Goodness me we are frustrating club. We've got a lot wrong of late and what we've got right is arguably accidental.
Player Development and selection is sub-par with mixed messaging.
Gallagher - has shown a bit, but two-three weeks ago he dropped-off. It was the moment to identify the standard you expect and send him back to the VFL for 2-3 weeks. Instead, he has been allowed to stink it up further, allowed to coast and has lost all confidence. We saw the same with Arthur Jones last year. This is destroying development. It's outrageous. Now when Gallagher is dropped it's not the 3 good games he remembers but the last 3 where he appears out of his depth.
In the VFL last week v Williamstown, we are playing 3 non AFL listed players on the ball!. Why on earth wouldn't you give Clarke and A.Jones intermittent runs in the middle? WTF. The forward pocket role is notoriously difficult - give them the opportunities to get their hands on it build some confidence. Who knows what they might learn about themselves or what we might learn about them.
The same argument is doubly worse regarding Freijah - here is a big bodied lad recruited as a wingman - playing a deep defensive role in the VFL. A position he has zero chance of filling in the AFL for the next 2-3 years. No problem, there is an argument to teach him defensive patterns - fine. But a five-minute run in the middle each or every other quarter is not going to undermine the defensive learning and might just fast track his development.
It's the same with Cleary, - what are we doing with him? I see zero creativity or thinking of his development. Why can't Cleary have a run on the ball - Callum Mills was an average defender at Sydney before being moved. May work, may not work but give these kids a chance - hold them to a standard.
THE GAME HAS PASSED THEM BY
That Fremantle game should be the last time we see Harmes or Daniel in the Senior. The game is too quick for them. It's sad for Caleb who has had a tremendous career with us - but the game evolves and he is now being rag dolled. As for Harmes, what's the point? I'm not critical we gave him a chance but the evidence is sufficient to move on. He has a premiership - so a much happier career than most. Zero point giving him games.
TEAM UNITY AND PASSION
This may well be the biggest problem - we are not a team. Too many players are playing for themselves. I watched Geelong play Carlton and the support and genuine joy the players show for each other is outstanding. It would be a joy to follow a team that is so united -win or lose.
For Example - And this is not picking on West - it's a team problem.
You may all remember this play against Fremantle, Dale was involved in from the back line - had two possession and gut ran to receive a pass on the boundary, fifty from goal. He slots thru! It's the kind of effort that wins you games. Dale runs to the bench, West barely acknowledges him, Dale sits on the same bench with a two meter gap between them and as they proceed to stare out into space!
Contrast this with the Cats bench when someone does anything special. They are over the moon with a play of that caliber.
Repeatedly, against Fremantle we saw players refuse take easy passing options to players all by themselves in the forward fifty and instead bomb it to contest or take a low percentage shot. No, it wasn't just because they did not see the option. There were lots of those too, I'm referring to players with the ball 60-70 meters out with a player inside by themselves ignored. Options Geelong players would reflexively take.
LIST STRENGTH & WEAKNESS
Our priorities need to be to Secure the Talls; Develop the mid-field, find some X-factor
The spine with Naughton, Darcy, Jamarra, Buslinger, O'Donnell and Khamis - and Croft to come is healthy.
The mid-field is aging quickly and needs replenishment - Liber and Treloar are near the end and Bont needs less battering if we are to prolong his career for the next tilt.
Finding Richards has some elite mid-field assets is a godsend. As is Sanders.
TRADE AWAY
Lobb needs to be traded and every likelihood a team like Melbouurne would jump at him
Bailey Smith - don't need the circus that comes with him, has value will be traded
English - we can't to have so much money invested in a timid ruckman - get what you can for him
Work thru the list during the rest of the season and have clear idea who should be kept, who can be traded and who delisted.
DRAFT
The above should provide us with 2 first round picks and a second rounder in a highly rated mid-field draft crop.
Find a gun mid and someone with X-Factor and we're away before the Tasmanian compromised drafts arrive. Do not want to be caught mid-ladder or lower around 2027.
COACHES
Announce Beveridges departure mid-season allowing the club to properly interview and find the best candidate for the role. Pick a team with the best head-coach, best tactician and best development coaches available.
FOCUS ON TEAM FIRST UNITY
NOT A REBUILD ITS A RELOAD.
