The way I see it.
Our forward structure is virtually nonexistent.
The midfield needs an explosive clearance player who plays inside, but predominantly outside.
Wil needs support desperately.
We need to not have everybody try to be Libba and Wal. ie: when all our players go after the ball at the same time,
even if we get the ball the opposition has the only players outside ready to receive it when we try to get it out of the pack.
While I like Stringer, Bonts etc., Constantly selecting kids in the draft who will take years before they will reach their best
just keeps pushing our window further out into the future. Sure in years to come our list might look good, but do the fans have
the time and patience to wait that long ?
I think this draft/trade period could be critical to our immediate future. Pick more 3-5 year development kids, and our existing
senior players will be gone, or at best on their last legs by the time our squad is ready to challenge seriously. We need to pick up
players who can come in straight away and add to our performances now, rather than in 3-4 years time.
I am not advocating a repeat of the years where we topped up with list cloggers, in vain hope of stealing a flag. But drafting/
trading in players that are ready now, rather than some time off in the future, that gives us the potential to move forward sooner
rather than later.
What would be so wrong with us selecting players like an O Wines type, who can have pretty much instant impact, without being one
season wonders.
Now as I have said before I remain hopeful, even if still on the fence re BMac. But I am not as charitable when it comes to our
forward and midfield assistants. For mine both are failing to deliver on a regular basis, and should be moved on at seasons end.
I accept BMac is exceptionally loyal to his off siders, so perhaps the decision needs to be taken out of his hands.
We need significant change/s in the match committee also. Week in and week out they select unbalanced lineups. This needs
to stop, yesterday.
We should never again go into a game with no genuine ruck option to support Wil. If we continue the crap of relieving him with our key
position players he will not last much longer as a viable ruckman, and our structures will continue to be constantly disrupted.
Just look at the weekend's game, the opposition put two genuine ruck options up against him, and ran him into the ground.
Result.. he was far less effective than he can be and was as an AA. Yesterday he was cramping up before three quarter time.
So what do we do for the rest of this season ?
Play Campbell or Cordy as second ruck/FP every week.
Given the significant increase in delivery errors from a great but aging Murph, move him permanently to the front half, where his skills,
guile and experience can general our currently headless [ until Gia comes off the subs bench] front half, and if he fluffs a kick occasionally,
it is less of a problem than in the back half. And he can still be so creative and dangerous.
Concentrate on the training track on polishing delivery by both hand and foot...if the guys aren't fit by mid season, they will not be so
this year.
Players like Wal, Tutt and Rat should only not play if injured, and cloggers like Howard should play out the year in the resis.
We need to work on... moving the ball forward quicker...when both kicking and handballing, hit the ball harder, too many of our disposals
by both hand and foot come off like marshmallows.
Come year's end we need a ready made forward with good hands and kicking skills, and game ready... trade in.
From the draft, a Dangerfield clone, with pace, grunt and ball magnetism.
Then draft a serious key defender who can be ready sooner rather than later.
Finally clean out both the cloggers, and the rookie group, I don't see much future for 3 of the 4 there. Lin J I still have faith in.