binman

I suspect the first line is partly correct (and the second one %100 spot on). You'd think our major sponsor Jaguar might be out the door given they only signed on for one year. Its going to be a pretty hard sell to them or other major companies to sign up for next year and beyond.

I'm not offended by rumours. But i really dislike unfounded, unsubstantiated rumors of the 'i have it on good authority' type, particularly when they form a pattern that when put together support a particular narrative or agenda, in your case one that paints a picture of a club in turmoil. You made a definitive statement that Trac put an ultimatum to the club. Name your source. If you can't don't report it as fact. Anyone can play the i've heard from reliable sources, who i can't reveal, game. Hacks like McClure do it all the time. You don't indulge in rumors? Without going back through your posts i'd beg to disagree. You seem to be pushing quite a few of late, most of which that put the club in bad light There are handful of posters on DL who if they post a rumour and don't back it up with a source i'll take it on face value. To be frank you are not one of them. Which is not to say you don't get good mail or that what you are hearing is not factual. But as far as i am concerned you don't have the runs on the board. I don't work at the club. But i love the club and i maintain that spreading unfounded rumors on a site such as DL can be damaging to the club. You'd have to be completely naive to think hacks like Tom Morris and Sam McClure don't scour such sites and regurgitate information they hoover up as 'reliable sources', 'whispers' and 'good authority'.

An ultimatum? Really? You know this for a fact? Sheesh This sort of comment is exactly what I am talking about when I say such rumour mongering is damaging. It is not even an opinion. It is stated as a fact. Who knows it might be true but I'm guessing you don't know it to true. Just another mistrust feeding a particular narrative - one that gossips such as barret, the hun, cornes Morris, McClure st so will run with glee.

Spot on. I mean talk about an over reaction to a single line indicating the AFL are worried. As an example of an over reaction you only need to read the thread title. Talk about poetic licence. Similar over the top reaction to some random caller to 3aw's rumor file that some jumped on evidence of goody being a poor coach and other hoping it was true and that he was going to be sacked Praha, on the money front of course we lost money this year. How could we have failed to give our home crowds and QB or ANZAC day were both away games (which by the by the AFL could have avoided by simply staggering). Agree this off season and next season is critical. And have said as much myself. But the most important preseason in the clubs history? More critical than during the years where ceasing to exist as club was a very real possibility? C'mon. Are their issues? Yes, it would seem to be the case. Perhaps a fracture between young and older players and conflict with the FD and the younger players (who Lewis suggested did not come back in great nick)? Maybe. But losing 17 games will inevitably create and heighten tensions. Such hyperbole and over reaction from fans is in my opinion not helpful. Plays into the hands of the gossip mongers in footy media that masquerade as journalists. The club have been proactive thus far and have not sat on their hands. For the first time in long time i have faith in the current administration and FD to get things right.

And on this, so what? Lets see what happens. Might go the same way as the so called 'big' announcement that was supposed to happen last Sunday that you jumped all over. But lets say it is true we don't want the tail wagging the dog and to be honest there are only 4 or 5 best 22 that i woud be shattered to lose. In any case we have most of our best 22 under contract and i suspect might be looking to trade some anyway (eg Brayshaw, Hunt) Der. No sheet sherlock Stuff happens in a year like the one we have had in a very emotional environment like footy clubs The Doom Loop? Most important off-season in the club's history? hyperbole much. What a load of over the top histrionics. The Doom loop is good name for death metal band by the way.

You're dead keen on the club is in crisis narrative aren't you Praha. And dead keen of helping drive it too i might add.

Of course it is. Lets say rumours of players wanting out are true they are not going to learn that at meeting with the AFL. They might however learn that the AFL is not predisposed to giving us any financial help, which is no doubt what we are asking for.

The problem is his technique is poor. Don't get me wrong - I agree about his class and was really impressed with how he ended the season. Never dropped his head.i also look forward to him having a great preseason and some luck with injury and he will be huge for us next year. Like a new recruit.

I don't think the contract necessarily rules him out. Is he a Victorian?

How many games has Daniels played? How is his kicking?

One thing that gives me hope next year is the belief that surely our luck next year could not be as bad as it was this year. What could go wrong did go wrong. I sincerely hope lady luck smiles on from now until October 1 2020 (and beyond). Speaking of which i cannot wait unit this season is finished.

Can't agree Smokey. We got May as a key defender and that's where we need him i reckon. May, Jetta and Omac were the only defenders this season i trusted not to turn the ball over by foot. And May is super important structurally down back and can also play big and small. Maybe he can go forward as swing man at times but i want him holding our back six together.

We'll know round one I reckon.

Top post STMJ. i agree with much of it. In particular i 100% agree with how critical this off season and next season is. Whatever the cause of this year's horror show we cannot afford another like it. Agree also on who we should target for drafting and trading. We need skill. Have done for a decade. It is the key reason I was so annoyed we got rid of watts and why i was so perplexed with our drafting last year. Where was the silk? It is also a reason why I would not be opposed to trading Brayshaw. In normal circumstances I'd be dead against it. But he is on of the few players with real currency and if it were me I'd offer him for brad hill.

Nice work

Has to be the most liked post in the history of DL, surely.

Yes. I'm going and will raise my concerns about the clubs comms (short version, they're rubbish). After attending the AGM a few years back I emailed the club with my concern that no-one acknowledged the traditional owners. To their credit they responded and committed to doing so at all future like events. Which they have (and also do a welcome to country).

Agree. A quality read with some strong points and arguments. 100% agree with his comments about our surfeit of contested ball winners and it is a point I have made since roos came to the club (which by the by is why I reckon roos should shoulder some blame for our unbalanced list and lack of skills for that matter). He doesn't note that the he issue of too many contested ball winnets is componded by the fact all are butchers with the ball. My only quibble is that he like so many others, does not take into account that it is not injury alone that is our issue. The issue is injury PLUS a rubbish preseason (an issue that was in turn compounded by some players not coming back in great shape if Lewis is to be believed). We were never close to being fit enough as our scoring (or more accurately our lack of scoring) p patterns clearly showed.

Agree, to an extent. Lever's poor kicking is a real worry as really you can only carry one poor kick in the back half as turnovers from there almost always result in a scoring opportunity. Hibberd and hore are also average kicks who turn it over too often. All of which means frost's poor kicking is even more an issue.

Quick and elite skills? Get him.

He said he wouldn't sneeze....

The issue for players like Wagner and Lockhart is that they are not good enough to be the number 1 small forward. But if you have an above average small forward they can really provide valuable support and so be one important players.

I'm really pleased he decided to stay. Great get for gws, particularly given they also secured kelly. Good for football. The game needs gws and gc to work. Players staying put is key to that. I'm not averse to gc getting pick 2 as a priority pick . But only if there are other measures put in place that support player retention and buildinf a cohesive culture (investment in facilities, support for good fitness team, greater access to QLD teams, cola, support for grass roots footy in region, resolving issues that make it hard for fans to get to the ground etc etc). Otherwise it's just throwing good money after bad.

Terrific, fascinating post. One of the reasons I like dl is the diversity of poring topics and perspectives. Your use of language is instructive. Obviously you are are external to the orgs you support, but your language is inclusive and internal e.g. we, our etc. I love the idea of using creativity as a tool to help develop mission and direction. I work in the community sector and i feel our sector is often more risk averse and therefore less likely than the corporate sector to utilise left field ideas. The profit motive helps no doubt as as you say top orgs do what works

Thanks for all the time and effort fellas. Most enjoyable.