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#1
Season 2005, like 2004, is over in the first week of the finals and that says one thing: We haven't improved. If we did, then we wouldn't have been crapped on by Geelong and knocked out. If we want to be really honest, we were lucky to even make it. It showed character, but was it mis-placed?
If we look at our list, we have some positives and some negatives. But our biggest negative of this year has normally been looked at as our strength, which is the midfield, and our weakness, the backline, has actually stood up this year. Let's take a closer look.
Forward Line
It must be said that, for most of the season, it wasn't too bad. The obvious highlight was Robbo, who bled red and blue all year no matter what. His 70+ goals showed this. Gained respect and, hopefully, AA selection. The other positives were Davey, who backed up last season well, and to an extent Frosty Miller who gives us such direction through half forward. Motlop showed glimpses as did Yze, Green, Bruce etc, particulary early in the season. Holland was ok.
But the problem was Neitz, and keeping him on the field. He's not the same player he once was, and while he still has tremendous influence on the boys, he had a relatively poor season, and it hurt. He's a bit slower, his body can't hold up and he seems to lack confidence. I once thought he might have more time left, but he may only have 1 season left in him. It's a shame, but it's the truth.
So what do we need? A replacement for Neitz. We can't solely rely on Robbo, as we tried to today. He worked hard, but he's not tall enough to provide a target against 3. Dunn and Bate can't do it yet, Smith can't get on the field, so what do we do? Maybe trade for a Whitnall, or trying a Ferguson down there? Miller to FF? It's something we need to think about.
Midfield
This is, believe it not, where my greatest worry lies. While Moloney was fantastic for us (I take my earlier criticism back) and TJ showed some brilliance, it has absolutely no accountablilty and it goes to water far too easily. Bruce was great early, but never returned, Green never mans up and I actually believe poor old Brock went backwards this year. He got injured, but he hasn't found the ball in weeks. Colin showed something before injury, and the rest, well...
We need a real gun player in there. Too many times the midfield gets overrun and the backline takes the blame. That should stop. Our midfield needs to man up and take some accountability when the ball goes the otherway. We have some pace in there, and we have a bit of ball winning ability, but not enough tough nuts. SKILLED tough nuts, that is. Godders, Macca and others don't do enough with it, and Green, Bruce, Yze and others couldn't get a hard ball, or man up, to save themselves.
White struggled, but actually stood up when we needed him to. Hasn't been any easy year with the circle introduced, and he responded better than I thought he would. His influence is down, though.
Yze is another I'm worried about. If he's injured, don't f*cking play him. Stuff the run of games, I'd rather Stynes with the record anyway. He needs to lift big time next year.
But it's the worrying area. We SEEM to look good on paper, then don't man up and run in circles when the game starts. It needs to be addressed if we are to improve.
Backline
An area where I believe we improved. "Massie" Ferguson has tons of courage and long arms, "Hando" Carroll gave us a real close checking, hard at it type who doesn't give you an inch, Nicho was solid and I thought Wheatley gave us something too, especially when kicking out. He's one of the best in the game. Whelan was good too, but can be very loose at the best of times, while Dogga got better at the end of the year, although he's frustrating too.
My only concern is Bizzell, and what we do with him. I'm not worried about Rivers, as he just lost a bit of form and contended with injury. But Bizzell seems to have lost his place. He is almost 30, though, and I think the match committee woke up to the fact that his floating role isn't as damaging as it once was. He's too slow on the lead, and therefore there isn't much for him.
I thought Belly showed a bit, but needs a lot of work. But it's worth putting in, as he did show he can play.
But I think, for the first time in a while, I have some real, genuine confidence in our backline. It's just that the midfield lets too much ball come in. We could have been completely and utterly slaughtered early on today had it not been for our back 6.
Trades/Delistings
These guys are gone.
Heffernan
Godfrey
Williams
Read (sorry, but I think he is.)
Smith*
Armstrong*
* - could be traded or retained.
What about trades?
I think Jamar could come up as a possibility to SA, although I'm not sure how much we could get for him.
We need another tall forward, or a good, hard accountable midfielder (are there any of the market), and parting with a high pick, or a good player (Green, Yze etc.) might be the way to go. I like the look of Polak, although I don't think we could get him, but what about Bartel? He was great today, and he's holding out for $$$ Geelong don't seem to want to give him.
Whitnall is a chance too, and he might be the bigger chance in terms of getting.
But I think we need to be doing some real moves, and some real shake ups to the list. Finals should only be at the very least for this club, we need to improve and take everything to the next level. And to do that, we need a few better players, some improvement and SOME ACCOUNTABILITY!
