The Bulleen Boomers will continue to improve and simply run all over any team that even tries to compete.

The Melbourne Tigers are building their roster very slowly although it seems they are considering some good talent and have plenty of $$ and points to throw around.

Definately too early to be making these calls. I'll admit, the sixers roster thus far doesn't exactly look spectacular but I think success in the NBL often comes down to chemistry, defense and good coaching more than talent. Look at Wollongong last year, on paper they were probably the weakest looking team talent wise but they were committed to defense and played for each other, and they ended up playing in the GF. New Zealand on the other hand probably had the best team on paper (other than Perth) last year but they failed to even make the finals, and in the second half of the year Melbourne had a very talented team but they struggled for consistant form. I think we should just wait and see what Clarke can get out of this team before we start condemning them to the wooden spoon.

I wish everyone would stop bringing up this Wollongong shit. One year an average team makes the final and everyone thinks we can assemble a poor roster and call ourselves the second coming of the Hawks. For starters they had a proven experienced good coach, and just by getting lesser talented players does not mean you will get smaller egos.

The Hawks were successful because of a group of core veterans who have been together a while, put egos aside and had a good run of fortune. We are lacking experience in our playing squad and especially in our head coach, and with the big egos of youth I think we too are destined to finish bottom unless we sign some earth shattering imports.

How many AFL supporters predicted back in December that Adelaide would be 0-4 and Fremantle 3-1 after the first four games? And in December the full squads were known, unlike the NBL where the 36ers still have 3 players to go including 2 imports.

Wait until a similar timeframe in the 2010 - 11 season and we will see if the recruiting or lack thereof decisions are correct or not. Love crystal ball gazers.

We did finish bottom last year. We shouldn't expect to be world beaters the next season - especially as the team is looking very familiar. I would be happy if the team showed up every week and played for each other. The most important thing to me is that the team improves along the journey. Last season there was no improvement. We were (injuries aside) probably a worse team at the end of the season than we were at the beginning. This is unacceptable and it cost the coach his job. You cannot even begin to rate Clarke's performance and ability at this level until his second or third season. Looking forward to next season.

The only way is up...baby

I too would like to think Clarke will bring far more to the table than Ninnis. Not Ninnis's fault, but he wasn't up to this league. Not as HC.

Signing's have been good without being spectacular, but team structure will be far different and structures will be something to look at have meaning.

Anything but bottom 2 will be an improvement for me.

You've also got to understand that the players selected so far also WANT to be coached by Marty Clarke.

The Sixers did well in the early years because the majority of players liked being coached by Phil Smythe.

As long as there isn't a back-to-back wooden spoon job, then it's satisfactory. I wouldn't underestimate Clarke's ability to get more out of the players; especially he does what most of us want, and that's run plays for the underused guys, like Ng and Hill.

If Hill can score 30+ away in NZ in a game off his own back; then I'm hoping to god that he can turn that into a constant. Hopefuly Ng becomes Maher Mk II under Clarke as well.

Personally, I'm sick of people who criticise people who criticise the team. Getting emotionally involved because you are worried about the look of your teams' squad doesn't make you a non-supporter, nor does it make you "retarded". Sure, I think the OP is overly-pessimistic (I agree with Ushiro that it's just too early to form any judgments), and fine to disagree with them, but they shouldn't be attacked just for having a rant. Being a "supporter" doesn't mean you have to check your opinions and brain in at the turnstile!

^ Btw, I'm mainly referring to anonymous posters.

Well I don't like it when people criticise people who are criticising people for criticising their team.

It just does my head in.






Come on people, let's wait until the team is signed, and the season has started.

Starks, why shouldn't we expect to be world beaters after a bad season? Is there somewhere in the rule book that says you have to give it time? I especially agree with Your Mum regarding Wollongong. Why use it as a comparison when there are so many differences. The main one being what the new coach will bring. I also agree that its too early to make doom and gloom predictions but the signs are already there that we should be wary.

i think wollongong will be the second coming of wollongong

Fairpoint for the alarm bells to start going off with the squad thus far, however if they can obtain exciting imports (pg and 3/4) and a decent backup guard (i suggest cadee will get the gig and a great team mix who knows what can happen. I think marty is definately up for challenge so far, lets wait and see how he goes. Looking at the squad right now, its going to be tough for him.

