The Flow on Effects

[audas]

Fickle thing footy. We should bloody know. The good thing about that is that things can get a truck load better just quick as the 18 wheeler that blind sided you in the first place.


Sydney
1994 last
1996 First

Saints
1995 3rd last
1997 first

Footscray
1996 2nd last
1997 3rd

Adelaide
1996 5th last
1997 4th

Melbourne
1997 last
1998 4th

Essendon
1997 3rd last
1999 1st

Brisbane
1998 last
1999 3rd (you know the story)


Port
2000 3rd last
2001 3rd
2002 1st

Collingwood, saints, doggies have all done similar. Now no point in debating the validity of the above, as the point is that it can happen, and lets all hope it does. What this post is about is identifying some of the positives we can look forward to next year through the flow on effects of current talent improving, talent coming through which is already on the list and what could be another 3 or four bonuses next year. Things become interesting when you think about these things for a start:

When Gibbs comes through, along with another one or two mids from either our current stock or picked up in the trade season, things look very different:

Betts would be allowed to run free in the forward line crumbing off the pack spillages of Kennedy / waite / fish. I see Fev maintaining a running leading role and not so much a pack player. Betts would provide some goal pressure and would of course be allowed to flourish in his natural role. Also adding confidence. (cue pumped).

These inclusions, along with the return of Murph with a pre-season, will take enourmous pressure of Stevens, Heath and Houla allowing our mids to rotate and see out a game. (Our down fall this year). The extra talent will also free up players to run amok. One of gibbs, stevens, murph, heath, walker , simmo is going to have a field day, the point is which one.

Walker will be released into the mid field next year, and I think its only the blues supporters who really understand just how devastating this could be for the unwarry foe. Again as mentioned providing another tagging headache, and rest for players like kouta who will be realeased to play impact roles perhaps in forward or at clearances.

If we have a couple of Hartlett, Bower, Setanta or whoever, maybe a draftee, stand up in the back line then there is a good chance (along with Kouta being free) that lance can spend more time roaming around the forward area creating opportunities. Lance feeding the forward line with intelligent, creative well delivered opportunites is lip smacking. Betts zipping around, along with stevens whos resting etc, and then the big boys in Kennedy and Fev will really wreak havoc.

For much of last year we were without Muprh, Kennedy, Waite and Fish. We will see the inclusion of Gibbs, another player of Murphs quality or maybe even 2. Thats maybe 7 players lining up who we didnt have last year (mostly). 7 great players.

I feel that Wiggins could step right up, I havent mentioned players such as Blackwell, Russell, Jackson, Smith, Carrazzo, Bentick. I hope someone can find the benefits and flow ons that may allow these players to flourish. Or even something unexpeted.

What will happen to Bryan with more comptetition for selection. Will Lapin move back into the forward line.

There was a lot happening last year that tipped the boys over the edge. You could see it happen. There were times we were robbed. The boys could come out pumped, really pumped, and that confidence could be exactly waht was missing, the only difference being we will now have a quality list with depth to back it up and take it all the way.

 

[AlecDuncan]

Fickle thing footy. We should bloody know. The good thing about that is that things can get a truck load better just quick as the 18 wheeler that blind sided you in the first place.

That's right. When it changes, it changes quickly. Whether or not this is our watershed year remains to be seen, but we'll fill at least one, maybe two, of the yawning talent gaps in our list this November.

Of course we've got an additional gap with Barney's retirement, but we always needed a top ruckman anyway and Barney wasn't it.

 

[drusswaylander]

Very optimistic mate I admire how positive your assessment is and I honestly wish I could agree

The problem is that our list is more out being the potential of becoming a good one rather than actually being a good one mate. The kids are still a few years away from being elite players and they are the ones who will drive us forward. We should know more than most about the second year Blues so don't expect too much from Murph next season. I agree that Kennedy, although a second year player should improve out of sight with a full pre-season. He will be more like a first year bloke

Defenders take a little longer to develop so it is unlikely that any will become superstars overnight. The ones who have only just been drafted will need a few seasons doing weights to cope with the AFL, especially against the power forwards. The ruck is a major worry, but it is unlikely to be fixed overnight unless we get really lucky or sacrifice a player in a trade. Drafting a good kid will take about five seasons to work as Rucks take even longer than defenders to develop

Many of our older players are punch drunk and need to start enjoying football again. They have done it tough and just as it has been hell for Carlton fans it has been devastating for them. We still need a few more kids who have been winners to bring back that enthusiasm.

I agree that our list will get better next year. The problem is that those lists around our level will also get better. Clubs such as Richmond and Hawthorn are a season or two ahead of us in their development. Other lists won't fall back enough for us to catch them

It was stated at the time of the disaster that it would be ten years before we were a power again and I think they were right. The strange thing is that the season we won a few games and then the next year won the pre-season actually set as back as it was the first season we had back in the draft. We really needed a priority pick and another of the top ones. Just shows the flaws in the system that you are better off being total rubbish rather than in the middle of the pack

Sorry to go on a bit, but we just need to keep the faith and realise we still have a season or two still of pain. That pain though has a silver lining in the form of top talent coming to the club. It will be great when the actual season becomes a highlight again rather than draft time

 

[Bluebear]

Confidence is an amazing thing. The gap between us and the top sides is not as far as people think, or as far as the results would lead you to belive.
Some luck would have seen us beat Sydney (early rounds), Bulldogs (tied at 3/4 time), Essendon the 2nd time (was it 3 goals 8 in the third) and West coast.

The point is that guys playing with no confidence are always going to get flogged by those playing with.
Have a look at the current Sydney side - full of superstars? No. A couple of exceptional players surrounded by the hardest working and best drilled guys in the comp.
Yes we need some talent, but we also need pressure on guys places in the team to make them try harder to keep their spot. I think Stevens will hae a better year next year because of this, and the fact that the oppositon won't know who to tag - Stevo, Simo, Murph, Gibbs?
Secondly, if we improve our field kicking we will suddenly start to run games out better - huh? How does that work. Easy.
You work hard and win the ball, your run hard and your teamates run hard to assist, forwards lead hard to position etc.

a)Turnover, now you immediately have to chase the guy you just worked so hard to put some distance on

OR
b) Leading forward hit on the chest with pass. Midfielders stop running, walk to position in case he misses shot on goal, back wander back to position on their forwards. All players get a drinkif req'd.

Different game isn't it. If the guys aren't just belting away at the skills side this summer then we are stuffed, regardless of our fitness. No team can chase like option a) all day.