Progress?

[Scodog10]

Yeah the talents definitely there! I can only imagine how things would have gone had we employed a player development manager this year and not had avoidable player management issues to the likes of Witts, Langdon and Broomhead. Frustrating, but unfortunately out of control the club just needs to hold those in control responsible...

You did not specify the above, you said FD, and Balme is the head of FD.

Head of the football department lol.

It's clearly a football TAX issue, not a resources issue. Which current positions would you eliminate to free up resources for these new positions?

****ing none eliminating positions would be a dumb shit move, but one I would expect from our club in truth!! Pay the bloody tax!! If we can afford a damn netball team we have enough money money to pay a few hundred thousand in FD tax.

We'll make the money back immediately because we'd be in the finals

 

[1892]

It's clearly a football TAX issue, not a resources issue. Which current positions would you eliminate to free up resources for these new positions?

They're not new positions, we've had a cycle of plugging holes since the end of 2014. I'll ignore the promotion of Eade from Football and Coaching Strategist to Director Football at the end of 2013 as I think that position was to give Buckley an experienced hand

2014 - we had a full quota of positions (coach, 3 line assistant coaches, 1 development coach, 3 line development coaches, 1 ruck coach)

Hudson moved back to Brisbane, Lappin (forward assistant) was cut
​

2015 - no ruck coach, no backline development coach

Grace stepped into Lappin's role, no one replaced Grace as backline development coach
​

2016 - no ruck coach, no development manager

McCrae moved on and was not replaced, Rivers brought in as backline development coach filling the hole left by Grace's promotion 12 months prior
​

I'd assume Tapping has filled some of the void by the vacant development manager, however for mine having a development manager is not negotiable and the VFL coach and development manager need to be separate positions. Pay the money or tax if need be. A ruck coach could be an area of saving through dual roles, but only if you have someone on your coaching panel who's an AFL experienced ruck, which we don't.

 

[Maggie5]

Head of the football department lol.



******* none eliminating positions would be a dumb shit move, but one I would expect from our club in truth!! Pay the bloody tax!! If we can afford a damn netball team we have enough money money to pay a few hundred thousand in FD tax.

We'll make the money back immediately because we'd be in the finals

I agree with you on spending the money on the two areas you identified but resent the fact that you bring up spending money on the netball team.
Two different issues. What is to say that the netball team will not generate sufficient money in its own right?

 

[DaVe86]

Finals were portrayed externally as an objective by the club, so in that regard it's clearly a failed season.

If you dig deeper there's some positive aspects though and some questions have been answered.

• Grundy vs Witts - what shaped as a break out year for Witts in the preseason seen Grundy street ahead
• Fasolo, White, Reid, Sinclair, Howe have shown great form
• The bottom half of our 22 was unknown with an even spread across the list, I think we're better placed to know who's capable and what our best structure looks like
• When we play well we generally win
• A game plan is starting to take shape, you can see how we're trying to move the footy

There is no doubt that finals was the objective, and we should rightfully be disappointed that we missed out because I think we really stuffed things up early in the year.

THat said, it doesn't mean this year will be a total waste. The positives you listed are 100% correct. I can add a whole heap more as well because so many players have taken steps forward, and our VFL team is really strong as well showing our depth is improving. The fact guys like Marsh, Maynard and Howe have replaced Toovey, Goldsack and Frost are also real positives for example.

I think we are better off finding all this out about our team, as opposed to scraping into the finals, losing first round and still having the same question marks about the side. At least we know a bit more about our best 22 and also about how we play our best footy.

We also know that we stack up well against the best sides. If anything, we have played better footy against the good sides than the bad ones. While that is a concern, at least we know our best footy holds up.

 

[Scodog10]

I agree with you on spending the money on the two areas you identified but resent the fact that you bring up spending money on the netball team.
Two different issues. What is to say that the netball team will not generate sufficient money in its own right?

Two points.

1. It won't. I've done some analysis on it and it won't be profitable the club know this too hence why the business plan was never released to the members and put to a vote.

2. It's not core business. I'm ok with investing in other areas, but only once the core business is running on all cylinders and you agree it currently isn't.

 

[mattys123]

It looks like we will win 10 games, the same as last year.

But our list heading into season 2017 will be a lot better than the one that started season 2015 (yep last year) by a long way.

If we can get this draft and trade period right (like we did last season) we will go into 2017 with the best list we have had since 2012.

Progress? Not on the win-loss ledger, but definitely the list has improved this season overall.

 

[1892]

There is no doubt that finals was the objective, and we should rightfully be disappointed that we missed out because I think we really stuffed things up early in the year.

