The future

[Blues2001]

I dunno about you guys but I am pretty gutted right now. Events across the other side of the world have shown us that the Blues are definitely not the be all and end all, but I still feel gutted. It wouldn't be so bad if we were just eliminated......it was going to be pretty tough to beat both Brisbane at the Gabba and then most likely Essendon. But to lose Kouta most likely for all of next year is just the worst way to end this season.

It appears that we have missed our chance to win a flag in the current cycle, which is very disappointing. After winning the 87 flag near the end of a cycle, we then went down for a few years, came back and won the 95 flag in the next cycle, had a few more bad years and now haven't been far off the pace between 99-01.

I hate to say it, but this cycle is now as good as over, and without Kouta we are almost no chance of winning the 2002 flag. So, because of that, I think it is best to really let players like Sporn, Wiggins, Livingston, Beasy, Waite ( I assume we'll select him in the draft) have a go at being the Carlton of the future, with players such as Campo, Lance and Ratts showing them the way. This means, that I think one (or maybe both) SOS and Braddles should go. This is despite them both STILL playing great footy, such is their champion status. I don't buy the "Carlton never rebuild" line. Given Kouta's absence, we need to have a painful year next year to give us any chance of challenging for a flag by 2004 or so. Ratten now qualifies for the veterans list so he could move onto that and we could be eased somewhat of salary cap pressures.

Rice obviously is gone. Mansfield and Christou must go too. If we can get anything for them in a trade then great, if not, they still must go.

Some others that should go are Backwell, Merrington, White, Chatfield and maybe Doering and Freeborn. Probably forgotten a few players there too.

What are your thoughts? Should we completely write of season 2002 and "start afresh" so to speak?

 

[meg]

Unfortunately, I do agree.
What a terrible thing to happen to Kouta - when he was back to his brilliant best.
Give the younger guys a go next year - rebuild (how I hate that word) - and become a force in years to come.

 

[Blues2001]

Originally posted by meg
Unfortunately, I do agree.
What a terrible thing to happen to Kouta - when he was back to his brilliant best.

Shocking wasn't it. We have had ridiculously bad luck ever since that Essendon game in round 20 last year. Fancy losing Kouta, SOS and Braddles in finals last year, and Ratts and Kouta this year. I know you look like a wimp when you blame injuries, but to win the flag in 2000 or 2001 we needed these players to have a chance. Since we didn't have them, we had no chance.

But we are too proud a club to go into our shells for 5 years. I look forward to the days when we will look back on past champions by the names of Livingston, Wiggins Sporn and Waite!

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

You are right to an extent Blues2001. While I would love to see Braddles break Doull's record, he is more expendable than SOS simply because we have no tall defenders. While he is on the veteran list, next year we will have three veterans when only two are counted in the salary cap. That means one has to be have his full payment counted. We need that room in the cap for sure.

Doering will stay. He is not on big money and is the best of the reserves. He will get plenty more senior footy. Freeborn is a worry, he really slackened off the last half of the season and his disposal is attrocious. Still, he is a goer for the most part.

Mansfield should stay. He has been in great form towards the end of the year, back to his Geelong best. Remember, with Kouta out, Bradley and SOS getting close to retirement, the Blues still need leadership. Mansfield can provide that. No substitute for experience. Christou is too inconsistent and has been kept around to keep good mate Kouta on side. With Kouta out for 12 months, he has time to get used to life without Ang. Sorry Woofer.

I agree with Backwell, Merrington, White and Chatfield but add the proviso that we have to pick up more talls in the draft if we are to trade either Porter or Allan. Otherwise, Merro might be a backup.

We have to play some of these kids from the outset. We have the worst record for playing our youngsters and it just doesn't work anymore.

 

[Blues2001]

Geez I dunno about Mansfield ODN's. He's been good this year, but he won't get any better, and he just turns the ball over far too much. To be honest I'd rather see a Wiggins or Sporn in the team instead. If we aren't going to win a flag in the next two years, and IMO we probably aren't, then I'd like to see us bite the bullet and punt on youth. You're right that it doesn't work anymore to have too many oldies in the side. It's also a pain in the bum with regards to the salary cap, as youngsters are a lot cheaper.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

You are right about youth but probably the most damaging thing we can do to our young players is throw them in the deep end with not enough experienced players around. If they lose their way, the Blues will be whipping boys and the youngsters may never find their way. We have bred some good youngsters in the past (Kouta, Christou, Beaumont, Ratten, etc) but the confidence they got from playing with your Bradleys, Kernahans, Williams and Maddens surely assisted in their development. We have to turnover some players but we can't clean out all of our old heads. If Bradley and SOS go, we have Ratten, McKay, Campo and not too many other older players around to lead the way. Remembering Kouta won't be there next season.

We still have to nurture, not sink or swim. We just have to accelerate the learning process to find out who is good and who isn't rather than leave them on the list for several years.

 

[The Spornstar]

Interesting reading this post from last September now. On the whole we made the right calls, about rebuilding and punting on youth but the club didn't listen and we lost a year in the process. Interesting to see the thoughts on Christou, Braddles (I was silly to say he should go in hindsight), Mansfield, SOS etc.

 

[LordLucifer]

Originally posted by Blues2001


So, because of that, I think it is best to really let players like Sporn, Wiggins, Livingston, Beasy, Waite ( I assume we'll select him in the draft) have a go at being the Carlton of the future, with players such as Campo, Lance and Ratts showing them the way.

Whilst your comments were exactly as I had been sprouting for some time, the sad fact is that they may not have got the game time this year if not for the horror run of injuries. I am all for 'throwing them in the deep end' and trying to fast track their development, this year has forced the selectors to play them and we will be better off for the long haul because of it.