Hannabal

Either way, it's not "shocking".

Well done W_J. In one fell swoop you summed up why many don't bother posting.

It great that there's been so much discussion and even angst on some forums regarding the make up of our new leadership group. I don't find the changes a big deal as it's hard to judge from afar. It's a tad amusing though that many airing these opinions said very little, or nothing, while our Footy Dept was making mistake after mistake after mistake for the preceding 5 years, or so. What ever pushes your buttons, I suppose.

As a list manager, CAC made a good recruiter. Warnock is contracted in 2008.

Unfortunately for all attendees, of which there were close to 30 at one stage, the first year players were at an AFL training camp.

Bailey took the training session. Btw, how many of those balls did you mark ?

I wrote the following well into the season in 2006. You may, or may not find it interesting: (2006) "Last year I wrote ad nauseam "outside midfields are consistently inconsistent". A bit has changed since then but not enough to make the discernible difference we crave. Prior to round one most supporters whose opinion I rate predicted we'd finish 5-8. They thought 2007 – 2009 was far more likely to bring success. They've a fairly good handle on their club. To predict our future we need to understand our past. Our better players in 2005 weren't 'first dibs', some not even 'predator'. Bruce, Green, TJ, Davey, Yze, et al were always going to be 'inconsistent' when they had to rely on others winning contested ball. It goes without saying that if you can’t win enough of your own footy you lend yourself to inconsistency unless you’re constantly given a meaningful supply. They weren’t. Our only true 'first dibs' footballer in 05 was Junior and without support he struggled. On days where Junior excelled, our 'predators' managed to break even, and our outside class was given space to work, the Dees could look world beaters while leaving their supporters salivating. But it was a house built of cards. The cracks in the ice were ever present and a dark abyss just beneath the surface cast a large black cloud. What was needed in 06 to sufficiently make the in roads required for us to become a top 4 side ? An awful lot. So what’s happened ? Junior has had his best year, McLean has been a revelation, an unknown Bartram led the way in tackling and 1%’s, Pickett added grunt, Davey got better, Green has quietly gone about his business, and TJ, Bruce, and Yze enjoyed this more even spread of contributors. The game plan has been more defensive and accountable, tackling and 1%’s a team focus, and on our day we’ve shown a side with more steel. But by season’s end supporters still bemoan inconsistency. Until McLean, Jones, Sylvia, Bartram , etc, mature in their football so they can consistently win clearances, feed the ball to those incapable of winning their own footy regularly, and build their bodies to a level capable of withstanding the rigours of AFL footy, our supporters will scratch their heads wondering what’s gone wrong. They’ll blame a mentally fragile group, they’ll blame a lack of leaders, but they don’t understand the fabric of our side. Currently, our leaders aren’t ball winners. Some have improved in this area and even become reasonable predators, but they are still too reliant on others. You can’t alter the course of a game if you can’t get your hands on it. This breeds the dreaded ‘inconsistency’. The good news is that our future leaders can win tough contested footy. They will be in a position to make a statement and alter the course of game. By nature, they will bring consistency to the team. The bad news is they need to get 50+ plus games into them. Can Neitz hold on to 2008 ? I think he’ll need to. The future is bright, just not immediate. Don’t get sucked in by a 5 goal win on Friday night, a poor loss the following week, and call them ‘flaky’. There are reasons. You just need to recognise them. Our bleating won’t make it happen any quicker. Mind you, a ‘star’ wouldn’t go astray."

There's probably nothing Earth shattering in any of that, but I wonder what position the 'source' has within the club. Bailey has been at pains to say that he won't place limitations on any of the playing group, or team. He strikes me as someone who, whilst pragmatic, wouldn't be broadcasting those sorts of prognostications to too many at the Club and probably has an open mind himself at this early stage of his coaching career. I don't doubt your source, but I do have a question mark as to who 'the Dees' are that he/she speaks of. It may be a Board member or a couple of people in the marketing dept. It's also possible that there's a considered decision to play down finals aspirations to take any pressure off a relatively young group, even if there's a view that a Final's campaign is certainly possible. There are so many angles if you look hard enough.

