What are the actuals?

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

We know Nicks loves made up footy jargon buzz words. Balme crapped all over his penchant for meaningless drivel. Learnings, work ons. So here's another one for him:

Actuals.

We've come to the conclusion that the problem in 2024 was that we were too focused on finals and took our eye off the more immediate challenges eg trying to score a goal in Round 1 or beating the wooden spooner at home.

Fine.

If we accept that was the problem and we've fixed it for 2025, what have we actually changed?

Did we not try very hard early last season?
Not plan adequately for the opposition in the first few rounds?
Design training loads around a September peak?

What did our finals focus cause us to do wrong early in 2024? What are the actual things we will do differently in 2025? Just saying Round 1 a lot is nothing.

So Nicksy, what are the actuals?

I worry that the real reasons we failed dismally in 2024:
Bloated, talent-lacking leadership group
Moronic match ups
Ludicrous sub choices
Limited players ensconced in the 22
Uninspiring line coaches
Better younger options rotting away in the twos until the 2nd half of the season
Talented kids chopping and changing between roles on a weekly basis
Older players going into games sore
Etc

...will largely remain, with "Round 1" acting as our "Abracadabra."

 

[Southerntakeover]

The biggest discrepency between our club's talk and self perception and actuals occurred at the end of 2023: after the sydney incident we acted as if we were a team that had made it and were moral finalists. We approached 2024 on the basis that it was a fait accompli rather than that we had to improve.

And we got what we deserved.

 

[1970crow]

We know Nicks loves made up footy jargon buzz words. Balme crapped all over his penchant for meaningless drivel. Learnings, work ons. So here's another one for him:

Actuals.

We've come to the conclusion that the problem in 2024 was that we were too focused on finals and took our eye off the more immediate challenges eg trying to score a goal in Round 1 or beating the wooden spooner at home.

Fine.

If we accept that was the problem and we've fixed it for 2025, what have we actually changed?

Did we not try very hard early last season?
Not plan adequately for the opposition in the first few rounds?
Design training loads around a September peak?

What did our finals focus cause us to do wrong early in 2024? What are the actual things we will do differently in 2025? Just saying Round 1 a lot is nothing.

So Nicksy, what are the actuals?

I worry that the real reasons we failed dismally in 2024:
Bloated, talent-lacking leadership group
Moronic match ups
Ludicrous sub choices
Limited players ensconced in the 22
Uninspiring line coaches
Better younger options rotting away in the twos until the 2nd half of the season
Talented kids chopping and changing between roles on a weekly basis
Older players going into games sore
Etc

...will largely remain, with "Round 1" acting as our "Abracadabra."

I think we just need to take it one week at a time. Otherwise now known as lowering the eyes, limiting field of vision and connecting only with the immediate. Our singular mistake last year was that we ignored the present and focused far too much on the future. Pumping another 23 games into Spud McMurphy is testament to our idiotic future focus last year.

 

[GrommoT]

Is Actuals one of Nicks' buzzwords?

 

[feenix67]

It's like golf, if you focus on what you need to score, you invariably stuff up. Just have to concentrate on executing the next shot.

 

[maxlilly]

We know Nicks loves made up footy jargon buzz words. Balme crapped all over his penchant for meaningless drivel. Learnings, work ons. So here's another one for him:

Actuals.

We've come to the conclusion that the problem in 2024 was that we were too focused on finals and took our eye off the more immediate challenges eg trying to score a goal in Round 1 or beating the wooden spooner at home.

Fine.

If we accept that was the problem and we've fixed it for 2025, what have we actually changed?

Did we not try very hard early last season?
Not plan adequately for the opposition in the first few rounds?
Design training loads around a September peak?

What did our finals focus cause us to do wrong early in 2024? What are the actual things we will do differently in 2025? Just saying Round 1 a lot is nothing.

So Nicksy, what are the actuals?

I worry that the real reasons we failed dismally in 2024:
Bloated, talent-lacking leadership group
Moronic match ups
Ludicrous sub choices
Limited players ensconced in the 22
Uninspiring line coaches
Better younger options rotting away in the twos until the 2nd half of the season
Talented kids chopping and changing between roles on a weekly basis
Older players going into games sore
Etc

...will largely remain, with "Round 1" acting as our "Abracadabra."

