This thread is only for all the blind optimist rose coloured Saints tragics like me.
Pessimists need not reply.
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
I am optimistic on field because.
1) Ross Lyon has had a full season at the helm and has begun to tailor the team to his own coaching advantage
2) We traded beautifully. Schneider and King were excellent pickups with Dempster and C.Gardiner as bonuses.
Four premiership players (Gardiner won a VFL premiership this season) for pick #26 was a really excellent result. If only one works out (just say only Schneider for example) we at worst break even. If we have three out of the four work out or even have all four as contributers we are miles ahead.
3) We drafted well. McEvoy and Stevens seem likely types while Connors is a speculator and worth a shot.
Frasier Gehrig redrafted at 57 is worth the risk on field, but is worth so much more to the club from an emotional and morale sense, and is doing it for cheap.
All good.
3a) Fitness of M.Gardiner and selection of S.King. With the workman Rix, we now have a very good ruck division. This gives us so much more flexibility with Kosi up forward and Blake (yes the much maligned Blake) being used to best advantage in other areas
3b) General fitness. No real LTI except for Goose, with Ball coming off an op and Gardiner's feet finally seeming to be OK.
Raph and X are having a preseason for the first time in years. Same with Kosi, bj up and running and Lenny a year back from the ACL.
4) the coaching and fitness dept has been improved. Still reckon Barker and SoS will improve in their roles. Also the Saints/Scorpians relationship will impove the Saints development more than before.
Getting Misson (spelling?) from Sydney is a coup. Worked wonders at Sydney and lets hope he can finally get the injury curse off our backs.
5) Drain and Football Manager - very well respected in the AFl and will do a better job than Kenny.
Offield.
6) The new board. Regardless of the acrominy earlier on, I am on side with the new board. The above results have been influenced somewhat by the boards approach, and the way they have moved to get us a state of the art training facility has been first class.
Lets hope the announcement of the sponorship coming up is very good.
7) No public brawling between the President and ex coach. Regardless of which side of the fence you sat on, it was tiresome and not what the club needed. Both are gone and it is time to get onboard for the good of a united club.
So there you have it - rose coloured glasses firmly planted on my nose and am peering off into season 2008.
Like all good one eyed supporters I have the optimism of the off season to point toward a great 2008.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Thanks for the indulgence.
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)