Like Eating Glass

Have I explained just how much I fear the upcoming season? No really, I'm not looking forward to it in the slightest because with the team we've got nothing less than a deep, deep run into the finals will suffice. If we had a gun full-back and Neitz was two years younger I'd hold out some hope that we could win the whole thing.

We can't of course. For all his heroics last season there's no way that Russell Robertson is going to kick another 73 goals, Neitz has pretty much lost the plot and will be extremely fortunate to put 50 on the board and other than a few cameo performances here and there that's our forward line gone. As previously discussed I've got a fetish for Sylvia at FF, but I can't see it happening anytime soon. I wouldn't mind seeing some pre-season "Who gives a rats about this trophy anyway?" experimentation with Miller up front either and Holland at CHF. Everyone knows that Holland can't kick a goal from inside 30 metres but he can take a grab so it would be worth a try. Better than the usual tactic of throwing Green to FF and watching him flail about with absolutely no comprehension of how to play the position. It's a make or break year for Brad. I like him as a player but unless he can provide something more than occasionally showing up and being able to kick straight then we may as well try and flog him to a team with more money than brains for a high draft pick.

It promises to be a big year for,

* Daniel Bell - If he doesn't get injured every five minutes.
* Nathan Carroll - Encouraging late season form could see him make the FB position his own. Wrecked Matthew Lloyd in R22.
* Travis Johnstone - Surely. This is the year. Get your Brownlow on.
* Brock McLean - Firmly cemented himself as a starting player. Not a bad outside bet for the B&F
* Brent Moloney - Loved his work last season. More of the same please.

On the other hand,

* Clint Bizzell - I'm not suggesting we give him the arse but improvements are required.
* Nathan Brown - Pretty much necked after this year.
* Simon Godfrey - Trains to Sandringham depart from Platform 10
* Ben Holland - Is going to have another up and down year if they continue to play him as a spare parts forward. Is likely to miss some sitter goals from within 10m
* James McDonald - Not past it yet, but rapidly approaching. Can expect to sit on the bench a lot more this year.
* Alastair Nicholson - Daniher loves him so I wouldn't expect him to cop a bullet anytime soon but he's frustratingly inconsistent. Wheel him out to do the yearly hack job on Matthew Richardson and then pack him away.
* Shannon Motlop - Handy at times last year, but even he'd know that he's there for a good time not a long time. Performances whilst wearing #53 during that epic victory in Geelong will live in our memory. For a while at least.
* Demonblog's Own Phil Read - If he gets delisted I'm going to burn my membership. We love you Philthy.
* Nick Smith - I remember you.
* Adem Yze - If you still care give us a sign.

Pff... Roll on the pre-season comp and final confirmation that there's absolutely no surprises in store for us and that they've finally accepted mediocrity.