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News Edwards Retirement - Effective Immediately

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macca23 said:
Let's not be too kind to Craig and co.

I've just been talking to someone close to the scene and they tell me that the back-flip by Craig had nothing to do with what's right or wrong.

Apparently the leadership group approached Craig around 6 to 6 30 pm and told him that the playing group had lost faith in him and the culture of the club as a result of the way that a 320 game legend of the club had been treated.

Craig's re-action apparently was that he could stand losing the supporters, but not the playing group, and as a result approached the Board to endorse a back-flip re the farewell game - which resulted in them accepting the changed recommendation.

Right decision - but not necessarily for the reasons we all originally thought.
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I hope that's not true, but as your sources have proven accurate over a long period of time I fear that they are.

put another way, it lurches from bad to worse.
 
Wayne's-World said:
Cmon .....Macca has been a good poster and has provided some good insights on this board

However we're now taking third hand gossip as gospel, without knowing the exact words and context and again tarnishing Craig's image.

BTW one of the attribute of strong leadership is an unwavering belief in one's vision and methodology to achieve the desired result ......some call it stubbornness ...others strength of conviction

I did not support Craigs appointment ........so I am hardly a Craig man

But what he says, the way he and the club have handled themselves in recent years has won me over

That doesn't mean blind faith .......but I have heard others comment on other teams and coaches simply having a bad patch

But when the same thing happens to Adelaide we obviously are more emotive and the knives come out .....and rational thinking is only used for other teams other than Adelaide
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Mate - I don't recall asking for his head once (happy to be corrected on that as I've been frustrated with his inability to change ALOT this year). I have been incredibly insistent all year that there are big issues at the club. Slowly most people who are very positive about everything the club does have agreed with that FACT (due mainly to the NM game).

I do believe Craig and the club have managed the club poorly, arguably terribly, since the loss to Collingwood last year. I was O/S when Craigy was appointed so didn't get to feel the joy of the 05/06/07 seasons other than quick visits home during finals in 05/06 (went to every game I could). I've lived the 08/09/00 seasons game by game and feel we've steadily been starting to show 'cracks' as a club. I believe you've even said yourself that Craig has totally misread where the game was heading? (again happy to be corrected).

Look he could turn things around. I really hope he does. I was one of the first to post here commending him on changing his mindset.

However, there needs to be significant change for us to pull out of our current situation. I also feel he responds INCREDIBLY slowly to situations. That's one reason I am not massively confident he can change sufficiently, in sufficient time to make us successful again. He misread where footy was heading, he has mismanaged the playing group since the Collingwood loss.. AND has always been slow to react. I'm just not confident where that leaves us.

Unlike Craigy I don't believe you can just work harder and harder at something that doesn't fundamentally 'fit' and become successful.

If you don't think that's his general modus operandi... again I'm not really sure what to say. Tempted to throw in a weak Jacky joke but thats really missing the point isn't it.
 
Crow-mo said:
I hope that's not true, but as your sources have proven accurate over a long period of time I fear that they are.

put another way, it lurches from bad to worse.
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I agree with you

IMO Neil Craig's career is now in a death spiral, he is obviously now under some immense pressure and has been forced to back flip from some very questionable calls that he has made this season.

Three weeks ago he was telling everyone that Burton and Edwards were playing solid footy and any notion that they should be dropped was met with absolute cynicism from Craig. Yet three weeks later Burton is out and Edwards is retiring?? I cannot see how someone of their own volition can go from saying that all 4 senior players were holding their weight and how uncompetitive the side would apparently be without them to now our present situation in just three weeks. To me it seems like Craig's authority at the club is now under question and I suspect that the club is now possibly forcing Craig to now go in a different direction than he had planned. To me the Edwards backflip is another sign that Craig is losing his authority.

Definately wont be surprised to see Craig pull the pin at the end of the year.
 

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macca23 said:
Craig's re-action apparently was that he could stand losing the supporters, but not the playing group, and as a result approached the Board to endorse a back-flip re the farewell game - which resulted in them accepting the changed recommendation.

.
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Now Macca did you say this ......or did Craig say this .....or as your rebuttal post suggests it was implied

If it's not the former two ....then it's made up by the opinion of your source NOT CRAIG!
 
If that is what happened then there's your reason for season 2010 right there, and it's hard to see how craigy can continue in the position unfortunately. I think he's been great for the most part, by no means perfect but at the same time copped some unfair criticism.... however it's getting incredibly hard to maintain the faith.
 
Crow-mo said:
and yet your admiration means nothing to me, must be something about the way you disappear when challenged ;)
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I don't disappear .....I am just a bit dis-illusioned with some posters who think this board is the vehicle to set club political agendas

I am here to talk footy .....I am not here to respond to your silly one liners as they're simply there to generate a response and running debate ...which I know you love

Have something meaningful to debate and I'll respond ;)
 
Crow-mo said:
do you get paid by the wrong?

craig has already conceded the public backlash lead him to re-consider.
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FFS read my post again and get my comments into some sort of context .......are you some sort of intellectual dumbass
 
Wayne's-World said:
Now Macca did you say this ......or did Craig say this .....or as your rebuttal post suggests it was implied

If it's not the former two ....then it's made up by the opinion of your source NOT CRAIG!
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that's a straight inference from underlying facts. cause and effect.

