Destination Dogs.

[Grantysghost]

I'm watching this trade period meander along and I'm wondering how the heck did the Aints manage to entice so many good players across?

I'm a big fan of Flanders so I'm really surprised he sees something in that project, and a little sad we weren't in the hunt.

What do we need to do to make ourselves more attractive, and I don't mean going nuts spending a fortune.

A wise poster on here says we need to be the best at something. Whether that be medical staff, contact days, development programs.

I agree. We have the best facilities but, alas, still seem to struggle.

I'm clueless. Any one got a clue?

[Aidan7557]

History, small fan base and home ground will always be and issue. It is for most small clubs in any sports league. We just need a bit more luck with players born near us, cough cough zak butters, to come and play for us.

[NAUGHTY100]

Agree a player like Butters will be the defining piece , im thinking our future hangs on if we can convince him our club is the one for him , if that happens and we make finals and win one or two finals , other top players will look at our club in a different way .
With the best player in the comp in Bontempelli , the most exciting forward in the game in Darcy , our club will at last be a destination club , Butters is the key , with him we become a strong finals side , without him we stay as we are close but not good enough .

[bulldogsthru&thru]

I'm watching this trade period meander along and I'm wondering how the heck did the Aints manage to entice so many good players across?

I'm a big fan of Flanders so I'm really surprised he sees something in that project, and a little sad we weren't in the hunt.

What do we need to do to make ourselves more attractive, and I don't mean going nuts spending a fortune.

A wise poster on here says we need to be the best at something. Whether that be medical staff, contact days, development programs.

I agree. We have the best facilities but, alas, still seem to struggle.

I'm clueless. Any one got a clue?

The saints are spending massive $$$ on these players which we are unwilling to do. That's the only reason they've gotten players to choose them.

Outside of the $$$ it all comes down to big clubs vs small clubs. The saints know this and have decided the only way to get ahead of the big clubs is to spend big. I'm not sure that it's an effective strategy but they're trying something different.

We don't have the same luxury as we have a fair number of top talent players (Bont, Darcy, Naughton with Richards and Freijah probably not far behind. Jamarra was part of this as well). I don't know what the answer is. I would've thought playing with Bont would've been enough but apparently not. I am a little concerned how irrelevant we'll become post Bont but maybe Darcy can fill those shoes.

I do agree that getting Butters will flip the tables immediately. A big name changes the reputation in player circles. It's what the Saints are trying to do. It's basically propoganda at this point. "Hey look how many players want to come here. We're a destination club". Nevermind the only reason players are going there is big coin.

[Grantysghost]

History, small fan base and home ground will always be and issue. It is for most small clubs in any sports league. We just need a bit more luck with players born near us, cough cough zak butters, to come and play for us.

What do think about creating a "worlds best" component that would make us more attractive. And what could it be....

I think medical / fitness conditioning could be a real selling point. We've been very good over the last two seasons.

[Grantysghost]

Agree a player like Butters will be the defining piece , im thinking our future hangs on if we can convince him our club is the one for him , if that happens and we make finals and win one or two finals , other top players will look at our club in a different way .
With the best player in the comp in Bontempelli , the most exciting forward in the game in Darcy , our club will at last be a destination club , Butters is the key , with him we become a strong finals side , without him we stay as we are close but not good enough .

Lachie Neale was that first really big piece that fell in place for the Lions after they had their period of mass Exodus

This is a good shout, but I think we need more sustainable ideas.

[Grantysghost]

The saints are spending massive $$$ on these players which we are unwilling to do. That's the only reason they've gotten players to choose them.

Outside of the $$$ it all comes down to big clubs vs small clubs. The saints know this and have decided the only way to get ahead of the big clubs is to spend big. I'm not sure that it's an effective strategy but they're trying something different.

We don't have the same luxury as we have a fair number of top talent players (Bont, Darcy, Naughton with Richards and Freijah probably not far behind. Jamarra was part of this as well). I don't know what the answer is. I would've thought playing with Bont would've been enough but apparently not. I am a little concerned how irrelevant we'll become post Bont but maybe Darcy can fill those shoes.

