Ive noticed all these threads, everyone having a dig at the likely wooden spooners. Fair enough, it happens to other clubs, we should be no exception.
One thing I think everyone is forgetting is that football works in cycles. I was watching over some games from when we were smashing everyone in 2000. A lot of other teams mainly had youngers in their first 3 years, whom definitely didnt have mature bodies and struggled to compete. We are now in a similar position.
Look at the premiership teams of recent years. All had many mature bodies. Just because we are losing every week now doesnt mean these guys wont be winning matches in years to come. They will become more experienced, their bodies will be stronger, combined with some better direction and stroke of luck come injury wise anything is possible.
Dyson, Watson, Monfries, Winderlich, Bradley, Dempsey, Johns, Jolley, Laycock, Lee, Lovett-Murray, Welsh, McPhee, Lovett, Slattery, Ryder and Stanton are all still young and have their best footy in front of them. Sure some are poor at times, but its much easier to look good when a team is winning. Also don't forget that they are generally competing against players who have weight and experience advantages. We can't expect miracles. It isn't like 1993 when the Baby bombers could control games. Nowadays, players are on a physical development timeline, they get bigger, they get stronger, any time of off the track sets you back.
If we get a fit Lloyd back next year and if his form is anything like the way he started off this year, then he will make a huge difference, especially to our structure. Add Johns and Lucas in there along with the likes of Monfries, Lovett and even Hird and we will be dangerous next year.
Say we get three 1st round picks in this years draft (esp Gibbs), they will add to the team immensely.
Then all we can hope for is for Fletch, the Johnsons, McVeigh, Campo, Heffernan, Hille and Solly to have injury free seasons and provide experienced heads.
Cartledge, Bolton, Henno, Pev, Rama and Rioli will all probably either be gone or at years end to go along with all the delistings from last season. We will be an up and coming side and once these youngsters begin to peak we will be a very competitive side for years to come
Many of you can suggest that ‘we’ve had everyone but Lloyd this season’ but there are other factors that come into it. We were on fire in the first game against Sydney. That team that night would have troubled most teams. The next five or so games we lost narrowly, if certain things had happened, such as umpire decisions or injuries didn’t occur things could have been different. I think we kicked the first 5 goals of the game against the Bulldogs until they got two goals from one possession. Lloyd went down and the team hasn’t been the same since. Confidence is a major factor. Just look at Collingwood. They are unstoppable when they are all up and running but when they are down they look like a different team. We also have a lot of players who are playing carrying injuries and far from where they need to be. To be as competitive as we have is a fair return.
Even though we have won less games this year than last, I’m much more pleased with the effort from the guys compared to last year, where they just gave up during games and were toyed with. The competitiveness has raised a notch and is exactly what these youngsters need. This pain will fuel them into the future.
So to sum it up, I’m not saying we are gonna win a premiership in the next 3 years because there are other teams with good young players also. A lot of sides who are at a greater stage of development than we are. But what I’m saying is, that in football a lot has to do with these 3 main areas
Injuries – Who goes down, how vital are they to your team?
Senior Players- Whether they can stand up and carry the responsibility
Development of Young Players – Who stands up. How much can they offer.
If all three areas can be marked off as positive, then any side will give it a decent crack. Soon enough other teams will have injury problems, lose senior players or just decline. It happens!
Am I just trying to be positive because my side is rabble? No I’m just being realistic. We will rise eventually, others will fall. Sometimes it happens sooner than expected, other times it doesn’t. That’s life!
I just don’t think it is as bad as everyone makes out despite what the ladder would suggest
One thing I think everyone is forgetting is that football works in cycles. I was watching over some games from when we were smashing everyone in 2000. A lot of other teams mainly had youngers in their first 3 years, whom definitely didnt have mature bodies and struggled to compete. We are now in a similar position.
Look at the premiership teams of recent years. All had many mature bodies. Just because we are losing every week now doesnt mean these guys wont be winning matches in years to come. They will become more experienced, their bodies will be stronger, combined with some better direction and stroke of luck come injury wise anything is possible.
Dyson, Watson, Monfries, Winderlich, Bradley, Dempsey, Johns, Jolley, Laycock, Lee, Lovett-Murray, Welsh, McPhee, Lovett, Slattery, Ryder and Stanton are all still young and have their best footy in front of them. Sure some are poor at times, but its much easier to look good when a team is winning. Also don't forget that they are generally competing against players who have weight and experience advantages. We can't expect miracles. It isn't like 1993 when the Baby bombers could control games. Nowadays, players are on a physical development timeline, they get bigger, they get stronger, any time of off the track sets you back.
If we get a fit Lloyd back next year and if his form is anything like the way he started off this year, then he will make a huge difference, especially to our structure. Add Johns and Lucas in there along with the likes of Monfries, Lovett and even Hird and we will be dangerous next year.
Say we get three 1st round picks in this years draft (esp Gibbs), they will add to the team immensely.
Then all we can hope for is for Fletch, the Johnsons, McVeigh, Campo, Heffernan, Hille and Solly to have injury free seasons and provide experienced heads.
Cartledge, Bolton, Henno, Pev, Rama and Rioli will all probably either be gone or at years end to go along with all the delistings from last season. We will be an up and coming side and once these youngsters begin to peak we will be a very competitive side for years to come
Many of you can suggest that ‘we’ve had everyone but Lloyd this season’ but there are other factors that come into it. We were on fire in the first game against Sydney. That team that night would have troubled most teams. The next five or so games we lost narrowly, if certain things had happened, such as umpire decisions or injuries didn’t occur things could have been different. I think we kicked the first 5 goals of the game against the Bulldogs until they got two goals from one possession. Lloyd went down and the team hasn’t been the same since. Confidence is a major factor. Just look at Collingwood. They are unstoppable when they are all up and running but when they are down they look like a different team. We also have a lot of players who are playing carrying injuries and far from where they need to be. To be as competitive as we have is a fair return.
Even though we have won less games this year than last, I’m much more pleased with the effort from the guys compared to last year, where they just gave up during games and were toyed with. The competitiveness has raised a notch and is exactly what these youngsters need. This pain will fuel them into the future.
So to sum it up, I’m not saying we are gonna win a premiership in the next 3 years because there are other teams with good young players also. A lot of sides who are at a greater stage of development than we are. But what I’m saying is, that in football a lot has to do with these 3 main areas
Injuries – Who goes down, how vital are they to your team?
Senior Players- Whether they can stand up and carry the responsibility
Development of Young Players – Who stands up. How much can they offer.
If all three areas can be marked off as positive, then any side will give it a decent crack. Soon enough other teams will have injury problems, lose senior players or just decline. It happens!
Am I just trying to be positive because my side is rabble? No I’m just being realistic. We will rise eventually, others will fall. Sometimes it happens sooner than expected, other times it doesn’t. That’s life!
I just don’t think it is as bad as everyone makes out despite what the ladder would suggest
have a nice day!
