- Banned
- #51
Firstly...Collingwood is a club that won 2 premierships in the past 50-60 years. They won a flag in 2010, made the GF in 2011 and promptly sacked their coach. I don't think I'd be looking to them for advice on sustaining success.
I think our list management plan has been admirable but cruelled by LTI to some very key players i.e. Hardy, Menzel, and pretty much every ruck we've had.
You simply can't "plan" for ACLs and back surgery etc.
Considering our lack of early draft picks and the fact that 2 expansion teams have dominated early elite talent in the past 3-4 years, we were/are always up against it and to that end we have done very well imo. Kick away from a GF in 2013 with a crippled FF and no rucks was a mighty effort. Last season as well we finished equal top on points at the end of H & A but our structural weaknesses were found out in finals and some close game successes due to a winning culture and elite player performances papered over some cracks. But the point remains that we were in the mix right to the end.
It is disingenuous to believe the Club has no clue and is on the wrong path when all actual evidence points to a trend of excellence and consistent performance. It is easy to say we have a reliance on older champions but that is the very nature of AFL now. We are in "blue sky" territory now in list management with the advent of FA and aggressive TPP restrictions. Coupled with the fact that we now face a future of generally uncompromised drafts, our future looks solid. We do have a gap in the 25-28 range but every list has holes in it. I feel the club knows where it's going for 2015-2017 at least and it is not unreasonable to hope that with a little luck and good management we are in a Premiership window. The club clearly believes it by it's drafting this year.
No club wins a flag without a fair scoop of luck. Hawthorn did amazingly well last year to get pretty much all their champs fit and firing at the right time. Sydney didn't...nor did we. This year will hopefully be different.
Please tell me about this new player Hardy he must have been on the LTI list for so long I forgot him