jarman said:
We will win a few here and there, struggle for consistency and finish between 7th and 10th. No chance to be a top 4 side. If we do finish in the top 8 we will not win the next game and be out the next week anyway.
Those of us who do not want to continue accepting "mediocrity” and that “looser” culture that CC has continued, we are continually howled down by the lot who think that we are doing OK and CC will all of a sudden produce miracles in 2006.
I would prefer a failure with a new coach than another b***** failure with CC.
<rant>We played this year with a new key forward line and generally with only 3 or 4 of our best 6 defenders.
We uncovered 4 great young players in Mundy, Peake, Crowley and Dodd, 211 started to really show something and after a slow start, Schammer developed further too.
Johnson, Gilmore, Murphy are awaiting their chances, putting pressure on the top 22.
Yes, Polak went backwards, Woods and McManus likewise, Hase struggled, Carr didn't excel and Bell had some quiet games. Dunn, Haines, Smith, Browne didn't do much. Hayden & Haddrill struggled with injuries.
We won at the MCG and Kardinya Park. Almost won at Footy Park.
But we were ended up 1 point out of the 8 - if we had drawn that Rd 2 Saints game, we would have been above Port on the ladder. If we had beaten the Roos, we would have got a home final. Done both of them and won one more (Hawks or Lions the obvious contenders), then we could have been 4th.
But we didn't. It sucks. But, read my first couple of lines again. We have progressed. We have a system. We have some depth.
Saying stuff like "we'd only lose if we made the 8 anyway" is absolute cr@p. We did develop from last year. We are getting there. I wish we were sitting top 2, ready to have 2 home finals and favourites for the flag. But I'll be happy with that next year.
The mob up the road was 5-8 mid last year. They then managed to go 8-1. We were also 5-8 this year, then went 6-3, losing to them and twice in Adelaide.
The Crows missed the finals last year.
The Saints missed them in 2003.
Port went from 3rd last in 2000 to 3rd in 2001.
If we start again, clear the decks, well, I'd expect nothing for another 3 years. CC's had 4 years. He's been lucky in 2003, unlucky in the last 2. He's made mistakes. Plenty. But he's made some great decisions too. Rotations... everyone's doing it now. Persisting with 211 and McPharlin in the forward line. Encouraging Thornton and Mundy's run from defence. He's started to man up the spareman in our forward line sometimes (he had an 8 man forward in the last quarter vs Saints). Moving Pav forward. Recruiting Black.
Once upon a time Sheedy, Parkin, Pagan, Blight were all premiershipless coaches. Port were chokers who couldn't win in Sept. The Wiggles couldn't win at the MCG. We couldn't win anywhere but Subi. Things change.
I think we are a good team at the moment... but one that's about to become great.</rant>