Incidentally was just listening to Bruce & the panel talking at half time of essendon V Doggies about the Crows PR disaster over the last 24 hours.

I thought your "expertise" and qualifications told you that it wasn't? :eek:
 

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Wayne's-World said:
I don't disappear .....I am just a bit dis-illusioned with some posters who think this board is the vehicle to set club political agendas

I am here to talk footy .....I am not here to respond to your silly one liners as they're simply there to generate a response and running debate ...which I know you love

Have something meaningful to debate and I'll respond ;)
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you're full of shit and everyone knows it.
 
There should be a 24-hour cooling off period on retirements. Can't help but think that if everyone had slept on it we wouldn't have had this ridiculous, insulting week.

Whatever way you slice it, Edwards retired because he got dropped and was too proud to suit with West Adelaide for a week or two.

As good as he has been, this reflects extremely badly on him and is a poor way for him to be remembered. It doesn't take away from his career necessarily, but it certainly adds no lustre.

We may still need him to play this year. As it is we're about two injuries away from Jacky-time. Even though his form is terrible there is no doubt he would have played more matches for us this season, on merit.

If he'd decided that he wasn't happy with his form, felt that he was holding back a youngster, that he was best off retiring and that he would like to finish with a farewell game at AAMI, then what he needed to do was this:-

Keep his decision to himself. Take his medicine and play for Westies. Earn his spot back in the 22. Then next time he is picked in the 22 for a home game then tell the club that he has decided to retire.

Wouldn't have placed the club in the awkward 'gift a game' situation. What do we do if we win this week? And it wouldn't have added the same bitter after-taste to his retirement announcement that this weeks' dramas has.

Easy to think of this course of action in hindsight of course, which is exactly why he should have slept on it in the first place. I wonder if he had the week over again what he would have done?
 
Carl Spackler said:
We may still need him to play this year. As it is we're about two injuries away from Jacky-time.
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is that anything like:

THE_BIKE_STOP_____Hammer_Time_.jpg
 
Wayne's-World said:
Thanks for the feedback Macca .....but that highlighted part you've made up for dramatic affect

I know Craigy and he would not say or imply that
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Umm - not true. Macca is spot on.

The truth is that when Craigy met the Board last night, and trust me (even though I acknowledge you have no need to) they were well aware it could be a session with fireworks, they were happy to accept Craig's recommendation which included the backlash from the supporters. When Craig left the meeting to attend match committee, nothing had changed from what we heard Thursday. Craig came back from the match committee meeting after about 15 minutes and asked to speak to Triggy, and told him what the leadership group had to say. Craig's response was that he could deal with supporter backlash, but not that of the playing group and the decision was to approach Tyson and smooth it out.

My source is impeccable and rarely do I contribute due to not wanting to betray it, but in this case Macca is correct and should not be doubted.
 
Fergus said:
Umm - not true. Macca is spot on.

The truth is that when Craigy met the Board last night, and trust me (even though I acknowledge you have no need to) they were well aware it could be a session with fireworks, they were happy to accept Craig's recommendation which included the backlash from the supporters. When Craig left the meeting to attend match committee, nothing had changed from what we heard Thursday. Craig came back from the match committee meeting after about 15 minutes and asked to speak to Triggy, and told him what the leadership group had to say. Craig's response was that he could deal with supporter backlash, but not that of the playing group and the decision was to approach Tyson and smooth it out.

My source is impeccable and rarely do I contribute due to not wanting to betray it, but in this case Macca is correct and should not be doubted.
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That is very interesting, thanks for the input Fergus.
 

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Fergus said:
Umm - not true. Macca is spot on.

The truth is that when Craigy met the Board last night, and trust me (even though I acknowledge you have no need to) they were well aware it could be a session with fireworks, they were happy to accept Craig's recommendation which included the backlash from the supporters. When Craig left the meeting to attend match committee, nothing had changed from what we heard Thursday. Craig came back from the match committee meeting after about 15 minutes and asked to speak to Triggy, and told him what the leadership group had to say. Craig's response was that he could deal with supporter backlash, but not that of the playing group and the decision was to approach Tyson and smooth it out.

My source is impeccable and rarely do I contribute due to not wanting to betray it, but in this case Macca is correct and should not be doubted.
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OK, if this is true - and it sounds like it is - I wonder whether that's another crack in the wall for Craig? that's the second time in a few weeks the players have confronted him and demanded change.
 
Carl Spackler said:
There should be a 24-hour cooling off period on retirements. Can't help but think that if everyone had slept on it we wouldn't have had this ridiculous, insulting week.

Whatever way you slice it, Edwards retired because he got dropped and was too proud to suit with West Adelaide for a week or two.