THat said, it doesn't mean this year will be a total waste. The positives you listed are 100% correct. I can add a whole heap more as well because so many players have taken steps forward, and our VFL team is really strong as well showing our depth is improving. The fact guys like Marsh, Maynard and Howe have replaced Toovey, Goldsack and Frost are also real positives for example.

I think we are better off finding all this out about our team, as opposed to scraping into the finals, losing first round and still having the same question marks about the side. At least we know a bit more about our best 22 and also about how we play our best footy.

We also know that we stack up well against the best sides. If anything, we have played better footy against the good sides than the bad ones. While that is a concern, at least we know our best footy holds up.

You're completely on the money that we're better off learning what we have vs scraping into finals and losing. In a weird way 2017 maybe the judge of this season. Like you I do like that we've played our best footy against the best sides, it's also a positive that we've managed to win close games this season. Hawthorn this season is a cracking example of that importance and we lost all our close matches last season, which sucked the life out of the season. Maynard and Marsh how did I forget those two?

 

[TW Sherrin]

Righto No SPIN time for your questions. Does it make sense to you that an AFL football club well resourced enough to run a Netball franchise does not have a ruck coach or player development manager? It's like stepping into the ring against Ali with an arm tied behind your back...

Rendell is the ruck coach.

 

[TW Sherrin]

Before the season started, I hadn't anticipated we would have used 39 players.
I have seen enough to be hopeful going into 2017.

when there where 10 best 22 on the injured list we were stuffed by half way this season.

 

[bunter]

I think we are moving in the right direction, am happy with our list.
the expectations for this season were a lot higher from me. in hindsight, the club and media pumped us up and overrated the development of our list and as a result we as a club and supporters overrated the team and also equally important underrated our opposition.
injuries and inability to play the zone defense haven't helped either............looking forward to us finishing strongly this year

 

[Scodog10]

Rendell is the ruck coach.

He isn't. Can we just put this one to bed once and for all? If it were anyone at the club it's Rocca.

 

[Stoods]

Can we please get a good run with injury next year!

 

[TW Sherrin]

He isn't. Can we just put this one to bed once and for all? If it were anyone at the club it's Rocca.

I'm just quoting what the club has said (I think it was Balmey).

 

[Apex36]

He isn't. Can we just put this one to bed once and for all? If it were anyone at the club it's Rocca.

I've seen him out there with Rocca tutoring our rucks, so he is involved in the coaching to a certain extent, but it would be a limited role given his other duties as a recruiter. I certainly wouldn't call him our ruck coach, more like a part time assistant to Rocca, who isn't a full time ruck coach in his own right.

I really miss having Hudson at the club. The development of both Witts and Grundy in the time he was here has been chalk and cheese to the time he's left (Grundy's last 6 weeks aside). Witts in particular seems to have lost the aggression in the contest that he had gained under Hudsons watch.

 

[Robroy22]

Whoever's been coaching Grundy has got it right to my thinking. He's been in great form lately and his work ethic and willingness to get in and get his hands dirty has just been outstanding. (Must have some great coaches to be that advanced at this stage of his career)

 

[Markfs]

Grundy's current form and progress clearly demonstrates we need a ruck coach...

 

[Maggie5]

Two points.

1. It won't. I've done some analysis on it and it won't be profitable the club know this too hence why the business plan was never released to the members and put to a vote.

2. It's not core business. I'm ok with investing in other areas, but only once the core business is running on all cylinders and you agree it currently isn't.

Still a seperate issue and regarding the Netball team, should attract sufficient sponsorship mone and if successful, can be okay but you seem to forget it is not always about the $$$$.

 

[Gone Critical]

We are playing better footy in recent times but there is still such a big question mark over the skill level of our team. Its hard for me to see currently how much improvement there is in this list when we have so many poor users of the ball. The list lacks elite talent at this time. We still have a fair amount of rebuilding to do.

With regard to the football department I have no real opinion because IO dont see the work of any individual in that area apart from Buckley. All the conjecture about the need to top up positions, spend more money and incur extra AFL taxes is just unimformed speculation. No problem with uninformed speculation as long as we see it for what it is. Bottom line is the worth of individuals in that department can only really be assessed internally

 

[Mame]

I've seen him out there with Rocca tutoring our rucks, so he is involved in the coaching to a certain extent, but it would be a limited role given his other duties as a recruiter. I certainly wouldn't call him our ruck coach, more like a part time assistant to Rocca, who isn't a full time ruck coach in his own right.

I really miss having Hudson at the club. The development of both Witts and Grundy in the time he was here has been chalk and cheese to the time he's left (Grundy's last 6 weeks aside). Witts in particular seems to have lost the aggression in the contest that he had gained under Hudsons watch.

