Fantastic post Paul and something I have been thinking about for a long time. I don't post much anymore but still enjoy reading the reasoned views on here from time to time. I'm glad we got a win tonight and perhaps we should enjoy it while we get a chance - especially after the great week we've had! Unfortunately there were less than 12k there to watch it but that's hardly a surprise.
I'm fortunate now to be back living and working in London so miss the fortnightly torture of attending games that are all but over after the first half hour. I understand that grim realisation that the crowds that used to sit around you are suddenly getting much lighter (and older!) There has been a palpable acceptance that we are going to lose before the ball is even bounced. It was incredible to go to a game at the Gabba and look around at all the empty seats, hardly seeing anyone between the ages of 5 and 45. And so quiet! It's like attending a poorly dressed funeral.
I think the fall and fall of the Lions has been a great lesson in how not to manage the rebuild after a sustained period of success. I would love to see how other successful sporting franchises (i.e Chicago Bulls, St George Dragons, Liverpool etc) managed their next phase after a winning dynasty - it would make for interesting reading!
I also believe our fall and non existent (up to this point) rebuild has largely been our own doing. But I also feel as though we have been incredibly unlucky in many ways. I've made a bit of a list of just some of the bad mistakes we've made, and some of the bad luck that we've had to explain why we have continued to slide into irrelevance (IMO and in no particular order):
I'm fortunate now to be back living and working in London so miss the fortnightly torture of attending games that are all but over after the first half hour. I understand that grim realisation that the crowds that used to sit around you are suddenly getting much lighter (and older!) There has been a palpable acceptance that we are going to lose before the ball is even bounced. It was incredible to go to a game at the Gabba and look around at all the empty seats, hardly seeing anyone between the ages of 5 and 45. And so quiet! It's like attending a poorly dressed funeral.
I think the fall and fall of the Lions has been a great lesson in how not to manage the rebuild after a sustained period of success. I would love to see how other successful sporting franchises (i.e Chicago Bulls, St George Dragons, Liverpool etc) managed their next phase after a winning dynasty - it would make for interesting reading!
I also believe our fall and non existent (up to this point) rebuild has largely been our own doing. But I also feel as though we have been incredibly unlucky in many ways. I've made a bit of a list of just some of the bad mistakes we've made, and some of the bad luck that we've had to explain why we have continued to slide into irrelevance (IMO and in no particular order):