Zerohangar says we will win 3 more games this season. Hmm. I think thats ambitious. Once North string more than 1 quarter together they will go past us. We must be bottom 4 and thats good. I am lid off for 2026.
I am excited for 2026 for the following reasons as every aspect of the team should improve
• Add another 4 “top 30” draftees to the squad
• Ruck will improve (Bryan/Draper/Vigo) better than Goldy
• Key forward depth (Caddy/May/Edwards/McMahon) may make Wright/Langford/Jones expendable
• Small Forwards depth (Kako/El Achkar/Sweid) may make Gresham/Guelfi/Davey/Perkins expendable
• Key backs injury free (fingers crossed) (Reid/Ridley/McKay/Hayes/Blakiston/Redman) will make Laverde expendable
• Running backs / wingman improving (Johnson/Clarke/Roberts) may add further to this in draft?
• Midfield kept on park (Merrett/Durham/Caldwell/Parish) Setterfield should be expendable
• Team synergy to improve with another full preseason together I’m not sure if we have had the same 23 named more than once this year, add to that 4 mid season picks
• Game plan needs to be adjusted by the players we have on our list, completely different to what we had at round 1
• I still think 2028 is the year that we win a final but next year would love to see another 3-4 players emerge as like we’ve seen this year
• A lot of positives going into the new year that we didn’t know about at the start of this year
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It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the current injury crisis and allow it to pervade any positive outlook, but as you have clearly articulated, there can be progress made and I’m especially looking forward to another draft outcome without any link to Dods.
And l think we get more impetus with a refresh of the coaching panel- definitely in the pipeline.
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I’m excited about the 2026 draft picks we will get.
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this is such a critical thing we need to get right
We have realllllllly struggled to get consistent and effective understanding between the different parts of the side in our ball movement
i know this is lid off thread, so yeah, let’s assume pennies will drop, attitudes and skills improve, and footy IQ goes up with the players we have in 2026
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I’m excited to know we won’t be playing in September in 2026 so I can enjoy a trip to Europe without FOMO.
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Hopefully there is a Dustin Martin or Botempli
GWS will make at least two changes for Thursday’s contest with Essendon, with veterans Jesse Hogan & Josh Kelly.
We’rea sneaky chance this weekend. Some great value on the punt.
Finals still mathematically possible right?
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HEY DONS FANS WOULD U LIKE A PUNT?
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How about them mighty Bombers hey! What a well run, successful, proud football club we support 
I was very lid off about Hogan for 6+ in a multi but it seems I can’t even have that.
Still, lid off about enjoying the weekend.
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I needed a bit of a silver lining moment this morning, so I listed a potential best 22 for next year and honestly it’s not bad, not great but not bad. I do think this is a year we had to have in many ways, almost a reset button hit with the hope of escaping the mid-low range black hole. Plus, we have unearthed a couple of beauties this year that would not have got an opportunity otherwise. Couple this with a strong draft hand and it’s not hard to imagine a form jump. This all might be blind hope and I know all this has been said before but rightly or wrongly I will follow this club and I would rather choose a glass half full approach.
B: Hayes Reid Mcgrath
HB: Ridley Mckay Johnson
C: Martin Merret Roberts
HF: Sweid Wright Clarke
FF: Kako Caddy El Achkar
Foll: Draper Caldwell Durham
INT: Redman Parish Langford Bryan
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Duursma in for one of the new kids maybe?
absolutely, my bad
That side could potentially see Essendon rise to about 14th
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You’ve obviously mistaken this for one of the 15000 Lid On threads.
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14th next year is VERY lid off.
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Decent side. I’d probably have taken out one of Hayes and McKay for defensive balance, and the forward line is pretty questionable to me with all 3 of Kako, Sweid and El Ackhar.
I have no doubt that we can put together a really good side next year with fitness and guys like May getting a pre season working with the rest of the forwards, but at this point I am not sure what the actual players are.
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It’s a bog average team.
Probably good enough to finish 12th
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Very fair. Hoping to get more pace around the ball which was part of my thinking but yes unsure how it will all shake out in the next few months.
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