I think it is a bunch of factors that have a history, now coming together in a perfect storm. But the two big issues are game plan and player development.
Brad's game plan has worked over the years when the players have brought the intensity to the contest, but without it our zoning style gets picked apart by fast movement and precise kicking. I can say that usually the likely outcome has been clear 10 minutes into the first quarter, especially if its obvious we haven't clicked the switch. And without any Plan B, which I initially thought was just a running gag but is actually so true, we are very one-dimensional and easy to coach against. For some reason, the players have not been motivated to go at 100% for most of the games so far this year. Whether that is due to gelling with the new players, a reaction to the new rules, or over-coaching, time will tell, but if the team doesn't raise a yelp this Friday with a 4-quarter effort then the signs are the players are no longer buying into Brad's style of footy (which appears dull, predictable, and robotic in 2019).
The player development issue is a deeper problem for me and has been seriously exposed. Brad has never had a great record in developing talent. Cunners was stalled for years before becoming a star. JZ has never reached his full potential and only just started playing as a forward. Ats still doesn't know where he should be playing. Maj held back for years. BBB is a self-made footballer. Goldy is probably the biggest success under Brad, with Froggy the other one showing steady development. But, in general, our most important players have been our old-gen (Boomer, Petrie, Wells, Spud, Taz, Thommo) and our imports (Higgo, Waite, BJ, Dal Santo, with Polec and Pittard now). What has happened to Wood, Simpkin, Turner, Ahern, LMac, Durdin, BMac, Larkey, etc? For me, this group shows how Brad's highly structured game plan doesn't encourage young players to develop their craft, rather it trains them to follow Brad's system. Where are the emerging stars at North? I'm terrified that LDU, Walker, TT, Scott, and Taylor will all regress too under this regime.
And the new 666 rules and efforts to reduce the influence of coaches seems to have exposed our brand of football. As other coaches are giving players more freedom, Brad seems to be unable to reinvent himself and his science of football. And all the talk of Boys Club suggests he simply has too much power and control of the club, such that the things that are plain to see externally aren't raised internally or his approach simply doesn't work well enough.
Put simply, we need a new coach (or coaches) to actually know if our players can play. And a win on the back of a 4-quarter 100% effort on Friday won't resolve that problem.