Memories are all well and good, otherwise we'd never look fondly on the win against the Dees, plus we wouldn't remember where we lived either. But we need some new ones this year. Here are a few of the things I do and don't want to see this season.

Croad to increase his contested marks stat (from somewhere slightly north of Zero %), by being moved to half forward and running into the goals, instead of away from them.

Bell, Cook, Headland, Farmer, Croad and Pavlich display one of the most punishing midfield / half forward combinations in the comp.

Medhurst, Longmuir, Waterhouse and Pavlich display one of the most punishing forward lines in the comp.

Fumbling around the stoppages late in the game is where we turn the ball over too easily. There was some impressive, sharp disposals during the Wiz derby, which fell away as the game progressed.

Confidence. Travel? rubbish - we've been getting on planes more often than the rest for seven years. We lost the winnable ones because confidence dropped - skills and decision making went with it.

Macca to hold onto more tackles and get a better return for his hard running.

None of the following from CC -
"We need more A grade players in this group."
This is AFL, if we ain't got em now, what we paying for?
"We're still 5 years away from the finals."
It seems we always have been.
"We need to lift our skill level."
If I hear this, after a pre-season focussed on this very thing - I will not be responsible for the vitriol directed to the FFC website.

Defenders stop giving away gift goals kicking out of the square.

The Wiz to fire up more consistently. Ok, so he's a streaky player, but if a Headland/Croad/Bell/Farmer combo can't do it - what will?

Last season was a Jekyll & Hyde thing. There's more depth this year. This could be the one where more teams become very, very worried about the prospect of a fixure with the Dockers.

Go Dockers. Punish them. Punish then all.

Hear Hear, Travel Schmavel - We won games away from home in previous years and we will this season. Forget the hoodoo rubish and get on with winning!!

The boys just have to stop listening to the idiots in the media. If we dont win away within the first 5 rounds the knives will come out again and thats when our guys lose their nerve. They just have to rise above this and focus on the job at hand.

I wouldnt expect them to win too many games away from home but 3 to 4 including the Dirty birds home derby would be excellent.

The only thing I want to see this year is Fremantle somewhere in the top eight at the end of round 22 and I figure we need to win only 3 interstate games, as a minimum, to do this assuming the following.

1.We win 9 of 12 at Subi.

2.Of the 10 interstate games, I'd suggest we'd be long shots to beat either of the two SA teams and Collingwood. However the Bulldogs, Hawks & Kangaroos are definately games IMO we can/should win. The others (Richmond, Melb, Sydney & Essendon) are probably 50/50 at best.

Ovbviously if we do any better then it's a bonus and the further up the ladder we go.



[Edited by Gupta on 06-Mar-03 14:39]

I agree Nurries, they have let things put the mockers on them. Look, the draw is important to how well they do also. For the second year in a row, we only play Port and Bris once, and Bris is a home game.

I know it's a tough call, but, if we beat Adelaide away, it will lift confidence no end.

But rounds 2-6 have 4 home games, with a trifecta rounds 4-6. I reckon that could be a make or break thing for the season. Win those and the next games we get are Doggies, Saints and Dees - totally winnable coming off three in a row (I know, I might be daring to dream).

That home trifecta could really set us up. Not just the points, obviously, but it's a huge opportunity to prove to themselves what they are capable of. What let them down last year was attitude - whatever the bad influence was, it was there. They believed they could win at home and it was hard work for anyone to take points from subi. With what they've got this year, if they get the attitude right - they are capable of being a very dangerous team.

Given we don't get plagued with injuries anything less than a spot in the eight this year would be a disappointment, don't worry about where we finished last year on the ladder, this squad leaves no excuses. All the previous posts were spot on. Especially the CC excuses, lets hope we don't hear any of that list the drubber mentioned.

What i want to see:

1. 2 Derby victories.
2. At least a 12-10 record.
3. Finals action if point 2 was good enough to enable it.
4. Multiple all Australians (Des? Pav? Hasel? Belly? Simmo even?)
5. Rising star nomination (Schamm?)
6. A loss of less than a mil.
7. Clive to show some form.
8. Trent to read the play a bit.
9. The AFL/Media to get things correct regarding the club.
10. Crowds greater than 30k for every home game.

A couple of posts have mentioned poor treatment by the media but in reality what in our history have we done to deserve much different. I know there are specific occasions when they get it wrong but the reality is that the respect we want has got to be earned out there - such as winning away games and those posts are spot on - there is no reason why we can't and we have done it before. Good teams will do it and great teams do it more frequently.
I reckon 12-10, 13-11 has got to be the target because we don't have a hard draw and we have the 3 games straight at home which because of the away derby we don't end up travelling 3 weeks on a row either.
Bottom 4 of the top 8 is a minimum. I'd rather fail trying for that than just trying to win more games than last year.

I want to see Mathew Carr turn his tagging into an offensive weapon, I want to see James Walker deliver his god given talent to Freo this year, I want to see Freo membership nudging 28,000, I want to see Trent Croad play at Centre half Back, I dont want Anthony Jones to get injured, I want to see Clive again, I want to see Mathew Pavlich at Centre half forward, I want to see Paul Hassleby win a Brownlow, I want to see Justin Longmuir at Full Forward Uninjured, I want to see his brother on a half forward flank, I want to see Dezzzzzzie Bombing them home from outside 50, I want to see Belly and Simmonds down back helping the backline, I want to see Dion Woods run like a greyhound, I want to see Koopsy 12 feet in the sky, I want to see 60 goals from the wizard, I want Browne and Haines to show everyone how good they really are, I want RESPECT from VICTORIA,But what I really would like to see is Macca holding up a premiership cup!!!!


Sorry I got a bit carried away!!!! I dont want much do !!!

Agree with your sentiments Cuz, but I would expect Belly and Parker nudging Macca aside so they can hold the cup aloft first, although a picture of Macca and Parker (Mr Emotional) celebrating would be golden.

[Edited by jimb on 07-Mar-03 14:50]

I want to see Jeff Farmer earn his pay. The amount of times I have stood up for the wiz is greta, but god damn wizza, help me out.
I want to see Croady prove he deserves the Afl goal kicking comp.
I want to see Jimmy Walker Texas Ranger, run up the wing like the rugby player he was born to be.
I want to see less knee and shoulder injuries.
I want to see Pavo get a nose job.
I want to see Docker Des bury slap-o-vich with a right hook.
I want to see Docker Des beat the tribunal over accidentaly knocking Slap-o-vich in a contest.
I want to see croady take a mark on his chest instead of on his chin.
I want to see the mark fo the year in person (keep at it Koopsy).
But Most of all,
I want to see Freo Finals Football,
and If I don't, there are a few other F words that will be muttered.