If we are not going to make the finals I hope we can finish as low as possible.

[ratsmac]

Re: If we are not going to make the finals I hope we can finish as low as possible.

I thought I was the only one who still thought that. Admittedly, hard to forget about last Sunday's debacle, but I'd like to see us up & running with a full compliment available.

I wish I had your optimism. This year is going pretty much how I thought deep down it might. I had hope though, with Libba, Marcovic and Sherman showing a bit and the likes of Wallis and Ves coming through. In saying that I wouldn't have thought in a million years that West Coast would beat us by 123 points. I still think we will improve before seasons end but a premiership threat, I don't think so

[Missing-Dog]

Re: If we are not going to make the finals I hope we can finish as low as possible.

Rather win a few then loose as many as possible.. we have great talent they are just not performing or pushing hard enough for long enough. I still beleive we can make top 8 and give the top teams a run for their money if we can gel as a team. Gold coast are not the best but see what they can do when they back eachother up and play hard. If we played with half the heart/effort Richmond plays with we would be top 4 again this year no doubt!

[LostDoggy]

Re: If we are not going to make the finals I hope we can finish as low as possible.

Our fixtures for the rest of the season - Wins or losses based on current Bulldogs/other teams form IMO
Haw (E) - Loss
Geel (Skilled) - Loss
StK (E) - Loss
Adel (E) - Win
Gold Coast (Carrara) - Win
Melb (E) - Win
Carlton (E) - Loss
NM (E) - Win
Syd (SCG) - Loss
WCE (E) - Win
BYE
Essendon (E) - Loss
Port (AAMI) - Win
Haw (MCG) - Loss
Freo (E) - Win

14 games left and i reckon (on the criteria above, which is crystal balling of course), that we can square the rest of the season. We could realisically pick up another one or two wins later in the season with a fit Cooney/Lake/Hall.

On previous years that would just have us outside the top eight or edging into an 8th depending on other results (fit key players as above). We all know we're not going to tank and in a compromised draft that has us in no mans land like the teams finishing higher. Thoughts?

[chef]

Re: If we are not going to make the finals I hope we can finish as low as possible.

You're talking tanking in fact.

I see it more as player developmt and list management. I am not happy we are in this position

[Bornadog]

Re: If we are not going to make the finals I hope we can finish as low as possible.

Before Rohdes sacking the clubs strategy was to ignore form and play the younger guys.
Players like Croft and Garlick despite their form only got token games. Despite what I have reading on forums for 12 years when push comes to shove supporters won't tolerate losses even if the younger guys are getting a game. It would be a disaster for us to tank games and as a member I would have to reconsider the type of commitment I would make if the club chose to effectively finish as low as we could on the ladder.

I agree supporters want wins and hate the rebuild phase. I bet the membership drops off considerably and then we are fighting for our financial stability.

[AndrewP6]

Re: If we are not going to make the finals I hope we can finish as low as possible.

As others have already said, in a compromised draft, I'm not sure this strategy would work. And I'd spew if it was being planned that way.

[LostDoggy]

Re: If we are not going to make the finals I hope we can finish as low as possible.

Fotty and the workings of a AFL Club is still a business, and
"Low as possible" can not be good for business?

How would our sponsors and future business parteners react to Tanking a season?

[LostDoggy]

Re: If we are not going to make the finals I hope we can finish as low as possible.

Fotty and the workings of a AFL Club is still a business, and
"Low as possible" can not be good for business?

How would our sponsors and future business partners react to Tanking a season?

Yes, and the Club made a point that we are 8,000 members down , so apart from sponsors etc, how are the 8,000 members going to be interested in re-signing or even attracting more members if we Tank the season. There enough positives to say we can fight our way into the 8. We need to meet the development needs of the younger players we have coming through, and the last thing they want to be part of is 14 games of negative football

.

[KT31]

Re: If we are not going to make the finals I hope we can finish as low as possible.

If we are not going to make the finals I hope we can finish as low as possible.
We win the FLAG !!