Opinion So what will it take to jag a flag from here?

[Tiger71]

We need Jesus to play CHF

 

[Roachy8]

We need Jesus to play CHF

The Bean yeah?

 

[The Goon]

Tangibles:

1. A recognised CHF who can deliver the ball into the F50 well. Even if he doesn't always get the ball if oppositions have to be wary of him it will improve other F50 entries due to less pressure.
2. Find at least two average or one gun small forwards.
3. Development of Ellis, Flossy, Conca, Pick 12 into (min) consistent B graders, and one to become an A grader.
4. Vickery to deliver on his promise (I have faith in this).
5. One of our developing talls to make it to at least B grade.
6. Continued improvement in depth to put pressure on the starting 22, and replace them when injured.
7. Dimma to continue to improve his match day coaching. From this point on it's pointless saying the game plan wasn't being adhered to after a loss. Sometimes the game plan doesn't work, you need to be able to change it and react to circumstances if the need arises. There was a match involving Freo this year (I think it was R7 v Collingwood) where they were smashed in the 3rd qtr and looked gone for all money. Lyon spent the first 5 minutes of the break on his whiteboard moving matchups and not even talking to the players, and they came out and won the last Qtr convincingly.

Intangibles:

1. Confidence and maturity in the leadership group. Knowing when to do what, and how to motivate and direct better on the field.
2. The mixture of mongrel and poise in the playing group required to shut down an opposition run on.
3. Luck.

 

[ImaBeliever!]

Midfield - continue to develop our depth plus natural development and we are pretty well placed for next year, but would like to bring in a quick and tireless outside runner like an Issac Smith/Brad Hill/Stephen Hill type as a line-breaking option as I think the finals proved the value of those sorts that just keep on running all day at pace.

Defence - looks pretty solid with some depth and options, but would love to develop a true tall defender 197cm plus to pick up the Ruck/Forward types and to help out with the Monster forwards like Cloke who seems to like matching up on our 'smaller' defenders like Rance. Of course we have the Rance-Chaplin-Grimes KPD combo, none of whom are taller than 195cm, which against most teams will do well except I fear can be exploited by the ones with the monster forwards. I thought Griff would be ideal for this role, but hasn't come on in that way. Options are to have faith in the current set-up and concentrate on their ability to work together and help each other out; or maybe try to transform Elton to be that Tom Lonergan type tall defender and give him a chance now that the queue for the KPF spots is so long. Does anyone else think Elton as a defender could work? Does he have the mongrel and determination?

Forwards - looks pretty promising and dangerous. I like the idea of Vickery being a more permanent forward. Not many people appreciate how difficult it is to play the Ruck/Forward role, and with a pre-season training more specifically as a forward (power/excelleration etc) we should see a more dominant KP Vickery next year in tandem with a free-ranging Reiwoldt, and either a rejuvenated A. Edwards or a developing McBean. Small forward with natural crumbing ability is an obvious weakness, and maybe S. Edwards can be used more in that role rather than being expected to be an extra mid.

Rucks - Happy they have at least tried to address the ruck deficiencies for next year, and Hampson has a perfect opportunity to become a legitimate AFL ruckman. Also pleased that Stephenson is staying for another year, but would love another back-up warhorse ruck as a rookie in case of injury, maybe from VFL?

Determination and Belief and Run - these are the things that need to be worked on if we are to become a legitimate contender in the next couple of years. Every player needs to become more competitive and learn to love the contest at its most fierce, because the best teams are outstanding in those areas of the game. Also our mids and flankers have to learn to run both offensively and defensively like the top teams, otherwise we will continue to be broken open in the big games.

All up, with the bolstering of our ruck stocks, the expected natural progression of our younger players, some tweaking of the game plan and an emphasis on the mental side of the game, I believe we are in a great position to go top 4 and give the finals a real shake next year, which would place us in a great position for the flag in 2015.

 

[Roachy8]

Oh - something else...

We need to develop the ability to recognise when the other team lifts and starts to intensify their efforts and then we need to find a way to hold & respond.

"Little" runs by the opposition of 10 - 20 minutes in key games cost us big time!

 

[Stevi_Tigers]

we need more goals from our mids for one need a leader or big game player to stand up when the heat is on not enough of our players do that, also another tactical coach as an assistant will help look at the big European soccer teams they have a manager for game day and more tactical coaches would help us immensely imo

 

[Tigers69]

Hahaha first part is a direct quote from David King but i definantly agree with his sentiment

Yeah, you got me there. D King is usually a flog but he got it right with that one.

 

[SA TIGER]

A marked improvement by the Brick Biscuit is definitely on the cards in 2014.
Add another pre season at the gym will ensure this lad will play a pivotal roll in multiple hard ball gets and an adequate replacement for our retired battle axe Shane Tuck.