Otherwise we are coasting to nowhere - and in a competitive sport that's oblivion.
Player Development and selection is sub-par with mixed messaging.
Gallagher - has shown a bit, but two-three weeks ago he dropped-off. It was the moment to identify the standard you expect and send him back to the VFL for 2-3 weeks. Instead, he has been allowed to stink it up further, allowed to coast and has lost all confidence. We saw the same with Arthur Jones last year. This is destroying development. It's outrageous. Now when Gallagher is dropped it's not the 3 good games he remembers but the last 3 where he appears out of his depth.
In the VFL last week v Williamstown, we are playing 3 non AFL listed players on the ball!. Why on earth wouldn't you give Clarke and A.Jones intermittent runs in the middle? WTF. The forward pocket role is notoriously difficult - give them the opportunities to get their hands on it build some confidence. Who knows what they might learn about themselves or what we might learn about them.
The same argument is doubly worse regarding Freijah - here is a big bodied lad recruited as a wingman - playing a deep defensive role in the VFL. A position he has zero chance of filling in the AFL for the next 2-3 years. No problem, there is an argument to teach him defensive patterns - fine. But a five-minute run in the middle each or every other quarter is not going to undermine the defensive learning and might just fast track his development.
It's the same with Cleary, - what are we doing with him? I see zero creativity or thinking of his development. Why can't Cleary have a run on the ball - Callum Mills was an average defender at Sydney before being moved. May work, may not work but give these kids a chance - hold them to a standard.
THE GAME HAS PASSED THEM BY
That Fremantle game should be the last time we see Harmes or Daniel in the Senior. The game is too quick for them. It's sad for Caleb who has had a tremendous career with us - but the game evolves and he is now being rag dolled. As for Harmes, what's the point? I'm not critical we gave him a chance but the evidence is sufficient to move on. He has a premiership - so a much happier career than most. Zero point giving him games.
TEAM UNITY AND PASSION
This may well be the biggest problem - we are not a team. Too many players are playing for themselves. I watched Geelong play Carlton and the support and genuine joy the players show for each other is outstanding. It would be a joy to follow a team that is so united -win or lose.
For Example - And this is not picking on West - it's a team problem.
You may all remember this play against Fremantle, Dale was involved in from the back line - had two possession and gut ran to receive a pass on the boundary, fifty from goal. He slots thru! It's the kind of effort that wins you games. Dale runs to the bench, West barely acknowledges him, Dale sits on the same bench with a two meter gap between them and as they proceed to stare out into space!
Contrast this with the Cats bench when someone does anything special. They are over the moon with a play of that caliber.
Repeatedly, against Fremantle we saw players refuse take easy passing options to players all by themselves in the forward fifty and instead bomb it to contest or take a low percentage shot. No, it wasn't just because they did not see the option. There were lots of those too, I'm referring to players with the ball 60-70 meters out with a player inside by themselves ignored. Options Geelong players would reflexively take.
LIST STRENGTH & WEAKNESS
Our priorities need to be to Secure the Talls; Develop the mid-field, find some X-factor
The spine with Naughton, Darcy, Jamarra, Buslinger, O'Donnell and Khamis - and Croft to come is healthy.
The mid-field is aging quickly and needs replenishment - Liber and Treloar are near the end and Bont needs less battering if we are to prolong his career for the next tilt.
Finding Richards has some elite mid-field assets is a godsend. As is Sanders.
TRADE AWAY
Lobb needs to be traded and every likelihood a team like Melbouurne would jump at him
Bailey Smith - don't need the circus that comes with him, has value will be traded
English - we can't to have so much money invested in a timid ruckman - get what you can for him
Work thru the list during the rest of the season and have clear idea who should be kept, who can be traded and who delisted.
DRAFT
The above should provide us with 2 first round picks and a second rounder in a highly rated mid-field draft crop.
Find a gun mid and someone with X-Factor and we're away before the Tasmanian compromised drafts arrive. Do not want to be caught mid-ladder or lower around 2027.
COACHES
Announce Beveridges departure mid-season allowing the club to properly interview and find the best candidate for the role. Pick a team with the best head-coach, best tactician and best development coaches available.
FOCUS ON TEAM FIRST UNITY
NOT A REBUILD ITS A RELOAD.
Otherwise we are coasting to nowhere - and in a competitive sport that's oblivion.
