What do we need to do in 2024 to take the next step?

Obviously, the last two season's we've finished top-four only to lose four MCG finals.

Is our list good enough?

Do we have the right game plan?

Can we add to our coaching staff?

Are we happy with our player development?

Is our fitness and conditioning up to scratch?

Are we happy with the overall direction of the club?

 

Forward coach

if can’t get a gun with draft picks get best talent available and stock pile it

 

 

Killer instinct. 

A fit forward line.

Forward half players and assistant coaches shake up. 

Marking forwards. Forwards who can convert their opportunities. Don’t have to be superstars. If they can kick 2 goals a game then that’s all we need.

Assistant coaches need a shake up. If Yze gets the tigers job, then go get a gun midfield coach who can get more out of the elite inside midfield talent we have. Stafford as forward coach just hasn’t worked. Get someone who can actually teach them to lead to the right places, block for each other etc. It’s not that hard surely!

Edited September 15, 20231 yr by Lord Travis

Is Rudi Webster still alive? Get him

Trade ideal - a solid-bodied, competitive forward who can contribute some ruck support and allow our younger and/or smaller talls to develop with a bit of protection.

Draft ideal - a couple of smart and capable tall defenders and a couple of energetic playmakers. (E.g. Curtin, O'Sullivan, Moir, Brown)

New forward line coach.

Also, better lawyers.

Seriously, the way the tribunal is going, the legal teams should be included in the footy dept soft cap.

The best youngsters in the draft we can get.

Stevie Johnson Forwards coach/ skills/ball craft.

No.1 Power Forward.

No.2 a gun mid.

No.3 Developing Ruck. in the mold of GWS's young ruckman K.Briggs.

 

Edited September 15, 20231 yr by YesitwasaWin4theAges

Some won’t like it but one thing we need more of is luck - the Petty and Melksham injuries were devastating for our season. 

As for things in our control:

1. Rivers to the midfield

2. Another wing to put selection pressure on Langdon and Hunter

3. A tall forward who can lead at the ball carrier and kick straight

4. A re-think of the way we move the ball in order to generate easier shots on goal given our personnel

5. More Woewodin, Laurie, and other new faces

6. And we need to work on how we start quarters. We give up the first 1-3 goals of quarters too much (tonight they scored first in each of the second, third and fourth. Last week Coll scored first in the first, second and third - same as Sydney the week before).

Edited September 15, 20231 yr by titan_uranus

a clean bill of health and a bit of luck wouldn't go astray

A heartbeat.

Do not draft anymore b graders ever!

Especially those of the slow Garden Gnome 

vaiety.

 

Get Langdon a pair of boots with better studs so he doesnt slip over  all the time.  We were down 4 out of our top 6 or 7 forwards tonight plus Gus (and possibly Harmes if he was to replace Gus) so we look better with them in team but we need:

- a game plan that is not just kick it high and long to a crowded forward line

- better discipline. Kossie cost us a shot at goal tonight and Roo was missing due an avoidable suspension.

- bring in some new line coaches. Defence is ok but forward and midfield needs work. Not sure if the message is gettung through so might  need a shakeup with fresh faces.

- Recruit a big body forward or at least one that will grow into a big tall body

- mix game day up a bit. we have got predictable.

 

 

 

 

 

Nick Watson and Zane Duursma 

We need to find a way to add more skill in the middle and forward half. We can’t have a centre line and midfielders without one elite kick, and 80% of them with very little penetration in their kicking.

I’m of the opinion that the only upside of this horror show is that it’s unavoidable. All levels of the club will have to stare it down and come up with solutions. 

I also think we need to tinker with the game plan so that not every game has to be a smash in contest. We have to find more ways to win with skill. I think our players are exhausted by our game style by September.

Too early. 
 

But lots of changes. 
 

Too many passengers on field.  
 

Goodwin contract extended - Why? Two failures in 22 and 23 

1. Get Matt Flynn in as a free agent.

2. Draft Duursma/McKercher and O'Sullivan as first round picks.

3. Get Blake Howes fit and firing for 2024. Can replace Hunter whose lack of kicking depth is a problem.

4. Use second round picks to poach a 195cm + pack busting key forward and/or a tall hard running mid that is an elite kick.

5. Examine Chocco's role as goal kicking coach. Abject failure this year.

6. Two new assistant coaches. Get on the phone to the likes of hated former players like Joel Selwood or Trent Cotchin.

7. Prune the dead wood if possible. Pay out contracts of BBB and TMac, free agents Jordon, Tomlinson and Harmes. Delist Dunstan and maybe Melksham.

8. Scour the VFL for the best mature players with upside.

A new forwards coach. Thats literally it. They could try leading at the football

25 minutes ago, dee-tox said:

1. Get Matt Flynn in as a free agent.

2. Draft Duursma/McKercher and O'Sullivan as first round picks.

3. Get Blake Howes fit and firing for 2024. Can replace Hunter whose lack of kicking depth is a problem.

4. Use second round picks to poach a 195cm + pack busting key forward and/or a tall hard running mid that is an elite kick.

5. Examine Chocco's role as goal kicking coach. Abject failure this year.

6. Two new assistant coaches. Get on the phone to the likes of hated former players like Joel Selwood or Trent Cotchin.

7. Prune the dead wood if possible. Pay out contracts of BBB and TMac, free agents Jordon, Tomlinson and Harmes. Delist Dunstan and maybe Melksham.

8. Scour the VFL for the best mature players with upside.

A bit harsh on Hunter I think he's been good this year, his mate on the other wing has been worse.

44 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Nick Watson and Zane Duursma 

Watson & Caddy may be more attainable.

FCS get a new forward line coach.  Been calling this since half way through 2022.

Would Gary Ablet Jnr be available?  That's if he'd be willing.

The lack of method, craft. leading and the number of poor deliveries is laughable.

Whatever Choco's doing with his goal kicking academy isn't working.  How Kozzy can't split the middle from 30 meters out directly in front is mind boggling.   Often struggles to make the distance even from there.

His approach / method has not changed one iota this season under Choco.  No penetration and rarely converts.

Ditto Spargo and Chandler.

Our other smalls / small - mediums rarely hit the scoreboard either.

Same with our mids.

We just aren't getting the return from the above in front of goal.

Edited September 15, 20231 yr by Demon Dynasty

A couple of highly skilled outside types like Jimmy Toumpas and Cale Morton.

 

59 minutes ago, biggestred said:

A new forwards coach. Thats literally it. They could try leading at the football

Nailed it. That's all we need

I think we have two more years where we can put ourselves in a good position to win a flag. After that, Max and May will be just about gone, Clarry and Trac will probably be starting to drop off, and our window might be starting to shut.

I don’t think too much needs to change for 2024. Petty will be like a new recruit, and McAdam will replace Melksham (albeit it’s a downgrade based on 2023 form).

Forget Grundy, it failed. Good luck to him. Don’t care what we get back. 

I think the 2024 Demons will be similar to the Lions of the past year or two. We will win plenty of H&A games, but they’ll count for nothing until we get to September. Let’s see if Brisbane can get it done this year.

A lot will be said about Goody’s game plan and selections, but we’d be most likely playing in a Grand Final if we’d kicked straight against Collingwood. A prelim or more if we’d kicked straight against Carlton. 

Someone like Naughton, Ben King or Harry McKay would be nice but I’d rather roll the dice on Petty, JVR and Smith being the main guys and taking the great capital we have into the draft. 
 

Edited September 15, 20231 yr by Bang Bang Bang