I fear for the club unless Eade goes

[always right]

The abysmal attendance by bulldogs supporters at yesterday's "season defining" match reminded me what a knife's edge this club sits on. A twilight scheduling doesn't do us any favours but I suspect a lot of our supporters found that to be a convenient excuse not to muster up enough motivation to attend after last week's display.

After years of disappointment I expect many supporters won't re-new their memberships next year. At the very least I think we can expect a significant number won't retain their social club upgrade. The impact this will have on our balance sheet is likely to be dramatic.

Regardless of how we rate Eade's performance as coach, I think the potential impact on membership will dictate that Eade has to go. Clubs like ours survive on hope.....the hope that premiership success is just around the corner. The mood amongst our supporters is dark and to head into next season with the status quo simply isn't an option. A change of coach is not necessarily the answer to our woes but supporters will want something to hang their hopes on. A new coach with a new gameplan can provide such hope...no matter how unrealistic it might be.

Thanks Rocket. You've been great for our club but we must part ways at the end of the season.

[comrade]

Re: I fear for the club unless Eade goes

It's a delicate one for our administration to manage but making decisions based on member sentiment is a very dangerous game to play.

[GVGjr]

Re: I fear for the club unless Eade goes

While Rocket and the club may part ways at the end of the season, or sooner, if we cop of few more floggings, to attribute our supporters non-attendance to his being coach of the club is drawing a very long bow. We still had 8,000 members missing at the start of the season when we were widely tipped to take home the bickies.

[Curly5]

Re: I fear for the club unless Eade goes

Eade should not go. We will need his expertise to rebuild our team after the culling of a bunch of senior players at season's end (or sooner - Hall?). The club will be fine in spite of fickle supporters/members who think they should have more influence than they do.

[Bornadog]

Re: I fear for the club unless Eade goes

Another thread on the coach must go.

The Club will make a proper assessment at the end of the year, full stop.

[The Pie Man]

Re: I fear for the club unless Eade goes

I get the vibe of the thread - Hawthorn fans outnumbered us yesterday, as did Richmond the other week......but what if we have a 2005 like close to the season?

I liked reading that Eade took a more upbeat approach with the squad after quarter time yesterday - not one for the highlight reel, but we did play a lot better in the 2nd half. While I can't see that translating to a W in Geelong, I hope we continue to build some momentum.

On a side note - it's games the quality of yesterday that will drive people away. In parts, that was as boring as the St Kilda v Dogs farce from early last year. Hawthorn play keepings off pretty well, but it's just so boring to watch.

[Grantysghost]

Re: I fear for the club unless Eade goes

The 20000 or so who turn up regardless will still be there, sacking Eade is not the answer to fair weather supporters they will remain long after he's gone.

[A dogs life]

Re: I fear for the club unless Eade goes

While Rocket and the club may part ways at the end of the season, or sooner, if we cop of few more floggings, to attribute our supporters non-attendance to his being coach of the club is drawing a very long bow. We still had 8,000 members missing at the start of the season when we were widely tipped to take home the bickies.

I do not think he was saying that they did not turn up because of Rocket, it was more so that how fickle our supporters can be and if we just play out the season and then go into next season with Rocket a lot will drop of as they will not see any changes or hope.
I know you should not get rid of a coach because of the supporters but they do come into the decision making when it is going to have major effect on the finances.
I love Eade but I think his time is up & bring in Cameron.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: I fear for the club unless Eade goes

I can see where you're coming from AR, but its almost akin to x number of disgruntled members who may or may not renew their memberships holding the club to ransom.

Playing devils advocate, what if a new coach fails to translate the hopes of those disenfranchised members?

[LostDoggy]

Re: I fear for the club unless Eade goes

The abysmal attendance by bulldogs supporters at yesterday's "season defining" match reminded me what a knife's edge this club sits on. A twilight scheduling doesn't do us any favours but I suspect a lot of our supporters found that to be a convenient excuse not to muster up enough motivation to attend after last week's display.