As good as he has been, this reflects extremely badly on him and is a poor way for him to be remembered. It doesn't take away from his career necessarily, but it certainly adds no lustre.

We may still need him to play this year. As it is we're about two injuries away from Jacky-time. Even though his form is terrible there is no doubt he would have played more matches for us this season, on merit.

If he'd decided that he wasn't happy with his form, felt that he was holding back a youngster, that he was best off retiring and that he would like to finish with a farewell game at AAMI, then what he needed to do was this:-

Keep his decision to himself. Take his medicine and play for Westies. Earn his spot back in the 22. Then next time he is picked in the 22 for a home game then tell the club that he has decided to retire.

Wouldn't have placed the club in the awkward 'gift a game' situation. What do we do if we win this week? And it wouldn't have added the same bitter after-taste to his retirement announcement that this weeks' dramas has.

Easy to think of this course of action in hindsight of course, which is exactly why he should have slept on it in the first place. I wonder if he had the week over again what he would have done?
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Brilliant post Carl. :thumbsu:
 
Allefgib said:
Mate - I don't recall asking for his head once (happy to be corrected on that as I've been frustrated with his inability to change ALOT this year). I have been incredibly insistent all year that there are big issues at the club. Slowly most people who are very positive about everything the club does have agreed with that FACT (due mainly to the NM game).

I do believe Craig and the club have managed the club poorly, arguably terribly, since the loss to Collingwood last year. I was O/S when Craigy was appointed so didn't get to feel the joy of the 05/06/07 seasons other than quick visits home during finals in 05/06 (went to every game I could). I've lived the 08/09/00 seasons game by game and feel we've steadily been starting to show 'cracks' as a club. I believe you've even said yourself that Craig has totally misread where the game was heading? (again happy to be corrected).

Look he could turn things around. I really hope he does. I was one of the first to post here commending him on changing his mindset.

However, there needs to be significant change for us to pull out of our current situation. I also feel he responds INCREDIBLY slowly to situations. That's one reason I am not massively confident he can change sufficiently, in sufficient time to make us successful again. He misread where footy was heading, he has mismanaged the playing group since the Collingwood loss.. AND has always been slow to react. I'm just not confident where that leaves us.

Unlike Craigy I don't believe you can just work harder and harder at something that doesn't fundamentally 'fit' and become successful.

If you don't think that's his general modus operandi... again I'm not really sure what to say. Tempted to throw in a weak Jacky joke but thats really missing the point isn't it.
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Great post :thumbsu:

I I have generalized my feelings and tried not to aim them at posters ......however that trend is growing and like most vocal minorities there is a tendency to herd mentality.

There was a thread over a year ago that complained this board was too soft and too lovey dovey ......well ATM all those who post irregularly but love to express their negativity to life are having a field day :rolleyes:

Opinions can dramatically in football and can change on win/loss ratio ........win and everything's fine with the world .......lose and the clubs in disarray ......and if it isn't we'll still use that as an excuse and use all forms of small situations to support the case

Simply clubs .....strong clubs like ours, don't develop structural, list, or management problems in 6 months.

Have there been any personnel changes in the club that might be the catalyst .....NO!

Was there any talk of problems in the club last season ......NO ...why?, because we were winning and anyone who would raise that topic would have been belted into submission

Much like anyone ATM who doesn't support the "club inn chaos" theory

Issues from my perspective:

1. Craig did mis-read the direction of the game .....and trained tirelessly on getting that game-plan in-grained into the players

So yes he is tinkering with the game-plan again as the season is in motion

2. The injuries were at the wrong stage of the season ......during PS games and to the midfield group .....the area that we are the worse off for depth

IMO there are still players carrying injuries in games because they have to play

3. We stocked up on youth to get over the GWS and GC17 periods ......that unfortunately means we are exposed if injuries occur because they're just not ready yet.

It's also unfortunate and p......g me off that this board screams to play youth and within them playing 2-3 games they're being ripped apart as no good :rolleyes:

Craig is a logical and deep thinker ........he has a set path and I admire him for his conviction

He has misread the game direction IMO ......but he has changed the game plan despite what he is saying (albeit too late) ....and that shows flexibility

Do you want a Wallace type coach who changes with the wind and confused the daylights out of his players who didn't know what game they were playing week to week

Listen to all the revered coaches, particularly retired coaches and there is an admiration for Craig .......sure there will be changes derived from this period, and there has to be

But the emotionalism, the hatred towards the club management and coaches by this board has been disgraceful :(
 
Crow-mo said:
OK, if this is true - and it sounds like it is - I wonder whether that's another crack in the wall for Craig? that's the second time in a few weeks the players have confronted him and demanded change.
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Have they "confronted him and demanded change", or had an open and honest discussion with him, making suggestions that he has first considered and then agreed to? He has always encouraged and nurtured that sort of relationship with his players and the fact they still feel comfortable enough to go to HIM and not, say Harper or Trigg speaks volumes.
 

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