Okay we all know the bad that happened and we are finally passed it.
But may I say that this is probably the best state that the club has been in since 2004. We are actually assembling a talented side with a goal to achieve something. We have a proven coach that has experience in turning a club around quickly. We are close to breaking our record membership number before the season even starts. The returning players have regained their passion. The younger guys are competing hard for a spot in the side.
Prior to the saga, the club still looked like the team that lived off its past achievements with expectation that things will fall into place for us. Since the saga, they have woken up and realised how far behind we have fallen by being too complacent.
Just have a look at our drafting from 2009-2012 and compare it to 2013-2016.
Just as a reference, I'll post the position that we've finished in each of those years so that there is some context. Mind you, we had draft sanctions in 2013 and 2014.
2009 - 8th
2010 - 14th
2011 - 8th
2012 - 11th
2013 - 7th
2014 - 7th
2015 - 15th
2016 - 18th
So it is pretty similar. 2 top 8 finishes each, even though are draft position didn't really count
So this is our draft performance. For obvious reasons, 2016 is not included. I will write those that are still on an AFL list or look like they will make it IMO. Bolded are likely best 22 this year for whatever team they play for.
2009
10 - Jake Melksham
24 - Jake Carlisle
26 - Travis Colyer (He'll start best 22, but I am not sure if he will be a start up every week)
Rookie:
Ben Howlett, Stewart Crameri
2010
8 Dyson Heppell
Rookie: Michael Hibberd, Josh Jenkins
2011
31 Jackson Merrett
Rookie:
Mark Baguley (debatable whether best 22 now, but certainly not a fail)
2012
10 Joe Daniher F/S
53 Martin Gleeson
That is a shocking run to be honest, especially 2011/2012. Only 7 straight best 22, with only 3 of them still at the club. 2009 was okay, but the best two players we picked from that draft in Crameri and Carlisle are at other clubs now. In fact, I'd say the top 5 players (not including F/S in Daniher) are Heppell, Carlisle, Crameri, Jenkins and Hibberd from that period. Heppell is the only one left.
Now let's look at 2013-2015 (even with draft restrictions):
2013:
26 Zach Merrett
55 Orazio Fantasia
Rookie:
Patrick Ambrose (arguably pushing best 22. Gave Brown the spot).
2014
17 Kyle Langford
20 Jayden Laverde
Rookie:
Shaun McKernan (expect him to be delisted in the next couple of years though)
Jake Long
2015
5 Darcy Parish
6 Aaron Francis (Would be very close if he can stay on the park)
29 Alex Morgan
30 Mason Redman
54 Mitchell Brown
68 Michael Hartley
Rookie:
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
That is 8 players in 3 years with draft sanctions compared to 4 years for 7 without draft sanctions. And that is despite the 2015 draftees having only a year at the club. Now I didn't forget about the compromised drafts, but we've managed to find great players later in the draft recently, so that isn't much of an excuse.
It is amazing to see so many recent draftees playing senior football and stepping up without needing to spend much time in the VFL.
Another positive outcome of the saga is the fast-tracked development of the youth.
Even if we don't do too well this year, it does have me finally excited.
But may I say that this is probably the best state that the club has been in since 2004. We are actually assembling a talented side with a goal to achieve something. We have a proven coach that has experience in turning a club around quickly. We are close to breaking our record membership number before the season even starts. The returning players have regained their passion. The younger guys are competing hard for a spot in the side.
Prior to the saga, the club still looked like the team that lived off its past achievements with expectation that things will fall into place for us. Since the saga, they have woken up and realised how far behind we have fallen by being too complacent.
Just have a look at our drafting from 2009-2012 and compare it to 2013-2016.
Just as a reference, I'll post the position that we've finished in each of those years so that there is some context. Mind you, we had draft sanctions in 2013 and 2014.
2009 - 8th
2010 - 14th
2011 - 8th
2012 - 11th
2013 - 7th
2014 - 7th
2015 - 15th
2016 - 18th
So it is pretty similar. 2 top 8 finishes each, even though are draft position didn't really count
So this is our draft performance. For obvious reasons, 2016 is not included. I will write those that are still on an AFL list or look like they will make it IMO. Bolded are likely best 22 this year for whatever team they play for.
2009
10 - Jake Melksham
24 - Jake Carlisle
26 - Travis Colyer (He'll start best 22, but I am not sure if he will be a start up every week)
Rookie:
Ben Howlett, Stewart Crameri
2010
8 Dyson Heppell
Rookie: Michael Hibberd, Josh Jenkins
2011
31 Jackson Merrett
Rookie:
Mark Baguley (debatable whether best 22 now, but certainly not a fail)
2012
10 Joe Daniher F/S
53 Martin Gleeson
That is a shocking run to be honest, especially 2011/2012. Only 7 straight best 22, with only 3 of them still at the club. 2009 was okay, but the best two players we picked from that draft in Crameri and Carlisle are at other clubs now. In fact, I'd say the top 5 players (not including F/S in Daniher) are Heppell, Carlisle, Crameri, Jenkins and Hibberd from that period. Heppell is the only one left.
Now let's look at 2013-2015 (even with draft restrictions):
2013:
26 Zach Merrett
55 Orazio Fantasia
Rookie:
Patrick Ambrose (arguably pushing best 22. Gave Brown the spot).
2014
17 Kyle Langford
20 Jayden Laverde
Rookie:
Shaun McKernan (expect him to be delisted in the next couple of years though)
Jake Long
2015
5 Darcy Parish
6 Aaron Francis (Would be very close if he can stay on the park)
29 Alex Morgan
30 Mason Redman
54 Mitchell Brown
68 Michael Hartley
Rookie:
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
That is 8 players in 3 years with draft sanctions compared to 4 years for 7 without draft sanctions. And that is despite the 2015 draftees having only a year at the club. Now I didn't forget about the compromised drafts, but we've managed to find great players later in the draft recently, so that isn't much of an excuse.
It is amazing to see so many recent draftees playing senior football and stepping up without needing to spend much time in the VFL.
Another positive outcome of the saga is the fast-tracked development of the youth.
Even if we don't do too well this year, it does have me finally excited.
