rjay

It was a very interesting discussion with Voss. I forgot he was Clark's coach at Brisbane, I hope SEN put it up as a podcast as it's well worth a listen.It seems there is a lot to this story and perhaps we should have gone in with our eyes wide open when we first approached Mitch. As 'timD' posted the other day, he thought Clark had been poorly advised and shouldn't be running away from his issues (hope I am quoting the gist of your post correctly). Voss was saying pretty much the same thing. As for Collingwood, I would play hardball and make Mitch walk to the PSD and threaten to pick him up if they don't give us overs.

Was having a friendly shot at you on the lottery thing 'Macca', I understand your viewpoint on it. Not sure if I fully agree, I think a really good recruiter has a better shot at getting it right. I've loved watching the Cats play, at least its made footy bearable over the last number of years when our club hasn't but I think they now face a difficult time. Organisations are always said to be well managed when they are at the top of their game but it's amazing how quickly things can change. Lose a few games and questions start to be asked, trouble makers come out of the woodwork. The dominance of the Australian cricket team in the Taylor, Waugh,Ponting era is a case in point. We supposedly had the best coaches, best development systems, best management....lose the champions and that changes. Suddenly your management is no good, the shield and development system need an overhaul, our coaches are garbage... GC & GWS have artificially kept teams like Geelong and Hawthorn at the top of the ladder, now comes the downhill part of those clubs effect on the top teams. Free agency may help them but if they think Frawley will be good for them as a swing man or that Taylor can make it as a forward they have another thing coming. By the way, as you know there was no percentage to be had in the Port game 'Macca', it was a final. Geelong's poor percentage was due to them being on the slide, they weren't resting they were not as good as they have been. They just had enough in the tank to win the close ones, players like Selwood will them over the line but there is only so much he can do.

He took over from Bill McMaster in 1995 'Macca' ....a couple of good articles you might be interested in. http://www.theage.com.au/news/rfnews/mcmaster-of-his-trade/2009/11/24/1258824712384.html http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/master-geelong-recruiter-stephen-wells-cant-dodge-the-plaudits/story-fni5f22o-1226762008459

...now 'Macca' you keep telling us the draft is a lottery so he won't make a lot of difference. The coach has yet to be really proven, he was smart in his first year to let the players play but now he has to coach. We will get a real handle on Chris in the next few years. As for the percentage I think you might also find they wouldn't have minded if it was a bit higher. They are well managed but with GC and GWS on the rise it's going to be harder for them to hold a top 8 spot over the next couple of years. You just don't replace champions that easily, they have a couple of really good kids coming through and a few ok's. They won't make up for Enright, Mackie, Bartel, Chapman, Scarlett, Ling, Ablett, Lonergan, Corey, Ottens, Kelly......

They will need to look at putting some value up for trade though and he would be one. If they rely on free agents to top up they will be well and truly on the slide. Jimmy Bartel will have some good games but he is making more mistakes and playing less good games as time goes on. He should go out on top. They are placing a lot on the idea of Vardy making it or Taylor making it as a forward. I don't think Taylor is a forward and it is effecting his game moving him around. He needs to be settled for mine. Vardy has shown no more than Stanley at St Kilda. With Selwood and Hawkins along with Duncan, Christianson and Caddy...they will be ok but not the powerhouse any longer. If Hawkins goes down forget it.

I wouldn't take all the rumours as gospel 'good oil', I think you will find we are talking to every player available and probably a lot more not considered to be available. Remember bomber Thompson was still unhappy with Roos grabbing Mummy from under the Cats noses. For all the talk of Roos philosophy what most are missing is that he has a history of trading in players in their early 20's, Tyson is a good example. If you look at the Sydney list, most of the trade ins were around this age when recruited. What most see now is the finished list, they didn't start at 28. Frost looks an ideal for the Roos model if the past is anything to go on, if we want to predict we should be looking for players on the edge of getting a game or getting a game but not being well looked after. Forget Malceski, who is the next Malceski, who is the next Shaw, who is the next Kennedy (Tyson), who is the next Richards, who is the next mummy...

