What are you looking forward to in 2020...?

[frickenel]

I look forward to seeing the growing influence of Indigenous players in our side.

We've gone from constant strike outs with the indigenous boys to quite probably seeing Rioli, Stack, Pickett, Edwards, Egg amd Bolton all in the one team. Who knows, we may even recruit another couple this summer.

If one thing never changes, it's the Indigenous footballers knowledge of the whte man's sweet tooth. They've been selling us candy for over 100 years, and we just keep buying it.

Marlion Pickett had Lachie Whitfield thinking he was buying the whole damned candy shop. He went "YUM YUM" reached out and when he opened his eyes, Marlion was gone and he was looking at his empty palms going "I think i got f&*ked on that deal!"

Marlion might have to wear one of those waist coats next year. Next time we play GWS, he could find Lachie, spread it open and say "Do you want to buy some"?

My bet is Lachie will be nodding incessantly saying "YEA YEA YEA"!!!

We just never learn!

 

[Baloo]

Round 1

 

[TOT70]

I really think our defence in 2020 is going to go to another level entirely and I am looking forward to seeing how this pans out.



When Rance went down, it forced others to step up primarily to be the interceptor. It is a key characteristic of our defence, and a number of our guys have now developed their ability to play that role. So teams can plan to try and take Rance out of that role, but others should seamlessly step in. It is the stuff of nightmares for opposition coaches, because interceptors rely on their ability to read the play and are comfortable leaving their man. So you have a plan to take out one by making them more accountable, and another just steps up.



Furthermore, in Rance's absence virtually every defender on the list looks to have developed their game, while a number of other players further up the ground have improved their defensive game:

• Soldo is one who now regularly drops back and takes intercept marks like Nank has been doing. Was superb in the GF
• Grimes took his intercepting to another level as well, becoming much less of a shutdown man on man defender than we had seen previously.
• Prestia's defensive work this season was out of sight, and you see the game of Pickett in the GF and his form in the VFL which suggests he is no defensive slouch either.
• Then you have Floss who has got to be one of the best contested marks for his size in a long time, and Houli who has a knack of getting in the right place at the right time.

Given Dimma's belief in coaching players to take responsibility themselves rather than relying on the coaching staff for instruction, we now have a defence that looks as fluid as I can recall, that is players who can make the call themselves and change their role to suit the team based on what they are seeing on the ground.

Throw the ball use and hardness of Stack into that mix and with Rance coming in and it looks downright scary.

Yeah, I agree. The best thing about this year was the way that all our defenders stepped up. By the end of the season, he was not needed, which is amazing just in itself.

It will be interesting to see how they manage the return of Rance next year. Will he just go straight back to being the main man straightaway? Will Grimes retain the role for a few weeks whilst Rance finds his feet again? Will they go back to the Rance/Grimes/Astbury/Broad/Vlastuin/Houli structure of 2017-18? Will they stick with the smaller defensive structure of 2019, where the roles were redefined and Rance was ultimately replaced by the much smaller Baker? There are lots of questions? How do they fit Short and/or Stack in the backline?

The structure of our team has changed significantly in Rance’s absence. We were playing with one ruckman and one key forward and four tall defenders. Now we play with two ruckmen, two key forwards and three tall defenders.

Of course, Rance, Grimes, Vlastuin and Broad can all play on anyone. That helps.

More headaches for opposition coaches, I reckon!

 

[lamb22]

18 wins in 2017, 19 in 2018 and 19 in 2019.

I'd like to see 20 plus wins plus the flag.

I think the team that has finished first has only won one or twice in the last decade. I think if we achieve that then this team can comfortably sit amongst some of the greats.

Now the journey makes you stronger and losses and adversity can build character and resilience, so our success is not unrelated to the disappointments of 2013 - 2016.

Nevertheless it would have been interesting to see what sort of a dynasty this group might have achieved if 'play to your strengths' was the message from 2014 rather than 2017.

 

[year of the tiger]

25 straight wins in a row for 2020.

i think we can do it

 

[Razorgang2]

25 straight wins in a row for 2020.

i think we can do it

Never happened before, and unlikly to in the future. Were you serious?

 

[year of the tiger]

Not really but we can’t let the past influence what can be done in the future. Might as well be the first as someone will be.

 

[TigerMasochist]

Not really but we can’t let the past influence what can be done in the future. Might as well be the first as someone will be.

On top of our already twelve in a row to win this years flag? I don't think so. 37 wins n two flags on the trot might be stretching the exuberance just a tad too far. I'll be mighty comfortable if we drop a few during the season n rampage home through the finals as in 17 and 19.
Mighty happy to see all the media pundits n oppo hovering around dreaming of our imminent collapse during the year, only to wake up n confront their worst nightmare thundering down upon them again at finals time.

