Remove this Banner Ad

Opinion 2024 and Beyond

Where will the Bloods finish in 2024

  • Premiership

    Votes: 24 24.7%

  • Top 4

    Votes: 46 47.4%

  • Top 8

    Votes: 23 23.7%

  • 9th - 14th

    Votes: 4 4.1%

  • Bottom 4

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    97

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Big Blood said:
Definitely agree it's inability to cope with pressure but I don't think it's an off-field thing.

In 2014 Hawks came at us (revenge for 2012 and Buddy) and we wen to water. In 2012 GF we laid 110 tackles. I remember checking the tackle count in 3rd or 4th quarter and it was 35 (I know I could look it up...). Some wise person said we needed a Mumford. Exactly, someone who could protect Hannebery who was being targeted and instill some fear into Hawks.
In 2022 some other wise guy said we just got beaten up. I think true because we didn't have the big bodies and the big game experience. We needed a JPK and Mumford again to protect and win the hard ball. All those years of recruiting smart, precise-kicking outside players worked to our detriment.

That's my contribution to the rant-off.
Click to expand...
Nah that's a very fair contribution. I don't disagree with any of that, but I still feel like those are easy to say in hindsight because too many of our players just haven't stood up in grand finals. Take 2016 for example. JPK was herculean that day and even had some quality support from Mitchell. Our midfield still got belted and by game's end you probably still only needed one hand to count the players who actually had good performances.

What is it that seems to make so many of our players go into their shells in those situations, as opposed to rising to the occasion? I feel like not being used to the pressure, scrutiny, attention and hype would make it hard to play well when those things are added on, which they always are in a grand final.
 
The King! said:
We have an afl appointed board

or we only elect 2 at least I think.

Happy to be corrected , but if that's right we aren't going to be telling the afl where to go 🤣
Click to expand...

Board members are appointed by other board members. In almost any vote, the 'Transitional Member' (i.e. the AFL) is the only person who gets a vote. The exception is for the elected directors where rank and file club members can vote (provided you have a full membership). Even then, the so-called 'elected directors' are rarely elected because they are almost always unopposed. There was a rare instance of a regular fan running for one of those elected positions at the last AGM - but of course he lost to Leo Barry who had been lined up by the club.
 
Last edited:
I think we have too many of the same personality types, too many responsible, consistent, tow the line types.

We need a few more with a bit of bravado. Types that come to the fore when the stakes are highest. Warner and papley spring to mind, I think blakey has a bit of that.

Then you've got the Gulden's, who let's face it, has it all. But most importantly, has the commitment and work ethic to train hard, and a will to win on the field.

We also have a few soft players. But I won't name names.

We have enough 1s, could do with a couple more 2s, would love a team full of 3s (but they're the rarest breed) and would cut 4s if I had my way.
 
caesar88 said:
Nah that's a very fair contribution. I don't disagree with any of that, but I still feel like those are easy to say in hindsight because too many of our players just haven't stood up in grand finals. Take 2016 for example. JPK was herculean that day and even had some quality support from Mitchell. Our midfield still got belted and by game's end you probably still only needed one hand to count the players who actually had good performances.

What is it that seems to make so many of our players go into their shells in those situations, as opposed to rising to the occasion? I feel like not being used to the pressure, scrutiny, attention and hype would make it hard to play well when those things are added on, which they always are in a grand final.
Click to expand...
Not sure if the off-field scrutiny helps the on field performance. Remember Richmond had 40 years of mediocrity despite the Tiger Army, Essendon and Carlton likewise.

But I do wonder if we're too nice. I love that we're a principled ethical club but maybe we need more mongrel? Not suggesting we should compromise on standards but would've liked to have seen us start a fight in Q1 of the GF to get in the faces (and the heads) of the Cats.
 

Log in to remove this Banner Ad

Big Blood said:
Not sure if the off-field scrutiny helps the on field performance. Remember Richmond had 40 years of mediocrity despite the Tiger Army, Essendon and Carlton likewise.

