James Fantasia

[Maddog37]

Did we need any more slow accumulating mids though?

[Sedat]

So just to clarify where things stand at the moment, media reports suggest that the club has not even started negotiations with any of Boyd, Cross and Gia. Meanwhile Callan Ward remains very much unsigned. I wonder if Fantasia has taken a hardball approach with our veterans, and whether or not this might have been noted by our young midfield gun as a portent of things to come later in his career if he signs with us?

Last year we lost Harbrow with about as much resistance as a dandelion in a hurricane, and the year before we made the Lake contract negotiations look about as painful and protracted as the Thrilla in Manilla. Poor signs abound for the 3rd consecutive year - when will the club reach its tipping point with our head of football ops?

With Rocket now gone, Fantasia absolutely needs to be kept on notice while critical decisions on our list are being played out with him firmly in charge of that particular ship. Dogs supporters need to make sure that Smorgon and Garlick are keeping a foot on Fantasia's head. If it is good enough for our senior coach to be held accountable to his results, the same accountability sure as hell needs to apply to our head of footy operations, and his particular scoreboard makes for some tragic reading thus far.

[Swoop]

So just to clarify where things stand at the moment, media reports suggest that the club has not even started negotiations with any of Boyd, Cross and Gia. Meanwhile Callan Ward remains very much unsigned. I wonder if Fantasia has taken a hardball approach with our veterans, and whether or not this might have been noted by our young midfield gun as a portent of things to come later in his career if he signs with us?

Last year we lost Harbrow with about as much resistance as a dandelion in a hurricane, and the year before we made the Lake contract negotiations look about as painful and protracted as the Thrilla in Manilla. Poor signs abound for the 3rd consecutive year - when will the club reach its tipping point with our head of football ops?

With Rocket now gone, Fantasia absolutely needs to be kept on notice while critical decisions on our list are being played out with him firmly in charge of that particular ship. Dogs supporters need to make sure that Smorgon and Garlick are keeping a foot on Fantasia's head. If it is good enough for our senior coach to be held accountable to his results, the same accountability sure as hell needs to apply to our head of footy operations, and his particular scoreboard makes for some tragic reading thus far.

Perhaps they were all unsigned depending on the Callan Ward decision and everything else was put aside depending no his decision?

[Mofra]

I agree with Sedat - we've heard nothing from Fanmtasia, he's invisible in the media (we see more of Peter Rhode FFS!), and all we have is a litany of screw ups and "incidents" to judge him by.

Even if he is doing good work behind the scenes (jury still strongly out) his communication to members is deplorable.

[Sockeye Salmon]

I agree with Sedat - we've heard nothing from Fanmtasia, he's invisible in the media (we see more of Peter Rhode FFS!), and all we have is a litany of screw ups and "incidents" to judge him by.

Even if he is doing good work behind the scenes (jury still strongly out) his communication to members is deplorable.

Just in case someone has missed them:

Contracts

• Dragged out the Brian Lake saga and cost us more than we needed to pay
• Lost Jarrod Harbrow (Scott Clayton admitted had we been more diligent he wouldn't have got a look in)
• Gave GWS a look in with Cal Ward by offering him unders to start with

Trading

• Gave Geelong a draft pick for Djerrkura that Geelong didn't even use (hello Paul Puopolo)
• Insisted on Veszpremi and a 'draft pick' for the better performed Everitt then accepted pick 93.
• Not trading Josh Hill for picks 37 & 60

List Management

• Gave Nathan Djerrkura 3 years when no-one else wanted him.
• Upgraded James Mulligan and Andrew Hooper when both could have been retained on the rookie list another year.
• Veteran listed both Lindsay Gilbee and Ryan Hargrave to 2 year deals knowing that Brian Lake and Robert Murphy were one year away from being eligible and were on much bigger money

[Ozza]

Just in case someone has missed them:

Contracts

• Dragged out the Brian Lake saga and cost us more than we needed to pay
• Lost Jarrod Harbrow (Scott Clayton admitted had we been more diligent he wouldn't have got a look in)
• Gave GWS a look in with Cal Ward by offering him unders to start with

Trading

• Gave Geelong a draft pick for Djerrkura that Geelong didn't even use (hello Paul Puopolo)
• Insisted on Veszpremi and a 'draft pick' for the better performed Everitt then accepted pick 93.

List Management

• Gave Nathan Djerrkura 3 years when no-one else wanted him.
• Upgraded James Mulligan and Andrew Hooper when both could have been retained on the rookie list another year.
• Veteran listed both Lindsay Gilbee and Ryan Hargrave to 2 year deals knowing that Brian Lake and Robert Murphy were one year away from being eligible and were on much bigger money

It really is a 'cover your eyes' kind of wrap sheet.
What a disaster.

[Swoop]

For the record I agree with Sedat, their have been some terrible decisions made and someone needs to be held accountable. Ideally this is something a list manger would be responsible for and provide parameters to work within however in the absence of one I can only assume James Fantasia is the person who has been responsible for this.

His inability to do his job well has made us fall down and make poor decisions on two fronts. Firstly, his inability to successfully identify and appoint a list manager is his first mistake (how long has he had to appoint this role?). Secondly due do his own incompetency on the first point he has been forced to play list manager and made a number of poor decisions with Djerrkura & Mulligan an example of this.

He should be overseeing a succesful operation instead he is forced to fill gaps & perform duties of another role from his own incompetence.

My final fear is how someone with a proven track record of poor decisions is now part of the selection process to appoint our next coach.

[Desipura]

Just in case someone has missed them:

Contracts

• Dragged out the Brian Lake saga and cost us more than we needed to pay
• Lost Jarrod Harbrow (Scott Clayton admitted had we been more diligent he wouldn't have got a look in)
• Gave GWS a look in with Cal Ward by offering him unders to start with

Trading

• Gave Geelong a draft pick for Djerrkura that Geelong didn't even use (hello Paul Puopolo)
• Insisted on Veszpremi and a 'draft pick' for the better performed Everitt then accepted pick 93.

List Management

• Gave Nathan Djerrkura 3 years when no-one else wanted him.
• Upgraded James Mulligan and Andrew Hooper when both could have been retained on the rookie list another year.
• Veteran listed both Lindsay Gilbee and Ryan Hargrave to 2 year deals knowing that Brian Lake and Robert Murphy were one year away from being eligible and were on much bigger money

Would love to send this to him and let him know what I think of his decision making.

[Swoop]

Also looking at the whole expansion in isolation both us and Adelaide appear to have been the worst hit, most other clubs have been able to limit any damage. I think not being able to secure our young talent in the face of this would also have to be one of his downfalls.

[Bulldog Revolution]

It really is a 'cover your eyes' kind of wrap sheet.
What a disaster.

However that is assuming it's all Fantasias fault

I personally find that hard to believe

[LostDoggy]

However that is assuming it's all Fantasias fault

I personally find that hard to believe

Everyone of those issues fall within Fantasia's remit and not one within Eade's.

[LostDoggy]

However that is assuming it's all Fantasias fault

I personally find that hard to believe

Wait -- the senior coach takes the rap for the performance of the team, despite there being a million assistant coaches, medicos, physios etc.

But holding the head of the football department accountable for the performance of the football department, no, no we can't do that.

[bulldogsman]

I'm certain Dalrymple has a lot to do with trading and list management though too, but it's really Fantasia's fault for not appointing a full time list manager in the first place.

[G-Mo77]

Just in case someone has missed them:

Contracts

• Dragged out the Brian Lake saga and cost us more than we needed to pay
• Lost Jarrod Harbrow (Scott Clayton admitted had we been more diligent he wouldn't have got a look in)
• Gave GWS a look in with Cal Ward by offering him unders to start with

Trading

• Gave Geelong a draft pick for Djerrkura that Geelong didn't even use (hello Paul Puopolo)
• Insisted on Veszpremi and a 'draft pick' for the better performed Everitt then accepted pick 93.
• Not trading Josh Hill for picks 37 & 60

List Management

• Gave Nathan Djerrkura 3 years when no-one else wanted him.
• Upgraded James Mulligan and Andrew Hooper when both could have been retained on the rookie list another year.
• Veteran listed both Lindsay Gilbee and Ryan Hargrave to 2 year deals knowing that Brian Lake and Robert Murphy were one year away from being eligible and were on much bigger money

How do the incompetent continue to keep their jobs?

[dogman]

The biggest disspointment is that Garlick, some board members and coaches thing he is doing a great job and is now playing an important part of our future, which is selecting a senior coach.

Makes me question these people who continue to endorse him.