List Mgmt. The R Word

[Mop]

Is it time?
Have we hit a point where some hard truths and some tough calls had to be made?

Rebuild.
Do we need one? If we do, is it a minor rebuild or is it time to gut and start again?

In Naitanui, Kennedy and McGovern we've got three of the best key position players in the comp. Elliot Yeo is doing some impressive things on the flank.

Other than that though, what do we have and what do we have coming through?
The elephant in the room is our midfield.
It isn't good enough for where the club wants to be. Priddis isn't what he used to be and I'm a massive fan. Gaff is butchering the ball, even if he is racking up impressive numbers. Redden was meant to improve us instead he offers literally nothing. Hutchings is an honest tryer with no upside.

Coming through we've got some quality young mediums and smalls but, other than maybe Tomb Lamb, limited tall quality.

Do we accept that our window is shut with our current pool or do we just need some top end talent through the middle? Right now we've a borderline 6-8 side based solely on our strong home for.

 

[Biggie]

We're in no mans land.

Possibly the very worst place to be.

 

[ChampRevesby]

We're in no mans land.

Possibly the very worst place to be.

Nothing is going to change. The club has been building to mediocrity ever since the drugs saga. They are shit scared to get tough at all levels of the organisation. We need someone at the top level with some big balls to start putting pressure on the football department and more importantly the recruiters. We can no longer put up with recruiting "good citizens". This ultra conservative approach is killing this club.

 

[larrikin]

Nothing is going to change. The club has been building to mediocrity ever since the drugs saga. They are shit scared to get tough at all levels of the organisation. We need someone at the top level with some big balls to start putting pressure on the football department and more importantly the recruiters. We can no longer put up with recruiting "good citizens". This ultra conservative approach is killing this club.

Which "nasty boys" have we passed over in the pursuit of "good citizens"?

According to the press, Darling slipped due to behavioural issues, Lamb slipped due to poor attitude yet we grabbed both.

 

[ChampRevesby]

Which "nasty boys" have we passed over in the pursuit of "good citizens"?

Nasty? Your words not mine, I said tough, and it starts at the top as far as I am concerned.

 

[larrikin]

Nasty? Your words not mine, I said tough, and it starts at the top as far as I am concerned.

Edited my post above.

You can have a good culture and still be successful. You can argue we haven't been great with trades/picks, I'd support that hasn't been our strong suit. I'm not sure there's a link to our off-field culture.

 

[PRANKSTER666]

We recruited and are playing two guys well over 30 that didnt come here to play as their primary motive, they came for a coaching job.

We need to inject youth and hunger at all costs now.

Find out what we have on the list in the second half of the year and assess the list at the end.

Surely Lecras wont go on. Priddis will but he shouldnt and as many have said has been the root of our midfield problem for years.

Simpson seems to have built his coaching group on the buddy system which means it is not best available.

The whole club has been disappointing for some time now.

 

[kempy]

If the R stands for Rubbish then indeed it is time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Godfather32]

Is it time?
Have we hit a point where some hard truths and some tough calls had to be made?

Rebuild.
Do we need one? If we do, is it a minor rebuild or is it time to gut and start again?

In Naitanui, Kennedy and McGovern we've got three of the best key position players in the comp. Elliot Yeo is doing some impressive things on the flank.

Other than that though, what do we have and what do we have coming through?
The elephant in the room is our midfield.
It isn't good enough for where the club wants to be. Priddis isn't what he used to be and I'm a massive fan. Gaff is butchering the ball, even if he is racking up impressive numbers. Redden was meant to improve us instead he offers literally nothing. Hutchings is an honest tryer with no upside.

Coming through we've got some quality young mediums and smalls but, other than maybe Tomb Lamb, limited tall quality.

Do we accept that our window is shut with our current pool or do we just need some top end talent through the middle? Right now we've a borderline 6-8 side based solely on our strong home for.

The problem is that we've needed some midfield talent for quite some time and we just keep topping up with C&D-grade plodders.
I think we owe it to Nic Nat and Kennedy to have one last shot while they're still going around. Would look to trade Gaff and Darling at the end of the season and use them plus whatever (either directly or the picks we get for them) to try and get something like Cripps, McGovern & Acres back. Whatever anyone thinks about Darling he's not going to replace Kennedy when he retires, always going to be that tweener between 2nd and 3rd tall plus he just flat out sucks at the moment.

 

[Matele]

Is it time?
Have we hit a point where some hard truths and some tough calls had to be made?

Rebuild.
Do we need one? If we do, is it a minor rebuild or is it time to gut and start again?

In Naitanui, Kennedy and McGovern we've got three of the best key position players in the comp. Elliot Yeo is doing some impressive things on the flank.

Other than that though, what do we have and what do we have coming through?
The elephant in the room is our midfield.
It isn't good enough for where the club wants to be. Priddis isn't what he used to be and I'm a massive fan. Gaff is butchering the ball, even if he is racking up impressive numbers. Redden was meant to improve us instead he offers literally nothing. Hutchings is an honest tryer with no upside.

Coming through we've got some quality young mediums and smalls but, other than maybe Tomb Lamb, limited tall quality.

Do we accept that our window is shut with our current pool or do we just need some top end talent through the middle? Right now we've a borderline 6-8 side based solely on our strong home for.

I thought you were going to say "replumb..rewire..etc", glad you didn't pussyfoot and used the hard R.

 

[ChampRevesby]

Edited my post above.

You can have a good culture and still be successful. You can argue we haven't been great with trades/picks, I'd support that hasn't been our strong suit. I'm not sure there's a link to our off-field culture.

Conservatism may not be a bad thing if you hate change but for an AFL club its a killer as the game changes so damn quickly.

I think the evidence is mounting that the off-field group is not responding to issues that have existed at the club for a long time i.e. very poor midfield that hasn't been addressed in 10 years, reluctance to move on washed up senior players (which was the last senior player that was given the boot other than retire?), reluctance to blood youth, giving blokes games based solely on past performances not form etc. I believe these have been issues that seem to have manifested themselves more prominently post 2007.

 

[ThePuma #9]

We recruited and are playing two guys well over 30 that didnt come here to play as their primary motive, they came for a coaching job.

We need to inject youth and hunger at all costs now.

Find out what we have on the list in the second half of the year and assess the list at the end.

Surely Lecras wont go on. Priddis will but he shouldnt and as many have said has been the root of our midfield problem for years.

Simpson seems to have built his coaching group on the buddy system which means it is not best available.

The whole club has been disappointing for some time now.

That is exactly what the priority should be.

Hard to assess exactly what we have moving forward when we aren't prepared to blood our youth.

Do we need a complete rebuild? No, i don't think so. A couple of good draft years and a few of the current lot to develop and we are looking significantly better.

Leg speed and size through middle should be a priority.

Untouchables are

McGovern
Yeo
Barrass
Sheed
Shuey
Kennedy
Nic Nat
Sheppard

Required but not untouchable if the right offer came along

Cripps
Lycett
Darling
Gaff
Duggan
Nelson
Jetta (based on last two weeks) time will tell but i've been happy with last fortnight.
Hurn
Wellingham
Vardy
Mitchell (not for trade but output has been good enough to possibly warrant another year)
Redden living on the edge

Those who probably need to be moved on, kindly asked to retire or at the very least told they will be back up if they wish to go on like Adelaide did with Scott Thompson.

Priddis
LeCras
Mackenzie
Butler
Petrie
Hill
Masten
Schofield
McInnes
Tunbridge
Giles
Brophy
Snadden
Gorter

Those who should get a chance this year to play some games so we can properly evaluate the list.

Partington
Cole
Lamb
Venables
Rioli
Mutimer
Watson
Karpany

Those who will get a shot in the future but not this year.

Bayok
Waterman
Rotham
Allen


Thats how i see the list presently.

 

[TassieEagle]

I think we are on the verge of needing a rebuild. The one big question that will answer that is how good will be NN be after he returns.

I think the huge rebuild will come in 2019 after getting rid of the old brigade in Priddis, Lecca, Petrie, Mitchell, Butler but why we try to hang on and compete in 2018 with the return on NN.

 

[Gazzasagenius]

I think we are on the verge of needing a rebuild. The one big question that will answer that is how good will be NN be after he returns.

I think the huge rebuild will come in 2019 after getting rid of the old brigade in Priddis, Lecca, Petrie, Mitchell, Butler but why we try to hang on and compete in 2018 with the return on NN.

 

[Monocle]

Edited my post above.

You can have a good culture and still be successful. You can argue we haven't been great with trades/picks, I'd support that hasn't been our strong suit. I'm not sure there's a link to our off-field culture.

OK larrikin I will give you a theoretical example of how we have not striven to be the best we could have because we have been more concerned with rattling the politically correct culture of the day. We have been very reactive to keep our off-field culture squeaky clean since 2006.

One of the very best people at talent identification in the land is Matt Rendell after he got hung out to dry by the AFL for his comments that had some racial context , he was available to be part of our recruiting team...... we decided to pass on him.

Instead we have placed our faith in Rohan O'Brien who has been nothing more than Mr Average in his role.

David Parkin who I regard as one of the best VFL/AFL minds is someone who ( when I was living in Melbourne and was involved in the TAC Cup ), I spoke with, one on one, on several occasions at coaching clinics.

His opinion was the the three most important department at any Football Club were these...... and in this order:

1. The Recruiting Team.
2. The Medical Staff.
3. The Coaching Panel.

On the above IMO we have performed poorly in all three areas.
That to me doesn't spell success in any shape or form.

I think we have gone safe and politically correct in choices and in demanding accountability, from all three above mentioned groups.

Ironically we have managed to create a good ( better ) culture however we have not created a successful one.

One of the traits of a strong and successful culture (in any organisation ) is the ability to deliver the truth to all concerned in a 360 degree manner.
We haven't been good at doing that.
Primary example we let Worsfold stay on longer than his should have.

Furthermore:
More examples of lack of honesty in accountability in the Football Department administration.
We don't cut dud players earlier enough.
We allow veterans to play on a year or two longer than they should.
We allow a CEO who is both past his use by date and nepotistic to still remain in such an important role.
We allow the spy Tim Gepp to remain at the club where he is a cancer to harmony, because he is the king of white anting.

Whats the common denominator with all the above...... Our Board accepts mediocrity and settles for second best.
Good cultures in any organisation don't accept MEDIOCRITY under any circumstances.
Until we stop this we wont be successful again.

So many hard calls have not been made in the post 2006 shit stain era, of our once proud Club.

Simply put we don't make the hard calls earlier enough and our board and management are from an organisational perspective light weights.
Now much of this is tolerated and a blind eye is turned to successive Boards shortcomings because we are such a financial powerhouse.

Yes you can have a good Culture and be successful, sadly we have failed to do either, in my opinion we have erred on the side of trying to prop up a good culture at the expense of success.

But hey, what the hell, we are super financial ..... sadly that seems to be our number one priority ...and isn't that a shame.

No point having all that money and not being able to use it to your advantage.

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

We definitely need to play the young players from now on. No point screwing around anymore. This lineup isn't gonna win us a flag ever.

 

[Yamumluvsbigcox]

2019 best 22 with current list

B . Sheppard Barrass Hurn
HB . Yeo Mcgovern Nelson
C . Gaff Mutimer Partington
HF. Venebles darling Cripps
F . Rioli Kennedy lycett
Foll Natanui Shuey (C) Sheed
int . Cole Duggan Karpany Rotham

We seriously need to draft well the next couple of years and give the kids we have on the list a good extended run now !

 

[Gazzasagenius]

I think we are on the verge of needing a rebuild. The one big question that will answer that is how good will be NN be after he returns.

I think the huge rebuild will come in 2019 after getting rid of the old brigade in Priddis, Lecca, Petrie, Mitchell, Butler but why we try to hang on and compete in 2018 with the return on NN.

We have a spine to work with in BARASS, MCGOVERN, YEO, DARLING and KENNEDY. Need to find midfielders with pace, ball skills and hardness. A small crumbing forward would be nice Simmo, so play Rioli immediately. Play Watson and Partington now as well. Say goodbye to BUTLER, PRIDDIS, MCKENZIE, HILL, LECRAS, REDDEN, PETRIE, MITCHELL now, as they are not part of our next premiership side. What has happened to the pre season training where they practised urgent ball movement. I see none of this. Slow Slow Slow. Do they work on tackling at training, obviously not, as all they do is corall the ball carrier. You cant win games of football if your intent is to corall and not put pressure on the guy with the pill. Can anyone tell me if they have seen a ruthless eagles since the qualifying final against hawthorn in 2015, I think not. WAKE UP COACHES and stop this slow crap style of football.