Why omit the last 6 weeks?

 

[Mame]

Whoever's been coaching Grundy has got it right to my thinking. He's been in great form lately and his work ethic and willingness to get in and get his hands dirty has just been outstanding. (Must have some great coaches to be that advanced at this stage of his career)

Yeah. Hasn't the bloke just gone to a new level? But the ruck coaches aren't doing well enough. FMD.

 

[No SPIN]

Head of the football department lol.



******* none eliminating positions would be a dumb shit move, but one I would expect from our club in truth!! Pay the bloody tax!! If we can afford a damn netball team we have enough money money to pay a few hundred thousand in FD tax.

We'll make the money back immediately because we'd be in the finals

you are naive if you believe that Coll would breach the FD cap - it would be a PR disaster that would put us at odds with the AFL - there is no way that Ed would want that hanging over the club.

 

[Stripes B and W]

Enjoying this thread, a bundle of contributions from some of our terrific posters ( IMO ) Must admit i have been away for a lump of weeks and while i was able to watch some of the matches its not the same thing, but great get the G last Saturday evening.
I am far from an apologist for the Club, its structure and actions and i am in the camp of anything short of finals this season is a failure, so its natural we look for things that may have gone OK, in a sense giving us optimism ( false or otherwise ) for the future. Certainly some positives have been highlighted. Dumb to be blinkered to the negatives of course too.

I find it hard to argue that the clubs structural weaknesses allow us the do well against top 8 sides, whether it ends up being 4 or 5 we beat and perform well etc, yet also allows us to lose to teams such as Melb. Carl., StK. ( clearly those clubs have improved ) I get the lack of certain staff can mean an inconsistent or bumpy development. I tend to think we are just not talented enough to be good enough often enough. An example is skill execution, anyone can execute 6 or so out 10 blindfolded, but to do it 9 of 10 you need high level talent. Effort and intensity seems to have become much more consistent, qualities i have always thought as non neg. but a huge improvement over some earlier games you'd like to forget.

I'd like a ruck coach but its hard to argue our Ruckman hasn't made giant strides this year within the existing structure. The counter argument can be made with Witts for sure.
The netball thing i see as more a 'good thing to do" rather than being based on sound economics, although I'd like to the business case released also! You can be certain its received a huge tick from the AFL and Gil so there is some benefit to be had if a non monetary one.
The above is to not be dismissive of the netball comp. in any way, its an elite competition capable of surviving on its own but will look to benefit from this AFL input. Maybe more TV, general media exposure etc. with some potential spin off for the football club. The risk of course, is that when the core business erodes you are rightly open to massive scrutiny.

I think the key point in all of this is we are still years from our objective and given that the successful sides are also always improving you would have to expect change in many areas this off season, not just the more obvious player and list ones.

 

[mattys123]

Whoever's been coaching Grundy has got it right to my thinking. He's been in great form lately and his work ethic and willingness to get in and get his hands dirty has just been outstanding. (Must have some great coaches to be that advanced at this stage of his career)

Grundy's current form and progress clearly demonstrates we need a ruck coach...

Is it really a coincidence that only weeks after Matt Rendell starts taking more of a role as a ruck coach that Grundy bursts out in an AFL level, almost All Australian level ruckman?

Grundy had previously been instructed by Anthony Rocca only, that was the only time I ever saw any ruck coaching at all during training sessions.

But this year, especially the last 2 months or so, Rendell has taken the ruck sessions at training, and you can see the improvement in Grundy.

Just staggering to think that why we didn't do it earlier, Rendell has been at the club for a fair while now, but glad we have got some assistance for Brodie, Witts, Cox and co now.

 

[Apex36]

Why omit the last 6 weeks?

Im not sure why this part of my post seems to be a sticking point with a few people? Just because Grundy has had a good couple of months, suddenly there seems to be the thought that a genuine ruck coach isn't needed? How about instead of subscribing to that theory, we subscribe to the theory that Grundy, despite his current form, could possibly be even better than he currently is if he had a genuine ruck coach teaching him his craft?
Is it really that hard for people to admit that our players, even the ones in good form, could be better if they were all getting the right coaching? Grundy, is a super talent, and was always going to end up as one of the better, if not best rucks in the competition, but if he's given the right coaching support, the sky is the limit. I want our club to give our players the best chance of succeeding, and if that means blowing the footy dept cap and paying a tax, then so be it.

 

[Brad Goodman]

I wrote us off about five minutes into round one when Swanny got hurt. His absence has been more noticeable than we even realise - could have seen him kick 35-40 goals as a crumbing forward to go with his standard hard running in the midfield.