Comparisons with St Kilda

[melb_will]

So

A few years back we all saw the pictures of the young saints group hugging and signing reduced contracts so they could all fit under the salary cap.

Everyone thought to themselves yep here's a team whos about to be in the three year window for a premiership. Yet nothing happened.

Hypothetically if St Kilda had said stuff it, chucked a few guys, given away a bit of depth for a traded star or two would they have made a GF.

Apply it to our situation. Eventually we have to say look our window is open, give up on kids and draft experience and go for it.

If we don't do that we run the risk of all our players developing at the same time needing corresponding salary increases and all of a sudden people who do draft experience get the jump on us.

Its not a particulary good thought for club morale but I'm sure its one that the recruiters have to deal with.

Is there a time when we have to give up on recruiting kids and say our time is now?

Is it this year?

Personally I'd like to see one more year of this group, sit out of trade week, draft young. Then next year active in trade week and maybe PSD and go for it.

[play2win]

injuries play a big part in how a team performs over an entire season. the saints were decimated with injuries and still made the prelim a couple of times, given a good run, they would have made the gf and probably had a flag as well. to say they 'stuffed up' is a little harsh imo.

now they have lost a few players thru retirement and prolonged injury, they probably have 1-2 years before that window opens again. mind you their core group of stars are still in the top 3-5 of all clubs when they are all fit and firing (riewoldt, kosi, hayes, dal santo).

flags are very hard to win and they also take a little luck to win them.

[Hawkk]

Not sure about the St Kilda model.

Sure they drafted youth, but they also drafted an array of senior players - ie. Gehrig and Hammil, along with the youth.

Our model is probably closest to the Brisbane model of the 90's.

[Jencke the Big Horse]

They put a lot into Hammil the lynchpin at CHF which didn't work out. Any club hit by injuries will struggle so I think we are still good at the moment.

[Hawk0373]

I think the current model and strategy is coming along very nicely. Why mess with it or be concerned about speculative issues up the track?.
Success breeds loyalty (unless you miss your mummy) and by all reports all players on deck are focussed on the team goal, not themselves.
With Dicko, Vanders & Smith gone and looking at how confident Pelchin is with his play for Judd, I'd suspect we have plenty in the kitty.
The focus should be on keeping the group together and looking to improve our personnel in the deficient areas - eg defence, small fwds etc etc.
Still a lot of talent to nurture and plenty of years football with the current core group. Depth & competition for senior selection is important - we're getting there.:thumbsu:

[Cynic]

I think the only point we can take from the Saints is that talent alone will not get you a premiership.

[Leather Poisoning]

Comparison with St Kilda:

Unpopular coach, media-wise
Grant Thomas
Alastair Clarkson

High draft pick power forwards:

Riewoldt and Koschitzke
Roughead and Franklin

High draft pick mids:
Dal Santo, Hayes, Ball, Clarke, Goddard
Ellis, Lewis, Hodge, Birchall, Young?

Veteran mid who just won't quit and doesn't have to
Harvey
Crawford

Crippled forward that you'd love to have out there
Hamill
Williams

I can see some valid comparisons here

I hope we make the most of our time at the top though....

[BigAl3001]

I think the only point we can take from the Saints is that talent alone will not get you a premiership.

It's worth mentioning that a history of a winning culture is important. The saints are and always will be perrenial strugglers.

[Line in the Sand]

Young wasn't a high draft pick....he wasn't even a draft pick he was put on our rookie list. But i can see where you are coming from.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I think the only point we can take from the Saints is that talent alone will not get you a premiership.

Exactly. There are a number of areas we need to improve upon next season or we could actually go backwards. We have the talent, no doubt about it, but do we have the total commitment? Consistency was our biggest enemy in 2007. We can't afford to take ANYTHING for granted.

[That's deliberate]

Exactly. There are a number of areas we need to improve upon next season or we could actually go backwards. We have the talent, no doubt about it, but do we have the total commitment? Consistency was our biggest enemy in 2007. We can't afford to take ANYTHING for granted.

exactly..:thumbsu: