If we lose next week, is Eade in trouble?

[Dry Rot]

I ask that question from the POV of the Board, not whether we think it is fair or justified.

At the end of last season we had that review and there were all sorts of rumours about Eade and the club's management.

Fast forward to now and the club is desperately seeking a new major sponsor at what is the worst time for the last twenty years. Pretty embarassing that our President has to make a halftime appeal on TV and IIRC Eddie McGuire got us LeasePlan last time around.

If we lose next week and complete a second shocking late season fadeout, will the Board continue to think Eade is an asset for the club? Or will he become an impediment to selling the club to sponsors in their eyes?

[Dogs 24/7]

Re: If we lose next week, is Eade in trouble?

No, he is fine. He has plenty of work to do but its not his fault.
We completed the review last season and changed plenty of things around with the football department and it will take time to bare fruit. Im as frustrated as I have been in ages but the Cats of a couple of seasons back are a great example of keeping the faith in a coach when the win loss column suggested that he was in trouble.
I would keep the Rocket Man.

[Dry Rot]

Re: If we lose next week, is Eade in trouble?

Do you think Smorgon and the Board would view it like that?

[LostDoggy]

Re: If we lose next week, is Eade in trouble?

Look at the players currently available and give me a structure that can win finals? Rocket does a great job with a completely unbalanced list to work with. You just can't get into players heads and re-program their brains, they are who they are. When we have confidence it translates into good skills but when our confidence is shot the mental state affects physical attributes. We haven't forgotten how to kick a footy or give a handball.

Rocket is no hack and simply moving him on will do nothing to improve this teams fortunes. It's a pity that we as members and supporters wouldn't be able to deal with the Club bottoming out and truly rebuilding the list.

[Mantis]

Re: If we lose next week, is Eade in trouble?

No, he is fine. He has plenty of work to do but its not his fault.
We completed the review last season and changed plenty of things around with the football department and it will take time to bare fruit. Im as frustrated as I have been in ages but the Cats of a couple of seasons back are a great example of keeping the faith in a coach when the win loss column suggested that he was in trouble.
I would keep the Rocket Man.

So what changes then?

Last night was un-acceptable and not through the fault of the 'younger' players. Our experienced players didn't perform under 'finals' pressure and have to wear much of the blame. Now I no many of these players haven't played alot of finals, but they have played enough footy to be able to step their games up when required, they didn't do this last night.

[Dogs 24/7]

Re: If we lose next week, is Eade in trouble?

Do you think Smorgon and the Board would view it like that?

Yes I do. They will be disappointed no doubt but pragmatic enough with their assessment of the season. Not many teams go from where we landed last year to a flag the following one. The board needs to have a grasp on if we are contending or in a rebuilding phase. Now if it is a contending one then Eade is the right man. If its a rebuilding one then you can count out experienced coaches like Matthews that might be available and you have to go into uncharted waters and take a punt on an inexperienced coach.
We are still looking for a major sponsor so stability within the club is vital in attracting the right partner.

[Dogs 24/7]

Re: If we lose next week, is Eade in trouble?

So what changes then?

Last night was un-acceptable and not through the fault of the 'younger' players. Our experienced players didn't perform under 'finals' pressure and have to wear much of the blame. Now I no many of these players haven't played alot of finals, but they have played enough footy to be able to step their games up when required, they didn't do this last night.

We start with the trade and draft periods and make some hard calls on players. We up the ante with the player development and education and we look at finding the right sort of support coaches to address the flaws in our game plan.
Thats where I would start. Don't get me wrong I was far from content with last night but I dont think its easily fixed by just moving the coach on.

[GetDimmaBack]

Re: If we lose next week, is Eade in trouble?

We start with the trade and draft periods and make some hard calls on players. We up the ante with the player development and education and we look at finding the right sort of support coaches to address the flaws in our game plan.
Thats where I would start. Don't get me wrong I was far from content with last night but I dont think its easily fixed by just moving the coach on.

Well said.

We've probably overrated the list a bit, largely because of the great start to the year.
Some big bodies would be handy...

[Mantis]

Re: If we lose next week, is Eade in trouble?

We start with the trade and draft periods and make some hard calls on players. We up the ante with the player development and education and we look at finding the right sort of support coaches to address the flaws in our game plan.
Thats where I would start. Don't get me wrong I was far from content with last night but I dont think its easily fixed by just moving the coach on.

Totally agree with that, but as you have stated the coach will have to re-shape the list if we are to take the next step.

[DOG GOD]

Re: If we lose next week, is Eade in trouble?

A start would be to draft footballers, and not athletes. Guys who can KICK the ball BOTH FEET!! and one's with good body size that will only get stronger.

That would be a start.

[LostDoggy]

Re: If we lose next week, is Eade in trouble?

A start would be to draft footballers, and not athletes. Guys who can KICK the ball BOTH FEET!! and one's with good body size that will only get stronger.

That would be a start.

You mean an athlete like Buddy Franklin who has only got a left foot? Make up your mind-you want good size or a 5ft footballer?

Anyway whats that got to do with whether Eade should be under pressure?

[GVGjr]

Re: If we lose next week, is Eade in trouble?

A start would be to draft footballers, and not athletes. Guys who can KICK the ball BOTH FEET!! and one's with good body size that will only get stronger.

That would be a start.

Have you just described Cooney and Griffen?

I agree that you can strike a balance between footy smarts and athletic types rather than just focus on the latter. Guy O'Keefe is a good example. He isn't overly quick but has a fair bit of footy nous and hopefully that will serve him well in the next few seasons.
Ward strikes me as being more of a footballer who is athletically gifted rather than the other way around. Decision making is an underrated skill in my opinion.

Easton Wood is very much the athlete who will be shaped into a footballer but I have been very pleased with his progress this season.

[Desipura]

Re: If we lose next week, is Eade in trouble?

A start would be to draft footballers, and not athletes. Guys who can KICK the ball BOTH FEET!! and one's with good body size that will only get stronger.

That would be a start.

I think he means Ray who played soccer as a junior. He does not have size and his left foot kick 20 metres out from goal that fell well short in the 1st qtr. The loopy handballs that put his teammates under pressure was proof of a footballer who does not read the play as well as a natural footballer.
Minson on the other hand is a big bodied player who lacks agility for mine along with footy smarts.
Getting the balance right is the challenging part

[LostDoggy]

Re: If we lose next week, is Eade in trouble?

-Eagleton and West must retire
-Ray to be traded
-No Lovett style recruits. We need big strong hard running midfielders (in the draft).
-Ward,OKeefe etc etc have to be fast tracked next year. Even if it means Boyd plays back pocket and takes Tim Callans place.
-Grant,Everitt,Boumann and Williams need massive pre-seasons. We will make up the numbers until we get size in the forward line.
-Next year has to be Aker's,Welshs and maybe Johnson's last yr.
-Eade- i have been calling for him to be replaced for 3 yrs. I dont rate his unaccountable, basketball , run up and down the ground style. I think we need a fresh start.
-If we dont be careful and fast track more kids, we will be sitting here in 3yrs thinking Hargraves,Gilbee,Murphy,Lake,Gia,Morris,Hahn etc are past it.

[The Pie Man]

Re: If we lose next week, is Eade in trouble?

Probably not, as in four years he's taken a bottom 4 side to top 4, though Eade may start to question what else he can get out of the group. On the past two months evidence, we're not a top 4 side yet, and while I hope we make this years prelim, it would be a stretch to suggest we'd match that in 09