If you get more than 1000 games from a single draft, it is the start of an era. So it was at Port at the 2006 AFL Draft- Boak (306), Westhoff (280), Gray (255), Stewart (101), Rodan (120), Krakouer (82), Williams (2). But it looks like, for all of those games there will be exactly zero premierships.
It is very hard to be critical of Boak, Westhoff and Gray- they saw us through some very dark times. One could go as far as to say we may have lost our spot in the AFL if not for them. And all 3 are really nice guys. But therein lies the problem- nice guys finish last.
The problem was compounded by the appointment of Ken. A pretty good coach who has overseen the creation of a list good enough to win multiple flags. But he is another nice guy and we have won nothing under his reign. Just compare Ken to Clarkson, Hardwick, Cahill, Fos and Mark Williams. He is the nicest person there. The others have a steely resolve that borders on madness. The others are winners. Ken is not.
When you analyse Saturday night (our most disappointing and humiliating loss since 2007) there was one piece of the puzzle missing- true leadership. That mungrel that refuses to give in to the tide, a player that says “stuff this, follow me boys”- Tim Ginever 1994, Damien Hardwick 2004. I’m not saying Jonas should have killed that guy on centre wing- those days are gone. But true leaders find a way to make a statement on field when the chips are down.
I don’t doubt our boys are disappointed and hurting or that they have the desire to win a premiership. But wanting something doesn’t make it happen and I’m not sure we have the real hunger - that steely resolve.
At our first pick in 2006 we had a choice between Boak and another highly rated junior who may have gone number 1 if not for injury- Joel Selwood. I’m glad we took Travis but what wouldn’t you give to have had Selwood’s mongrel resolve and true leadership in one or two of our older players and/or coaches on Saturday night?
The Boak-Gray- Hinkley (nice guy) era has one last shot at it in 2022. Maybe the fact that it is now or never will bring with it some ruthlessness we didn’t have this year. I’d hate for Boak and Gray not to win a flag because at a club that exists to win premierships, has won plenty in the past and will win plenty in the future, great players who won none are quickly forgotten.
It is very hard to be critical of Boak, Westhoff and Gray- they saw us through some very dark times. One could go as far as to say we may have lost our spot in the AFL if not for them. And all 3 are really nice guys. But therein lies the problem- nice guys finish last.
The problem was compounded by the appointment of Ken. A pretty good coach who has overseen the creation of a list good enough to win multiple flags. But he is another nice guy and we have won nothing under his reign. Just compare Ken to Clarkson, Hardwick, Cahill, Fos and Mark Williams. He is the nicest person there. The others have a steely resolve that borders on madness. The others are winners. Ken is not.
When you analyse Saturday night (our most disappointing and humiliating loss since 2007) there was one piece of the puzzle missing- true leadership. That mungrel that refuses to give in to the tide, a player that says “stuff this, follow me boys”- Tim Ginever 1994, Damien Hardwick 2004. I’m not saying Jonas should have killed that guy on centre wing- those days are gone. But true leaders find a way to make a statement on field when the chips are down.
I don’t doubt our boys are disappointed and hurting or that they have the desire to win a premiership. But wanting something doesn’t make it happen and I’m not sure we have the real hunger - that steely resolve.
At our first pick in 2006 we had a choice between Boak and another highly rated junior who may have gone number 1 if not for injury- Joel Selwood. I’m glad we took Travis but what wouldn’t you give to have had Selwood’s mongrel resolve and true leadership in one or two of our older players and/or coaches on Saturday night?
The Boak-Gray- Hinkley (nice guy) era has one last shot at it in 2022. Maybe the fact that it is now or never will bring with it some ruthlessness we didn’t have this year. I’d hate for Boak and Gray not to win a flag because at a club that exists to win premierships, has won plenty in the past and will win plenty in the future, great players who won none are quickly forgotten.