The question is why has he waited until now, when we have effectively zero chance of making the finals at all. Everyone can see we'd fallen off the cliff 6 or 8 weeks ago with consistent second half capitulations occurring almost every week. We need a clean-out from top to bottom both off-field and on-field. Another wasted season playing has-beens instead of making the hard calls and opting for youth. I really don't think anyone should be off the table in our pursuit of talent in the draft / off-season. Even the likes of Sloane (who hasn't seemed spot on this year - I suspect due to the family tragedy earlier in the year).
Another poster commented that Smith should be captain, and I think that's not a bad option. Tex only stays if he loses a few kilos and has some speed and agility training in pre-season. I'd de-list Dougie, JJ (trade if we can to someone like GC), Mackay, Otten as a minimum. Even Betts should be told that he'll be playing SNAFL for the majority of next year. Sauce should retire or be traded, and we simply can't be playing both Crouches, unless we pick up some real outside options with pace. We need pace all over the ground - our defenders are even slow - fancy Elliot getting 5 against us, when he's hardly had a kick all year.
From Saturday's debacle, the only keepers in my view are Smith, Laird, Talia, O'Brien and Fogarty. I know Seed played ok, but he's inconsistent, and a B-grader at best. Milera's not up to it, soft and inconsistent, Kelly is hopelessly slow in disposing of the ball as is Hartigan.
Rant over, season over!
