2011 - What we need to win a Premiership

[chef]

Re: 2011 - What we need to win a Premiership

Come rd 1 next year I would hope that the shell of the team looks like this:

B: Morris, Lake, ***
HB: Wood, Williams, Murphy
C: Griffen, Ward, Picken
HF: Higgins, Jones, Grant
F: ***, Hall, ***
R: Hudson, Cross, Cooney

Int: Reid, ***, Roughead, ***

The rest can fight for the other spots.

Sounds and looks good to me.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2011 - What we need to win a Premiership

A solid preseason for the younger players will prove fruitful, imagine Everitt with another few kilos and recruiting Tambling would fill the void of Harbrow gone. We need to be injury free and firing this time next year to get to the GF.

[1eyedog]

Re: 2011 - What we need to win a Premiership

Come rd 1 next year I would hope that the shell of the team looks like this:

B: Morris, Lake, ***
HB: Wood, Williams, Murphy
C: Griffen, Ward, Picken
HF: Higgins, Jones, Grant
F: ***, Hall, ***
R: Hudson, Cross, Cooney

Int: Reid, ***, Roughead, ***

The rest can fight for the other spots.

I agree, but does Boyd have trade value and what would we get for him?

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2011 - What we need to win a Premiership

We worked really hard for 2 quarters and matched St Kilda. We didn't have a week's rest and we had sore players and key injuries. We were essentially beaten by Rooey and we can't just go and get someone like him.

I think it's our style of play that has to evolve. We've become more defensive but not necessarily effective when under pressure. I mean, what intelligence exists when players get the ball and kick it and hope into a forward line that has only a couple of our players surrounded by a nest of Saints? Not once should we have done that. Yet week after week we do it.

I think we need a bigger bodied, established, mobile CHF.

And one more genuine pacy player in the middle / forward.

Staggering to think that Collingwood have developed nearly half their team in 3 years, a number of whom have been picked up through the Rookie draft. We really have to be ahead of the curve when drafting and developing particular types of players for the future.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2011 - What we need to win a Premiership

My worry is our one paced midfielders; Cross, Boyd, Reid, Ward, Libba & Wallis. As Mantis says we need more players with pace & creativity to assist Cooney & Griffen.

One or two more young speedsters, one who can play a crumbing role, and we're looking OK, but we are going to struggle a bit for depth next year unless a few things go right.

I really think Hooper will big a gap filler for these two problems, especially in the crumbing role.

Both him and Moles should also fit into a rotating midfield role. Not as quick as Coon and Griff but that bridge between low range gears (Boyd, Cross) and high range (Griff, Coon).

[Sedat]

Re: 2011 - What we need to win a Premiership

Boyd is the 2009 B&F andwill finish in the top 5 this year.

Last night Boyd went head-to-head against Hayes. By half time Hayes had 18 possessions, just about every meaningful clearance and was single-handedly keeping his team in touch at the main break. At the same time Picken was doing a very effective job blanketing and limiting Goddard's impact on the game. Because Hayes ran riot we were forced to switch Picken onto him after half time - end result was releasing Goddard to have a huge impact on their 3rd qtr domination out of the centre. Irrespective of the dreadful handball error in the 2nd qtr that gifted St Kilda a goal against the run of play, Boyd's opponent was a major factor in St Kilda keeping in the game early and then running riot thereafter. And he gave scant regard to his designated opponent for the entire night. This happened in the QF and it also happened in Round 20 v Geelong. I can handle skill errors. I can handle players coughing it up in the name of taking the game on. I can't handle seeing key players for the opposition given virtual free passage to greatly influence the course of the match.

Boyd's story is a great story of perserverence and overcoming repeated rejection, and he has turned himself into an extremely valuable AFL footballer. But he has flat-out forgotten to apply the sacrificial defensive fundamentals that were a core part of his game, instead opting to take on the role of offensive midfield playmaker, to the great detriment of his overall game and, more importantly, the greater good of the team. If this is a MC directive, it is an extremely poor one IMO, and is being picked off by the better opposition coaches in the AFL. If it is not, I sincerely hope the MC and Boyd's fellow players proactively remind him of what is required from him to benefit the team. Something needs to be addressed and pronto because we cannot have our probable captain-in-waiting consistently conceding BOG's to his direct opponent.

In the words of Dirty Harry, "a man's got to know his limitations".

[Mantis]

Re: 2011 - What we need to win a Premiership

Boyd is the 2009 B&F andwill finish in the top 5 this year. He, Gilbee, Hargrave and Giansiracusa are automatic selections. Ridiculous to think that you would justify leaving them out based on being similar players to the others listed. Great teams adapt and evolve. In order for us to be successful, we need to be flexible with our line-up and develop all our players to become versitile in a range of roles.

Under the extreme pressure that playing the top 3 brings these guys have failed time and time again.

If we are to take the next step we need to make some tough calls because these guys aren't getting any younger and are showing no sign of improvement in performance against the teams we need to beat to win a flag.

