Leigh's thinking perhaps?

[Haggis McHaggis]

A lot of people have been a bit miffed about losing Cupido but Leigh may be thinking something along the lines of..

We need Caracella.. he's just a few years on Headland and makes a ready replacement in the same role.
With most of our young blokes of under 25 playing quality football - i.e. Black, Brown, Charman, McDonald, Power, our future leadership team is set and in the making
After winning two premierships it's easy to get stuck on the idea of keeping a squad wholly intact but this can lead a club to stagnation.. West Coast experienced it.. the Bombers experienced it.. I'd hate to see the same happen here
With a fair few senior players lined up to retire over the next few years we need our quality 22-25 yr old players coming into their best football as well as taking on leadership of the club..
To ensure those players have good young talent playing under them, that we may have a balanced, quality side in the future in those years to come it was better to lose Cupido who had a few years on him and with #5 get in a gun 17-18 year old now who'll be set to be the next big thing when under our new leadership team.

[Stocka]

You certainly raise a good point, Haggis, about wanting to keep the side 'fresh'. I've mentioned it in the past myself, as well as recently in other topics.

I think one of the keys to this, however, is to endeavour to bring players through the ranks, after having drafted them as kids.

I think the addition of Caracella has the potential to work out really well for us, but one thing is sure though, that other clubs already have him pegged as a star player. He is a known quantity. Therein lies the difference between adding an established player to your team, and bringing up a young-gun, who is virtually unknown to the rest of the competition. These younger players (like Headland, Riewoldt, Cupido, Brown, Judd, etc.), could virtually be capable of anything, and when they do deliver the goods, it means that opposition clubs therefore have another star player to counter-act, that they wouldn't have initially factored in.

[kimp]

I think though Stocka that the Lions have always had enough midfielders to be a nuisance to any opposition. They knew what Dessy was capable after his first came of thes season - the reason that he didn't get much attention is because of all the other guys. Now they're in the same position and really who knows how Caracella is going to be played anyway? So who do they tag - Vossy, Aka, Black, Lappin, Power, Caracella? (hopefully also Notting, Brown, Pike, Scott)

With the addition of an experienced player they can really mix everything up and present a number of options that they couldn't do confidantly with less experienced players.

Seriously my only concern now is our forward line and in saying that I mean Lynchy's understudy.

Dpes anyone know if any of the rookies are likely candidates?

[Fit N Turn...]

Iv'e said it before(not on here) and I'll say it again!

Leigh Mathews is the best thing, that EVER happened too the mighty Brisbane Bears/Lions!
Enough said ;)

[ian68]

Originally posted by Fit N Turn...
Iv'e said it before(not on here) and I'll say it again!

Leigh Mathews is the best thing, that EVER happened too the mighty Brisbane Bears/Lions!
Enough said ;)
And well said too.

[luthor]

Yes but......

Just watch the doomsayers and the"everything is the coach's fault" contributors come out of the woodwork if we don't get away to an absolute flyer in 2003.

It's happened every year since Matthews started at the club.

Never ceases to amaze me.:confused: