I'm Calling it now...

[skeptic]

Carlisle to get back to his best

Break out year for McCartin coupled with a back to his best for Bruce... Membrey frequently be underestimated as third best and to kick a number of bags

Billings to start consistently playing to his best
Steven, Stevens, Billings, Ross, Acres, Gresham, Freeman, Weller, Dunstan and Steele to become a very fierce and feared midfield

Hickey to by far cement his spot as the best Ruck in the league

Roo and Joey to be Roo and Joey

In 2017, I think top 4 is a certainty...
There will be a narrow pre-lim and if we get through... I reckon we win the premiership.

[yipper]

I a liking it. Feel excited at what may be in 2017. Looking forward to it all. Top 4 is definately on our radar.

[White Winmar]

Hard to disagree. I'm excited!

[To the top]

Throw Armitage into that mid field mix, plus a talented youngster to really establish (aka White as the one I have most regard for - and in our back 6 where we need transition abilities) and I just reckon you are starting to talk.

Brown to lock down full back, releasing Gilbert and Roberton to attacking defensive options and not playing outside their weight division and the possibilities mount.

Mind you, all other Clubs will improve.

We just have to improve that much better - and we might just have the personnel to so achieve given we have not yet seen the likes of Carlisle, Freeman, McCartin, Goddard and Billings at all or not at full capacity - and that is before we add who we have recruited for 2017.

[Verdun66]

Anything is possible. Of the unsung guys I like Membrey. Dangerous guy as third forward if Paddy can stay on the park. White is going to be an interesting player. McKenzie with a bit more luck, and growing maturity, is going to be a very good player. Further improvement from Ross, Newnes and Weller.

Then Freeman and Carlisle are bonuses. New recruits. I reckon Koby Stevens wil surprise a few. I have seen him play very well. The whole list will lift. Great environment they have created.

Win it for Roo!

[Trev from the Bush]

Skeptic, you sure has a better dream than I did last night. I like yours a lot better.

Because it is not a dream. No doubt we will get to see bits and pieces of it over the next nine months!

[skeptic]

Throw Armitage into that mid field mix, plus a talented youngster to really establish (aka White as the one I have most regard for - and in our back 6 where we need transition abilities) and I just reckon you are starting to talk.

Brown to lock down full back, releasing Gilbert and Roberton to attacking defensive options and not playing outside their weight division and the possibilities mount.

Mind you, all other Clubs will improve.

We just have to improve that much better - and we might just have the personnel to so achieve given we have not yet seen the likes of Carlisle, Freeman, McCartin, Goddard and Billings at all or not at full capacity - and that is before we add who we have recruited for 2017.

How could I forget Armo... if he gets back close to 2015, we'll be unstoppable

[citywest]

2017 is 2004.

[Goose is king]

I'm liking the part about Roo being Roo.

[skeptic]

Let's have a crack...

B: Geary, Brown, Dempster
HB: Roberton, Carlisle, Savage
C: Newnes, Armitage, Riewoldt
HF: Billings, Bruce, Acres
F: Membrey, McCartin, Gresham

R: Hickey, Steven, Stevens

Bench: Weller, Dunstan, Montagna, Ross


Emg: Dmac, Sinclair, Steele, Freeman, Longer, Gilbert, Wright


I feel like an idiot starting Ross on the bench and I'm worried I've forgotten someone obvious... nearly left Monty out of that team

It's bloody hard to do this

[Enrico_Misso]

Skeptic, i am hoping in 10 months time this thread will be bumped and you will be hailed by one and all as a visionary insightful genius, and we will shower you with complements and from then on a new Skeptic forum will be created devoted entirely to your thoughts and insights so they can be read and disseminated to the multitudes without the distraction of the comparatively worthless and flawed thoughts of your contemporaries.

[skeptic]

Skeptic, i am hoping in 10 months time this thread will be bumped and you will be hailed by one and all as a visionary insightful genius, and we will shower you with complements and from then on a new Skeptic forum will be created devoted entirely to your thoughts and insights so they can be read and disseminated to the multitudes without the distraction of the comparatively worthless and flawed thoughts of your contemporaries.

If it meant winning a premiership, I'm sure even Saynta, Plugger66, Bunk Moreland and the Pav would take that deal

[To the top]

So, Skeptic, to focus on the area of the ground we HAVE to improve on (and confirmed by the Coach's reference to transitioning the pill from defence which is an extension on why he played Montagna in defence in 2016), I have a problem with continuing to select basically "shut down" players in defence.