I think the biggest stuff up was the change in game plan and coaching.
Those first 4 weeks were horrendous
And selections have long been an issue as well

 

[Moonwatcher]

Is Actuals one of Nicks' buzzwords?

Nicksy should have trade marked it. It's ours now!

 

[Doctor B]

Nicks is clearly out of his depth, the Murray Davis Coaching Director appointment in his sixth year proves this.

About this time last year, we had this Tim Silvers member email.

"After months of planning and preparation, we’re ready. Our opening game of the premiership season is only hours away, and it’s reassuring to know our players and coaches have done the hard yards. Their customary discipline and work ethic has been on show over the summer.
It’s been a long time since expectations have been so high and it’s a scenario we are embracing. While we expect to play finals"
Finals were a definite expectation, we finished bottom 4, three wins lower than Melbourne in 14th

We've recruited Draper and three first 18 players.
We've got a great draw - ranked equal 13th hardest by the AFL.
We've got a Coaching Director and Football Director, Neil Balme

Over to you Matthew

 

[WetCrow1991]

My hope is we do well in 2025, but Nicks still gets the boot because Davis and Balme get a first hand look at how Mongo operates.

 

[1970crow]

It's like golf, if you focus on what you need to score, you invariably stuff up. Just have to concentrate on executing the next shot.

So we take it one shot at a time?

 

[Mr_Moogle]

The biggest discrepency between our club's talk and self perception and actuals occurred at the end of 2023: after the sydney incident we acted as if we were a team that had made it and were moral finalists. We approached 2024 on the basis that it was a fait accompli rather than that we had to improve.

And we got what we deserved.

Also worth mentioning the hubris of asking for primetime games to placate supporters. We were definitely huffing our own farts.

 

[1970crow]

Nicks is clearly out of his depth, the Murray Davis Coaching Director appointment in his sixth year proves this.

About this time last year, we had this Tim Silvers member email.

"After months of planning and preparation, we’re ready. Our opening game of the premiership season is only hours away, and it’s reassuring to know our players and coaches have done the hard yards. Their customary discipline and work ethic has been on show over the summer.
It’s been a long time since expectations have been so high and it’s a scenario we are embracing. While we expect to play finals"
Finals were a definite expectation, we finished bottom 4, three wins lower than Melbourne in 14th

We've recruited Draper and three first 18 players.
We've got a great draw - ranked equal 13th hardest by the AFL.
We've got a Coaching Director and Football Director, Neil Balme

Over to you Matthew

Davis and Balme are the length of rope.

 

[CrowBloke]

We know Nicks loves made up footy jargon buzz words. Balme crapped all over his penchant for meaningless drivel. Learnings, work ons. So here's another one for him:

Actuals.

We've come to the conclusion that the problem in 2024 was that we were too focused on finals and took our eye off the more immediate challenges eg trying to score a goal in Round 1 or beating the wooden spooner at home.

Fine.

If we accept that was the problem and we've fixed it for 2025, what have we actually changed?

Did we not try very hard early last season?
Not plan adequately for the opposition in the first few rounds?
Design training loads around a September peak?

What did our finals focus cause us to do wrong early in 2024? What are the actual things we will do differently in 2025? Just saying Round 1 a lot is nothing.

So Nicksy, what are the actuals?

I worry that the real reasons we failed dismally in 2024:
Bloated, talent-lacking leadership group
Moronic match ups
Ludicrous sub choices
Limited players ensconced in the 22
Uninspiring line coaches
Better younger options rotting away in the twos until the 2nd half of the season
Talented kids chopping and changing between roles on a weekly basis
Older players going into games sore
Etc

...will largely remain, with "Round 1" acting as our "Abracadabra."

Well said .
They "expected" to play Finals but didn't earn the right. Nicks' premature Contract Extens-ulation added to the air of complacency that all they had to do was show up and it would happen for them.
I wanted Nicks gone after Round 4, more after the Bye Round and even more emphatically at 2024's end.
As jenny61_99 pointed out often, it didn't happen and wasn't going to. 2 more years.

Do I think that Nicks will take us to Finals and an eventual Flag?
NO, but I hope like hell I'm wrong.

 

[Pugsley]

Is Actuals one of Nicks' buzzwords?

I have a buzzword for him. Buzz off.

 

[CrowBloke]

It's like golf, if you focus on what you need to score, you invariably stuff up. Just have to concentrate on executing the next shot.

