Are we the best team outside the 8?

[The_General]

I can handle us going in with three draft picks, unless we trade for some in the 50 and higher (hopefully top 20) bracket. That will all be based on us signing a decent player (getting less likely) or trading for someone decent.

Anything other than that, and I think we need to change 5 on the senior list, and most of our rookies (if not all).

 

[jb03]

the richmond way is to get ahead of ourselves. all signs point to us going into this draft with 3 picks. let's wait and see.

Yep, 3 picks with Miller and Hislop also staying on.

 

[Danog]

Yep, 3 picks with Miller and Hislop also staying on.

Can see Miller staying for 1 more year on rookie list, and wouldn't mind that for insurance. Delist Hicks, Westhoff and Hislop for rookie spots. Would be spewing if any of those 3 stayed.

 

[Harry]

Yep, 3 picks with Miller and Hislop also staying on.

yeah, unfortunately this will happen.

 

[martyshire]

we are the most promising team in the middle six. will that keep you hungry...?

 

[Backbone]

Given that we have the third worse points against tally, it's on track to being worse than last year's, and it's about 600 points worse than most of the teams in the 8. I says to me that we have no right of even talking about beng the best of a mediocre bunch, we've got some serious work to do on our defence, and we have to improve a lot.

 

[gustiger12]

This is a fluid situation. If you'd have asked me 5 weeks ago you'd have to give a resounding No, but if we win tomorrow, you'd go close to getting a yes, but the proviso would be "at the moment" as I think the title of the best team has changed hands a few times over the last few months with team going through purple periods, which just highlights how close the teams in the upper part of the bottom 8 are. Anyone can beat anyone in that bracket on their day.

 

[martyshire]

It depends. Which 'we' do you mean?

 

[Rantnrave]

best team outside the *???? WHY WERE THE BEST TEAM IN THE WHOLE WORLD

 

[gustiger12]

best team outside the *???? WHY WERE THE BEST TEAM IN THE WHOLE WORLD

This :clap

 

[ROLLS ROYCE]

No we aren't but will still manage ti finish ninth

 

[Scoop]

Firstly, who cares?

Secondly, probably not.

My gutfeel is that of our few wins, we mostly won against teams below us or on downers.
Some may say that maybe we caused the downers or that's a part of football, I have no answer to that.

Percentage, to me, is the key indicator of where we truly stand. If we'd finished outside the 8 with > 100%, I might have gone along with your notion.
However, at 86%, with both North & the Bullies with higher %ages, I would have to say no.

My thoughts won't change even if we beat North tomorrow. That is, unless we win by so much that our %age increases over 100%. But, I don't think that will happen.

For next season, the KPI that I'd be chasing would be a %age over over 100%.
That is, that we score more than our opposition scores against us.
If we can do that, week by week, I think the wins will look after themselves.
But, of course that's stating the obvious.

Great post.

 

[Juffaricho]

No. But we have the best Top 5 young players of any team outside the 8. And easily to in my opinon.
Which is why when they are surrounded by the right depth players in 2 or 3 years we will not just improve to a Top 8 team but will go to a Top 4 team quickly, unlike Essendon.

 

[gustiger12]

Its official. No

 

[Tigerfan]

12th is probably an honest assessment of us

we are bottom 3 for points against

if we had beaten Essendon in the return bout (we were all over them during the third) and won our two sold home games against the bottom 2 teams.....

we'd be playing carlton next week in an elimination final.

 

[tigs2010]

12th is probably an honest assessment of us

we are bottom 3 for points against

if we had beaten Essendon in the return bout (we were all over them during the third) and won our two sold home games against the bottom 2 teams.....

we'd be playing carlton next week in an elimination final.

Yep 12th is fairly accurate finish to the year. We were too inconsistent for any higher. Also 9th meant we would need to make finals next year or the pressure would be on. Now 11th or higher is an improvement.

 

[Scribblar]

As 'Phantom' said...'who cares?"

You don't play Finals for finishing as the "best team outside the 8". :

 

[Tigerfan]

I am struggling to think of a club in the AFL who will suffer LESS through the natural aging process and retirements than the Tigers. Take out Newman, who is arguably very replaceable, and our oldest core player is probably Delidio at 24.

This is so true.

Tuck
Newman
Miller
Moore
King
Foley
Jackson
Thursfield
Deledio
McGuane
White
Morton
Nahas
Derrickx

There are between 3 to 6 players that could truly be classed as future assets.

The fact is, our real quality is quite young and still needs the support of olders guys.
Therefore expect older players who don't set much of an example, despite their talent, to be packing bags.
Maybe attitude will save a guy with ??'s over his ability.

 

[Juffaricho]

This is so true.

Tuck
Newman
Miller
Moore
King
Foley
Jackson
Thursfield
Deledio
McGuane
White
Morton
Nahas
Derrickx

There are between 3 to 6 players that could truly be classed as future assets.

The fact is, our real quality is quite young and still needs the support of olders guys.
Therefore expect older players who don't set much of an example, despite their talent, to be packing bags.
Maybe attitude will save a guy with ??'s over his ability.

Correct, I have been saying this for the last 12 months. We are stacked with elite young talent and primed for consistent process. Now it is about depth building and if we're lucky, finding a couple more gems. Consistent final 8 will be easy for us in a couple of years. I believe top 4 insistency is almost a given if the guns stay injury free. But if Grifiiths turns out to be the player I think he can be, Astbury or Post simply become solid and we find a ruck man or we just steal one when the time is right we are serious, serious cotters because of the match winning capabiities of the young guns we have.

 

[tigertigertigertiger]

North is the best team outside the 8,

But not by much.....