John Crow Batty

Just another of the many inconsistencies I keep hearing about our club. On one hand we are are supposed to have a war chest ready to be cracked open to lure champions to our club. Then we need fund raisers to lure them. Now there are stories we are are still on poverty row on the development front. Still blazers look much more stylish on players than GPS units.

This coming from a team that has only had 2 top 10 draft picks since 2000. And we continue salivating at our next crop of top draft picks and still flounder at the bottom. Not just culture but organisation. We have been run by a bunch of F%$&wits for too long.

I don't believe the talk that Freo had a better list than us. For years they have been flaky, unfocused and soft. Not much different to us. This year hard and organised with an adaptable game plan. Lyon has gone in there and turned things around with not much change to their list. When the popular Harvey was sacked there was a lot of upset players there. It could have been a disaster but Lyon is a great coach and has been able to sell his message, implement winning strategies and culture and all the players have bought in. Something Neeld has not not done and I don't think he is capable of doing because as a communicator and tactician he just hasn't got it. If you can't sell your message how do you expect players to buy in? I am now of the opiinion that we made a huge mistake with Neeld but not surprising given the incompetant management at our club.

Nothing more to add to HSSOG. We are now truly shoved backs up the briny hole.

How long will the suckers continue to bite?

If we are talking about speccies and hangers Howe is certainly right up there. But as best contested mark, not yet. When his feet are on the ground an/or grappling with an opponent he is still average. At the moment a one trick pony who gives us something to cheer about when the game is usually long gone. Will break his neck one day the way he is going. Do less of hanging around the back of packs and start being more proactive and lead up more. I could see him becoming more of a Jason Dunstall type. The long bombing game plan we now have does not help him though. Him and Clark are endangered species.

In a wonderful position off field and still pan handling the supporters?

Petrie took a long time to develop. Close to being dumped a while ago.. Having a golden patch but no superstar yet. May get there. Roughhead would be a spud if playing for us. Block me if you like.

That is sooo Cloke.

Every good forward lives and dies by the supply they receive. Clark has had to virtually mug the oposition to get decent ball.

Thanks, Crossed lines with Barry Hall. My Error. But we know what happened to the dogs with Barry. Best we work a team around Clark.

Through history very few clubs have won a flag by buying in an established big forward. Swans did it with Lockett but they built their entire forward line around him. I cant think of any that did it by buying two. We tried and it was a disaster with Moore and Templeton.

True and a great contested mark. Not as moblie as Cloke but very similar. So why is he forgotten?

You have forgotten Darren Bennet. Didn't he kick around 90 in 1990? If you have forgotton him it is likely because he played like Cloke.

All depends on team structure. The Swans are doing well without a marque forward. Adelaide have two fickle forwards. The hawks seem do do well wilth fill in's for Buddy. Pies have Cloke with their version of Seller. North have plucked a few out of no where. To many different solutions.

I actually was pleased he came.

I agree with the caveat of his worth playing in a struggling team. With all the angst that he done to them it looks like Scully all over again.

I don't think he is the type of player that will uplift a struggling club at his price. With a strong midfileld and half back line good forwards tend to magically pop up everywhere.

A sticking point of an extra year on a well larded contract offer suggests he's gone. Not to us I hope.

There may be more than you think.

I think you are confusing me with someone else. Please refresh me with the alleged posts.

The statement attributed to Craig as stated by nutbean would be fine said privately but not wise said publicaly in particular with the fragile state of morale and belief at the club. Neeld was a culprit too in this regard.

No doubt it was good wisdom he learned at the Crows. He found somewhere else to go and now the Crows are flying again.

I think Schwab got caught with his pants down. Just another bad decision.

Yeah, money will buy mercaneries and robots but not belief.