Its Official - We Have Gone Backwards - No Improvement on 2011

[Mofra]

Re: Its Official - We Have Gone Backwards - No Improvement on 2011

Our better quality players are our young guys and they are wilting because they haven't had enough pre-seasons into their legs.

I disagree 100%. Our better players are older types with only a couple of exceptions.

Take out Boyd, Cross, Lake and Murphy and we'd be stone motherless last.

[Cyberdoggie]

Re: Its Official - We Have Gone Backwards - No Improvement on 2011

This ^^^

A few weeks ago Robbo talking to Murp on AFL 360 about this very fact. The President is quiet, the CEO is quiet, the coach and captain don't say boo. We are not high profile and in the face of the media? Is this the right thing to do.

Both Wallet and Rocket really promoted the club and got genuine interest from fans, media etc.

I feel this is a deliberate act by the club to try and not build up hopes for the next few seasons then go for it.

Well there isn't much to beat up, i guess they don't want the media pressure that was on Melbourne earlier in the year on us.

When it finally turns and looks us in the face i'm sure they will then get start to open their mouths a bit.



I agree it does look very grim at the moment, especially when your side doesn't even look like scoring a goal in a whole half of football. 5 goals for a game and 1 from a free kick in the second half is a bloody disgrace, and a huge reason why a lot of our supporters will start dropping off.
This is going to be a huge challenge for this football club to survive this downfall in the coming years.

[Mantis]

Re: Its Official - We Have Gone Backwards - No Improvement on 2011

Also Mike Sheehan changes his opinion like he changes his undies. Two good wins and we are ok again. Two bad losses after that and we were papering over the cracks. And so it goes.

When are these 2 wins going to come?

[LostDoggy]

Re: Its Official - We Have Gone Backwards - No Improvement on 2011

I disagree 100%. Our better players are older types with only a couple of exceptions.

Take out Boyd, Cross, Lake and Murphy and we'd be stone motherless last.

Lake and Murphy are top shelf yes. Think my point is more that when the young guys get pre-season's into them they look much more likely to create winning opportunities for the team than Boyd and Cross have the ability to do. Boyd and Cross as the mainstay of our midfield means our quality of mainstay is about 15th in the comp. Funnily enough that's where we sit on the ladder.... Loosing Conney has destroyed us, as having only one class player (Griffin - and it could as easily be Pendulbury) is too easy for the opposition to shut down. I would only place Port Adelaide and Melbourne beneath us for caliber of the +24 year old midfield players.

[Maddog37]

Re: Its Official - We Have Gone Backwards - No Improvement on 2011

When are these 2 wins going to come?

I guarantee it will be some time within the next two years!

[Bornadog]

Re: Its Official - We Have Gone Backwards - No Improvement on 2011

5 years at least before we can challenge for the flag again.

And only if we replace Fantasia, Smorgon and Garlick with capable people.

There I said it.

I love smorgo but he has overseen our current situation. Garlick is missing in action. Fantasia is responsible for our current list.

Happy to be wrong.

Read my thread on what needs to be done for 2013....... I agree with you

[SonofScray]

Re: Its Official - We Have Gone Backwards - No Improvement on 2011

I don't think many will argue with you. I know I won't.

Me either, although I am happy to give Garlick some more time - he at least seems to have identified how poor our efforts at building a 'western' brand have been since we threw our real name in the tip.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Its Official - We Have Gone Backwards - No Improvement on 2011

We are getting a leave pass because we have a first year coach and most pundits understand that it takes time to change when a new coach takes over. Macca has also performed very calmly and has not waivered from his message whenever he is in the media.

Also Mike Sheehan changes his opinion like he changes his undies. Two good wins and we are ok again. Two bad losses after that and we were papering over the cracks. And so it goes.