 

[TrialByVideo]

Decided to rewatch our win v port over there which is always fun when you know the end result
Even Kalamity Kmac brings a smile to proceedings!

Looking forward to Bolton growing in confidence and more midfield time. Did some beautiful moves in this match. Jack Ross and hopefully Higgo finding spots and what Tom Lynch is going to be with an injury free preseason under his belt.
So many great scenarios we get to look forward to!

 

[TigerPort]

Yeah, I agree. The best thing about this year was the way that all our defenders stepped up. By the end of the season, he was not needed, which is amazing just in itself.

It will be interesting to see how they manage the return of Rance next year. Will he just go straight back to being the main man straightaway? Will Grimes retain the role for a few weeks whilst Rance finds his feet again? Will they go back to the Rance/Grimes/Astbury/Broad/Vlastuin/Houli structure of 2017-18? Will they stick with the smaller defensive structure of 2019, where the roles were redefined and Rance was ultimately replaced by the much smaller Baker? There are lots of questions? How do they fit Short and/or Stack in the backline?

The structure of our team has changed significantly in Rance’s absence. We were playing with one ruckman and one key forward and four tall defenders. Now we play with two ruckmen, two key forwards and three tall defenders.

Of course, Rance, Grimes, Vlastuin and Broad can all play on anyone. That helps.

More headaches for opposition coaches, I reckon!

Are you saying Rance coming in might upset the proverbial apple cart???

 

[TOT70]

Are you saying Rance coming in might upset the proverbial apple cart???

Not at all. It will just be different, that’s all. More options will make our backline better.

The apple cart will be fine. Just like it was this year.

 

[craig]

Lynch, Stack, , Rance and Pickett with full pre seasons fit and firing.

Ross, CCJ, Balta and RCD with another pre season into them.

Some new quality kids joining the Tiger family.

2017-18 defence reunited.

Jack and Tommy in tandem all year.

 

[TigerPort]

Lynch, Stack, , Rance and Pickett with full pre seasons fit and firing.

Ross, CCJ, Balta and RCD with another pre season into them.

Some new quality kids joining the Tiger family.

2017-18 defence reunited.

Jack and Tommy in tandem all year.

2020 will be a special year. Really cant wait

 

[TrialByVideo]

Been watching a replay of us v Brisbane and I'm really looking foward to Fly getting hold of George and turning him into a star.... fair dinkum, if he can sort out his decision making he could be anything!
My thinking is that Craig McRae played around his position in a very successful team and he'll be able to guide him to where he needs to get.
First to admit I spend half my time at the footy shaking me head and mumbling. ... ****'n George!

 

[frickenel]

25 straight wins in a row for 2020.

i think we can do it

In reality we already have a string of 12 wins.

If we can reach the bye undefeated we'd be on or over Geelong's record of 23 at a guess (1952 - 53)

Having said that, i'd prefer another premiership than that record as would the club, so i'd guess we'd hold our preparation back as we did last season and be vulnerable early on in the piece.

 

[TigerFlag2017]

I am looking forward to reading Konrad Marshall's third premiership book.

 

[TigerMasochist]

I am looking forward to reading Konrad Marshall's third premiership book.

Poor bastard might get writers cramp or rsi if he's gotta go back to back. Even worse he might run out of superlatives n nice *smile* to say about us.

 

[Quickdraw]

Been watching a replay of us v Brisbane and I'm really looking foward to Fly getting hold of George and turning him into a star.... fair dinkum, if he can sort out his decision making he could be anything!
My thinking is that Craig McRae played around his position in a very successful team and he'll be able to guide him to where he needs to get.
First to admit I spend half my time at the footy shaking me head and mumbling. ... ****'n George!

Many of us have a love/hate thing going with George, but on balance it's more love.

I tend to think that some of his issues are between the ears, not necessarily skill issues. We've seen him have periods of good goal kicking, both set shots and snaps, then he seems to have a drop off.

If Fly can help out that's great. I'm still lovin' Kaptn' Kaos and what he brings.

 

[TigerMasochist]

Many of us have a love/hate thing going with George, but on balance it's more love.

I tend to think that some of his issues are between the ears, not necessarily skill issues. We've seen him have periods of good goal kicking, both set shots and snaps, then he seems to have a drop off.

If Fly can help out that's great. I'm still lovin' Kaptn' Kaos and what he brings.

Mini me version of the great Cho man. Just about anything can happen n usually does when either of them get near the ball. Complete heart in mouth n peeping from behind the fingers stuff for the fans.

 

[waiting]

Mini me version of the great Cho man. Just about anything can happen n usually does when either of them get near the ball. Complete heart in mouth n peeping from behind the fingers stuff for the fans.

Best anology there TM.