Eade's work in progress

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Eade's work in progress

That's a very, very relevant and interesting point you make. Although I haven't looked at this in too much detail at other clubs, it seems we suffer from the second year blues significantly more than other sides.

If you look at most of our young players, they've all had that second or in some cases third year blues. Cooney, Ray, Griffen, Minson and even Higgins to a lesser extent. He faded right out in the second half.

Why is this? Due to our taxing game plan that involves an extended amount of running? Is that the problem, or does it come back to the group not being mentally strong enough to pull each other through - eg. in preparation - where a few veterans have noted a number of our younger players don't prepare themselves well enough.

It's a cause for concern IMO, can't afford to have that especially with so MANY younger players. Everitt, Williams, Higgins, Harbrow, Addison etc. etc. have to continue to improve EVERY year, otherwise we'll find ourselves stagnating every second year or so like Melbourne's trend suggests.

I don't think we suffer from 2nd year blues any more than any other club it's just we don't care if it happens to other clubs and don't notice.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Eade's work in progress

Still, I would argue our young players are better then The Kangaroos, Hawthorn & Collingwood and yet players like Swallow, McGlynn & Pendlebury/Thomas were probably a lot better than ours this year.

We rely heavily on the elders, but I think we also rely too much on first/second year players too. The 'middle core' group is a bit of a problem for us.

I admire Collingwood, they aren't 'superstar studded' but they continue to improve. Every year, people write them off. Every year, they're fighting for a Top 4 spot. Their young players really take their opportunities, they don't seem to 'tire' as much as ours.

[wimberga]

Re: Eade's work in progress

Still, I would argue our young players are better then The Kangaroos, Hawthorn & Collingwood and yet players like Swallow, McGlynn & Pendlebury/Thomas were probably a lot better than ours this year.

We rely heavily on the elders, but I think we also rely too much on first/second year players too. The 'middle core' group is a bit of a problem for us.

I admire Collingwood, they aren't 'superstar studded' but they continue to improve. Every year, people write them off. Every year, they're fighting for a Top 4 spot. Their young players really take their opportunities, they don't seem to 'tire' as much as ours.

Agree, I believe that our 18-21 year olds are much better than a lot of other teams

[Missing Dog]

Re: Eade's work in progress

I'm fine with the article - given there are a few negative ones about at the moment (including by Hutchy in the sunday age yesterday) then its a wise move to get a few positive articles out there with 'membership season' approaching. However I do think its a bit contradictory that when Rocket came to the club he was all about us winning premierships and not accepting the 'happy to exist' culture. this article has a bit of "we're doing alright" about it instead of "we need to demand the best".

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Eade's work in progress

I'm fine with the article - given there are a few negative ones about at the moment (including by Hutchy in the sunday age yesterday) then its a wise move to get a few positive articles out there with 'membership season' approaching. However I do think its a bit contradictory that when Rocket came to the club he was all about us winning premierships and not accepting the 'happy to exist' culture. this article has a bit of "we're doing alright" about it instead of "we need to demand the best".

I can see where you're coming from, but what do people expect Eade to say? Pull a Schwab and tell the world we can win a Premiership in 2008? It's important - especially for a club so drained of success like ours - that goals are realistically set.

Can you imagine if Eade said we aim for Top 4, or a Premiership in 2008 and we finish 8th, or worse - don't even make the finals? Supporters would be feral. Hope is fantastic, but false hope could send a club like ours to oblivion.

In doors I'm sure they have higher expectations.

[Bulldog Revolution]

Re: Eade's work in progress

The group needs the pressure taken off them in the media, and the pressure put on them on the training track and learning the re-vamped game plan - I presume that is what Eade is trying to do

We need to become a team of action

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Eade's work in progress

The group needs the pressure taken off them in the media, and the pressure put on them on the training track and learning the re-vamped game plan - I presume that is what Eade is trying to do

We need to become a team of action

I agree BR, I think the media hype was way over the top after our 2006 finish, and the pressures we encountered this season reflected it. I think Eade is just trying to keep a lid on it.

[Missing Dog]

Re: Eade's work in progress

I agree BR, I think the media hype was way over the top after our 2006 finish, and the pressures we encountered this season reflected it. I think Eade is just trying to keep a lid on it.

when you lose the last 7 games by an average of about 50pts (or whatever it was) it should be pretty easy to keep a lid on it!!!!

[LostDoggy]

Re: Eade's work in progress

when you lose the last 7 games by an average of about 50pts (or whatever it was) it should be pretty easy to keep a lid on it!!!!

I'm not happy with his "recession we had to had" analogy because I don't think he put it into the right context. He had high hopes for the 2007 season and said so on a number of occasions and now he is lowering the bar. If he rated the list so highly 12 months ago and blamed the injuries for the subsequent failure, then given he hasn't done a major clean out his expectations should be the same in 2008 as they were in 2007.

Am I missing something or is he just saying he overrated the list last year?

[Bulldog Revolution]

Re: Eade's work in progress

I'm not happy with his "recession we had to had" analogy because I don't think he put it into the right context. He had high hopes for the 2007 season and said so on a number of occasions and now he is lowering the bar. If he rated the list so highly 12 months ago and blamed the injuries for the subsequent failure, then given he hasn't done a major clean out his expectations should be the same in 2008 as they were in 2007.

Am I missing something or is he just saying he overrated the list last year?

Nobody enjoyed that analogy - we just didn't want to hear it.

In 2007 a lot of our guys could not deal with the increased expectation and its going to come down to whether they are able to mature both mentally and physically.

I've said it in a number of other posts that this group will only be carried as far as Murphy, Hahn, Gia, Boyd, Morris, Gilbee, Cross, Harris, Hargrave, Minson, Cooney, Griffen, Ray and Higgins etc can carry it. We have a youngish side, but there is enough experience there that this group could really move forward. I want to see that the players have a new level of committment in 2008 and are no longer happy to just make up the numbers in the competition. I know that sounds cliche - but I remain unconvinced that our playing group is as serious about it as they need to be.

For me 2008 will be unsuccessful if we do not make the finals.

[Topdog]

Re: Eade's work in progress

"This year going in people are going to tout us as finishing low on the ladder, but we don't think that's the case. We think we are good enough to make the finals."

Isn't that what you wanted to hear G? I'd be extremely disappointed with anything other than finals next year. We are good enough and we should be there.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Eade's work in progress

For me 2008 will be unsuccessful if we do not make the finals.

Absolutely agree with that. I think you can definitely say that with the side we have not playing finls in 2008 would be a failure. the fact is re got murdered in our last 7 games and were still in with a chance to play finals up until round 20/21!

[GVGjr]

Re: Eade's work in progress

Isn't that what you wanted to hear G? I'd be extremely disappointed with anything other than finals next year. We are good enough and we should be there.

I want him to be more decisive but can understand why he is hedging his bets.

[Bulldog Revolution]

Re: Eade's work in progress

I want him to be more decisive but can understand why he is hedging his bets.

I know what you are saying GVGjr and I agree - but perhaps it is better that we just fly below the radar at this stage. We have a fair bit of respect to win back in 2008 - our game plan was an open book and every team in the competition knew exactly what we were going to do, and how to stop us.