2016 Hopes, Dreams etc

[Bulldog Joe]

We have now completed the the draft and have our list finalised.

Where do we see the team for 2016.

Not looking to pick a best side, just across the list, can we see enough improvement to give us a real crack at the big prize.

Through the off season we have added Suckling and Adcock as mature players and brought in the new draftees. I am prepared to overlook injured players coming back (Libba) as we know there will be players missing through injury throughout 2016.

Not wishing to be stats centric, but from the AFL player ratings http://www.afl.com.au/stats/player-r...s#club/CD_T140

We have lost

Jarrad Grant 165.5 pts
Michael Talia 132.4
Brett Goodes 58
Ayce Cordy 48
Sam Darley 43.2

Total Points out =407.1

We have added
Matt Suckling 305.3
Jed Adcock 311.8

Total Points in =617.1

This certainly improves the list on Champion Data rating.

We should also see improvement in some of our 2nd and 3rd year players without any contribution from the new draftees.

We also have improved the experience when compared to the start of 2015 with the experience added to the list throughout the 23 games of 2015.

I know we still have some areas of concern, but I can see plenty of opportunity for the team to be better in 2016. My biggest concern would be a drop off from the old heads Murphy, M Boyd and Morris.

[merantau]

I'm not concerned about any drop off from the three you mention in 2016. I was at the club last week having lunch. Matty Boyd and Dale Morris looked to be in superb physical shape and Bob Murphy has never been out of shape.
I also think we are better placed to cover injuries to key players. So, I am feeling upbeat about 2016.

[Twodogs]

I said at the start of last year that I wasn't going to make any predictions because I wouldn't be surprised where we finish. I think I'll stick to that.

[Eastdog]

I said at the start of last year that I wasn't going to make any predictions because I wouldn't be surprised where we finish. I think I'll stick to that.

I'm hoping for more improvement again 2016 but right now it's still far too early to make any predictions for next year.

[Eastdog]

I said at the start of last year that I wasn't going to make any predictions because I wouldn't be surprised where we finish. I think I'll stick to that.

We just need to keep the expectations for next year in house. Let's not listen to what those media people have to say.

[westdog54]

The club should not accept anything less than improvement on last season.

We have improved the quality of list with our recruiting and list management.

We can expect, nay, demand, further improvement of most of the players that played the majority of last year.

We have some quality players returning from injury.

Plus we (at least ought to) have momentum from what we achieved last season.

Whilst I can understand the hesitation to set expectations, as a club we need to dare to dream.

[Eastdog]

Does less expectation though correlate to less disappointment amongst the playing group and supporters as for 2015 we had hardly any expectations and had a stellar year with the list we had.

2011 is an example where we had big expectations but it did not come off.

[F'scary]

Big Boyd. Really looking forward to more Big Boyd. Loved what he did in 2015, those big marks deep near the goals. More please.

[westdog54]

Does less expectation though correlate to less disappointment amongst the playing group and supporters as for 2015 we had hardly any expectations and had a stellar year with the list we had.

2011 is an example where we had big expectations but it did not come off.

Expectation is fine when it is realistic.

The 'expectation' we had in 2011 was when the Club President declared a benchmark that wasn't realistic.

Its not unrealistic to think that with our list profile, we would see further improvement in 2016.

[Eastdog]

Expectation is fine when it is realistic.

The 'expectation' we had in 2011 was when the Club President declared a benchmark that wasn't realistic.

Its not unrealistic to think that with our list profile, we would see further improvement in 2016.

Yes agree. Expectation must be realistic and if we don't meet those realistic expectations we would naturally be disappointed.

[Remi Moses]

Does less expectation though correlate to less disappointment amongst the playing group and supporters as for 2015 we had hardly any expectations and had a stellar year with the list we had.

2011 is an example where we had big expectations but it did not come off.

I think easty the age demographic and the expectation that we'd had our time in the sun.

[Flamethrower]

On field just like 2015, expect the unexpected.

Off field I expect a tougher time finding a decent seat at Etihad and a longer wait at the concession stands. In other words, a big jump in crowd numbers in 2016!!!

[Maddog37]

I want to beat the Hawks and the Cats.

[bulldogtragic]

20 years on and I still can't hear the phrase 'hopes and dreams' without hearing in my head this interview by Tommy G with 'FW De Clerk'.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KhKErCF2mJE

[Go_Dogs]

Expectations? Another finals appearance and to go one better, win a final.

That being said I'm loathe to put any expectation on what we can accomplish this coming season. Young groups can improve or stagnate swiftly and we don't know how our guys will go this year, where the improvement will come from and whether some of our positional weaknesses (ruck, key defenders, key forwards) will be addressed by developing players and off season acquisitions.