After years of disappointment I expect many supporters won't re-new their memberships next year. At the very least I think we can expect a significant number won't retain their social club upgrade. The impact this will have on our balance sheet is likely to be dramatic.

How many "season defining games" does that make it for the year???

Saying that supporters will not be around next year is a bit off target considering the club has only one Premiership and the supporters keep hanging around. Do you know of anyone who has actually switched to support another team due to them being sick and tired of the Dogs lack of success?
I'm sure we'll all tune into next weeks season defining game.

[always right]

Re: I fear for the club unless Eade goes

My support for the club is unconditional and I hate even suggesting that the prospect of membership dropping away should be a factor in re-appointing the coach.

This is a big test for the club. Are they strong enough to withstand the pressure building amongst members? I agree that they shouldn't allow members to hold them to ransom.
I just wonder whether come the end of the season if the board are in two minds as to which direction they should take, this becomes a deciding factor.

My father wrote a letter to the club after the Westcoast game. He is 80 years of age. To his surprise he received a phone call from Smorgon. That could be put down to Smorgon being Smorgon....not too precious that he can't pick up the phone and have a chat to a long term member. I suspect however that he senses the precarious position the club finds itself in.

[Scraggers]

Re: I fear for the club unless Eade goes

Clubs like ours survive on hope.....the hope that premiership success is just around the corner.

Whilst I understand your POV, I disagree ... To me, Eade is our best hope. And Whilst a 3 - 6 start is bloody terrible (based on our expectations), this season is not over.

What we all have to do is sit back and look at our expectations ... Thanks to Eade et al., we now expect to be playing finals football; it wasn't all that long ago that we were expecting 4 - 5 wins a year (Peter Rhode I"m looking directly at you !!).

To make the big dance, you have to continually play finals football ... Our time will be sooner rather than later ... We have to stay the course.

[Bornadog]

Re: I fear for the club unless Eade goes

My father wrote a letter to the club after the Westcoast game. He is 80 years of age. To his surprise he received a phone call from Smorgon. That could be put down to Smorgon being Smorgon....not too precious that he can't pick up the phone and have a chat to a long term member. I suspect however that he senses the precarious position the club finds itself in.

That was reported in The Age today.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/dogs-wont-spill-blood-smorgon-20110529-1faxb.html

I wrote to Simon Garlick with my concerns durinmg the week and Simon rang me on Friday. He basically said the club is behind Rocket, they will not make any rash decisions about the coach during the season and they will do a thorough review at the end of the year. If they decide to go with a new coach, they will ensure proper practise is in place in order to get the best coach for the club.

[GVGjr]

Re: I fear for the club unless Eade goes

I do not think he was saying that they did not turn up because of Rocket, it was more so that how fickle our supporters can be and if we just play out the season and then go into next season with Rocket a lot will drop of as they will not see any changes or hope.
I know you should not get rid of a coach because of the supporters but they do come into the decision making when it is going to have major effect on the finances.
I love Eade but I think his time is up & bring in Cameron.

Sure, accepted. It isn't Rocket I am disgusted with though, it is our senior players. I half agree with Akermanis, our leadership group is a shambles.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: I fear for the club unless Eade goes

My support for the club is unconditional and I hate even suggesting that the prospect of membership dropping away should be a factor in re-appointing the coach.

This is a big test for the club. Are they strong enough to withstand the pressure building amongst members? I agree that they shouldn't allow members to hold them to ransom.
I just wonder whether come the end of the season if the board are in two minds as to which direction they should take, this becomes a deciding factor.

My father wrote a letter to the club after the Westcoast game. He is 80 years of age. To his surprise he received a phone call from Smorgon. That could be put down to Smorgon being Smorgon....not too precious that he can't pick up the phone and have a chat to a long term member. I suspect however that he senses the precarious position the club finds itself in.

Were you surprised as well? How did you feel when he called your dad?