But I do wonder if we're too nice. I love that we're a principled ethical club but maybe we need more mongrel? Not suggesting we should compromise on standards but would've liked to have seen us start a fight in Q1 of the GF to get in the faces (and the heads) of the Cats.
Click to expand...
We definitely need more mongrel. That's why I love seeing someone like Wicks getting into his opponent, even if he gives away a free every now and again, at least he shows he has a backbone.

We are too nice, and we need to get tougher. There are a few exceptions, JPK for example, I always admired how he went about his footy. He never got into any crap off the ball, and that was because he didn't need to. He was so good, so disciplined and so determined, that he let his footy do the talking, and it spoke volumes.

If your footy speaks, do your thing. But if you're not impacting the game. If you're not beating your opponent. At least make them earn it. And if the opposition get stuck into your teammate, go in and fly the flag. Obviously keeping it disciplined where possible. But stand up for yourself and each other.
 
I’ve been thinking about it and one positional change I’d be really keen on this off-season is Hayward to defence. I’ve been impressed with his play when he has been shifted back over the past few years and I think his skill set is actually well suited to what the current game incentivises for defenders: he can take an intercept mark, he’s a good size who can play small and tall so he’s flexible, and his kicking around the ground is neat and confident. I’d be seriously considering shifting him down back to add another intercepting threat and leaving McInerney forward where his run and creativity was so useful in the back half of the year.
 
Big Blood said:
Definitely agree it's inability to cope with pressure but I don't think it's an off-field thing.

In 2014 Hawks came at us (revenge for 2012 and Buddy) and we wen to water. In 2012 GF we laid 110 tackles. I remember checking the tackle count in 3rd or 4th quarter and it was 35 (I know I could look it up...). Some wise person said we needed a Mumford. Exactly, someone who could protect Hannebery who was being targeted and instill some fear into Hawks.
In 2022 some other wise guy said we just got beaten up. I think true because we didn't have the big bodies and the big game experience. We needed a JPK and Mumford again to protect and win the hard ball. All those years of recruiting smart, precise-kicking outside players worked to our detriment.

That's my contribution to the rant-off.
Click to expand...
Longmire talks a lot about age. He is probably not wrong.
 
I get the temptation to move Haywood and Heeney around (I was suggesting that Heeney could play defence to build some form mid last season), but I reckon we have to first give them a shot to perform in their current positions.

A new year, improved clearances, and change in mindset (much easier to come back fresher and hungrier from a narrow finals loss than our GF oblivion) could make a world of difference.
 
Since we are getting Adams and Mills is out for at least half the 2024 season what do people think about potentially making Adams a captain? He is a VC at Collingwood and I guess it sort of depends on peoples thoughts on making a new player at your club into a leader, something he was at his old club.
 
RUNVS said:
Since we are getting Adams and Mills is out for at least half the 2024 season what do people think about potentially making Adams a captain? He is a VC at Collingwood and I guess it sort of depends on peoples thoughts on making a new player at your club into a leader, something he was at his old club.
Click to expand...

Not in favour. Leadership group, sure. Captain, no.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

RUNVS said:
Since we are getting Adams and Mills is out for at least half the 2024 season what do people think about potentially making Adams a captain? He is a VC at Collingwood and I guess it sort of depends on peoples thoughts on making a new player at your club into a leader, something he was at his old club.
Click to expand...
I doubt it. I understand captains are at least in part selected by the players. He needs to earn their respect and trust first.
 
Rampe - Hamling - Lloyd
Blakey - McCartin - Florent
Gulden - Mills - Campbell
Parker - McDonald - Heeney
Papley - Amartey - Hayward
Grundy - Warner - Adams
----
I/C: Fox, Rowbottom, McInereney, McLean
  • Cunningham sub
  • Emerg: Jordon, Ladhams, Wicks, Francis or Reid

Jordon in for Mills whilst Mills still injured.

Outside best 22/VFL team -

Edwards - Melican - Cunningham
Vickery - Arnold - Draftee
Mitchell - Jordon - Co. Warner
Magor - Reid - Francis
Wicks - Buller - Konstanty
Ladhams - Roberts - Sheldrick
----
I/C: McAndrew ... 3 draftees/VFL squad members

Looking pretty good.
 
