I think a lot of supporter pain comes from a fascination with "the future" as some sort of absolute, when the future is actually relative to everyone's own particular circumstances, which as such makes it completely different for everyone, including players, coaches, administrators and fans. And because it is completely different for absolutely everyone, no-one will ever agree, because no-one is on the same page, nor will they ever be.

Whilst we continue to live in the future, we will continue to live in pain.

Are you suggesting my expectations were too high? ie my perceived future hasn't eventuated so I'm disappointed?

I have no idea, as I don't know what your expectations were exactly. But it sounds feasible.

Excellent post Molesy,

for what it is worth - I'm much, much happier with this year than last. Look at last year - Walker wasn't a regular, Simpson wasn't a regular, Bentick wasn't a regular. Russell managed a whole two kicks. Setanta managed one kick. Blackwell didn't get a game. We didn't have Raso running around in the Bullants (he was with his school). We didn't have Edwards and Bower or Fint and Jackson for that matter.

When I look at this season I see some real positives. I see:

- a mature Fev
- a midfield gun in Murphy
- Walker, Simpson, and Bentick as full-time and valued members of the team
- Edwards, Bower, Flint and Jackson all (according to reports) coming along nicely
- Both O'Hailpins showing glimpses of something
- Teague, Chambers, De Luca, and Sporn all spending more time with the Bullants than with the seniors
- And two key position hulks in Kennedy and Hartlett on our list for the future

Last year was appalling. I don't care that we have less wins than last year. I want three picks in the top twenty - so am not fussed if the last two matches are lost. Picking up a Gibbs and four other quality players in the draft will more than compensate for our lowly position.

And this is the worst it is going to get. Have a look at Essendon*. They win games cause Hird and Fletcher and Lucas get them over the line. They are in la-la land. If we were winning games cause Kouta, Lappin, and French were getting us over the line then I'd be worried. Essendon* has still to hit rock bottom.

Give us the priority picks, give the kids a run, and you'll find things will start to look up. The worst is behind us.

No, thats an excellent post.

Until we start to 'formally' turn I guess I can always look at this:

http://www.blueseum.org/cfc/tiki-index. ... AFL%20Club

I reckon Molly has got it right. We have improved even if our ladder position doesn't reflect it. I'd expect another ordinary year next year. Who is going to slip below us. If we get three gun midfielders and a ruckmen then we will improve a lot quickly. Our main problem is we get flogged in the middle which puts shocking pressure on the defence (which is better than some would think).

Our major failures were drafting right through the Elliott years when we had the money to be real winners at it, and the 2000 draft when we finally got good oicks which we used badly in a poor draft. Fact is we got nothing when we could have got Daniel Kerr plus a couple of senior footballers. Everyone says drafting is hard, but having three first rounders and 6 all up and getting NO playesr is a disaster. We are 3 0r 4 years away from pushing towards the 8 and there is more pain to come, but I've enjoyed watching some development thios year. And for those who want to swap players for draft picks....you need to be mighty sure you are going to win out of that. Love to get picks for Stevo and Whit and use them on the new Livo or Sporn.

The pain I feel this year feels no different to 2002 2003 and 2005 . 2004 was slightly better .

I turned off after half time on Saturday and went to the park with the kids .

Carlton is playing in Sydney in a fortnight and it the first chance to see them play for a number of years I am debating on going and looking forward to the forum match more than actually going to the game .
( thats if we ever get a venue and time )

There has to be changes in the off season they cant keep going like this

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In all honesty, I feel worse this year than others, because I can see there are some improvements being made to the player group but no improvment on the park. I feel like the improvement we could be experiencing is being held-back by:

a) historical (under Pagan) disinterest in drafting young players
b) young players getting very poor chances at the highest level
c) seemingly poor coaching direction (ie, skills, set-ups etc)

Now I feel like we're ready to start improving, but we're being held back which makes me ANGRY

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Significant improvements in the young playing group combined with a poor win loss record is just about the best possible thing that could have happened.

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Jarusa said:


Spot on Jarusa. We get to dip back into the well of talent that is the draft at the same time as our current crop of youngsters are already taking steps forward.

Essendon* get to dip in, but the old blokes are the ones still carrying them. This means they may get an immediate improvement next year, but after that there is still a vacuum to fill.

At the beginning of the year most posters on this site sat around and nodded their heads sagely and declared that we would come last. They claimed this didn't bother them. Now that it has happened - it is almost as if the sky is falling in.

Embrace the draft people... upside is on its way

Fair comment...

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training partner."
- Conor Gillen

C'mon Sydney Blue! Join the crowd in demanding Denis' demise. There might be a surprise in the Ladies' Stand on Sunday September 3 if you look carefully...

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You not going to take your clothes off again are you Clem

I will be there but reluctantly and Hopefully it will be DP last game .
I was looking forward to Kouta's last but DP talked him in to staying

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

We haven't had any absolute shockers like the Rich game at the G last year…or the Melb game in 04...that's been a positive & a relief. The second half of the Coll game was awful but we were OK to half time.

Agree with Molly & those saying there's been a lot more to enjoy this year than last.

Bentick has been a regular. Has looked tired of late & was buggered in the last qtr on Sun, but how many senior preseasons are in his legs. Will be better next year & beyond.

Simpson - has completed 4 preseasons & it has shown this year.

Walker - knee trouble in his first summer so has completed 2 & a bit preseasons. Has had a terrific 06.

Blackwell & Russell despite both being recently dropped have been positives. Some of Russell's 2nd efforts & tackling in the Melb game were outstanding & I couldn't believe Paul Dimmatina & some other donkey on SEN last night suggesting we get rid of him…

Setanta - will be going beautifully when he's 25, 26.

Fev's turnaround in attitude & elite form.

Scottland's & Bannister have been good & it's nice to see a couple from the 2003 trades coming along.

Had a bit of bad luck on the injury front to Bower, Hartlett, Edwards, Kennedy & co & that's been the biggest bummer of the year for mine, but next year…

Fisher & Waite fully fit all season would have helped. I think the fwd line's looked congested at times since they returned but generally more potent. I would however like to see at least one of them tried in defence.

Improvements would exactly call them significant

_________________
If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

There was also that bloke in the number 1...

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Good to see none of us think St Kilda qualify as an AFL team.

3?

Yes true

Agree Molsey, we have had plenty of terrible defeats - our average of one in four being a losing marging of over 10 goals is pretty much in tact - other games should have been if not for the oppostion taking the foot off the pedal eg - Port Adelaide.

I just have to watch our terrible kicking into the forward line to see how far we have to go to get better.

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