2004 - 2005 to win a premiership

[Reggi]

Just thinking about it.

Seeing as clubs generally don't improve for more than a few years - if we finish off well - young players work hard - stay injury free we have every chance of being a premiership contender.

Just thinking of what players we would need and who the teams are that we would need to get over.

Brisbane - have heaps of 30 YOs but enough young players and guns to be a power for a few years - well as long as Voss plays.

Most likely to win a premiership you will have to beat them.

S&Don still a fantastic goal to goal line Fletcher - Wellman - Johnson - Lucas - Lloyd. Have a feeling they just need a quick midfielder and a couple of others - they played lots of skinny kids on the weekend - have a feeling they will definately be contenders 2004 - 2005.

West Coast - if they hold onto Judd enough real class and developing players to be a contender - a top 2 finish or top depending on MCC would make it very hard to stop them making a GF - a side we need to beat.

St Kilda - will as per usual be spoilers - but until they stuff everything up have some formidable talent - will be eratic but beat top sides as per 97 - 98. Will cause us some trouble I suspect.

Freo - some talent but hard to take seriously - the fact that Troy Cook is a regular says they still have lots of work to do.

Port - not enough class to win finals - already at that now or never stage with Hardwick Primus Wanganeen Wakelin Francou Paxman - already past their best.

I think we need to be better than those sides.

[Steve]

The thing for mine is who steps up and covers the roles of Cresswell, Williams, Maxfield and Ball.

Despite all the positive signs with younger players this year we still rely heavily on them.

There's no reason why Williams and Maxfield won't be there in 2003/04, but they'll presumably be taking a back seat. Probably Williams playing a Marcus Ashcroft-type role across half-back.

We definitely have the players to fill the voids - just a matter of whether they are willing and/or able.

Hopefully St Kilda and Fremantle keep up with the Port-style game plan - that high possession, chip it around style will continue to win them plenty of games each year at Colonial/Subiaco, but is going to fall apart completely in finals.

Certainly agree on Brisbane, Essendon as well - Lloyd, Lucas and Johnson still only 25 and they're always bringing on a couple of very good players each year.

West Coast have so many 'unfashionable' players - it's difficult to interpret how guys like Haynes, Munro, Humm, Green, Hunter, Carroll, Embley etc would be assessed if they were playing for Victorian clubs.

Such a potent midfield with Gardiner, Judd, Cousins and Kerr that probably will make up for deficiencies forward and back, much like Adelaide have done in recent times.

I said it not long ago - there are so many clubs that seem to be heading into so much trouble with their lists that a huge window of opportunity is opening wider and wider for Sydney if they manage things well.

[Dpw]

You don't rate cook he would be in the class of most of our midfielders

Port not enough class how the hell do you say that with the injuries they have to be placed where they are I would suggest they have class and depth. Finals footy is there bear bug but one win can turn it all around.

[swansrock4eva]

If we maintain the level heads we have right now we should be ok - recruiting, development and maintenance of current stocks will be all important in the next couple of years. Provided there are no major hiccups on or off the field, i don't see why we can't be a force even this year - we're proving we've got the guts, heart and soul for this, and if they can maintain it, I'm looking forward to some september action!

[Rizzo]

Ball has been very important to us this year.

The lost of Cressa is going to hurt but the younger midfield is picking up.

[Reggi]

Those are the five we need to beat Bris, Ess, WC, Freo, St K.

I gues it would be something like this

We need to hope Doyle gets fit to cover Ball

McVeigh to play midfield, as a runner - Maxfield and Williams 'type'.

Finding an inside midfielder to replace Cresswell will be hard.

Could Schneider go there in two years with fitness.

Need a strong tall defender - The Half Backline and either Heath or Powell could be contenders.

[Charlie]

Here's hoping that Doyle can rid himself of all these injuries and make it as a footballler. As back-up, I'm hoping that both Meiklejohn and LRT make the grade as well.

Inside midfielder? Schneider, Bolton, Kirk, Williams, maybe O'Keefe and Crouch will cover that quite well. A few very underrated footballers there. We have a brilliant running brigade in Kennelly, Maxfield, Goodes, Fosdike, Mathews etc... that is only getting better with Sundqvist currently working his way towards joining them, and who knows what will come out of last year's draft. What about the forgotten man Daniel Hunt? How is he looking?

I reckon we're looking alright. The only problem I can see is still full-back, regardless of the good performances by Bolton, Saddington and Barry on bigger opposition. They need a powerhouse with them. Calling Mal Michael or Matthew Scarlett. Or perhaps that's where they're grooming Hunt?

[robbieando]

From what I've heard Hunt has been played Forward more the Back.

My biggest fear for next season is with the retirement of Cressa and the ageing of Ball and Willo we will be much weaker than we are this season. Could this season be on out of the bag like Geelong were last year or is this the start of something very special???

I say we shouldn't take a risk. Only bring in expirence if they are players who will become key players in our set up for the next 10 years. No buying over the hill, over priced hack like we have in the past. The draft is the key, build up our stock of young kids and build towards a safer future because if we dive down the ladder next year and have given up early draft pick for under performing hacks, it will effect us for alot longer than we are willing to stand.

This seasons good work can't go to waste.

[sharp9]

I don't know how anyone can not rate Port...didn't you watch them the other day against Freo? Their foot skill is absolutely astounding. I lost count of the times they sent 50 metre perfect passes on to the chest of leading players who never had to break stride. Over and over from many different players. Add to that Treadrea and Cornes taking contested grabs at will and Burgoynes, Wanganeen, Pickett scrapping at ground level, Wakelin, Paxman at the back and James, Stevens etc. etc in midfield, Brogan and Primus in the ruck I mean geez, some of are ratind Essendon ahead of them. You're Dreaming!

Also they are a very experienced bunch, not too many under 21's that spring to my mind. Nick Stevens has had up around the 100 game mark and is 23 or so. I'd never really noticed him till this season. They seem to make match winners from such players (as we are with J. Bolton and Captain Kirk) rather than Superstars. Players like Schofield, Guerra, Montgomery won't win the flag on their own but you'd be pretty pleased to have them at 15-20 on your list, eh? Man for man the only team that mtches them that far down in Brisbane IMHO.

I hate Port, though

[Reggi]

Pretty ordinary side to be honest.

They're consistent but low on quality, tis why there finals record is one from 9 against a seriously depleted S&Don

[Roscoe]

I really rate Port Power as a top side but agree they are ordinary in finals.

they need to recruit a new player - Linda Lovelace - so they don't
choke on the big one's!!!

[EMJ]

Whose to say Ball won't play on next year - I know he only has a one year contract - but surely if he keeps going this well he could go one more year - he seems really excited about his playing and enjoying it heaps.

[Charlie]

Originally posted by janpa
Whose to say Ball won't play on next year - I know he only has a one year contract - but surely if he keeps going this well he could go one more year - he seems really excited about his playing and enjoying it heaps.

I think he could go on another 2 after this one... although he's a bit of a year-to-year question I guess.

[Benevolent Ert]

Originally posted by Roscoe

they need to recruit a new player - Linda Lovelace - so they don't
choke on the big one's!!!