If everything goes right in 2026 we will be better than we were in 2025
If everything goes right in 2027 we will be better than we were in 2026
If everything goes right in 2028 hopefully we will be playing finals
I used to hate all those posters that said “success doesnt always happen in a straight line”. If we dont have season on seson improvement at some point…well, we end up where we are right now.
Just head over to the Robey thread. The answer will become exceedingly clear
Yes, that would be ideal from a draft perspective.
But the flip side is, if we have a good season next year underpinned by some storming development from our under 23s - that would be a very reassuring sign re the quality of the talent already on the list. And it would make us a more appealing prospect for trade/free agent acquisitions.
Would that not be worth a 5 pick slide in next year’s draft? (Which could be ameliorated by trading a Parish or someone, on top of Merrett)
we are still in 2025 so doesnt count.
If everything goes right we win the flag, because any loss means something went wrong.
17th with 5 wins if all goes well.
Top 4 and a flag
If course “everything” might be very extreme
I replied with what I thought was the only correct answer to this question. Then I read the thread. Where is the positivity. The AFL is full of crp teams.
Injury luck, in game luck, development (taking a leap!) etc. Next year is a whole new year. Come on!!
If everything goes right, we’ll win the wooden spoon and get access to the best talent in the draft.
Zac Reid and Nik Cox play plenty of football and go through uninjured.
Kako and Caddy get another 20 games.
All of the draftees get a taste of senior footy.
Tsatsas breaks into the senior side.
Edwards and McMahon keep on their upward development playing and kicking goals.
2MP returns back to the player he once was.
We find a genuine afl ruckmen to replace Draper.
Theres more but yeah that’s top of my mind.
Don’t know where the club will finish on the ladder.
But we have to have a footy club that stays fit and gets games into its players.
You haven’t even got a ticket to the game without that.
We didn’t have that this year.
Honestly, this is the way. Stock up again at the draft and cull another load of dead wood.
2026 should be about getting games into kids, and building for a Premiership in 2030.
Absolutely pointless attempting to make finals, when we need a lot more top end talent.
All goes right
Reid is the All Aus CHB, McKay all Aus FB, Roberts, Merrett, Calwell, Durham All Aus
Caddy and Kako both >40 goals, Langford >50 goals
Etc etc etc.
There’s heaps of individual upside that could happen. The biggest potential limitations are injury, and development ,coaching and gameplan that provides the environment for this upside to be realised.
It’s not realistic that we win the flag but there is absolutely an upside case that sees our team competing for top 4 if everything goes our way. (That includes Collingwood and Geelong falling off a cliff, which I am definitely not discounting). And once you’re there, you’re a chance.
Any club in the comp that has literally everything go right, that is no injuries and every player playing to their ability as a minimum or improving is going to challenge for the finals or finish higher, because it just doesn’t happen. And any club it did happen to would be at an enormous advantage.
That includes us, Gorth, WC, Tigers etc.
It does happen, and generally the team that has a year like that goes close to winning the flag/wins it. Provided it’s a good team.
Absolutely. It’s very rare that you see grand final teams with large injury lists. Whether it’s luck, good load management or a combination of the two any team needs the vast majority of their best 25 odd players on the park for most of the year to be a realistic chance at a flag. If we manage to have a very good run with injuries there’s no reason why we couldn’t push for finals. Our issue is that our lack of depth in our squad means that our ability to cover for any absent key players is very limited compared to stronger teams.
Would be epic to see say 3 or 4 rising star nominations.
Be great to then see a few of our boys really excel and nudge out Brisbanes Gun’s from the best 22 under 22 team.
Then I’d start getting excited that the dons are starting to build a club that can compete with the best in the comp.
A team with Merrett, McGrath, Fiorini, Wright, Durham, Redman and Duursma, fit and in form versions of Parish, Langford, Caldwell, Ridley, Bryan and Reid, continuing improvement from Roberts, Caddy, Kako, Clarke, Johnson and Visentini and meaningful contributionS from a couple of the draftees should be competitive, and, in my opinion, could push for finals….if they are well coached.
That’s the biggest concern for me. Sure, the list has issues and needs to be improved, but I’ve got zero faith in the coach. There is no evidence during his tenure at EFC that he’s good at his job. I’ll be amazed (and probably annoyed) if is still in the role beyond 2026.
No Martin will certainly hurt - he’s genuinely good - and I wonder if the club will be able to get anything meaningful out of Gresham, Perkins, McKay or Cox. All those guys are capable at times, but I’m hoping we won’t be seeing much of them at AFL level in ‘26.
Woo hoo! We make the finals
Take it to the lid off thread, chief.