can we finish as high as 12th next season??

[saintspremiers]

Just thinking with (redacted) now gone and Choco coming in will we get a lot more out of our senior core and win perhaps 8 games?

Perhaps unlikely but if (redacted) was so rotten maybe a big change will come?

[thejiggingsaint]

OR 18th? Doesn't really effect my loyalty where we finish (do NOT have to be happy about it however!)

[jonesy]

A terrible way to think,but a rise next year due to the senior players lifting again probably sets us back an extra year in the rebuild,unless we nab three freaks with 3,18,19..

[saintspremiers]

A terrible way to think,but a rise next year due to the senior players lifting again probably sets us back an extra year in the rebuild,unless we nab three freaks with 3,18,19..

Fair point and I must say I agree with you. Sad state of affairs ain't it?

[thejiggingsaint]

Not really if we use our noodles!

[Con Gorozidis]

We have 9 winnable games
Win 6 and get pick 3 or 4 would be nice.
Improve from last year and continue the rebuild/transition.
2017 we need to aim for finals imho.

[Junction Oval]

The players will give it their best shot - that's all we should expect. 10/10 for trying, I say, as we re-build and hopefully, get to 12th.

I would rather see us move up a little on player merits, than go to games, hoping to lose and thinking about "picks" for next year and the year after.

[kosifantutti]

I still don't understand supporters hoping we will fail next year.

I don't understand "redacted" either.

[magnifisaint]

I still don't understand supporters hoping we will fail next year.

I don't understand "redacted" either.

Agree 100%. Can someone please explain?

[R. Harvey 3 votes!]

I just don't want another spoon for the rest of my life! 26 wooden spoons is enough, we've had our share!
I do care if we finish 18th! I know 17th is only one spot higher but I would much prefer that, than another bloody spoon!

[desertsaint]

Happy if it's the most even season in afl history and we finish 17th with 7 or 8 wins!

[saint6709]

I don't think popular opinion took into account our injuries last year - I think we have about 10 blokes who can give a lot more this year than last - I think we might surprise a few with our form - I am ever the optimist when talking saints

[jonesy]

I still don't understand supporters hoping we will fail next year.

I don't understand "redacted" either.

Agree 100%. Can someone please explain?

I hope we win every week, and if it came down to one of the Kreuzer cup games I'd still hope we won on gameday, however the reality of the list most probably suggests a short rise up to 10th on the back of our ageing stars having one last fling, sets us back a year. Middle of the road is no place to be stuck in AFL land unless you recruit freaks with 80% of your picks. In an ideal world it would be great if we somehow did that, history suggests you need to be down for 2-3 however....we've only had 1. So whilst I hate losing and watching all those who have waited for the past decade to lay the boots finally get there moment in the sun, another bottom 3 finish next year will have positioned nicely for the rebirth.

The counter argument will be the kids learn so much from the ageing stars busting a gut, and a winning culture instilled, point taken,but I just don't think our younger players on the list at present have anywhere near enough talent alone to contend again,therefore another 12 months of good kids is required after this years. I honestly think our current base of kids is better than people give credit for,however it needs 2-3 years of A graders injected into it.

[mad saint guy]

Unless we are extraordinarily lucky with injuries, our senior players all have stellar seasons and our new recruits slot straight in seamlessly then I can't see us finishing above the bottom three. Our midfield won't be competitive against many of the better sides and I can't see our forward line 'clicking' for a few years yet. It will be an awkward mix still using Riewoldt while trying to develop Lee/Stanley/Hickey/Longer as tall targets and trialling kids/mids as the next lot of smalls. Our defence might have a better balance next year but we'll still get monstered by power forwards getting good delivery due to midfield dominance.

[WellardSaint]

I posted a few months ago that I predict we would win at least 8 games.
Now that papa smurf has "moved on" (as Netters said) I am 100% certain.
Smurf had a crack at several youngies-
- told Fergs to hit the gym harder, he put on 5kg of muscle, and how was he rewarded?
- Siposs' development stalled (jaded from criticism maybe?)
- Ledge was hardly given a chance, and he has now gone.
Youngsters would have been disillusioned - "I am doing everything possible, and still the midget ain't happy!"

With Chocko at the helm (or Sheeds, or Pelch's 12 year old grandson, or whoever)
- I predict the youngsters will flourish.
- the pensioners will get a new lease of life due to the extra respect.

Team will step up and actually bring their A game.
Close games will not be lost, but won by us with fire in the frickin belly.

[BigMart]

We will finish 16-18 and most ...... Hopefully Brisbane are worse

[whiskers3614]

I posted a few months ago that I predict we would win at least 8 games.
Now that papa smurf has "moved on" (as Netters said) I am 100% certain.
Smurf had a crack at several youngies-
- told Fergs to hit the gym harder, he put on 5kg of muscle, and how was he rewarded?
- Siposs' development stalled (jaded from criticism maybe?)
- Ledge was hardly given a chance, and he has now gone.
Youngsters would have been disillusioned - "I am doing everything possible, and still the midget ain't happy!"

With Chocko at the helm (or Sheeds, or Pelch's 12 year old grandson, or whoever)
- I predict the youngsters will flourish.
- the pensioners will get a new lease of life due to the extra respect.Team will step up and actually bring their A game.
Close games will not be lost, but won by us with fire in the frickin belly.

Suspect this club will not move forward much until said pensioners are all gone.
Just because they were PART of the problem under Watters doesn't necessarily mean they will be the SOLUTION with someone else coaching!

[borderbarry]

I expect that with Harvs as our next coach, we will repond by winning at least 8 games. I cannot see Melbourne, Western Bulldogs, GWS, and maybe Brisbane and Gold Coast winning more.

[samuraisaint]

considering we only get one chance at Melbourne and Western Sydney each, I can see us finishing stone motherless last. At least that may speed up the rebuild which is a silver lining.

[borderbarry]

With those five clubs below us we would finish 13th. About where we would have to be to contest finals the following year.

[saintmont]

Hi, I think we might surprise a few teams next year. I tried to pick a side and I found it tough and that's without any of the draft picks. So I am positive we are in the right direction. Now I hope we get Mark Williams as coach.

[QuestionOfAccuracy]

I'll be watching the next year out of seeing how the younger guys go and how much they improve, rather than barracking the scoreboard.

Looking for the improvement levels of: Lee, Hickey, Wright, Markworth, Murdoch, Newnes, Curren etc.

[Kickit]

I'm happy with our draft. I'd rather lose some close ones against Adelaide and West Coast, than thump GWS twice and get a worse draft pick for the effort.

[Bluthy]

On the field last year the oldies were all outstanding, carrying the team mostly. They are professionals playing their guts out regardless of how they feel about the coach. How could they possibly improve apart from hoping some of them aren't as injury prone? But being another year older don't hold your breath.

[St Ick]

I cannot see us finishing above Bulldogs, Lions, Suns. GWS should expect a decent amount of improvement from their kids who will be moving into their 3rd year (breakout). They may finish in a similar position to us, Melbourne, well, who knows what sort of response they will get will Roos there.

We cannot expect to lose Mac and Dal and expect to finish higher than this year, I am more than happy with our trading, but reality is that we need to expect some short term pain. We will show signs of improvement, but most other teams will also improve. I'd be surprised to win more than half a dozen games, which I wont be bothered about at all.