WHAT DOES IT TAKE?

[Axl the great]

What does it take to win a flag? is it the game plan? the talent? luck with injuries? the coaches? confidence? or a mix of all of the above.

My opinion is a mix but confidence being the definite no 1 factor.

Talent wise not a hell of a lot separates the top 8 sides as far as personel goes, if you even go as far as Richmond the talent as far as football ability is there already.
All teams have gun players and a mix of very good players, as we did in 2010, MM stated this week that he develops game plans around the players not vice versa, i found this very interesting as i thought it was the opposite.

So if the talent is spread fairly to an extent and some teams exceed and fail expectations then what is the key? I believe it is confidence, having players on the same page as far as a game plan is one thing, having talent is some of the battle but you have a team as in all 22 players at near full confidence then you have the recipe for success.
A team with this beats a more talented team, sometimes with much more talent, who's confidence is even 5 to 10% lower, this stat can never be measured, that is the beauty of it, but because it cannot be seen we rely on game plans, trends in games, injuries, etc etc as reasons why.
People in every day life are challenged with thousands of scenarios through their entire life, the more positive and resilient succeed, the more succeptable to pressure tend to struggle, it applies to every aspect of life so it should apply to sport as well.

This is why i think the screening of a potential draftee's personal traits is as important as his talent, it really is a mixed bag as in success in the regular season can generate that confidence required to go all the way, confidence in the game plan, confidence in improved performance from individuals, or just that will to improve and succeed.

I have a feeling that personal attributes will become THE major focus of recruiters in the future, it is heading that way but we still have many many players who are mentally fragile when it comes to pressure and self development, just my opinion of course but we have some very learned posters on here who might be able to expand on my amateur take on things.

Brisbane of 2001 to 2003 were the best and they knew it, Ditto Geelong, and what this did was build upon confidence already gained, so is it a case of success building the confidence in the ability of the team to succeed or confidence building the success?

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

It's a blend of all of it.

Some of it contributes more than others.

Talent, Luck and confidence are the three key ones though.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Two more wins.

 

[Embleberry]

Confidence and belief are both fundamental to success in anything imo, but yeah it is combination of factors. Obviously, arrogance/cockiness and setting goals that are too high/unrealistic are detrimental but if confidence is high and the goals are realistic, the motivation is the to do anything. Looks like the belief and hunger is back according to what Bucks and some of the players have said and the fact that we're confident that our best can beat anyone will be key to whether we can go all the way this year!

 

[DaVe86]

no doubt you need luck. Things just need to click. That means a good run with injuries and all your players peaking at the right time of the year.

If only scientists can work out how to bottle momentum.

 

[Yonchi]

Luck with injuries is so important. Think if Didak had been at his best last year or if Reid and Maxwell weren't injured in the grand final. Imagine Ball and Caff playing all year with each of Johnson, Didak, Krak being a regular 'in'. What if Dawes' eye surgery had been successful at the end of 2011?

 

[10571z]

Starts with recruitment...

Getting gems like swanny at number 50
Nailing drafts with Thomas, Pendles and Sidebottom and beams in the same draft
Getting talent from your rookie picks (maxwell, harry o, blair ect)

These can be the difference between being a middle of the road team and a grand final team.

Then coaching and facilities.. Trying to stay ahead of the pack

Arizona, the press we were ahead of the pack at the stage..

Then you need confidence to pull this off.

And some Footy god luck! This can be luck or good management with fitness to avoid injuries ect..


So players+coaching and facilities+luck+confidence = premiership

 

[MarkT2]

You have to start with the talent. The most important person at a club tehse days is the recruiting head. You can buy a better coach, doctor, conditioning chief, muslie bar packer, boot studder and car part attendant in a week. You can't buy a new list and you can't replace one inside 4 or maybe 5 years.

If you start with the right list you are still only a small way down the path but you can't every get anywhere without that start.

Tony Shaw coached us to last in 1999 and Malthouse coached us to second last in 2000 in spite of a good start to the year. We were last and second last primarily due to the playeing list. We had too many ordinary players with some very young talent. In 2011 we make the GF under MM and now we are 1 game away from the same under Buckley. Simialr players = similar result.

For all the praise Buttifant gets he'd be an also ran without Hine IMO.

The new sides will be a good illustrationon what it does take. They have artifically been given the opportunity to quickly build a list. At this point we don't know how right they got it and what else they lack from there.