Would not be surprised if Kelly retires. Bartel should definitely think about it, Enright will scrape together one more year, Rivers, Mackie and Lonergan not long to go. Varcoe probably up for trade.

You would think so but maybe Robinson really does want his day in court. Can't see it happening either but it would be the only way we will get close to the truth. I truly hope this goes all the way.

I think that's true, I share a similar opinion to 'Machsy' on him so not going to slash my wrists if we miss. Laverde looks interesting but he worries me that he can run himself into trouble on the little I've seen of him. Murdoch tonight again brought this home to me, good pace, big kick but no football brain.

It wasn't a duck he charged the oncoming player with and put his head down as a battering ram. Free kick.

They're ok but you can't replace champions a few are gone and a few are coming to the end. It will take a big q from Bartel, Kelly and Taylor to get the Cats out of this tonight. Do they have one last effort in them?

Good decision, he put his head down into the player coming the other way. Not only dangerous but a free kick every day of the week.

The signs have been there for a while. Their senior players have been making mistakes over the last year that show they don't have a lot of time left. Think the Mackie kick, Kelly badly beaten by Thomas early, Bartell ineffective, Enright making mistakes, Taylor not being allowed any space. Of the kids Cady started poorly but really got them back into the game late in the first quarter, Duncan is going ok but the others have been unsighted. Murdoch 1 kick in a half of footy, Thurlow 2, Guthrie 2.... Think you might see more retirements after this game from the Cats.

We were never ahead of North, they always had the edge on us but we should have been somewhere near or approaching them now.

Don't know about Ballantyne, his teammates seem to like him and I admire the way he goes about his football. Would love him at Melbourne. ...and Crowley is supposed to be a top bloke. Not a bad player either.

That's great news. The only way we will ever get part of the truth of this whole mess is through Robinson's court case.

Playing hard ball in this case 'Jack' is being prepared to push him to the PSD. If St Kilda don't take him we can, not that we will but the threat of it might be enough to get a better deal. Say it's Collingwood, well how badly do you want him. Ok you're not offering enough he can go to the Saints for nix.

Been injured. I would take him ahead of Robinson.

I think our board have been lame ducks for a while now, there are still some from the past that need to move on and I will never be comfortable whilst they are still there.

I'm not so convinced with Dawes 'Chook', he will need to do a lot more in the coming season to win me over.

I still think our board could do with a bit of weeding, I really don't care what they do.

Unfortunately there are board members who will. These are the "liniment sniffers", they like to feel important and will express views outside their level of expertise. Often their opinions are ill founded and or carry no weight at the club. That's why I would never take a comment from a source at board level as being gospel. These type of board members are very dangerous to have in a club.

I guess my point is I'm not losing any sleep over any of them. It's not like we've given away superstars. Cat's fans will also say Riv is no Scarlett, he's slotted in nicely and I'm happy to see him doing well. Sammy would need a big turnaround to even match what Bennell is doing.

No, Brock has had the better career than either of them. Not a star but has been a good player, Peders is a depth player only and Gysberts a bust.

A few observations on coaching from great NRL coach Wayne Bennett; always loved reading his articles on league, life and coaching. "Coaches don't win, players win, and a coach is not as smart as people say when their team wins nor as stupid as they say when they lose." "That's a key part, standing by decisions, being confident that you're going to make enough good ones. Having a plan, and changing it rarely. Poor coaches change it often." "The most difficult thing with coaching is that you have to rely on other people to make your career a success. So, crucially, you have to know people and be with those who want success for themselves and want to help you along the way. Winners. One hundred per cent people. And if you can't recognise those attributes in people, then your time as coach is ticking away, faster and faster. Tick, tick, tick..." "There are two types: the coach that builds and the one out there looking for a quick fix. The quick-fix coach comes in, upsets everyone and everything, gets some results, but within two or three years his organisation is in tatters."