 09.

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Housewife,
mother of three,
navy blue always for me!

I'd be thrilled if it happened but as someone else said we really need to be a quality team that is playing well. I remember going to the Hawks game last year on the Friday night full of hope that winning that one would be a massive step - we got thumped by 100+ points.

I view the lions game next week in a similar light, beat them and anything can happen.

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Between our dreams and actions lies this world

I would like to see us doing one (or both) of 2 things before I start thinking we are ahead of expectations, like Hawthron have been for the past 2 seasons:
1) Consistently beating the teams we are expected to beat.
2) Winning a game here or there that we are not expected to win.

So far, we are a mixed bag - we lost to Ess & Richmond (1) which was bad but were able to beat Collingwood convincingly (2) which is good.

So, this week against Brisbane is another chance to beat a team that is expected to beat us.
If we win, I will start to get excited.
If we win by a lot, I will really start to get excited.
If we lose but "well" like against Adelaide, I will feel we are on par.
If we get creamed, we are behind where we should be.

Would love to make finals. More concerned about consistent improvement over the year. By the end of the year, I would love to know who our CHB is (Waite has probably answered that already), who our CHF will be (or if we need to recruit one), whether our game plan is a good one and would love to see real development in our 2nd year +young'ns. Also, we need to know who, of the fringe players are in & who cannot get there. That, for me, are our major goals for the year.

This week is the acid test.

Where are we?

I have no idea so far.

If we win this one...it may be the beginning of something beautiful.

Me hopes

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They coud'nt.....could they?

Great year to make the finals.

The 5-12 sides will be fairly even and anyone of them can do it. I think we've put ousrselves behind the eight ball by losing to Ess. and Rich....but hey.

Point is...whovever makes the finals will be expected to get flogged by the top 4 .

No better lesson for a young group to experience the finals , not be expcetd to win, but be exposed to what's required to be a top 4 team.

Fingers crossed I say!

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“Every single element of the Club has to be the best in the league, meticulously and methodically, and only by doing this will we be elite and challenge for number 17.”
Greg Lee

The Kangaroos aren't that flash either IMO....

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There is no footy god

You would wonder what would be better for development

A spirited win over the Hawks in round 22 just falling short of the 8

Or


Making the eight and getting pumped by someone like Sydney or the Kangaroos in the first week of the finals

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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 think either would work.

IF we make the 8, then we'll just scrape in, which means realistically we're making up the numbers. BUT that will give the boys a good grounding in what it takes to be successful in September (hopefully), and it will also hopefully be an incentive for them to go further. Also, it will be a bit of a reward (but not the reward in itself) for some of the guys who have known nothing but shit times over the last few seasons, and will give them an added vigour and faith in themselves and the team.

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

Dont know KK but I often think it is better to end the year on a winning note - gives you hope throughout the summer

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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

Very true.

But a disappointing loss could also light a fire under the boys too....

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

taste of finals >>>>>>>>>>> win in R22 and just missing finals

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

Getting a taste makes you want it more... especially if you disappoint.

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17 4 10

Carltons years of good fortune will be 2009 2010 and 2012.

2011 will be a year where have a bit of a downer, but will bounce back in the following season.

premiership possibilities in all these years, but 09/10 are the most likely years for the 17th flag.

These will be years of war in the world though with some unhappy and tragic events occurring during these years and also afterwards. The interwar years start in about 2017 or 2018.

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My Blue Heaven

Blueman, love your stuff.

BUT.

I remember last year you were predicting that 2008 would be a year out of the box like none we had ever expected. I could bring up the posts there were dozens of them.

My question is not so much to denigrate any forecastes but to ask you WHY and WHEN you changed from predicting a huge 2008 to a normal/mediocre 2008?

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