Well, there you go. I spend 90% of my webtime playing chess on gameknot.com and about 10% elsewhere.

Yet I disagree with much of his content. Whilst some of the thrust has merit, his views are too simplistic. And I don't think he plays chess.

By his own admission CAC is getting better at his craft. Some here fawn over him, some make excuses for every selection he's got wrong, some think he's a dud, and others are somewhere in between. I think he's made plenty of mistakes, but I also think he's a better than average recruiter. I think his record stacks up with most. And I especially think that we'll look back at his last 5 years with fondness. He hasn't recruited a 'star' in 11 years ( that we know of). Some here will blame player development, and lord knows I've been very critical of this aspect of our FD, but I also lay the blame squarely at his feet. Stars are stars, no matter the circumstances, training facilities, coaches, team, etc. And he's yet to unearth one in his tenure. I mark him down for that. And if that's harsh, so be it. If you want to be acknowledged as the best in your industry then you're judged on tough criteria. And at my club I want the best. And how long was he 'list manager' ? This football club has held on to cr@p players for too long. They haven't turned the list over nearly enough. Players such as Lamb, Nicholson, Bizzell, Smith, Ward, Armstrong, Grgic, Godfrey were on the list for too long. Some far too long. Warnock, PJ, Holland, Miller, and Jamar shouldn't be on the list in 2008. Our dearth of ruck stocks have saved a couple. I think that this should be McDonald's last year, and I know many won't agree. But if you're not 'special' and are on the wrong side of 30 footy quickly catches up on you. Better to go a year too soon than a year too late, as has too often been the case. CAC must shoulder some of the blame for a lack of turnover of the list as list manager. But I acknowledge that he was one of many influencing this area of the club and I'm more critical of Daniher for the stagnation. Btw, some of us were calling for far greater list turnover 3-4 years ago. This isn't 20/20 hindsight. I have many gripes over ND and his reign, but I also acknowledge that much went right. And CAC ? He was good, but he wasn't a 'star'.

It's a pity that not all are swayed by this noble sentiment. I hope and suspect you know my feelings. All the best.

Well I'm heart broken that we're not involved with Netball side. I don't know what I'll do.

These drafts don't overly excite me. If it gets to the stage that I'm abusing their mediocre efforts on the G I'll be relatively happy.

I can't be bothered doing a Dappa Dan. Most supporters understand 2007. But thanks for your input.

It's been dropped from our logo, but remains our official theme name.

No we haven't.

Some things are implied.

Thanks Captain O.

Typically guests/coaches are in between 7.30-8am. Don't expect much though. By the time they have the 7.30 news, ads, and mindless vaudaville crap, you'll get about 3 minutes of actual footy discussion. Thankfully Bailey isn't president of the coach's association unlike the former incumbent. You'd be lucky if you got 2 minutes about the Dees.

Then you'd be wrong. We rated Grimes ahead of Masten.

Miller's only chance is to be aggressive. It's the only way he'll regain confidence. He didn't have a clue what to do on the field last year. I don't rate him, but a hard running furious Miller may have some value. As for where he was picked ? I'd love to dredge up the thread where many esteemed Demonlanders were saying that once you're on a list it matters not how you got there, or what pick you were. I disagreed then, and haven't changed my mine. Where did you stand ?

Try and buy early this year. It saves the club money in phone calls, paperwork, admin, temps, etc. Not to mention the momentum gained from morale, positive publicity, etc.

Or indicative of a terrible season. You're right about the Bombers though. They got good seasons out of their best 6 and were still mediocre. Wooden spoon material for me.

I suspect you were listening to Doran's replayed interview with Schwass this afternoon. How do you think Yze would've gone with Pagan ?