Being able to push around the leagues dud teams just doesn't cut the mustard anymore.

[1eyedog]

Re: 2011 - What we need to win a Premiership

We worked really hard for 2 quarters and matched St Kilda. We didn't have a week's rest and we had sore players and key injuries. We were essentially beaten by Rooey and we can't just go and get someone like him.

I think it's our style of play that has to evolve. We've become more defensive but not necessarily effective when under pressure. I mean, what intelligence exists when players get the ball and kick it and hope into a forward line that has only a couple of our players surrounded by a nest of Saints? Not once should we have done that. Yet week after week we do it.

I think we need a bigger bodied, established, mobile CHF.

And one more genuine pacy player in the middle / forward.

Staggering to think that Collingwood have developed nearly half their team in 3 years, a number of whom have been picked up through the Rookie draft. We really have to be ahead of the curve when drafting and developing particular types of players for the future.

Like hens teeth. Doesn't look like there are many of these available. Better be prepared to give up a whole heap to get one if one becomes available. Need to develop Jones IMO.

[Mantis]

Re: 2011 - What we need to win a Premiership

Both him and Moles should also fit into a rotating midfield role. Not as quick as Coon and Griff but that bridge between low range gears (Boyd, Cross) and high range (Griff, Coon).

If Moles was any good he would have taken Eagleton's spot last night. I can't see him being anything other than a 'depth' player.

In recent history there has been no short little plump bloke (no disr-respect Hoops) play a line breaking role in the competition. He has a heap of work to do on his fitness as at present he gives one effort, he needs to be able to give 3 or 4.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2011 - What we need to win a Premiership

Boyd is the 2009 B&F andwill finish in the top 5 this year. He, Gilbee, Hargrave and Giansiracusa are automatic selections. Ridiculous to think that you would justify leaving them out based on being similar players to the others listed. Great teams adapt and evolve. In order for us to be successful, we need to be flexible with our line-up and develop all our players to become versitile in a range of roles.

Hargrave is an example of a versatile, flexible footballer who does nothing very well but everything just okay. "Tried hard" is the report about every week on him. This lark about him playing out of his height and weight division, getting forward to snag a running goal from time to time, is getting a bit old for mine. He lacks poise and often clangers us into danger. I would not mind seeing him packed off to Richmond or Freo while there is still time, and giving his place to a young developing genuine defender.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: 2011 - What we need to win a Premiership

Moles has played 6 games and is miles ahead of someone like Hooper. Why isn't he the next messiah? Strange.

[lemmon]

Re: 2011 - What we need to win a Premiership

Less emphasis must be placed on the senior group and more faith given to the younger guys, look at the Collingwood model, they have been able to replace Medhurst, Lockyer, Frasier, Davis and Presti at times this year when form was substandard. We should be able to make Hahn, Gilbee, Boyd, Hargrave etc accountable and put pressure on their spots by having faith in fellas like Everitt (if he stays), Reid, Ward, Hooper and the rest of the young brigade with senior games. From next year we should abolish the current 'credits' selection system that Eade seems to hold and make all 22 spots open based solely on performance.

[Before I Die]

Re: 2011 - What we need to win a Premiership

I am an Eade fan and I don't want him replaced. However, I believe it is our game plan that needs to change, whereas our line-up just requires tinkering. Ray, Blake, Dawson, is that the key to the strongest backline in the league. Or is it the zone they do their work in.

Just a few years ago this board was rejoicing in the departures of Ray and McMahon, two fast running, outside mids. Now the board is calling for Tambling to be recruited. Twelve months all we needed was a power forward. Now, after falling short again, it is a small forward and Richard Tambling. All that is happening here is that posters are identifying areas where we don't have potential All Australians and calling them weaknesses.

I hate Saints Footy and I hate Collingwood, but I am not getting any younger. What we need is to win a Premiership is a Premiership winning game plan and the discipline to carry it out.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2011 - What we need to win a Premiership

If Moles was any good he would have taken Eagleton's spot last night. I can't see him being anything other than a 'depth' player.

Not saying he's the next superstar of the club, I'm saying I see him being a good "bridge" between the slow and the fast. But yes, I probably would have selected him over someone like Eagle. But the MC are the brains trust of the club.

[soupman]

Re: 2011 - What we need to win a Premiership

Hargrave is an example of a versatile, flexible footballer who does nothing very well but everything just okay. "Tried hard" is the report about every week on him. This lark about him playing out of his height and weight division, getting forward to snag a running goal from time to time, is getting a bit old for mine. He lacks poise and often clangers us into danger. I would not mind seeing him packed off to Richmond or Freo while there is still time, and giving his place to a young developing genuine defender.

Maybe this year. This year he has struggled and hasn't been great. Last year however he showed his true value to the side, and is clearly capable of being a very good player. His currency in the trade market wouldn't be anywhere near what hebrings to our side, and until we have someone performing well enough in the VFL to suggest they would be worth developing in his spot, he stays. That isn't to say he shouldn't be dropped for poor form however.