Great expectations

[Captain]

I'm confident Ollie Florent will have a breakout year and give our midfield that missing spark.

Nic Blakey to play more explosive footy and have more impact.

Jordan Dawson to continue his rise in becoming an elite rebounding defender.

It's these 3 players who i see will be pivotal to our climb up this year, alongside Heeney, Mills, Papely plus an injury free Buddy and Naismith.

Mills and Heeney need to rise a level as well. They are good to very good currently and need to move into the very good to elite categories. Players like The Bont and Josh Kelly are only a year ahead and they stepped up.

[Ralph Dawg]

Mills and Heeney need to rise a level as well. They are good to very good currently and need to move into the very good to elite categories. Players like The Bont and Josh Kelly are only a year ahead and they stepped up.

Agree 100%. We will not improve our position on the ladder if these two don't take the game into the elite category. If they step up, it would be equivalent to adding, for argument's sake, Dangerfield and Hodge (when they were in their prime) to our lineup.

What would be fantastic is if Dawson, Aliir, Hewett or even Rowbottom were to have a breakout season.

[bloodspirit]

First, maybe they're not that good. No shame there. You're setting a pretty high bar.

Second, aren't we often saying we don't want superstars, we just want a champion team?

[Blood Fever]

Mills and Heeney need to rise a level as well. They are good to very good currently and need to move into the very good to elite categories. Players like The Bont and Josh Kelly are only a year ahead and they stepped up.

Agree about Heeney. Mills has been excellent since his debut although it is probably a bit easier down back.

[Ralph Dawg]

First, maybe they're not that good. No shame there. You're setting a pretty high bar.

Second, aren't we often saying we don't want superstars, we just want a champion team?

I'm thinking about how we're going to win our next flag and what is required. Certainly won't disagree with you on a champion team, with solid contributors from 1-22. But invariably, a champion team has a core of champions and as it stands, I would only put Rampe, Parker and Buddy in that category. Need a few more to be a threat these days.

[TheBloods]

I'm thinking about how we're going to win our next flag and what is required. Certainly won't disagree with you on a champion team, with solid contributors from 1-22. But invariably, a champion team has a core of champions and as it stands, I would only put Rampe, Parker and Buddy in that category. Need a few more to be a threat these days.

You are being rather generous there. Rampe and Parker are champions of our club but I would not say either are superstars of the competition, top ten players that can dominate games. Under Longmire, I'd only bestow the title 'superstar' to Buddy and Kennedy. When Hawthorn and Geelong won three premierships, they had too many superstars to count.

While I am quite happy with where our list is at, I am not convinced there is a future 'superstar' in the bunch. Possibly Blakey, possibly Heeney, though I am less convinced with each year that passes for Isaac. Who else is going to be? I think Dawson, Aliir, Florent, Mills and Rowbottom will be very good players, but not superstars. McCartin and Hayward I am not convinced will make it yet.

What I don't want is what has happened to many other teams, falling into the trap of believing a group of young players to be better than they are. That is a Carlton model. Wasting away years persisting with a youth group that ends up taking them nowhere because they showed promise. I hope that this is the year we make some tough calls on young players if they aren't anything more than serviceable. At the top of the list would be Ronke and Melican.

[Melbourne_Blood]

You are being rather generous there. Rampe and Parker are champions of our club but I would not say either are superstars of the competition, top ten players that can dominate games. Under Longmire, I'd only bestow the title 'superstar' to Buddy and Kennedy. When Hawthorn and Geelong won three premierships, they had too many superstars to count.

While I am quite happy with where our list is at, I am not convinced there is a future 'superstar' in the bunch. Possibly Blakey, possibly Heeney, though I am less convinced with each year that passes for Isaac. Who else is going to be? I think Dawson, Aliir, Florent, Mills and Rowbottom will be very good players, but not superstars. McCartin and Hayward I am not convinced will make it yet.

What I don't want is what has happened to many other teams, falling into the trap of believing a group of young players to be better than they are. That is a Carlton model. Wasting away years persisting with a youth group that ends up taking them nowhere because they showed promise. I hope that this is the year we make some tough calls on young players if they aren't anything more than serviceable. At the top of the list would be Ronke and Melican.

You wouldn’t say Rampe is a superstar of the comp ? He’s stiff to not be a dual AA defender. He is very rarely beaten one on one, provides run and drive and long , penetrating , efficient kicking from defence. He’d be walk up start in ANY team in the comp. I think he’s the best pound for pound defender in the league, and that’s without factoring in the attacks he brings as well.




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[TheBloods]

You wouldn’t say Rampe is a superstar of the comp ? He’s stiff to not be a dual AA defender. He is very rarely beaten one on one, provides run and drive and long , penetrating , efficient kicking from defence. He’d be walk up start in ANY team in the comp. I think he’s the best pound for pound defender in the league, and that’s without factoring in the attacks he brings as well.




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+1 all of that. But not a superstar to me. I consider a superstar to be a top 8/9/10 player in the league. A superstar goes on to become an all-time great of the game. Don't think any KPD has held that rank since, off the top of my head, Scarlett.

[dimelb]

+1 all of that. But not a superstar to me. I consider a superstar to be a top 8/9/10 player in the league. A superstar goes on to become an all-time great of the game. Don't think any KPD has held that rank since, off the top of my head, Scarlett.

Just out of curiosity,how would you rate Rance?

[Ralph Dawg]

Just out of curiosity,how would you rate Rance?

Best defender in the competition prior to his injury, and an out an out superstar. His closing speed just phenomenal. Never liked his staging but if he's actually able to play to his best, I'd be thrilled to see him red and white!

[Kumarangk]

Agree about Heeney. Mills has been excellent since his debut although it is probably a bit easier down back.

But Mills , when pressured tends to fumble badly.Plays well ( not great IMO ) but in big games with high intensity has been found wanting.Perhaps it's because he hasn't found his true position yet ? Heeney has way more upside.Just my opinion.

[Blood Fever]

But Mills , when pressured tends to fumble badly.Plays well ( not great IMO ) but in big games with high intensity has been found wanting.Perhaps it's because he hasn't found his true position yet ? Heeney has way more upside.Just my opinion.

Your opinion just as valid as anyone's

[rb4x]

But Mills , when pressured tends to fumble badly.Plays well ( not great IMO ) but in big games with high intensity has been found wanting.Perhaps it's because he hasn't found his true position yet ? Heeney has way more upside.Just my opinion.

You obviously did not see Mills playing for the Allies.

[caj23]

The Allies game didn't mean anything and was hardly high intensity

[Auntie.Gerald]

FULL VOTING for top8 see fox sports

Which seven other clubs apart from your own do you think can make this year’s top eight?

17 – West Coast Eagles, Richmond, GWS GIANTS
16 – Collingwood
15 – Brisbane Lions
13 – Western Bulldogs
10 – Port Adelaide
8 – Geelong Cats
5 – Melbourne
3 – St Kilda
2 – Hawthorn
1 – Essendon, North Melbourne, Sydney Swans