Red But Mostly Blue

Yeah I did much the same, went and built some Lego with my 6yo instead of subjecting him to anymore of that nonsense. I am not sure about the buy-in/change of coach stuff, because we had a few weeks (our only block of wins) where it was starting to look like things were coming together, and even in the loss to the Pies, but I just can't get my head around the will they/won't they turn up stuff, and in the case above, not turning up in Q1, with fresh legs, after a bye, when fitness should not be an issue, after the media team spend so much time on insta talking about flights being booked, and the guys landing up there, then.... nothing... where are they? What happened to all that buzz? Just a no-show until the game was gone. Strange.

All really good points, I hope you're right! I just keep seeing the Cats as those whack-a-moles. You whack one, two more appear. Or weeds haha. Highly efficient weeds. Agree with the teams in contention. The Doggies are another one who irk me a little. Looking at post 2021 GF results, they obviously were not as successful as us, having achieved, 8th, 9th, then 6th, and now this year really ought to do better than when they are and likely well. They are occasionally frustrating, but very good when good - but the stability of being thereabouts and not out of the frame is good. Us on the other hand going from top four to essentially bottom 4 is disheartening. That ladder position really kind of reflects our in game mentality.

I agree with the fitness, but am also concerned about the coma we appeared to be in at the start of some of the games this year. Case in point the last game against the Suns. That does not come down to fitness, and we came off a bye! I don't think we are fit, but I also don't think we're mind fit, either.

I hope so, and while I kind of agree with the Pies - they still manage to draw big players because it's a destination club with a big, rabbid, ugly fanbase, big crowds etc. We're not a destination club and obviously don't draw big crowds. But the Cats, I am not so sure. It's not an original thought or record, but I think they may have cracked the code. Their results over the last 20 years is crazy. I don't even think the loss of those 3 will make that big a dent because they will find replacements in the next 1-2 years, and will have no trouble doing so because the guys coming in know they're going to play at least a prelim, and get a farm etc. Since 2004, the Cats have finished: 4, 6, 10, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 6, 2, 3, 10, 2, 2, 8, 1, 4, 3, 12, 1, 3 = 4 flags/2 runners up (the only other match during this period is the Tigers with 3 flags and the Hawks with 4 flags, but they missed finals 13 and 9 times, respectively!). The Cats have missed finals 3 times in 21 years! There are guys on the list who were not even born when they started this run. That's CRAZY. Every time their demise has been called, they have come back. Anyway, the point of all that is not to gloat about the Cats' record, because I can't stand them, but you have to admire their ability to climb out of their period of irrelevance and actually stay there, probably greater than any other modern team in history. And I think it comes down to standards, expectations and turning up week in, week out. We're not a big crowd destination club, so the only way to draw big names is to rebuild a culture of winning, and knowing what team will turn up every week. Every quarter of every game. The return will be cyclical - we'll win more games, which will draw better names to the club, which will mean we can stay at the top for longer, and win more games/flags. And, hell, even draw the 70/80k crowds we want. We need to be honest with ourselves before we can make the necessary changes. FWIW, I am not potting the players. I don't think they're not trying or training or whatever, I think the issue goes further inside the heads of players/expectations of players. I am not sure the standards and expectations are understood or bought into by everyone all the time. I love the boys and this club, and think we have some solid pieces for a good future, which is why it is so important to correct what is happening and set expectations so we don't squander that talent. We just signed Koz for a million years. Would be good for him to be joined by new/developing talent to win games and maybe a flag or two.

Nah you are on the money. The sad thing is that after so many years in the doldrums, we clawed our way out irrelevance, back into the relevance sphere again. We were finally talked about, lauded at times, and plastered on the papers for things that never make it there for lesser teams. To get there we had to pay overs to draw guys like Lever and May into the fold, but I think we may have squandered all of that, and while not as bad as the Neeld/Bailey era obviously, we will have to return to overs to entice anyone willing to take the risk of playing in a consistent, successful footy team. Again, teams like the Cats and Pies don't need t do that, because players are drawn to success and are willing to forego a little money to win.

