The Blueprint

[comrade]

We've all heard about Rocket's ongoing contract negotiations and the fact that he had to present his Blueprint for the Club's future.

Put yourself in Rocket's shoes - what would your Blueprint for success look like?

What steps need to be taken to take the next step from top 4 team, to a genuine premiership contender?

Who needs to go? What holes need to be filled?

It's probably not easy to be rational after a disappointing loss, but I'm interested in hearing everyone's thoughts on how they'd do it if they ran the show.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: The Blueprint

He needs to bite the bullet and make a decision on all of our older players. Eagleton, Welsh, Akermanis, Johnson and Hudson. All 30+ with 1-2 years left. However - we are not going to get ANY improvement from them. I wouldn't say any of them are playing well enough to be able to say they make any sort of real difference to our side, either. Rocket needs to make the call; stick with them for another year, or develop a bunch of new players.

It might mean taking a step back for a year, but longer term, we would be far better off. I would think Eagle/Welsh/Aker are certain to retire. Hudson will play on because Roughead and co aren't ready yet. Don't be suprised if they over take him quickly though. Hudson has had an ordinary year. Johnson is an interesting one, he's still getting a lot of the ball and he's #1 in the competition for goal assists. Despite that - he's turning the ball over a lot, is slow and makes iffy decisions with the ball in defense/midfield. One would assume he'll play on though.

That leaves 3 positions available that we can start developing players in. Reid, O'Keefe, Stack, Everitt and Grant are a few that spring to mind that would all likely see a lot more game time. This can only be a good thing. Some of these players will help this club take the 'next step'. However, if we keep them bundled to the side, they won't hang around for long when they can be getting opportunities elsewhere. Bottom line; the 19-22 year olds will improve the side more than the 30-33 year olds. It might take a year or so, but we've really got to start moving towards that.

As good as our list is, there's quite a few that could/should be released at the season's end. Wight, Lynch, Skipper & O'Shea would be very unlikely at this stage. With the draft concessions in place, can we afford to add Eagle/Welsh/Aker and remove 7? It's a relatively highish number and so it'll be interesting to see how they handle that. Either way, I want to see us develop the young talent ASAP.

[Remi Moses]

Re: The Blueprint

Agree with the sentiments re-Aker,Welsh and the Eagle disagree with Hudson having an ordinary season though. Little bit knee jerk I think

[GVGjr]

Re: The Blueprint

The blueprint should contain details on:

- List management
- Player development
- Game plan development
- Short and long term vision
- Leadership

There is a few more points as well like, Personal development, Managing relationships, Innovations and trends and technologies


Who should go, in my opinion should be:

Primary List
O'Shea, Lynch, Skipper Wight and Welsh with the possibility of Akermanis. Possibly one more as well.

Picken to be upgraded and Shaw a chance to be if another short term support ruckman cannot be traded for.

Rookie List
Mulligan, White and Shaw (with the above mentioned proviso)

Daniels to be maintained or potentially promoted and I'm not sure on Ogle.

[LostDoggy]

Re: The Blueprint

Inject someone into the bloody forward line!! Whats the use of busting ya balls to get it down there, then to have no one to kick it to!

[LostDoggy]

Re: The Blueprint

Inject someone into the bloody forward line!! Whats the use of busting ya balls to get it down there, then to have no one to kick it to!

How angry does it make you seeing it!!

[Mantis]

Re: The Blueprint

Inject someone into the bloody forward line!! Whats the use of busting ya balls to get it down there, then to have no one to kick it to!

Which players on our list at present would you like to see 'injected' into our forwardline?

[Happy Days]

Re: The Blueprint

Disagree with the calls for Aker's scalp, he's been one of our top 5 players this year.

Regarding list deletions, the only players with a penned line through their name would be Wight and Skip, Lynch in pencil. Everyone else has six weeks left to prove themselves worthy going forward.

[Twodogs]

Re: The Blueprint

The blueprint should contain details on:

- Leadership

This is what it all comes down to. Until we find someone who absolutely refuses to drop his head, just keeps going for the ball and drags his teammates along with him we wont go anywhere near a flag.

[Dry Rot]

Re: The Blueprint

. Everyone else has six weeks left to prove themselves worthy going forward.

But what does this mean?

This team wasn't good enough to win a flag last year and it isn't good enough this year.

And if we are aiming for a flag next year and keep most of our older players, the team won't be good enough in 2010 either. Nor if we don't keep them.

IMO we won't be a serious threat till the young talls start to come through. IMO we should do a bit of a Hawthorn, have a clean-out at the end of this year of all the older players except Hudson and then aim to be a serious contender in 2012.

If that means a crap 2010 season (results and finals wise) rebuilding, so be it. It will be a good investment. And then dropping players playing badly like Saints did with Ball.

The older players aren't going to be "going forward" next year, all will be decline like Welsh and Acker this year. Time to do a "Scott West" to all of them (including Johnno) and stock up in the last proper draft for a while.

[Missing Dog]

Re: The Blueprint

This is what it all comes down to. Until we find someone who absolutely refuses to drop his head, just keeps going for the ball and drags his teammates along with him we wont go anywhere near a flag.

I thought Boyd did that, but we need a number of players doing it.

[azabob]

Re: The Blueprint

The thing that is concerning me is our up and coming YOUTH.

I understand they are all showing potential but Eade and the Club did state at the end of last year they expected quite a few of the youngsters to be pushing for and playing senior footy in 2009 - Grant, Everitt, Stack, O'Keffe, Wood, Reid.
Bar Ward and Harbrow this really has not happened. I think Williams is only playing senior football cause he can run and has some size about him.

Are they as good as we think or are they just not good enough to push out the like of Eagleton, Welsh, Akermanins and Hahn?

Do we bite the bullet and de list the older players and hope the younger players are up to it and can perform in 2010.

My biggest concern is our up and coming forwards maybe not so our key position forwards but our mid sized forwards.

At years end I think they need to move on; Eagleton, Wight, Skipper, O'Shea, Welsh, Lynch. and maybe just maybe Akermanins.

[Dry Rot]

Re: The Blueprint

Are they as good as we think or are they just not good enough to push out the like of Eagleton, Welsh, Akermanins and Hahn?

Do we bite the bullet and de list the older players and hope the younger players are up to it and can perform in 2010.

IMO make 2010 a development year and invest time in these guys and hang the results for next year.

[LostDoggy]

Re: The Blueprint

I think most of us are all on the same page here and agree we need a mini rebuild.

If you want something out of Roughead in 2011 I think Hudson would need to be traded as well.

[AndrewP6]

Re: The Blueprint

I think most of us are all on the same page here and agree we need a mini rebuild.

If you want something out of Roughead in 2011 I think Hudson would need to be traded as well.

Who would we get for Hudson? A 31 year old (in February)?