Couldn't agree more.
Sheehan jumps on and off wagons quickly.Early in the year it was Melbourne then it was Norf, then Carlton. He means intensive care in what? Survival? I know Mike rattles on about our crowds, but that's an issue for all the smaller clubs. Out of interest the reigning premier only got 13,000 to a Port game a few weeks back! ( the ground still fits 20).I don't know any sport where you get 13 grand rock up and make a profit, yet another venue against the same team bigger ground write out a big cheque! Rediculous

[jeemak]

Re: Its Official - We Have Gone Backwards - No Improvement on 2011

I've been thinking about different ways I can contribute this thread, in a reasonably positive manner, but for the life of me I can't.

While I don't think we've gone backwards in terms of development, we've been severly effed over in terms of player loss.

Cooney - He's not having the input one would expect from a number one draft pick, and tha's because he's almost had it. Tragic story, not his fault and probably nothing to do with the club

Harbrow - Was offered cash beyond what his output and standing in the game deserved, though he'd be extremely helpful right now considering his previous ability to move the ball forward quickly from defense. Let's remember, there wasn't a half back in the league at his age that was as exciting as Harbrow in 2009

Ward - Contested ball winner, and capable of moving it with good decisive skill. Pulled over 30 touches in our most recent finals appearance, and some of them were excellent.

Couple the above with the loss of stalwarts and solid senior players like Hall and it's not surprising we're lacking in scoring power, let alone the ability to move the ball forward fluidly to allow our forwards to receive clean ball.


I'm prepared to acknowledge that in some cases our current crop hasn't been developed very well, though, I can't help but imagine how differently they'd be performing with Harbrow, Cooney and Ward playing well alongside them.

Make no mistake, we have been completely ruinied by the loss of these guys, and it has exposed some of the picks we've drafted over the last couple of years. It's easy to pick holes in the club's stategy of course, and contract management is an area that should be focused on, though from a selection perspective I'm not sure we've been as bad as many believe.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Its Official - We Have Gone Backwards - No Improvement on 2011

Lake and Murphy are top shelf yes. Think my point is more that when the young guys get pre-season's into them they look much more likely to create winning opportunities for the team than Boyd and Cross have the ability to do. Boyd and Cross as the mainstay of our midfield means our quality of mainstay is about 15th in the comp. Funnily enough that's where we sit on the ladder.... Loosing Conney has destroyed us, as having only one class player (Griffin - and it could as easily be Pendulbury) is too easy for the opposition to shut down. I would only place Port Adelaide and Melbourne beneath us for caliber of the +24 year old midfield players.

Boyd - two times All Australian, two times club champion, gets more possessions than any player in the competiion and you don't rate him?

You must be joking.

[Sedat]

Re: Its Official - We Have Gone Backwards - No Improvement on 2011

Make no mistake, we have been completely ruinied by the loss of these guys, and it has exposed some of the picks we've drafted over the last couple of years. It's easy to pick holes in the club's stategy of course, and contract management is an area that should be focused on, though from a selection perspective I'm not sure we've been as bad as many believe.

My issue with club strategy is that Harbrow and Ward were unnecessarily lost due to the ineptness of our player contracts negotiator and list manager at the time. And that person is still employed at the club in a very senior capacity.

[jeemak]

Re: Its Official - We Have Gone Backwards - No Improvement on 2011

My issue with club strategy is that Harbrow and Ward were unnecessarily lost due to the ineptness of our player contracts negotiator and list manager at the time. And that person is still employed at the club in a very senior capacity.

Find it hard to disagree with you.

[KT31]

Re: Its Official - We Have Gone Backwards - No Improvement on 2011

My issue with club strategy is that Harbrow and Ward were unnecessarily lost due to the ineptness of our player contracts negotiator and list manager at the time. And that person is still employed at the club in a very senior capacity.

Agree, and unfortunatly IMO there is more grief to come.

[stefoid]

Re: Its Official - We Have Gone Backwards - No Improvement on 2011

How so?

[chef]

Re: Its Official - We Have Gone Backwards - No Improvement on 2011

How so?

We are going to get worse before we get better.