I love the chat about trade targets, but the truth is you can't talk about targets, unless you simultaneously discuss and resolve the bigger issue - WHY WOULD ANYONE GOOD COME TO US? We need to fill holes now/upcoming, but with talent. We don't have draft picks that will alone fix our issues. Don't get me wrong, I love my club. But that love does not and cannot cloud realities. I am not on board with cultural issues and all that, but there are things we still have not resolved. Goalkicking/forward connection is a forever item for some reason, but I guess in theory we could fix that. One day. My biggest issue is brand/reputation. We won the flag in 2021, with a potential dynasty ruined by the issues noted above, some bad luck (fight me, we would have won in 2023 if we kept one of Gus/Fritsch (fit) or Melk), poorly managed off-field/club drama and diabolical, frustrating inconsistency. For a while now, the team seems to pick when to turn up. And worse yet, that often happens in games. Why would anyone looking for success come to us? Our decline is evident. Flag, top 4, top 4, 15th, and a real prospect of bottom 4 (or worse). Unlike the Pies/Cats, we can no longer point to a bad year (2024) as an isolated event. The Cats and Pies returned to form and the top of the table after their blip. Today they sit at (clear) 1st and 4th. The difference with them, as it has always been, is brand. They come out and you know what you'll get. It's (partly/mostly) why the Cats have been at the top for sooooooo long! They don't accept the sorts of things we have accepted. Why can't we be like that? Until we sort that out, we will continue to get some of the NQRs we have traded for in recent years, and instead attract guys who likely look the other way right now. We have to acknowledge and rectify the above before we can seriously consider (top end) trade targets.

Just doubled our score just then…

Just checked the score now. Think I might go back to what I was doing. Yikes

Just checked, still dead. But our carcass on the side of the road should be an interesting watch; sometimes stops traffic etc and gets moved into positions such that people pass by and wonder if we're still alive. But nah :-(

With a suspension or two looming here (Judd and maybe Max) and finals almost well and truly out of the frame, this week should mark the start of 2026 planning. Not round 21. Now. Get some time into Adams (break for Lever to get fully fit), Verrall, Culley, hell even Laurie - for a good block of games. I'm no fan of Laurie as I don't think he has any standout skills we need right now, but who knows. We need to play some kids and go hell for leather. Use the corridor. Play fast. Make mistakes. Who cares what happens? It's not like we are in any contention for finals. Expectations are low. Most games are not 'winnable' on current form. At least we can say we tried something other than what we have been doing. You never know, if we start winning games playing devil may care type footy, it might catch on and we steam into the finals, in which case we will have earnt it and ne a nightmare to play against. Unlikely INV, but not impossible. Most important thing is we start planning what we want to look like in 2026 now.

I'm not necessarily pro 'get rid of Goody' now. I have seen glimpses this year that have been pleasing. However, I don't think he's a great game day coach and is often outwitted/stubborn to change during games. Some of our failures really are down to the players (they are the ones who are kicking for goal, and executing the gameplan (or not). Others are due to bad luck (2023 - any one of Gus/Melk/Fritter etc still, for me, cost us a flag). But all of the above is moot I think. If we finish bottom 4, I don't think he survives a 14th, then 15th (or worse!!) place with this list. The downward trend would be concerning. We have an opportunity to arrest that. We CAN have a good crack at 2026. Got to keep Maxy on ice, get May and Lever fit (the latter has been horrible, the former v slow), and while we will never get the 2021 versions, we need to invest as much time in them to get the best we can for next year and/or make sure for the rest of this year we get some youth out there - see if Adams will cut it etc. Anyhoo - that's a 2026 thing. For now, I don't think there is any chance Goody goes this year. But he has the rest of the year to convince the powers that he is the best person to lead the group next year. A bottom 4 finish (again) will likely spell the end.

Oh please god, no more 🥺

Oh yeah we can’t lose next week. That’s a sweet relief Take your wins

14.9 to 9.14, couldn’t put a better visual to our ongoing, excruciating woes going forward. Wasn’t just that though, our lazy defence and brain fades all over the place combined to relegate us to 4th last. RIP 2025, we hardly knew ye. Let’s be honest righ though and ruthless in the offseason because we have some pieces for a run in 2026.

…. And now we’re dead. Sorry, fam. Doneski. Kaput.