Opinion Our grand final drought breeds negativity

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

An example might be resting players.

We NEVER do it. Always best 22, always try to win, never flirt with our form.

So we cart Thommo, Tex, Sauce, Pods and co across to Subiaco. Lose poorly.

Right move? Or should we revisit that prevailing, long-held club approach?

 

[little graham]

How do we win prelims with the way they're officiated when we participate in them, if we're not playing footscary?

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

How do win prelims with the way they're officiated when we participate in them, if we're not playing footscary?

I don't know, it's been ages since have played in one of those as well.

 

[Mattrox]

An example might be resting players.

We NEVER do it. Always best 22, always try to win, never flirt with our form.

So we cart Thommo, Tex, Sauce, Pods and co across to Subiaco. Lose poorly.

Right move? Or should we revisit that prevailing, long-held club approach?

A good start would be a proper football dept review. What do we do and have done? What is best practice? Where can we improve?


Last year we did things "differently" and went for bigger bodied players. Was this good?

 

[little graham]

I don't know, it's been ages since have played in one of those as well.

2 seasons...


Everyone(almost) who didn't support Hawthorn or Port Adelaide, universally agreed we got absolutely smashed by Victorian umpires.

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

2 seasons...


Everyone(almost) who didn't support Hawthorn or Port Adelaide, universally agreed we got absolutely smashed by Victorian umpires.

Oh yeah, forgot that one.

 

[Mike Smyth]

Will all change in 2016 when we win the flag, according to Triggy.

 

[Mike Smyth]

2 seasons...


Everyone(almost) who didn't support Hawthorn or Port Adelaide, universally agreed we got absolutely smashed by Victorian umpires.

I've met Port supporters who said we got smashed by the umps in that game. In hindsight and given the Tippett "error", it probably saved us massive embarrassment. I would hate to have a flag end up like Ports 2004 flag.

 

[DD#23]

That's working like a treat.

would collecting a few wooden spoons work any better?

 

[Iron]

I would hate to have a flag end up like Ports 2004 flag.

I don't think we're in any position to pick and choose what sort of flags we want.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

It will be interesting to see if anyone in the club mentions 'grand final drought' at any stage. The club actions and comments seem to indicate that we have come through an extremely successful era.

 

[Smoooothy]

Oh yeah, forgot that one.

Feels like so much longer ago

 

[Tex200]

It will be interesting to see if anyone in the club mentions 'grand final drought' at any stage. The club actions and comments seem to indicate that we have come through an extremely successful era.

Don't mention ze drought

 

[Mike Smyth]

It will be interesting to see if anyone in the club mentions 'grand final drought' at any stage. The club actions and comments seem to indicate that we have come through an extremely successful era.

Alot of supporters think this too.

 

[pjcrows]

I am still haunted by the wasted opportunity that 2006 was. It was ours for the taking and we choked. Plain and simple.

I agree that some injuries hurt (Roo and Rhett) in the Prelim but we should have, at the very least, made the GF. We would have rolled Sydney as well had we not choked in the Prelim against the Toasters.

Last year I actually took a deep breath, grew some balls, and watched the 2006 Prelim.

We absolutely dominated the first half. General play, momentum, everything. Our defense was almost unstoppable.

We had 2 shots early in the 3rd that would have just about iced it, but missed. We very rarely lost in 05/06 when we lead by 5 goals (how times have changed).

But as we know, we stuffed it and ran out of legs in the end.

To be 35W 9L over two years and not at least make a GF is rubbish.

 

[jenny61_99]

Or do things differently to what we've done in the past

New coach is not doing something different? New recruiting guy? New list manager? New CEO soon?

Of course you have to try different things. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. The problem of course with our game is that the base line changes from week to week. Different opponents, different ground, different playing conditions, different players available. It's a moveable feast. To get on top of all that you have to be pretty damned good. I still don't know if Sando has what it takes, but I don't think the club is standing still while the world moves around them.

 

[jenny61_99]

I don't know, it's been ages since have played in one of those as well.

2 years is ages?

 

[Crow-eater]

Last year I actually took a deep breath, grew some balls, and watched the 2006 Prelim.

We absolutely dominated the first half. General play, momentum, everything. Our defense was almost unstoppable.

We had 2 shots early in the 3rd that would have just about iced it, but missed. We very rarely lost in 05/06 when we lead by 5 goals (how times have changed).

But as we know, we stuffed it and ran out of legs in the end.

To be 35W 9L over two years and not at least make a GF is rubbish.

Wow. I know we dominated 05/06 but I've never actually thought about that stat before.

Makes me feel ill.

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

would collecting a few wooden spoons work any better?

It has helped a number of clubs climb the ladder faster than us.

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

2 years is ages?

reading isn't your strong point, is it?

Already said this.

 

[Mattrox]

It has helped a number of clubs climb the ladder faster than us.

Like Melbourne, right.

 

[Smoooothy]

Hate to be that guy, it was 35-14 over 05/06 - finals included. Still depressing

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

Like Melbourne, right.

Like Hawks, St Kilda, Collingwood and Freo.

But, Melbourne have even played in a GF since we have.

 

[DD#23]

It has helped a number of clubs climb the ladder faster than us.

the last two clubs that have gotten the wooden spoon and since gone on to win a premiership are Collingwood in 1999 and Brisbane in 1998.

 

[AFC979810]

Big difference between playing in a Grand Final and winning one. In my opinion there are 2 very important stats:

#1 stat should be premierships.

#2 stat is how often you finish top 4.