I can accept one, at full back, but no more and especially among our mid sized defenders.

Hence my hopes for White who, in one game against a low placed Club showed defensive body on body skills (and keeping his feet!) AND gave the depth of transition we require to really improve (so giving our forwards the one on one contests they crave because the ball is rebounding from defence with depth of delivery and ball carrier pace.

With all due regard to the contributions of Geary and Dempster, they are the ones under the spotlight to me (and I just do not think Savage is up to the mark defensively) AND if they are not in our 22 then we are really on our way because we have mid sized defenders (and at 194cm being Roberton and Gilbert) who can negate then spread, run and deliver with incisive depth into the forward line.

This is the area for me, and the deployment of Montagna in 2016 and the Coach's comments re transition from defence give me the expectation that focus is on our weakness.

Membrey will be interesting with Battle on the List.

I wouldn't mind a summary of who Membrey kicked his goals against, and who he didn't kick goals against.

As with everyone the increasing depth of our List which we hope and trust is there will place pressure on everyone because that, also, is the catalyst for improvement.

[saynta]

Throw Armitage into that mid field mix, plus a talented youngster to really establish (aka White as the one I have most regard for - and in our back 6 where we need transition abilities) and I just reckon you are starting to talk.

Brown to lock down full back, releasing Gilbert and Roberton to attacking defensive options and not playing outside their weight division and the possibilities mount.

Mind you, all other Clubs will improve.

We just have to improve that much better - and we might just have the personnel to so achieve given we have not yet seen the likes of Carlisle, Freeman, McCartin, Goddard and Billings at all or not at full capacity - and that is before we add who we have recruited for 2017.

McKenzie is the one tearing up the field preseason.

[Linton Lodger]

I'm very excited.

[Linton Lodger]

Throw Armitage into that mid field mix, plus a talented youngster to really establish (aka White as the one I have most regard for - and in our back 6 where we need transition abilities) and I just reckon you are starting to talk.

Brown to lock down full back, releasing Gilbert and Roberton to attacking defensive options and not playing outside their weight division and the possibilities mount.

Mind you, all other Clubs will improve.

We just have to improve that much better - and we might just have the personnel to so achieve given we have not yet seen the likes of Carlisle, Freeman, McCartin, Goddard and Billings at all or not at full capacity - and that is before we add who we have recruited for 2017.

McKenzie is the one tearing up the field preseason.

Not at all surprised.

[SaintPav]

2017 is 2004.

Nah, 2017 is 1928.

[markp]

2017 is 2004.

Nah, 2017 is 1928.

I thought 1959 was 1928?

[citywest]

2017 is 2004.

Nah, 2017 is 1928.

I thought 1959 was 1928?

Nope....2017 is 2004.

[ROLS-LEE]

I'm liking the part about Roo being Roo.

I would rather us not rely on him. He can be the X factor but no more the 'go to' player.

We need 28 strong fit players contributing evenly and doing their role.

[markp]

2017 is 2004.

Nah, 2017 is 1928.

I thought 1959 was 1928?

Nope....2017 is 2004.

That doesnt sound right.

And what would that make 2016?

[saint3d]

2017 is 2004.

Nah, 2017 is 1928.

I thought 1959 was 1928?

Nope....2017 is 2004.

That doesnt sound right.

And what would that make 2016?

With only 12 hours of it remaining, I can say with certainty that 2016 has been 2016. And I'm almost as certain that 2017 will be 2017.

[skeptic]

2017 is 2004.

Nah, 2017 is 1928.

I thought 1959 was 1928?

Nope....2017 is 2004.

That doesnt sound right.

And what would that make 2016?

With only 12 hours of it remaining, I can say with certainty that 2016 has been 2016. And I'm almost as certain that 2017 will be 2017.

You speak in riddles

[jays]

i hope so

[markp]

2017 is 2004.

Nah, 2017 is 1928.

I thought 1959 was 1928?

Nope....2017 is 2004.

That doesnt sound right.

And what would that make 2016?

With only 12 hours of it remaining, I can say with certainty that 2016 has been 2016. And I'm almost as certain that 2017 will be 2017.

Well that's simply too outrageous to accept.