The Devils Advocate

[Jasper]

I have to say I'm amazed at the sway of opinions on this board being almost 95% disappointed and even angry that Rockets contract wasn't renewed today.

Whilst I agree that he has overseen the most successful period in the club's modern history does anyone actually believe he was in a position to take us to a premiership? After all, that is ultimately what we are trying to achieve.
Rocket gave us 3 cracks at a Grand Final and we failed each time, 2009 heart-breakingly so.

Considering where our list is now at, it would appear to be at least 3 years away from another serious tilt at the top.

So many of our players have stagnated this year, which reflects poorly on the leader.
Look what Chris Scott has managed to do to the careers of James Kelly, Matthew Stokes, Jimmy Bartel, Stevie J. They have a new lease on life when most would have considered them on the downside in 2010 after their Prelim Final loss.

I think we need something of the same.

Malthouse is clearly the dream candidate, but one would assume given our finances, unlikely.
Maybe we need someone like his apprentice Mark Neeld.

Lets just hope the sub-committee who picks the new coach has some true vision and doesn't just plump for one of Garlick's mates.

Here's to a Grand Final in 2014 under Captain Higgins

[Ghost Dog]

Re: The Devils Advocate

Well good on you for being a D advocate
but I have to disagree

Bartel, Steve J are players a cut above most of ours.
They have a great team at geelong that support each other.
We have a few genuine elites, who have had to carry the majority of the load, exposed by holes in our list. ( Griff, Barry, Brian, Coons ) and look how we have struggled without all those, minus griff, who has been a bit off anyway.

If you are going to talk about Geelong, what about the extended slump that Bomber Thompson went through before their rise? He could have easily been replaced and many thought he should have been.

I do think Eade could have taken us to a grand final. why not? He's been there before.
anyway, it's done now. No point moaning.

Captain Higgins??? believe it when I see it.

[chef]

Re: The Devils Advocate

It seems most around here are annoyed at him getting sacked because he was a great bloke, not a great coach.

[chef]

Re: The Devils Advocate

Well good on you for being a D advocate
but I have to disagree

Bartel, Steve J are players a cut above most of ours.
They have a great team at geelong that support each other.
We have a few genuine elites, who have had to carry the majority of the load, exposed by holes in our list. ( Griff, Barry, Brian, Coons ) and look how we have struggled without all those, minus griff, who has been a bit off anyway.

If you are going to talk about Geelong, what about the extended slump that Bomber Thompson went through before their rise? He could have easily been replaced and many thought he should have been.

I do think Eade could have taken us to a grand final. why not? He's been there before.
anyway, it's done now. No point moaning.

Captain Higgins??? believe it when I see it.

IMO if he was ever going to take us to grand final he would have already. The group of players he was in charge of in the 2008-2010 period was as good as any the history of our club.

It is the right time for change.

[Jasper]

Re: The Devils Advocate

It seems most around here are annoyed at him getting sacked because he was a great bloke, not a great coach.

That is a very accurate statement.
Malthouse is an arrogant pr!ck, but I'd take him in a heartbeat

[Bornadog]

Re: The Devils Advocate

It seems most around here are annoyed at him getting sacked because he was a great bloke, not a great coach.

Thats rubbish Chef, his record stands for it self.

[Desipura]

Re: The Devils Advocate

A number of reports suggest that his inability to keep up with the modern game may be one of the main reasons he was not retained.

[chef]

Re: The Devils Advocate

Thats rubbish Chef, his record stands for it self.

What in his record makes him a great coach?

Don't get me wrong I think he has been good for us, but he's not a great.

[Curly5]

Re: The Devils Advocate

His age went against him in the end, I'm sorry to say. Yesterday I was very disappointed but now I'm seeing the positives. Change is always hard to deal with at first but we'll adapt. A young coach will be a good move, imo.

Good luck, Rocket.

[Greystache]

Re: The Devils Advocate

Thats rubbish Chef, his record stands for it self.

14 years, winning % of 54, 1 grand final, and 1 win from 11 finals against top 4 teams.

What is speaking that I'm missing?

[Bornadog]

Re: The Devils Advocate

It seems most around here are annoyed at him getting sacked because he was a great bloke, not a great coach.

What in his record makes him a great coach?

Don't get me wrong I think he has been good for us, but he's not a great.

14 years, winning % of 54, 1 grand final, and 1 win from 11 finals against top 4 teams.

What is speaking that I'm missing?

This conversation has been misquoted. I was responding to the bolded bit.

[stefoid]

Re: The Devils Advocate

We cant know what the relationship between rocket and the board and the players really was like.

I dont know either, but IF rocket didnt have the confidence of the players, what other choice is there? You cant sack the team.

[LostDoggy]

Re: The Devils Advocate

He had NOT lost the players. Some admin people didn't like him much.

[LostDoggy]

Re: The Devils Advocate

The likely scenario is that we are headed for a rebuild/refresh with another tilt a few years away. So the next coach needs to have at least 3-4 years otherwise we enter a list destroying period of short term decisions. Eade had his turn and couldn't get the ultimate prize. Given he has had two very good shots at it at both Sydney and us, the decision is, does he get a third chance or do we try someone else? No doubt Eade is an excellent coach, no one stays in such a job for that long without being one but I'm comfortable in the decision to try another path.

[Mantis]

Re: The Devils Advocate

It seems most around here are annoyed at him getting sacked because he was a great bloke, not a great coach.

I think many are more annoyed with the way that it's been done... I know I am.