mo64

As long as you're prepared to chip in the $2m which will be required to keep us afloat after another year of onfield pain!!! :angry:

A team's percentage rather than win/loss is a truer reflection of their competitiveness over a season. We were shite, end of story.

I'm with ya on this one. With the players nominating the leadership group, it becomes a popularity contest, especially when a quarter of the list are new to the club, and wouldn't have the faintest idea about the leadership qualities of their teammates. The coaching department should select the captain, VC and DVC, and be done with it.

Shock, horror, I agree with you 100%. On the proviso that we secure Warnock, I'd trade PJ at a heartbeat. He'll attract greater interest from other clubs than Jamar, purely for his athleticism. Despite his physical qualities, I don't see him as a viable forward option, and he has more shortcomings as a ruckman than Jamar. And boy does Jamar have some shortcomings!!!! If we don't secure Warnock, I doubt that we'll pass up on Watts or Rich, and pick Niknat. Most clubs have 4 ruckmen on their list, yet only 2 get a regular senior game. There's always young ruckmen at other clubs looking for a regular game, and looking to be traded. Remember John Meesen last year. Three of the top 4 sides obtained their no. 1 ruckman via trades.

What absolute drivel. At the start of the season when we had Neitz, Robertson and Miller, we still didn't kick to a contest in the forward line. Get it through your head (and Bailey's for that matter), there is nothing wrong with kicking kicking to a 50/50 option in the forward line, if you have a structured forward line with designated crumbers. It is a far more preferable option than handballing sideways, which confuses the leading forwards, and allows the opposition to get numbers behind the ball. And the biggest chuckle I got is when you suggested that Bailey is promoting attacking football. Aimless running doesn't constitute attacking football.

Unfortunately, relocation, merger or oblivion will come sooner. We'll need an annual Debt Demolition appeal if this keeps up. :angry:

If the coach doesn't have the confidence in the players skills or ability to win a contest, it's little wonder that the players haven't responded to the coach. I rest my case.

So who were the star players in 2006 when we made the 2nd week of the finals? We had no "A" class players back then, but we were competive. Why, because the players were confident with the coach's game plan, and it's amazing how good your skills look when you are playing with confidence. At the start of this season, when we were equally as abysmal as we are now, we had the same leaders as we did in 2006. So don't give me this b#llshit about lack of experienced leaders. And the debt demolition via the new board, has really had a destabilising affect on the playing group. Jeez you talk [censored]!!! Even Bailey wouldn't dare use that as an excuse. As for the game plan, well as my nemesis Hannabal pointed out, we play reactive football. The players are not permitted to play instinctive football, and as such, look hesitant. They are scared to deviate outside the run and carry game plan, hence they take time to think before they react. And what's so wrong about a quick kick into the forward line, with a structure that permits it? Instead we handball around in circles, which allows the opposition time to zone off. If Malcolm Blight can see that it's garbage to handball around in circles, rather than a long kick into the forwardline, then why can't you?

You conveniently left out point vi) under no circumstances do you kick to a contest. Apart from that, what you've stated above is exactly how I've read Bailey's game plan. And the simple way to counteract his game plan is by zoning off. The opposition know full well that we won't kick to a contest, hence they target the recipient of the inevitable handball or sideways kick. Through opposition pressure, the result is usually a turnover, with all our players who are providing the run to support, getting caught out of position. And note, that you started your analysis of the game plan with "When the ball is in the backline". What are you suggesting? Bailey has no plan for winning a centre clearance or retaining possession in our forwardline?

You just don't get it. It takes players of rare quality to make the run and carry gameplan successful, and even then as we've seen with Pt. Adelaide, it can go horribly wrong. West Coast (Judd, Cousins, Kerr) - how are they going without these 3? Geelong (Ablett, Bartel, Selwood, Chapman) - can't see anyone of that ilk on our list. Pt. Adelaide (Burgoynes, Cornes) - refer above.

I gather by "effective ball user" you're talking of disposals that hit a target? This stat is irrelevant, as backmen are allowed to chip the ball around without pressure, which inflates their effective disposal percentage. By my reckoning, Bell is not an effective ball user. He may hit a target, but he is not creative.

What a compelling argument!!! So what do you base that on, oh bright one?

My comments weren't meant to be a reflection of Bell's game yesterday. They were directed at Bailey's mindset. Maybe if he gave plaudits out to players who show creativity and flair, we'd be seeing better results.

We're officially screwed. Obviously Bailey doesn't give a rats about what it actually takes to win a game of football.

Jerry, whilst your 1st statement is true, the gap between the Bombers and ourselves, in terms of performance, has been monumental. We've rarely been competitive this year. When you look at our list, and Jim Stynes pointed this out during his DD speech, we have alot of top 20 draftees. I've got no doubt that most of them have got talent, but they're made to look inept because they're not allowed to play instinctively. As Hannabal pointed out, they're playing out of fear rather than with flair. And it's been the case all year. Even with the addition of some quality draftees, I can't see anything changing next year, except maybe the coach.

You're kidding me? Bailey's game plan is run and carry. He spelt it out at the start of the year. We've been playing the same way since our 1st practice match. It's the coach of the side who outlines the team structure, ie; how many players push forward or back. Blind Freddy can see that we don't have enough players forward of the ball, hence our need to overpossess. Ok, so if as you say, Bailey isn't instructing the players to overpossess, he has to be held accountable for not getting the message through. That's a coach's job. :angry:

If Morton reaches Palmer's peak level, I'll be rapt. You undersell Palmer big time. The way he reads the ball in heavy traffic and his decision making, have got nothing to do with his body size. It's a quality that only elite players have, and he'll make the players around him look good. And if you haven't seen Morton torch the ball by hand and foot under no pressure, you are blinded by your initial assessment of him.

Bump. I'll admit I was wrong. Palmer actually has superior foot and hand disposal compared to Morton, especially under pressure. And to all those Palmer knockers, he played at a level tonight that was way beyond anything that Morton has produced this year. The kid is an absolute gun.

Are you saying that Valenti is "a James McDonald type player"? B)

The Saints obviously believe that they are still in Premiership mode. If that's the case, Cousins is an ideal fit because he comes cheaply.

Valenti's decision making skills and disposal are better than most of his peers. And his supposed lack of pace is overstated. Davey is the only player on our list who uses his pace creatively. Not everyone on the list has to be a potential champion, and Valenti won't be, but he's definitely worth a spot on the senior list.

Based on the brief footage from the under '18s championship, it seems that Watts has all the attributes that Dermott believes that Josh Kennedy lacks. Good hands and can take a pack mark. Dermott also conveniently left out that Xavier Ellis wouldn't rank in the top 10 picks from that draft based on performance after 3 years. I'd have Josh Kennedy over Xavier Ellis any day.

So what's your views on a club "Bottoming out" or "playing the kids"? IMO, these phrases are a cop-out for coaches.

Well said Demons 32. I concur with your sentiments. Both players have been wonderful servants of the club, and don't deserve the cruel derision by some on this forum.

Correct. Everyone knows that clubs approach oppostion players during the season, but it's usually done via their manager, and not flaunted in public. Our approach was amateurish at best, and the AFL are investigating our conduct. If we are precluded from picking up Warnock as a result, most of you will be wiping your smug grins off your face.