This!
One quarter at a time. One game at a time. Focus on the immediate task at hand.
(Koala Karl's caddy reminded him of what you said when he lost the lead in the last Round --- ""My caddy just said to me to stay in the present and try to do everything you can to execute the next shot and I was able to put that behind me and just start again." and he went on to win the Puerto Rico Open ".)

 

[CrowBloke]

We've recruited Draper and three first 18 players.
We've got a great draw - ranked equal 13th hardest by the AFL.
We've got a Coaching Director and Football Director, Neil Balme

Over to you Matthew

2025 has got to be Nicks' last chance, but I agree that:

Nicks is clearly out of his depth

After 6 years, Nicks still has no feel for Game Day nuances and tactics, which is an instinct that the best Coaches have.
Like I said, I hope I'm wrong.

 

[GrommoT]

I have a buzzword for him. Buzz off.

 

[Pugsley]

My 10 year old used to do that as a toddler.

 

[GreyCrow]

I'm not entirely convinced one game at a time releases any pressure

I understand just making sure everything is right for THIS game and then concern yourself with the next game

As a micro-focus it can work well but it can also backfire because what is the messaging for the next game - just focus on this game ?

I have found ( I think Blight ) comment about understanding your year is blocked out by winning enough games to play finals , then winning the games to make the GF then winning the game to be Premiers is a good approach as each singular game is only a unit

Remember Blight writing on the white board 15 games to win after a brutal loss ie the loss hurts but the focus is on winning a certain number of games

tl;dr : I worry when clubs try and shy away from talking finals when everything is set up for them to do so

 

[Jarman3]

Oh, that's Nicks. For a moment I thought it was our specialist tackling coach.

 

[SugarShane]

I'm not entirely convinced one game at a time releases any pressure

I understand just making sure everything is right for THIS game and then concern yourself with the next game

As a micro-focus it can work well but it can also backfire because what is the messaging for the next game - just focus on this game ?

I have found ( I think Blight ) comment about understanding your year is blocked out by winning enough games to play finals , then winning the games to make the GF then winning the game to be Premiers is a good approach as each singular game is only a unit

Remember Blight writing on the white board 15 games to win after a brutal loss ie the loss hurts but the focus is on winning a certain number of games

tl;dr : I worry when clubs try and shy away from talking finals when everything is set up for them to do so

It's such w***er speak too that inherently means nothing.

What were doing before round 1 last year? Preparing for Round 7? Booking September flights? What are we actually doing different this year that constitutes "one week a time"? What things are we adding or removing from last year's match prep that decreases focus on September and increases focus on this week?

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

It's such w***er speak too that inherently means nothing.

What were doing before round 1 last year? Preparing for Round 7? Booking September flights? What are we actually doing different this year that constitutes "one week a time"? What things are we adding or removing from last year's match prep that decreases focus on September and increases focus on this week?

Building a bigger trophy case

Scheduling our B&F late in October to allow plenty of time for parades

 

[GreyCrow]

Scheduling our B&F late in October to allow plenty of time for parades

And some say we aren't an arrogant club

 

[MRB37]

I'm not entirely convinced one game at a time releases any pressure

I understand just making sure everything is right for THIS game and then concern yourself with the next game

As a micro-focus it can work well but it can also backfire because what is the messaging for the next game - just focus on this game ?

I have found ( I think Blight ) comment about understanding your year is blocked out by winning enough games to play finals , then winning the games to make the GF then winning the game to be Premiers is a good approach as each singular game is only a unit

Remember Blight writing on the white board 15 games to win after a brutal loss ie the loss hurts but the focus is on winning a certain number of games

tl;dr : I worry when clubs try and shy away from talking finals when everything is set up for them to do so

Just going "one week at a time" is what they claimed we were doing mid-year when we were doing things like losing to Richmond. I distinctly remember Adam Kelly being on 5AA before that game and spouting how their selection policy was based around "the best side to win this week".

It largely felt like an excuse to stick with what we'd already been doing. Nicks seems big on the work harder, not smarter method.

 

[GreyCrow]

I distinctly remember Adam Kelly being on 5AA before that game and spouting how their selection policy was based around "the best side to win this week".

And as any competent coach or admin will say - or should - '' you also need to invest in the next xxx weeks ( or next year ) ''

Yes select a team for this week but have an eye on the future