1st half of 2020 was the establishment of Simpkin, 2nd half is the rise of LDU. These are the prelude chapters to the grand story. The rise of individual characters eventually these characters will merge to form a premiership team. If we are to achieve a sustained period of success, we will need to get the foot in the door very soon. Top 6 if not 4 in 2022 and latest by 2023, if any longer, the synergy and energy will be dissipated. Take GWS as an example, their window for success was probably 2016, 17, 18, 19. They missed their window so narrowly in 2016, all the energy was lost and they got their a hole ripped apart last year and now they are meandering in the middle of the table. It's almost like a coup, you have succeed in one fell swoop otherwise you either get swamped or retreat to a secluded part and lose relevance.
Next year is the year to consolidate and fully integrate the youngsters into the key roles after some blood letting. The key positions will need to be taken by the youngsters and is already happen with mackay handling fb and larkey in the forward. Xerri will eventually take ruck and that's one big dominoe piece. In terms of midfield, we have enough elite talent for once but we need to develop excellent support/role players. Heres is where we really fall down against the top tier clubs like richmond. When Simpkin and LDU get to their prime, they will of course be as well as Cotchin and Martin however do we have the Josh Caddy, McIntosh, Dion Prestia type players? Answer is no, no yet. Through draft/mature age recruit/recycle/FA we need to get some quality support players.
Look at collingwood in 2010, in the previous year, they got trounced to the tune of 79 points against geelong in the PF but fast fowrard, they recruited Jolly, Ball, Brown, dominant premiers and 2011 would be the one that got away. So what has changed, like richmond at the end of 2016, they recruit a few players who were not superstars but were top tier support who addressed weak areas perfectly and turned it into an area of strength. We all know our weak areas and like all things, when you address one area suddenly everything become better in very short time. Richmond was 11th in 2016 to dominant premiers in the space of 12 months.
So in summary: Our bookends are young and starting to establish; aggressive ruckman waiting in the wing and is of the right age profile. A few top end elite talents with a clutch of developing really good players; a precision clean out will allow the real talent to emerge and to remove the staleness of the old regime. The team composition looks really good for the first time since the late 90s.
Next year is the year to consolidate and fully integrate the youngsters into the key roles after some blood letting. The key positions will need to be taken by the youngsters and is already happen with mackay handling fb and larkey in the forward. Xerri will eventually take ruck and that's one big dominoe piece. In terms of midfield, we have enough elite talent for once but we need to develop excellent support/role players. Heres is where we really fall down against the top tier clubs like richmond. When Simpkin and LDU get to their prime, they will of course be as well as Cotchin and Martin however do we have the Josh Caddy, McIntosh, Dion Prestia type players? Answer is no, no yet. Through draft/mature age recruit/recycle/FA we need to get some quality support players.
Look at collingwood in 2010, in the previous year, they got trounced to the tune of 79 points against geelong in the PF but fast fowrard, they recruited Jolly, Ball, Brown, dominant premiers and 2011 would be the one that got away. So what has changed, like richmond at the end of 2016, they recruit a few players who were not superstars but were top tier support who addressed weak areas perfectly and turned it into an area of strength. We all know our weak areas and like all things, when you address one area suddenly everything become better in very short time. Richmond was 11th in 2016 to dominant premiers in the space of 12 months.
So in summary: Our bookends are young and starting to establish; aggressive ruckman waiting in the wing and is of the right age profile. A few top end elite talents with a clutch of developing really good players; a precision clean out will allow the real talent to emerge and to remove the staleness of the old regime. The team composition looks really good for the first time since the late 90s.
