Coach Adam Simpson Megathread est. 2017 - Skip to 2024

[Convocation]

I've said it before but it really comes down to how Maric progresses. If he is creating goals from the forward line and kicking 30+ a season he's a forward but he has all the perfect attributes to be not only very good as a third tall in defence but also as an elite distributor from defence. We'll have to see how the next couple of years go but I think while he could be a very good forward he could be more important to the team and provide more influence from defence. Always a plan B with him to swing him forward etc if needed or there's a mismatch too.

In his interview with 6PR he spoke about conversations with Simmo and his line coach about developing as a player, and has been doing some training with the mids, more specifically the wing role. When asked about defence, he said he enjoyed playing defence as a junior, so would be open to it if the coaches wanted him there

 

[Schtinker]

In his interview with 6PR he spoke about conversations with Simmo and his line coach about developing as a player, and has been doing some training with the mids, more specifically the wing role. When asked about defence, he said he enjoyed playing defence as a junior, so would be open to it if the coaches wanted him there

Lets turn him into Jarrod Brander.

 

[flamingEMBERS]

Doubt Collingwood ever bottom out fully. Maybe one bad year, but with Free Agency only expected to be loosened, they’ll always attract players.

Geelong will be an interesting watch once Danger, Hawkins and Cameron go.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

As the AFL want the Devils to be competitive from the start they won’t just be getting draft picks but established players as well. Don’t think this has been spelt out yet.

By then our now 28+ players won’t be around or of interest. And as we’re short on 23-28 players … that probably means we'll have to give up mostly young players? That is, the backbone of our rebuild. Could this be more of an issue to us than other clubs whose lists are more even aged?

This could all be avoided if the AFL sacked up and moved/relegated the least viable of the 10 Victorian clubs (cough Norf cough) rather than diluting the talent pool by bringing in a 19th side.

 

[Grahame]

This could all be avoided if the AFL sacked up and moved/relegated the least viable of the 10 Victorian clubs (cough Norf cough) rather than diluting the talent pool by bringing in a 19th side.

I don’t know how long they can continue to prop up North. If they’re not competitive in another couple of years then both logic and finances would suggest they form the backbone of the Devils.
Despite the AFL being addicted to ever increasing revenue we all know it … just … won’t … happen.

 

[Bender_]

As the AFL want the Devils to be competitive from the start they won’t just be getting draft picks but established players as well. Don’t think this has been spelt out yet.

By then our now 28+ players won’t be around or of interest. And as we’re short on 23-28 players … that probably means we'll have to give up mostly young players? That is, the backbone of our rebuild. Could this be more of an issue to us than other clubs whose lists are more even aged?

Can't wait for Sheedy to be announced as their caretaker coach and get them off to a flying start with this modern and progressive methods.

 

[Grahame]

Can't wait for Sheedy to be announced as their caretaker coach and get them off to a flying start with this modern and progressive methods.

Robert Walls?

 

[Bender_]

Robert Walls?

Malcolm Blight.

Check. Mate.

 

[Smeg Head]

AFL will probably prop up North indefinitely, I mean Sydney with their supposed 'most fans' are still propped up after 40 years.

 

[Bob Fossil]

Lets not get carried away here. The groundwork and this gamestyle has been in the works since late 2021.

It was tried early on before anyone really knew what to do and we were blown away particularly early in games. When tried later on in games with a still reasonable squad it got results.

The last 2 years have been an injury induced nightmare which has an effect of players not being fit enough, not being able to gel and develop together and at some stages not even be able to train partial match sim.

I still feel this is a bit of a dead cat bounce and there is some good young youth most of the young players either need years of development and or just aren't good enough. Yes since arriving at the club Reid has been significantly better than expected but if Yeo and Kelly go down it won't mean s**t as we just won't be able to come close to breaking even in the middle let alone winning in there.

A lot has changed off field and we have seen a huge improvement in regards to preparation and are seeing the benefits now. It is however a long season and without a miracle injury run don't expect this level to stay. Yes our last 2 seasons have been horrendous however when you discount injury it was always likely on list trajectory that 2024/2025 would be our worst years.

Will the injury curse end up being a boon? Maybe as we have Reid in particular out of it. Just like 2008 when we went in having lost 2 brownlow medallists and then had an injury crisis so bad we had to play Tony Notte for 2 games and were incredibly lucky that Melbourne ****ed up and took Watts and we landed a generational talent in Nicnat. We also got our former skipper and the best player i've seen never to make the AA team out of that draft.

If things even revert to the median in regards to injuries we are in deep trouble and whilst I think Simpson and everyone involved particularly over the offseason and in getting the young players feeling like they are part of something is making a big difference it's hard to see us not have a bad fall of period whether it be some stage this year or next year at which point keeping Simmo on post his current contract becomes untenable.

The right decision was made but for the club to be any chance of making this a successful rebuild we have to be better than pretty much the entire competition across almost all areas for 5-6 years. We have to get damned lucky too.

I reckon the AA committee hate deaf cats and that is why Ash Smith never got the nod.