I think most folks would agree with PAULY, that we're 'not far off'... it's just that we've been 'not far off' for 'too fckn long!' That's probably what frustrates most folks - that we were close last year but do not seem to have taken the next step, which all the hype -- from media and club -- suggested. And the problem with that is many other clubs have incrementally improved... so we all start speculating as to why haven't we?
Clearly the club has also questioned 'why' hence the appointment of Woosha to help out. I hope it is the first of a few moves in the coaching dept... but not the senior coach, let's at least give him some important injured played back into the side to work with, and obviously that will rid him of the non-hackers.
We've clearly brought some of the dysfunctions from last year, into this year by:
*keeping the very same assistant coaches as last year... in fact it seems we've had the same core group forever, *sentimentality - nursing blokes to milestones, *playing blokes on reputation when out of form, *playing blokes who are clearly injured/hampered, *playing blokes out of position and *inadequate training/emphasis on defensive hardness/ethic.
So, in the hunt for 'why' folks naturally question loads of things, some erroneous some on the money. Coaches, development, culture, recruiting, football department & Board all come under scrutiny. And rightly so. Right now our form is bottom 4... to amortize present results/form over the season will see us with around 6 wins for the year... gulp.
However... putting aside the dysfunction we've successfully brought from last year to this year, I see light at the end of the tunnel when considering:
*Our injury count to key personnel is more than many. *We've a few new blokes getting used to their team mates (Williams, Fogarty & Saad in particular). *We have some good prospects in Philp, Stocker, Kemp, Carroll, De Koning, Parks, Ramsay and Honey. (Question marks remain over: Dow, LOB, Setterfield, McGovern, Kennedy etc.,). *We're 'in' most games.
Although yesterday was a bitter pill, especially considering -- much like last year -- we won 3 quarters, there was much less niceness and more hardness / intensity... and I suspect we could maintain that hardness for longer if we had the personnel and fewer passengers (obviously). Every game this year we've had at least 3-5 passengers + played blokes out of position. At least yesterday we freed up SPS and although the results were mixed, I bet he would grow into an important mid... just needs to learn to kick further than 8.2 metres.
I just hope that the changes for the cheats.com.au game, do not include Cuningham or Stocker. They must be persisted with. I've been a critic of Cuningham but the recent emphasis on his defensive game, I believe, showed yesterday. Although still somewhat the Cameo Kid, and he had plenty of mates yesterday, his overall game was better and looks very dangerous when he has aggot in hand. We need his disposal skills as well.
Clearly the club has also questioned 'why' hence the appointment of Woosha to help out. I hope it is the first of a few moves in the coaching dept... but not the senior coach, let's at least give him some important injured played back into the side to work with, and obviously that will rid him of the non-hackers.
We've clearly brought some of the dysfunctions from last year, into this year by:
*keeping the very same assistant coaches as last year... in fact it seems we've had the same core group forever, *sentimentality - nursing blokes to milestones, *playing blokes on reputation when out of form, *playing blokes who are clearly injured/hampered, *playing blokes out of position and *inadequate training/emphasis on defensive hardness/ethic.
So, in the hunt for 'why' folks naturally question loads of things, some erroneous some on the money. Coaches, development, culture, recruiting, football department & Board all come under scrutiny. And rightly so. Right now our form is bottom 4... to amortize present results/form over the season will see us with around 6 wins for the year... gulp.
However... putting aside the dysfunction we've successfully brought from last year to this year, I see light at the end of the tunnel when considering:
*Our injury count to key personnel is more than many. *We've a few new blokes getting used to their team mates (Williams, Fogarty & Saad in particular). *We have some good prospects in Philp, Stocker, Kemp, Carroll, De Koning, Parks, Ramsay and Honey. (Question marks remain over: Dow, LOB, Setterfield, McGovern, Kennedy etc.,). *We're 'in' most games.
Although yesterday was a bitter pill, especially considering -- much like last year -- we won 3 quarters, there was much less niceness and more hardness / intensity... and I suspect we could maintain that hardness for longer if we had the personnel and fewer passengers (obviously). Every game this year we've had at least 3-5 passengers + played blokes out of position. At least yesterday we freed up SPS and although the results were mixed, I bet he would grow into an important mid... just needs to learn to kick further than 8.2 metres.
I just hope that the changes for the cheats.com.au game, do not include Cuningham or Stocker. They must be persisted with. I've been a critic of Cuningham but the recent emphasis on his defensive game, I believe, showed yesterday. Although still somewhat the Cameo Kid, and he had plenty of mates yesterday, his overall game was better and looks very dangerous when he has aggot in hand. We need his disposal skills as well.
Only our ruthless best, from Board to bootstudders will get us no. 17