GREAT EXPECTATIONS?
January 24th 2007 22:10
Not according to all Pie fans......
Seasoned Maggie supporter Mark W writes:
I'm definitely expecting a fall in 2007 and would predict somewhere around 8 to 10 wins with a position on the ladder of around 10th-12th. Tarrant and Didak will be significant losses, most of our really good players are ageing and whilst we have some good kids they aren't going to be ready to fire for a year or two yet. I'm not a total pessimist - maybe we could squeeze into 8th place - maybe but not likely in my book. OTOH, a few more injuries and it would not greatly surprise me if we plummet a bit more spectacularly than 12th
However, for 2007 wins or ladder places are irrelevant. Finishing 8th on the back of a last gasp from the class of 2002/3 and denying the kids opportunity to develop would be a less successful season than finishing 14th but pumping some quality time into the youngsters.
At the moment in my opinion we have 10 young (under 25) players who I think are/will be at least good and can form the nucleus of the next Collingwood team that challenges for a flag: Josh, Jono, Didak, Heater, Swanny, Travis, Rusling, Egan, Thomas, Pendles. Now for a definition and some disclaimers....just cause I've included a player on this list does not mean I'm proclaiming him a champion, or a matchwinner or saying he has made it.
I'm not blind to the flaws of these players, I'm aware that several have a LOOOONG way to go and could fall by the wayside. However, the positives outweigh the negatives and all have shown something at least good at AFL level - its not a bad start for the rebuild IMO. "Good" is a very subjective term. To understand what I mean, I'd define Jono as a good player - he should play 150-200 games for us, most of them fairly effective, and yup he is flawed but I dont think his weaknesses impinge too much on his contributions.
Wakes is another "good player" but I would not describe Lonie, Rhys Shaw or Tarks as good (too flawed), O'Bree and Dutchy are close but probably the next level down - "handy". So there you go, I don't think I'm setting the bar too high, too low if anything.....Now a VERY successful season in 2007 will be if I can say by the end of the year that we now have 15 young players on this list. of future "good" players. 14 for me will be a pass, and anything below somewhat disappointing. That might sound like a big ask - 4 to 5 new players to really show something in 2007. However, consider a few points. Firstly JA, ok he has only played VFL but I (and I'm not Robinson Crusoe here) really like him - just about have him pencilled in at #11 already. Secondly we have picks 8 and 10 in the "super draft".
Heads should fair dinkum role if Reid and Brown aren't at least good. WE really should 3 in the bag, and so for my very successful season 2 of Cook, Stanley, Harry, Dick, Goldsack, Cox, Toovey etc have to show something rather good at AFL level...too much to ask?
Seasoned Maggie supporter Mark W writes:
I'm definitely expecting a fall in 2007 and would predict somewhere around 8 to 10 wins with a position on the ladder of around 10th-12th. Tarrant and Didak will be significant losses, most of our really good players are ageing and whilst we have some good kids they aren't going to be ready to fire for a year or two yet. I'm not a total pessimist - maybe we could squeeze into 8th place - maybe but not likely in my book. OTOH, a few more injuries and it would not greatly surprise me if we plummet a bit more spectacularly than 12th
* Squeeze the Cheese?
However, for 2007 wins or ladder places are irrelevant. Finishing 8th on the back of a last gasp from the class of 2002/3 and denying the kids opportunity to develop would be a less successful season than finishing 14th but pumping some quality time into the youngsters.
At the moment in my opinion we have 10 young (under 25) players who I think are/will be at least good and can form the nucleus of the next Collingwood team that challenges for a flag: Josh, Jono, Didak, Heater, Swanny, Travis, Rusling, Egan, Thomas, Pendles. Now for a definition and some disclaimers....just cause I've included a player on this list does not mean I'm proclaiming him a champion, or a matchwinner or saying he has made it.
I'm not blind to the flaws of these players, I'm aware that several have a LOOOONG way to go and could fall by the wayside. However, the positives outweigh the negatives and all have shown something at least good at AFL level - its not a bad start for the rebuild IMO. "Good" is a very subjective term. To understand what I mean, I'd define Jono as a good player - he should play 150-200 games for us, most of them fairly effective, and yup he is flawed but I dont think his weaknesses impinge too much on his contributions.
Wakes is another "good player" but I would not describe Lonie, Rhys Shaw or Tarks as good (too flawed), O'Bree and Dutchy are close but probably the next level down - "handy". So there you go, I don't think I'm setting the bar too high, too low if anything.....Now a VERY successful season in 2007 will be if I can say by the end of the year that we now have 15 young players on this list. of future "good" players. 14 for me will be a pass, and anything below somewhat disappointing. That might sound like a big ask - 4 to 5 new players to really show something in 2007. However, consider a few points. Firstly JA, ok he has only played VFL but I (and I'm not Robinson Crusoe here) really like him - just about have him pencilled in at #11 already. Secondly we have picks 8 and 10 in the "super draft".
Heads should fair dinkum role if Reid and Brown aren't at least good. WE really should 3 in the bag, and so for my very successful season 2 of Cook, Stanley, Harry, Dick, Goldsack, Cox, Toovey etc have to show something rather good at AFL level...too much to ask?
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