DB - Who are you to criticise? :p

Post all you want re: predictions, but you're basing assumpions on very few variables at this point. Last year's team was much better than last, and I dare say Marty will have them performing as a better overall unit.

EC, I would love the Sixers to be instantly the best team going around, but in most sports (where there is a salary cap) teams go through cycles. AFL teams have windows etc. Why should our league be any different. To go from last to first is being optimistic at best & naive at worst. I know the Dragons did it, but in the end it cost them the whole franchise. I would rather have a steady climb to the top rather than an unsustainable rocket ride that ends in death.

Would everyone's opinion of the 36ers roster change if their next signing was Ebi Ere....does that then make the 36ers contenders?

The current line up is as solid as most, with maybe Perth and Gold Coast having the edge, already signing an import.

Patience people....If I was to pick 3 players I would keep from last season it would've been Ballinger, Herbert and Ng.....they are all signed.

I still think it'll be a very close season again, win at home and the 50/50's on the road and you'll make the playoffs.

Your Mum, that core group of veterans? Do you mean two players (Saville and Campbell)? McKee is young, I was almost surprised Martin was even re-signed, Jackson's never really done heaps, Behrendorff was let go from NZ, Gruber was an import with the Spirit who many wanted replaced, Delaney is laughably undersized, Davidson was almost avoided post-Slingers and Tragardh got ditched by Townsville and Brisbane.

'We could be the next Wollongong' isn't the ultimate issue here, it's just one reason not to jump to conclusions. If Adelaide had signed their roster almost backwards, and three signings from the end were in this position:

Braswell/Bruce
-
Ere/Herbert
Ballinger/Holmes
Johnson

And had 17 points to spare, would there be quite as many tears? And funnily enough, that roster is still possible.

EC, what stops teams jumping from last to first? A salary cap and a points cap. A limited pool of local players. A limit on restricted players. The bulk of the best local players in the right price bracket (e.g., not in NBA or Europe) re-signing with their clubs prior to free agency. (Wortho to Europe, Goulding/Gibson/Petrie/Harvey staying with Blaze, Redhage/Wagstaff/etc with Cats, Bruton/Penney/Abercrombie/etc with Breakers and so on.)

The non-36er free agent signings off the top of my head, have been: Crawford, Knight, Vukona, Allen, Hoare, Garlepp, Rickert, Tragardh, Burston. Some good options, but given how many would expect to start, how many would Adelaide have wanted instead of say Ballinger or Johnson? (I wouldn't have rushed to sign any of them except Burston.)

Beginning to think there's a Tyler Smith robot out there that automatically finds opportunities to mention him in topics.

Great post anon. I don't follow the Lightning as closely as the 36ers, but it's a bit worrying to see good players move on. But, I did wonder if Breheny's remark about players "wanting" to play here (rather than just coming for money, I assume) had some basis in truth?

Regardless, you can't always fill a full roster with people who are there because they're dying to suit for Adelaide specifically. As long as the chemistry works, you do probably need a mix of those and mercenaries showing up for a starting spot or the salary increase.

(Good anon posts pain me - if you are worried about being identified, you can pick a random alias, not enter an email address, and no one will have any more of an idea as to who you are. I provide a randomised alias generator in the posting form for those that are stumped for a name - otherwise, pick a city name, planet, moon, animal, suburb and run with it.)

I don't think by writing off your team means you don't support your team...

A few years back when Lakers were terrible, I wrote them off (btw I been a Lakers since I was 2) because sometimes it's good to be realistic. I was just hoping to win a few games here and there really, and some Kobe spectaculars.

PS: I'm not saying Adelaide is going to be terrible (don't really follow them very closely)

Good that the Sixers went totally wild to such a large TV audience and Carla Barrago would do Lightning a lotta good, this summer.

for all the nostradumbass's predicting the sixers wooden spooning already i think we should make this thread a sticky and leave it at the top until the end of next season. Then we can reflect back on the performance of the team with these stupid posts to show how wrong they were

All I ask is we win the majority of home games and get the odd win on the road. Do that, and I am one happy camper. I think the topic discussion is something that no one wants however someone or some team has to be bottom and yeah, its us.