SydneyBlood said:
Rampe - Hamling - Lloyd
Blakey - McCartin - Florent
Gulden - Mills - Campbell
Parker - McDonald - Heeney
Papley - Amartey - Hayward
Grundy - Warner - Adams
----
I/C: Fox, Rowbottom, McInereney, McLean
  • Cunningham sub
  • Emerg: Jordon, Ladhams, Wicks, Francis or Reid

Jordon in for Mills whilst Mills still injured.

Outside best 22/VFL team -

Edwards - Melican - Cunningham
Vickery - Arnold - Draftee
Mitchell - Jordon - Co. Warner
Magor - Reid - Francis
Wicks - Buller - Konstanty
Ladhams - Roberts - Sheldrick
----
I/C: McAndrew ... 3 draftees/VFL squad members

Looking pretty good.
Click to expand...
Seniors
Hayward needs to play higher exchange with Heeney or Parker
VFL
Play Francis in defence.
McAndrew first ruck.
Ladhams second ruck/third tall
Vickery wing
Warner HFF
Not too bad.
Going to be plenty of competition for spots.
 

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Kiama Chris said:
Seniors
Hayward needs to play higher exchange with Heeney or Parker
VFL
Play Francis in defence.
McAndrew first ruck.
Ladhams second ruck/third tall
Vickery wing
Warner HFF
Not too bad.
Going to be plenty of competition for spots.
Click to expand...

Big battle for bottom 6 spots, it'll be decided by team structure & individual form. Exactly what you need in a premiership challenging list.
 
Assuming our trading is done (suuuuurely we don't have any more tricks up our sleeve?), I thought I'd have a go at our best 22 for 2024. This is assuming it's round 1 and players like Mills are injured. I've gone with all of the players who I think are locks, and then left spots where I think a position is up for grabs.

B - Dane Rampe, Tom McCartin, Harry Cunningham
HB - Nick Blakey, ________, Jake Lloyd
C - Justin McInerney, Errol Gulden, Braeden Campbell
HF - Luke Parker, Logan McDonald, Isaac Heeney
F - Tom Papley, Hayden McLean, _______
Foll - Brodie Grundy, James Rowbottom, Chad Warner

I/C - Ollie Florent, Taylor Adams, Joel Amartey, _______

I think there's two obvious candidates for each of those first two vacancies:

The centre half back role will clearly be between Hamling & Melican, both players who can do the role but who are perennially injured. Hamling probably the better player with more exposed form at this stage, but Melican the most recently fit and available of the two.

And the forward pocket role will clearly be between Hayward & Wicks, two players most likely to be affected by Parker probably spending more time forward. From there it depends if we want another medium forward or more of a ground level pressure type.

And then there's just a vacant spot on the bench, take your pick from a number of players. Does Jordon get in as a third player in the wing rotation? Does Sheldrick get in even with the acquirement of Adams? Or does the non-chosen one of that Hayward/Wicks duel get the spot so that Parker can spend more time in the mids instead of Sheldrick? Does a Rampe start getting on and/or getting injuries, meaning BOTH of Melican & Hamling get in the team?

Lots of questions, but more importantly, lots of options. And that's with arguably our best player out with injury at this point.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Opinion 2024 and Beyond

Similar threads

SwansProudly
POTY 2024 Round 10 Sydney v. Carlton
2
Replies
37
Views
1K
bedford
B
SwansProudly
Toast 2024 Best and Fairest - Skilton Medal
5 6 7 8 9
Replies
201
Views
8K
GoTheSwannies
G
P
Opinion 2024 Who to cull
2
Replies
39
Views
3K
rustycrate
rustycrate
SwansProudly
Brownlow 2024 Brownlow Medal Discussion
17 18 19 20 21
Replies
503
Views
12K
LukeParkerno1
LukeParkerno1
Bonz
Meet Up 2024 Meet-up - Finals
3 4 5 6 7
Replies
157
Views
6K
bedford
B
SwansProudly
POTY 2024 GF Swans v. Lions
Replies
24
Views
1K
S120
S120
caesar88
Opinion 2024 AFL Draft - Nights 1 & 2, from 7pm AEST
70 71 72 73 74
Replies
2K
Views
45K
rustycrate
rustycrate

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Back
Top