The trend, in terms of finals, is broken. Now, let's build on that and look to season 2006.
And if you got this far, you obviously have nothing decent to do doing!
CFH.
If we look at our list, we have some positives and some negatives. But our biggest negative of this year has normally been looked at as our strength, which is the midfield, and our weakness, the backline, has actually stood up this year. Let's take a closer look.
Forward Line
It must be said that, for most of the season, it wasn't too bad. The obvious highlight was Robbo, who bled red and blue all year no matter what. His 70+ goals showed this. Gained respect and, hopefully, AA selection. The other positives were Davey, who backed up last season well, and to an extent Frosty Miller who gives us such direction through half forward. Motlop showed glimpses as did Yze, Green, Bruce etc, particulary early in the season. Holland was ok.
But the problem was Neitz, and keeping him on the field. He's not the same player he once was, and while he still has tremendous influence on the boys, he had a relatively poor season, and it hurt. He's a bit slower, his body can't hold up and he seems to lack confidence. I once thought he might have more time left, but he may only have 1 season left in him. It's a shame, but it's the truth.
So what do we need? A replacement for Neitz. We can't solely rely on Robbo, as we tried to today. He worked hard, but he's not tall enough to provide a target against 3. Dunn and Bate can't do it yet, Smith can't get on the field, so what do we do? Maybe trade for a Whitnall, or trying a Ferguson down there? Miller to FF? It's something we need to think about.
Midfield
This is, believe it not, where my greatest worry lies. While Moloney was fantastic for us (I take my earlier criticism back) and TJ showed some brilliance, it has absolutely no accountablilty and it goes to water far too easily. Bruce was great early, but never returned, Green never mans up and I actually believe poor old Brock went backwards this year. He got injured, but he hasn't found the ball in weeks. Colin showed something before injury, and the rest, well...
We need a real gun player in there. Too many times the midfield gets overrun and the backline takes the blame. That should stop. Our midfield needs to man up and take some accountability when the ball goes the otherway. We have some pace in there, and we have a bit of ball winning ability, but not enough tough nuts. SKILLED tough nuts, that is. Godders, Macca and others don't do enough with it, and Green, Bruce, Yze and others couldn't get a hard ball, or man up, to save themselves.
White struggled, but actually stood up when we needed him to. Hasn't been any easy year with the circle introduced, and he responded better than I thought he would. His influence is down, though.
Yze is another I'm worried about. If he's injured, don't f*cking play him. Stuff the run of games, I'd rather Stynes with the record anyway. He needs to lift big time next year.
But it's the worrying area. We SEEM to look good on paper, then don't man up and run in circles when the game starts. It needs to be addressed if we are to improve.
Backline
An area where I believe we improved. "Massie" Ferguson has tons of courage and long arms, "Hando" Carroll gave us a real close checking, hard at it type who doesn't give you an inch, Nicho was solid and I thought Wheatley gave us something too, especially when kicking out. He's one of the best in the game. Whelan was good too, but can be very loose at the best of times, while Dogga got better at the end of the year, although he's frustrating too.
My only concern is Bizzell, and what we do with him. I'm not worried about Rivers, as he just lost a bit of form and contended with injury. But Bizzell seems to have lost his place. He is almost 30, though, and I think the match committee woke up to the fact that his floating role isn't as damaging as it once was. He's too slow on the lead, and therefore there isn't much for him.
I thought Belly showed a bit, but needs a lot of work. But it's worth putting in, as he did show he can play.
But I think, for the first time in a while, I have some real, genuine confidence in our backline. It's just that the midfield lets too much ball come in. We could have been completely and utterly slaughtered early on today had it not been for our back 6.
Trades/Delistings
These guys are gone.
Heffernan
Godfrey
Williams
Read (sorry, but I think he is.)
Smith*
Armstrong*
* - could be traded or retained.
What about trades?
I think Jamar could come up as a possibility to SA, although I'm not sure how much we could get for him.
We need another tall forward, or a good, hard accountable midfielder (are there any of the market), and parting with a high pick, or a good player (Green, Yze etc.) might be the way to go. I like the look of Polak, although I don't think we could get him, but what about Bartel? He was great today, and he's holding out for $$$ Geelong don't seem to want to give him.
Whitnall is a chance too, and he might be the bigger chance in terms of getting.
But I think we need to be doing some real moves, and some real shake ups to the list. Finals should only be at the very least for this club, we need to improve and take everything to the next level. And to do that, we need a few better players, some improvement and SOME ACCOUNTABILITY!
The trend, in terms of finals, is broken. Now, let's build on that and look to season 2006.
And if you got this far, you obviously have nothing decent to do doing!
CFH.

