Re: Finals a realistic aim for Western Bulldogs, says Tom Liberatore
Originally Posted by
jeemak
You obviously had higher hopes for Hunter, Wallis (top ten finish in the B&F in 2014 - not a bad outcome), Hrovat and JJ than I did. As for Roughy, I'm not sure how much further he could be developed as a key defender than what we've seen to this point.
With Jong, Redpath, Campbell and Cordy I think they need to be measured against where they were when they joined us. All but the latter were rated as long shots to be senior listed players when McCartney joined the club, while it was only last year that Cordy put together consistent football for the first time in the VFL.
This year it will be interesting to see how all of these players perform this year. If they put in very good performances it's unlikely the work put into them during McCartney's time at the club will receive any of the credit for it.
No one is really left at the club in a coaching sense, so I agree no one will send credit their/his way. If it was a case he had to sacrifice his career to force the necessary change then I guess he's a martyr to the cause. That's a big if.
But the Macrae media debacle, the rumours of Stringer and Gordon talking and Libba telling the media the new coach has a new/better way of communicating with young players... Im not betting anyone will be sending praise Maccas way. If there is advancement, I'm sure the narrative will be the improvement was/is because of the change.
Tough gig is AFL coaching.
Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023