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Before the advent of free agency I would have said maybe. But only if injuries left us crippled to the point where we could begin to 'list manage'. I was in favour of finishing low, if not tanking. People always point to the example of Melbourne and Carlton as reasons why tanking is a fallacy but they forget that Geelong and Hawthorn both had down years. Geelongs year in the wilderness, while not technically tanking, netted them Selwood and Hawkins. Hawthorns several years of virtual tanking gained them Franklin and Roughead. Those two clubs have gained a collective 6 premierships off the back of those poor seasons. Sure they had to get everything else right, which unlike Melbourne and Carlton they were able to do, but those players have been integral to their ultimate success.
Even Melbourne with their awful club management will eventually become good if they keep stockpiling elite talent. If they add McCartin and Brayshaw to an already growing list of elite talent I would wager that in the not too distant future they may jump Hawthorn on the ladder as Hawthorn begin to eventually crumble under the weight of continually drafting older elite players. People can laugh but it will happen. Football empires don't last forever. Everyone thought North (90s) and Essendon and Brisbane (noughties) would never stop winning.
BUT ....
And this is the clincher. Now that free agency has arrived and we have seen the full effects of it in the last 2 years players are increasingly opting for clubs that will gift them finals, grand finals, silverware, hope. That's why they all currently want to play for Hawthorn, Sydney and up until this year, Geelong. The bottom line is, we have to sell hope. Not just to members and supporters but potential free agents. Next year Adam Trelaor and Jeremy Cameron will be looking for a new home. If we finish last they will not be coming to Collingwood. We have to give them a reason to come to us, we have to finish close to or in the eight and be tracking upwards.
"Hope is a dangerous thing, hope can drive a man insane"
Morgan Freeman, The Shawshanck Redemption
I agree to a point. But money gets you players regardless. Tom Boyd is a perfect example of cash over hope.
I think if you sell the concept of underperformance and can grab 2 or 3 key players with this notion, the others players coming too and cash that it can happen.
But you're right, and players chase success for unders too!
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We should be aiming for top 8 no point finishing last ye have a proud history with only finishing last in 1976 and 1999 we do not want to add to that
I don't think he was suggesting deliberate tanking rather if the club has a very poor year due to injury and age profile of list which is not out of the realms.
Yeah, nah....ABSOLUTELY NOT!
Out of curiousity OP, do you go to games?
I personally go to games to see our team win. That excites me, that is my passion. If I had the thought; "I hope we lose", I really can not see myself, dressing myself, my kids; paying for parking, food, beer.....just can not see my passion surviving a loser mentality.
Of course I would love a premiership, but I can not see myself loving to watch a team that does not play their heart out.....maybe just me....
Been a member (legends since inception) from 1990-present on and off for about 15 years mate. Been to 3 losing grand finals, 1 draw and 2 wins.
You're getting a bit off track. I love watching us win, but I can also walk away happy that a developing player had a great game (Langdon Elliott Marley etc)
I personally though would rather come second last and reap some benefit then runners up again.
Never would I hope we lose either. I was throwing forth a scenario and asking the question;
Would one year of severe pain be worth it for the ultimate success? I think so.
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I can kind of see what you are saying...kind of....but, I still go to every game hoping for a win...NO MATTER WHAT. That is not just me, that is the Collingwood way; you know?Been a member (legends since inception) from 1990-present on and off for about 15 years mate. Been to 3 losing grand finals, 1 draw and 2 wins.
You're getting a bit off track. I love watching us win, but I can also walk away happy that a developing player had a great game (Langdon Elliott Marley etc)
I personally though would rather come second last and reap some benefit then runners up again.
Never would I hope we lose either. I was throwing forth a scenario and asking the question;
Would one year of severe pain be worth it for the ultimate success? I think so.
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Finish last and the soul will be ripped out of the club with the mass exodus of players- and that means our champions- guys like Pendles, Cloke etc.
Non-negotiable.
This is the dumbest OP I have ever seen.
Runner up always totally sucks because you get no joy whatsoever, must spend ,most of the summer in mourning and know that you are 2nd furtherest away from the top end talent and one year closer to ending whatever window you might have earned.
Unless of course you are Sydney COLA and the top end talent just keeps on rolling in regardless. Ahh don't get me started on that again ...
So close but yet so far I read the runner's up no joy comment and was thinking except for Swans this year with Heeney and then read on that you went with except for Swans with COLA.
I generally rate your posts so please take this as some harmless fun.
Anyone be happy to finish last next year?
This is assuming we can do it in such a way that it doesn't poison our club or players like our close neighbours down the road.
Realistically if injuries don't go our way similar to 2014 we could finish last without tanking.
So finish last, get Dangerfield through free agency, deal with GWS on Cameron or we pick him up for nothing with first pick in the Preseason draft, and have draft pick 1 in the National draft?
Would you be happy with a year of developing youngsters and pain, if it meant success in 2016?
Pies á la 1977, but one step better?
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Players on huge money is not the way to sustained success in a salary cap environment.
This
Back in 2010 we had no recognised superstars (back then) - we were simply a strong well balanced team.