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

[Cairnsman]

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

I'd be happy with that too, the modern rebuild for poor clubs requires them to take the bottom out strategy, can't think of another way. We need to be at the bottom for a couple more years. The next coach we get may also just be a transition coach.

[citywest]

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

I'd be happy with that too, the modern rebuild for poor clubs requires them to take the bottom out strategy, can't think of another way. We need to be at the bottom for a couple more years. The next coach we get may also just be a transition coach.

You are 100% correct Cairnsman.

We need 2 more years in the bottom 4 to hopefully pick up 2 more guns.
The next coach will probably get the sack as well.

[BigMart]

Bottom out strategy is not a proven method of success.... More teams who have been in bottom 4 have not made top 4 over the last 15 years

[Cairnsman]

Bottom out strategy is not a proven method of success.... More teams who have been in bottom 4 have not made top 4 over the last 15 years

Since 1998

Lions
St Kilda
Collingwood
Hawthorn
WestCoast Eagles
Bulldogs
Dockers

are there any more?

[plugger66]

Bottom out strategy is not a proven method of success.... More teams who have been in bottom 4 have not made top 4 over the last 15 years

Sometimes you have no choice but more teams have probably won the flag after bottoming out that those who didnt bottom out. probably only geelong and Sydney have win without bottoming out and Geelong have had many father sons and Sydney get a million more than any other side.

[arpstk]

I cannot wait for the start of next year but I hope they pick the coach soon so I can get really excited!!!

I think we showed great character this year like Bluthy says "On the field last year the oldies were all outstanding" and that was for a coach who wasn't worth a pinch of goatsh1t (to them not me... what would I know about SW?). But he was enough of a prick that not one St.K player has said a word... not a ..."Gee we're goner miss SW. Couldn't coach but he was a good bloke".

So I cannot wait for next year because I think we have some top line professional footballers at St. Kilda.
Carn Sainters

[WellardSaint]

Why the obsession with high draft picks? It's entirely a lottery.
Having to rely on the judgement of guys to make the right call on a player.
Some are probably standouts, but generally...you can get someone at pick 30, 40, or 50, who will turn out to be a real gun, conversely (not the running shoes ) a high pick may become a dud underachiever.
Remember that oft-used word - "Potential"
One thing to have natural skill, another thing to nurture, develop, and turn it into consistent performances.
Gambling is gambling because of the uncertainties and variables.
Ending up at the bottom, and getting high picks? those players picked up, half of them could be on-traded in a year or two anyways.

[Johnny Favier]

As long as we give 100% effort week in week out and give some of the contenders a bit of a scare in close games...even if we finished last (which I don't think we will), at least we'd earn the respect of anyone with a football brain.

Respect for effort is good enough for me at this stage of the game.

[Scoop]

Why the obsession with high draft picks? It's entirely a lottery.
Having to rely on the judgement of guys to make the right call on a player.
Some are probably standouts, but generally...you can get someone at pick 30, 40, or 50, who will turn out to be a real gun, conversely (not the running shoes ) a high pick may become a dud underachiever.
Remember that oft-used word - "Potential"
One thing to have natural skill, another thing to nurture, develop, and turn it into consistent performances.
Gambling is gambling because of the uncertainties and variables.
Ending up at the bottom, and getting high picks? those players picked up, half of them could be on-traded in a year or two anyways.

I think you will find that a statistical analysis of the data will reveal that more topliners have come from 1-30 draft picks than 30+.

There will always be those, such as Chips at #55, Hird at #79 and Chris Grant at #105 that will be the exceptions, however, as the Pelican mentioned in his manifesto, it is the early rounds of the draft where you are more likely to secure a topliner....hence our three picks in the first round of this year's draft.

Of course this is IM (and the Pelican's) HO.

[southernsaint]

I think we will be a much improved side next season especially with our new recruits. How many wins that equates to is anyones guess though.

[gringo]

I think we will be a much improved side next season especially with our new recruits. How many wins that equates to is anyones guess though.

I agree. Fisher will be another new recruit and if we get at least one of Bruce or Delaney to play FB and Dempster, Gilbert and co all keep fit we will be at least solid down back. A few kids should lift and Curren and Savage improve our midfield from day one.

Dal played further back so we probably need Wright, Webster, Newnes or Murdoch to lift and take over.