Slartibartfast

Thanks mate.

You're normally better than this. Like most you blew it with Grimes and Trengove and now you want to wack Viney into the leadership group. Let the kid(s) develop. I have my reservations about Jones as well. Dawes is never on the park and Jonny come lately. Why not make Chip captain and put some pressure on him to stay. Grimes and Garland the others in the mix and from the outside who appeal.

Better let Roosy know, the bloke's only just joined us and probably could do with a bit of help.

People judge Morton harshly because they had such high hopes. It's hard to believe Tappy has played 45 games. I can't remember a good one other than his first

My view is we are going from the worst coach in AFL history (not VFL) to one of the best. Bailey got 8.5 wins in his last year. We have an easy draw. We have some good experience (Vince, Cross, Dawes, Clark, Frawley, Garland, Jones) and some good youngsters since Bailey left. Roos biggest challenge will be to get the players to believe in themselves again, that will increase our competitiveness significantly. History suggests he is an exceptional man manager so we've every chance of seeing quantum improvement before game plan or natural player improvement is considered. As well as the teams you mention I see no reason why you can't add West Coast, Adelaide, Richmond, Carlton and perhaps NM to that list. IMO we have a better forward and backline than most of those teams and with a viable game plan, confidence and a reconstituted midfield improvement can come quickly. Roos and Jackson are smart enough not to generate any expectations but privately they will believe significant improvement is possible immediately.

I am, and I'm serious. I'm bullish. We'll see.

Barry Prendergast.

Maybe not. Neeld might have got us 6 wins and he might still be with us now.

You just missed Lance Franklin.

I get the feeling he just trying to be really honest.

This is an excellent point. Given we were going the youth path then an experienced head recruiter was essential. We didn't do it, perhaps we just weren't an attractive enough organization. At the time we worked out of the Junction Oval on a shoe string budget and we couldn't attract one. I'm not even sure he had a management structure in place at the time that could find one. Daniher, Fagan and Cameron had all left within a short time Connolly and Bailey were both new to their respective roles.

Further I think it's still too early to judge him. Strauss, Tapscott and Blease are misses at the moment but still on the list and there is a chance they will progress. Bennell has been promoted so he too is still a chance. The reality is people need a simple target to aim at. Prendergast is the target but as I've said often he was asked to target a type of player with early picks and then the club changed direction and that player was ill suited to the next coaches game plan. Interestingly he bats well above average with his later picks when the targeting of types diminishes and he was just looking for footballers who could play. He was also playing with a limited budget compared to many other clubs. Like you 'oil, I don't think he was great but he wasn't as bad as is being made out.

Just for completeness, what's the alternative?

No, we don't actually.

That was Green Acres BBO with the beautiful Eva Gabor. Well, she was beautiful to me anyway.

Well here we go Robbie, I'll make my first player statement. I've been waiting for this thread because I think he is our man. Can play multiple roles, is big bodied, a good kick and can get the ball. IMO Freeman is high risk and Lennon has been over hyped on this forum. I've some mates in WA who have mentioned him a number of times and reckon he's in the Nat Fyfe category. He's under everybody's radar. I'll be fascinated to see if he's our man.

If you go I'll go to. Back and forward we are top 8 material, our midfield will improve significantly, we have a competent FD the players will have complete confidence in and a game plan which will suit the players strengths and a coach who will bring the best out of them. We also have a CEO that will bring respect to the club and I think that helps the players generally because they feel good about the place. I'm bullish and I think we will surprise many next year. We've had a terrible coach for the last 2 years and whilst that is acknowledged I don't think people understand the impact that had on the playing group. We are much better than many think.

I was never a fan but if what he says is true he has every reason to be confused and disappointed. If the club could not explain to him why he was not getting a game and why he was delisted it is shocking player management. If he was told and is bitching then he's a dope. I find it easy to believe that Neeld failed to communicate but I'm surprised that Neil Craig and Roos could not articulate the position fully and accurately.

No not when it comes to evaluating players I've only seen on a three minute clip and read a few phantom drafts. I do think it's funny when posters start to wed themselves to players. I get serious over things I think I can judge. I could see from day one that Neeld had no people skills - a great characteristic for a coach of a young group. I could see governance problems and I could see when there were obvious signs of mismanagement. I get serious over that and reckon I can have a worthwhile opinion. But on possible recruits - I don't think you'll find a comment from me here about a potential draftees ability.

Cross to join Demons on Friday

If you've got good administration the good football will follow. If you've got poor administration you're pretty much stuffed.

The process is fun for us and it keeps footy going in the off season. It's just that too many take their views too seriously.

Couldn't disagree more. Hawthorns success came from Dicker, Kennett, Robson, Fox, Clarkson, Evans and the rest of his FD team. If you think that a couple of recruiting failures account for the difference in our success over the decade I'd suggest you're sadly mistaken. The optimism for this year rests with Peter Jackson and Paul Roos. Imagine the mood if Schwab and Neeld were seeing out their contract. I'd suggest the club would die. I know many would agree with you but many would be wrong.

I agree to a degree. So what's your point?

I don't really need to point out the successes because it seems that everyone assumes picks in the top 10 will be "stars". It's just not like that and that's the point. Rioli was outside the top 10 and Hodge was before 2003. That leaves Roughhead and Franklin as success. 2 out of 5 in that period.