Maybe the plan is easy to coach against, hence it falls apart
Simple....to the point.....YES
We can all offer our theories, be they personnel, psychological or structure.
The past 10-15 years has seen so much innovation, counter measures, adaptation, analysis.
MM still believes his old tried and true cuts the mustard. It does not.
A head coach does not have to categorically be a master analyst, tactician or innovator, but
rest assured, he must have these types on his team. There is a need to dissect and understand
the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition. To both counter and learn from their innovation.
A club also needs medicos who understand the limits of the human body, not to be too hard or
too soft on the training track. To attain a competitive level without "cooking" their charges. To understand
some injuries can be "played through" and some can't. Some players can play with niggles, while some
lose intensity and confidence.
Our players are watching the boys they grew up with thriving in proactive environments, while they
languish trying to survive with antiquated, uncompetitive structures and development. Their motivation
and confidence is shot, yet they are expected to put up their collective hands and accept responsibility,
while the individuals paid good money to manage their professional careers point fingers at everyone
but themselves.
If Malthouse accepted the movements the game has taken, and enlisted the aid of superior tacticians,
medicos, analysts etc as other clubs do, he would have a future. They are a threat, as Buckley was, as
Alan Richardson was before being summarily dismissed while contracted after MM's appointment. Richo
played a pivotal role at Port Adelaide, before taking a senior position at a resource gutted St Kilda, and
is looking like doing an excellent job developing the kids, and making them competitive.
Our coaching and support staff consist of dinosaurs and plodders. I hope SOS has a good mind and broad
shoulders. McKay has allowed the MM wagon to roll along unhindered, so SOS has to be the man. Find us
a thinker, an educator, a communicator. (Think I am talking myself in to Bolton).
Don't necessarily want a Darren Burgess conditioner, as I think he is determined to see how far he can push
his charges, but we need miles in the legs and developed bodies doing battle. Too many players have been
underdone for too long.