Where to from here ??

[DarkRider]

A few things need to be done to ensure next year is better than this - may I suggest............

Give the King a rest for the last couple, and focus on his preparation for next year. Do NOT play him in the Ansett Cup !

Work out a game plan or two, and let's start picking players who can execute it. (Handballing ALL the time is NOT a game plan)

Offer Sav a better contract for next year. He has been great.

Hope like hell that Stevo is ok and if so, rest him from the Ansett Cup.

Retire Mick as gracefully as possible.

Give Colbert a role (position) and let him do it.

Make up our mind who is going to play full back. Let's not stuff up Jason McCartney by switching him back & forth.

Remind Archer that his game against Geelong is what we expect each week.

Remind David King that he plays in a team, and that it is not all about him, despite what the media say.

Find a home for Clayton. Anywhere but Arden Street.

Take Sinclair aside, and teach him how to kick. He could be a good player, if only for his skill errors.

Decide where we want to play Byron, (preferably forward) and leave him there to do his job. We might also remind him that we expect some value for our money. His good games and his bad games are too far apart.

Trade McKernan. The reasons are obvious.

Thank Spider Burton for his excellent contribution this year and increase his payments.

Tell Simpson to go to kicking classes with Sinclair.

Give Motlop (S) a serious kick in the arse, and ask him if he really wants to play senior football.

Trade/delist Cochrane, Rawlings, Olarenshaw, Calthorpe, Spaull, Lange.

Give the following more games/ground time;
Harris, Smith (both of them), Jones, Petrie, McLaren, Morell.

Recruit, recruit, recruit............(Gaspar would be nice - a perfect replacement for Mick)


A couple of years out of the finals is on the horizon, I fear.

 

[Darky]

I agree with all of that apart from :

"retire Mick" - if there were replacements ready I would probably agree, but there aren't. Hilton is my preferred option, but he doesn't look like he will get an opportunity, and Watt is improving but not a proven option on a #1 tall forward. Perhaps Morrell can be trialled at full back as he has the size and physical style of play.
Maybe we should wait until after trading to decide about Mick. If we are successful in chasing a ready-made key defender like Gaspar, I don't think Mick would be required next year, and would probably retire of his own accord.
Are there any other key defenders on the market?

"trade McKernan" - unless a deal comes up that the club can't refuse, I would keep him. For a guy that cops the bagging he does, he has averaged 2 goals a game over the last two years, despite being used in the ruck as well as up forward. He has played better this year without Carey around, and with the King's injuries of late it might be a forward line that we will have to get accustomed to. Get rid of McKernan, and what does our forward line look like if Carey has another injury-interrupted year? Reduce Corey's contract dollars - yes. Trade him - not unless it's for something special.

 

[Shinboners]

Agree with plenty, but a couple of comments:

1. You're probably a bit harsh on Shannon Motlop. I reckon he does want to play, but his problem is that there is way too much difference between his good games and his bad games. He's in a new role as a half-back flanker, so he's only had about 15 games there....when he has done well, he's been excellent. When he's done badly (like against Adelaide), he's totally anonymous. Glenn Archer and David King should take him aside and get a bit of mongrel into him as well.

2. Jess Sinclair. He's a hell of a different player now than to what he was when he started with us. I like his enthusiasm, I like the way he goes in to tackle and harass the opposition. But yep, he needs to improve his disposal. He's taken some good strides with us, and with another summer of training, I think he could have some very good years with us.

3. Leigh Colbert. Stick him on the wing or at half forward. I still don't like him as a defender.....as a link man, I think he could do some good things for us.

 

[hurricane]

I think we'll be lucky to find a ready made replacement for Mick. Even if he goes, McCartney and Colbert are capable of holding down the two key defensive posts, with Archer/Watt/Hilton taking the third tall. Just leaves us a bit thin if either of the first two get injured.

Shinners, Colberts skills are good enough to play link-man, but his recurring knee injuries seem to have robbed him of most of his pace. The guy is 190cm+, so he needs to bulk up and turn into a key defender. He has the capability, needs some luck!

It is pretty clear that our big man stocks are a little low... we need to make sure that we recruit a couple more key position youngsters next year to compliment Harris, Junior, Smith and co. Meanwhile, hopefully at least one of Watt/Hilton/Smith/Morell will take the next step.

Interesting that Petrie played much of the other night in the back line. I had him down as a ruckman... also interesting that L.Smith hasn't got any time in the ruck in the MKs for the last half of the season. He played a couple of blinders there early on, but they seem intent on making him a key forward.

 

[choppy]

I would not trade McKernern re Darky's point and I would give Rawlings one more year after he spends the next 6 months in the Gym.

 

[Dingster]

I agree with Shinners first two points. Motlop will get more consistant with experience and it hasn't helped him that our midfield have been ok offensively, but pretty ordinary defensively. Any backline will look worse than what they are under those conditions.

Colbert is an interesting one. Each time he starts to look like he might be ready to take the next step, he gets injured. He needs to take a step next year or he could end up an unlucky player that lists can't afford to carry. The only possie that I could see him playing is full back or on the third tall. Micky will probably get to choose what he wants to do and the club will abide. If he doesn't play on (well done Mick), FB could be Colbert's possie.

Finally, we must recruit a midfielder or two with some strength to complement Boomer, Simmo and Grant. Kingy is perceived as a tough guy and he can hold his own, but he does play the receiving role a lot. Stevo is the guy that we have missed like hell. He was the key to our team I think. However, I'd treat an injury free year from him as a bonus. We need another Stevo to take over his role. If we can recruit someone, then I can see us being a top team again.

 

[Shermanator]

Originally posted by Dingster
Finally, we must recruit a midfielder or two with some strength to complement Boomer, Simmo and Grant. Stevo is the guy that we have missed like hell. He was the key to our team I think. We need another Stevo to take over his role. If we can recruit someone, then I can see us being a top team again.

Dingster, I reckon we have one already in our own backyard. He obviously needs to gain some confidence by playing time in the 1's but he is another Stevo in the making - D. Harris.

I reckon he will be given the chance to play at least 20 games next year along with D. Smith and Pietrie.

 

[BW]

I wouldnt trade/ delist Rawlings. I feel his role in the team is a half forward flanker who can 25-30 goals a year.

Unless of course we can get a good trade for him. (perhaps the hawks to join Jade)

 

[Rooboy 96]

Originally posted by blueworms
(perhaps the hawks to join Jade)

and what Hawthorn soft**** would you want???

 

[Dingster]

Originally posted by Shermanator



Dingster, I reckon we have one already in our own backyard. He obviously needs to gain some confidence by playing time in the 1's but he is another Stevo in the making - D. Harris.

I reckon he will be given the chance to play at least 20 games next year along with D. Smith and Pietrie.

I hope that your right Sherm. Everyone was screaming for the Rising Star award after the first few games before he was dropped. The rumours were that he was too offensive minded, but damn I think most of our midfield don't run as hard when we don't have the ball. How does Clayton consistently get a game ahead of him?

Anyway, another strong midfielder is required. Imagine rotating Boomer and Harro through rover & forward pocket

 

[Shermanator]

Originally posted by Dingster

How does Clayton consistently get a game ahead of him?

I agree. It's the eighth wonder of the world.