 

[Rodney Dangerfield]

Improvement from within that the club obviously feels is coming is the key for me.
I expect Reece Conca to go to a pretty high level next season.
I see Brrandon Ellis giving Dustin Martin wind burn on the way past him as a player and for Vlaustin to be at the level that Ellis is at the moment.
Think the Hampson inclusion will see Vickery become a very very dangerous player and hopefully Jack can move around a bit more up the field.
These are the important ones for me as we'll as the unknown which is can Dylan Grimes put a season together?
If all these were to occur and we didn't see any major injury to important players then I think we could finish top four .
Lot has to go right as it does for every team.

 

[blaisee]

A dominant ruckman and another forward that can kick 40 goals

They have high hopes that Hampson can be the ruckman and that McBean can be that extra forward.

It will revolutionize the AFL if we have 4 players good enough and versatile enough to play at the one time, all above 200cm.

 

[Wally Matera]

Lose the "predictability" in the way we play. The opposition (well, good opposition) seem to counter us quite easily. Our forward line set-up is too predictable and as deliberate outlines, it just doesnt function in the way a top team can develop different strings to their bow. The recruitment of Hampson, whilst provides support for Maric, will actually make the team more predictable when resting forward.

Its not a knock on the club - l think its the evolution of a developing club from becoming good, to contenders, to premiers. But an observation that for us to become, the match-day coaching has to become more innovative. Throwing a third tall up forward to strectch a defence is not innovation. Hardwick and co need to find better strategies for overcoming the predictable way we play.

 

[caroma]

Oh - something else...

We need to develop the ability to recognise when the other team lifts and starts to intensify their efforts and then we need to find a way to hold & respond.

"Little" runs by the opposition of 10 - 20 minutes in key games cost us big time!

This.
If we can stop dying in the arse during the 3rd qtr we'll go a lot further. Tigers playing consistent 4 qtr footy would scare a decent amount of the opposition.

 

[Mr Magic]

We need Jesus to play CHF

Yeah I don't think King Carey would get us over the line.

I think we need to develop our youngsters like Cayden Williams in the same way as Jackson only quicker

Need the likes of Dea and McIntosh to step up and replace the likes of Chaplin and Houli.This will take time.

We need more strength/depth in the ruck rover position and we some quality key position players with solid ground level ability.

JR needs some key players to help him out. Hopefully McBean can give us some ex-factor but we need at least one more player 192-195cm who is a real scoring threat on the ground as well as in the air and or swingman who can assist at CHF.

Small forward in the Garlett on field variety would be handy.

We are at least 2-3 years away IMO!

Need to recruit well and maybe a FA in the next 2 years or so!!

Apparently 2015/2016 solid draft years which can help us!!

Given JR is our elite third tall we potentially are short a top quality FF, CHF, 4th forward in the Rohan mould and small forward in our forward line. Interesting to see where McBean fits on the ground, forward/midfield? Martin can play 5th forward and we have enough rotating mids in the forward line. That is not a glaring problem atm IMO!

 

[Wallaby]

Oh - something else...

We need to develop the ability to recognise when the other team lifts and starts to intensify their efforts and then we need to find a way to hold & respond.

"Little" runs by the opposition of 10 - 20 minutes in key games cost us big time!

Alan Jeans' teams used to start a rumble. Dipper 'sacrificed' himself on a few occasions. Opposition would fall for it - spend the next 5 minutes talking, pushing, hand-bagging, and the game had changed. Can't do that now.

 

[Tigerland]

We need to finish top 4 for starters.

Then we have to win a big final.

As has been mentioned CHF is a spot to fill.

I'd like to see what McBean can do, as well as Griffiths and Elton. These 3 need to be competing for the CHF role. Elton has great speed and a good set of hands.

We'll need another tall down back against tall forward line sides like the swans - Tippett, Buddy, Reid & Goodes.

Maybe Ashtbury or Griffiths as a swingman.

I think we also need a lock down tagger with elite fitness. Maybe a big summer for Arnott and he could be the one. I'd also look at Helbig in that role.

Then there's the small forward role. We need someone with loads of pace. Nahas will probably go so we'll have to draft one.

 

[Tiger71]

We need to get better at being predictable. The top 4 sides are all very predictable in there systems be it forward, mid or back. They are predictable in how they move the ball which allows there players to play with a sense of calm as they know what the bloke next to them will be doing before he does it. Regardless if it is in the last quarter or the first.

We get to that stage we will be well on our way.

 

[bigpapagman]

Need to convert our opportunities at a significantly better rate.
This season our defence held well, mids either won or broke even, we had enough of the play in our forward 50… we just did not take our chances enough!