I do agree that getting Butters will flip the tables immediately. A big name changes the reputation in player circles. It's what the Saints are trying to do. It's basically propoganda at this point. "Hey look how many players want to come here. We're a destination club". Nevermind the only reason players are going there is big coin.

We kind of sit in the middle atm don't we. Not as bad as the Aints or Norf but not attractive to players looking not to play in Ballarat.

I don't want to spend a fortune but we may have to be a little looser with the purse strings. Hopefully the Marra deal can help with that on the back of Macrae and Daniel.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

We kind of sit in the middle atm don't we. Not as bad as the Aints or Norf but not attractive to players looking not to play in Ballarat.

I don't want to spend a fortune but we may have to be a little looser with the purse strings. Hopefully the Marra deal can help with that on the back of Macrae and Daniel.

I look at it like we're being more responsible in order to ensure we can pay our existing players when their contracts are up. But it does get harder to maintain faith in that when you see other clubs continually spend up. It's why keeping an eye on the saints in the next few years is going to be fascinating. If it goes wrong, boy will it go wrong. We clearly have the cash to spend. Why aren't we spending it? Presumably for Butters! But then we just threw a huge offer at Wilkie so.....

It appears that a little and some more with us vs somewhere else isn't enough to entice players to come over. I don't know what else we can do.

[Aidan7557]

What do think about creating a "worlds best" component that would make us more attractive. And what could it be....

I think medical / fitness conditioning could be a real selling point. We've been very good over the last two seasons.

Agree with that. Probably being an ultra high level consistent team would help too, Brisbane the clear team to follow although that is incredibly difficult to do. It's hard to get the best players to move in general and I think it's why we have always been a big draft and develop team.

[Sedat]

Geography is an undeniable issue. Prospective trade targets love the idea of living bayside in Melbourne.

It's not just us - players in recent years aren't too thrilled by the prospect of Arden St or The Hanger either. It's even starting to affect Carlton - the northern suburbs are not an appealing location for would-be AFEL footballers and their future real estate portfolios.

[NAUGHTY100]

Lachie Neale was that first really big piece that fell in place for the Lions after they had their period of mass Exodus

This is a good shout, but I think we need more sustainable ideas.

Yeah your right Grantysghost , i like your idea of selling the medical / fitness conditioning aspect of our club , we have one of if not the best facilities in the comp , our training facility is second to none, but small steps get Butters in and then i think with him a bulldog and players seeing how good our facilities are we will slowly turn heads and become that destionation club .
We now have a war chest , with Marra's salary gone , we can and should throw the kitchen sink at Butters and make him an offer he just cant refuse .
Its alittle bit like build it and they will come .

[azabob]

Player development.

Come to us at any stage of your career and WE WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER PLAYER.

Simply we need to lean into talent ID, and player development - that is where we should be spending over and above what other clubs spend.

[Grantysghost]

Player development.

Come to us at any stage of your career and WE WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER PLAYER.

Simply we need to lean into talent ID, and player development - that is where we should be spending over and above what other clubs spend.

Like x 10

Look at the VFL standard we have set.

This is what I feel like we have to build our brand on so to speak. Something that separates us from the rest and this is a really good shout AB.

[Grantysghost]

Agree with that. Probably being an ultra high level consistent team would help too, Brisbane the clear team to follow although that is incredibly difficult to do. It's hard to get the best players to move in general and I think it's why we have always been a big draft and develop team.

Consistency is super important agree. Missing finals really hurts.

[Grantysghost]

Geography is an undeniable issue. Prospective trade targets love the idea of living bayside in Melbourne.

It's not just us - players in recent years aren't too thrilled by the prospect of Arden St or The Hanger either. It's even starting to affect Carlton - the northern suburbs are not an appealing location for would-be AFEL footballers and their future real estate portfolios.

Fair points. The Saints do have that on their side.
Maybe we could add in Uber vouchers or a driver ?!

Just had a thought Sedat, I wonder if our relationship with agents is an issue ?

I feel like Bevo wouldn't tolerate any BS from them although I get he's not the guy in recruiting.

You really need them onside as slimy as that may be.