 

[swannies]

We have a spine to work with in BARASS, MCGOVERN, YEO, DARLING and KENNEDY. Need to find midfielders with pace, ball skills and hardness. A small crumbing forward would be nice Simmo, so play Rioli immediately. Play Watson and Partington now as well. Say goodbye to BUTLER, PRIDDIS, MCKENZIE, HILL, LECRAS, REDDEN, PETRIE, MITCHELL now, as they are not part of our next premiership side. What has happened to the pre season training where they practised urgent ball movement. I see none of this. Slow Slow Slow. Do they work on tackling at training, obviously not, as all they do is corall the ball carrier. You cant win games of football if your intent is to corall and not put pressure on the guy with the pill. Can anyone tell me if they have seen a ruthless eagles since the qualifying final against hawthorn in 2015, I think not. WAKE UP COACHES and stop this slow crap style of football.

This is where the next month will be interesting. Have they recognised that these blokes are not part of a next premiership tilt and do they have enough foresight to play other blokes and see what they have to offer, before moving them off the list?

 

[The Stid]

We're a club that can't make hard calls. From coaching, development, recruitment and all the way down to match committee. So I can't see us starting a rebuild, even if it is just a mini rebuild to try and contend in a couple of years while JK is still around and Shuey and NN aren't 30.

Retire:
Priddis
Petrie
Butler
LeCras
Brophy

Delist:
McInnis
Tunbridge

F/A:
Mackenzie

Tradeable:
Gaff
Darling
Hurn
Masten
Redden (or delist)

Wouldn't be surprised if Gaff wanted to go home or if Darling wants out because he's not playing like he wants to be here, also remember something about him not being happy about JK being the number 1 forward last year. Send Hurn home to Port or the Crows, allow him to set up a farm or vineyard or whatever in the Barossa Valley. Masten can f**k off, same with Redden.

Go after guys like Cripps, McGovern, Acres, Duncan, JJ, Jack Martin, Wilson, Matera (maybe)

Scrap some assistants and development staff, scrap the recruitment staff and start fresh.

Hopefully we'll see guys like Mutimer, Karpany, Lamb, Venables, Rioli, Watson, Partington, Cole, Snadden get an extended run in the second half of the year. Allen too if he can stay fit.

 

[Monocle]

This is where the next month will be interesting. Have they recognised that these blokes are not part of a next premiership tilt and do they have enough foresight to play other blokes and see what they have to offer, before moving them off the list?

History would indicate we will be slow to act.
"Have they recognised...." 64 thousand dollar question.

Like you have said swannies the next month is indeed going to be interesting.
We will learn a lot by watching what our Club will look like going forward............ by how the Club manages the next month.

Scary thought if we botch this up.

 

[Cuzdup]

On Mark Lecras. I live in Jurien Bay so I know of the Lecras family and bump into them a bit and my boys play footy against them when we play Cervantes. Word around town is Lecca is pretty close to done. He hasnt been happy playing footy for a couple years now. His brother Brent has retired from local footy and he and Mark are about to take over the family business. Doubtful he'll play on next year

 

[langdon19]

Which "nasty boys" have we passed over in the pursuit of "good citizens"?

According to the press, Darling slipped due to behavioural issues, Lamb slipped due to poor attitude yet we grabbed both.

Garlett and cuz would be two

 

[larrikin]

Garlett and cuz would be two

They both worked out...

 

[larrikin]

Conservatism may not be a bad thing if you hate change but for an AFL club its a killer as the game changes so damn quickly.

I think the evidence is mounting that the off-field group is not responding to issues that have existed at the club for a long time i.e. very poor midfield that hasn't been addressed in 10 years, reluctance to move on washed up senior players (which was the last senior player that was given the boot other than retire?), reluctance to blood youth, giving blokes games based solely on past performances not form etc. I believe these have been issues that seem to have manifested themselves more prominently post 2007.

We may be talking at cross points here - I was talking about the off-field culture of the playing group - the comment about recruiting "good citizens". You are talking about a whole bunch of different things here....