A couple of losses (most notably the elim. Final… ouch) came after being in control of the game into the 3rd qtr… gotta fix this issue to ensure we position ourselves as high in the 8 as possible – top 4 and double chance is almost essential to win a flag nowadays.

& finally, a degree of luck is also required!

Luck with injuries to key players, luck with the draw to some degree & luck with the odd bounce of the ball or blow of the whistle.
Always amuses me when followers of the game come up with apparently cast-iron strategies to take the prize.
Periods of re-build…. canny trading and drafting – exploiting ‘dumb’ other clubs to snag cheap diamonds in the rough…. Build towards a surge towards the top 4 which will inevitably will lead to the premiership at the end.

Man – it’s hard enough getting to the top 3 or 4 clubs on a consistent basis, let alone snagging the ultimate prize.

Plenty of examples over the years of excellent football clubs/squads falling short whilst apparently ‘in their premiership windows’…

MUST TAKE THE CHANCES WHEN THEY COME…

DON'T WRITE IN TIMES NEW ROMAN YOU IDIOT, IT'S HARD TO READ, DON'T YOU KNOW ANYTHING DINGUS?

 

[Roachy8]

DON'T WRITE IN TIMES NEW ROMAN YOU IDIOT, IT'S HARD TO READ, DON'T YOU KNOW ANYTHING DINGUS?

That's a little harsh!

 

[pebblestone]

DINGUS?

Lol haven't heard that one for a while!

 

[madethegrade]

If Dusty ever gets a big enough tank to be a 4 quarter running machine. Watch out oppositon the beast will be unstoppable.

 

[TigermanM2]

If Dusty ever gets a big enough tank to be a 4 quarter running machine. Watch out oppositon the beast will be unstoppable.

I think his tank is fine. He just needs to prepare better between games.

 

[RunningBounce]

Man – it’s hard enough getting to the top 3 or 4 clubs on a consistent basis, let alone snagging the ultimate prize.

Plenty of examples over the years of excellent football clubs/squads falling short whilst apparently ‘in their premiership windows’…

MUST TAKE THE CHANCES WHEN THEY COME…

I agree.

Seems like we have the "formula" right, with off-field stability, good resources, recruiting players with good "character", emphasis on foot skills etc, but so do 6 or 7 other clubs.

IMO, what separates the likes of Richmond, North Melbourne, Adelaide etc from the likes of Geelong, Hawthorn and Sydney is an on-field leader who reads the game. How many times do you see Luke Hodge, Bartell or Goodes move into the centre square when the next clearance is the one that changes the game? Or shift themselves to HB when the opposition kick 2 in a row?

Sure, Hardwick's game-day coaching could be better, but players who don't need the coach to tell them when to make a change are the ones who win the big games.

I reckon our "Bartell" should be Deledio, but it's not. He would be doing it by now if he had it in him. I can't see this player being Cotch or Dusty either. I've never seen them position themselves behind the footy.

(Obviously, all this assumes we make the 8 next year. It's gunna be a ****ing tough season. Plenty of good teams, and hard to see anyone other than St Kilda going backwards. I have faith, but all 8 finalists next year will need to play awesome footy.)

 

[FFS Kick it]

My take is that all teams will improve. We talk about players taking the next step however every club has these players. We finished 1/2 game shy of 4th and the double chance. We don't need a lot.

These things are necessary to win a flag.
1.Good coaching group- tactically its ok and should improve, (remember dimma is still a young coach) use of Choco perhaps to help, development is good.
2. Good list- A few stars, some quality young players and development of depth.
3. Luck- There are injuries and then there are injuries. Long term injuries to key players are a killer, others can be covered to some extent. Lose your key players and its all over red rover.

Missing

We are a bit vanilla. No X factor. Look at the last few premiership teams. Hawthorn X factor Rioli, Geelong X factor Stevie J, Sydney X factor Jetta.
We don't have enough speed, we need speed and more speed and whoever we draft/trade for should have speed. (Matty White may be missed more than we think unless we can replace his type)

Draft

Don't know much about Hampson, but I agree totally. We got smashed in the clearances after half time in the EF. Maric was monstered. Adding a ruckman is necessary.

That's my take.

regards FFS

 

[BearMe]

Why go for Boyd, we have a good forward in Jack but he's played up ground as a decoy for some reason? Trading Lids up could be a good thing as he's unable to handler a tag, but need to look for either a key CHF or CHB.

 

[GH213]

Why go for Boyd, we have a good forward in Jack but he's played up ground as a decoy for some reason? Trading Lids up could be a good thing as he's unable to handler a tag, but need to look for either a key CHF or CHB.

Don't think i could handle a lids trade ... far too much man love for thhe bloke