rjay

I agree with most of what you say here 'titan' and think there have been some big mistakes made in setting up the team. Some of this has been driven by the club leaders (Sheedy, Allen, Silvagni & co) more focussed on a premiership with a list of elite kids within 5-6 years than getting a competitive team on the park within a couple. whether the premiership goal is a reality we will get a better indication this year. I'm not sure the goal is to become sport of choice for the kids and if it is it might be biting off a bit too much. If they get good market share of a big market they will I think have won. But why not set the bar high I guess.

I take your point on this but wouldn't put Jones in this category. He would be one of the worst kicks in the game, we don't have total ownership of that inability. One that has been inconsistent with form and injury but used to defend and attack is Taylor-Hunt at Geelong. I'll be interested to watch his progress and see how they use him this year.

It's ok to take the stats from a very reputable firm like Champion. It's then up to the coaches how they interpret that data. My problem with Champion is when they try to interpret the data they are the same as you or me, it then becomes subjective.

There might be something to this. At training the other day I noticed that Salem was talking quietly to one of the training staff on the boundary (don't know if it was doctor or physio) to do with how he was feeling and his effort levels. It was then that he pulled out of general training, I thought at first it was some kind of injury but then he did a little bit of running with no obvious discomfort.They were definitely talking about something specific so something like this makes sense.

The same thing happened to him in the VFL, seems to have a landing problem.

Enjoy one for me mate.

Whilst I don't think the AFL has handled the formation of GWS well and have discussed on previous threads there really has been no golden opportunity. It's just going to be hard work and with some luck and planning the AFL will get some decent market share, it was never going to take the market by storm.

It is still subjective 'Gonzo' and therefor flawed. Believe what you want as you will.

It just shows that they are flawed 'Gonzo' and it's not objective analysis at all when the foundation of the stats is very subjective from the start. The only type of objective analysis you could have is who had the most kicks for 2013, things like that but when you try to extrapolate that out to identifying the elite players in the comp then it carries as much weight as the subjective whims of supporters.

As usual this is a load of rubbish from champion data. Cloke is the best CHF in the biz and any club would have him. Would you have Chris Mayne or Cloke? Rance a serviceable player but you just shudder when he has the ball. Heath Shaw had a very average year for him, he is a good player but. Beams missed a lot of the year, Rioli was average and also missed a lot of it. Where was Wingard for Port? As for us, well I think Jones is close but not yet elite. Some assistance this year will help him. Frawley is one of the best in the game and I would expect to see him in this list at the end of the season (hope his is still listed under Melbourne) if we have a functioning midfield which I think we will. We an also look forward to Tyson and Hogan joining that list with a few others in the next few years.

Spot on 'mauriesy'. They don't reach their prime until their 30's.

The shots of the Renmark game last preseason were pretty good from what looked like one camera so it can be done.

It sounds a logical reason to me.

I was highly critical of Schwab and still am but don't get me going again. I've had a few disputes with 'Jack' about my criticism of Schwab and it's all been up on this forum for anyone to see. I've never felt that my posts were in danger of being deleted or being banned. I agree with 'Jack' on some things and disagree on others which is as it should be. On the whole I think he is fair.

Had a bandage around the hammy.

A quick few observations from today. Tyson will be a star, very clean hands and precision kicking. Hogan will live up to the hype. Hunt is a good get as a project, moves well but sometimes to the wrong position. Has some weapons and will develop into a player if he puts the work in. Howe will be a real headache to the opposition this year, looks in great shape and very sharp.

I'm sure he did...

Not many players full stop play 22 games these days so if Jimmy gets 15-20 I reckon that would be a good return. As for averages, Howe has spent a lot of time deep forward (not a position he should play) where it's harder to get a kick particularly with our mob. I think a lot are being a bit harsh with Roh, but he does need to get more ball in the positions he plays. The previous game plan probably didn't help him as it seemed we didn't really focus on getting and sharing the footy and he was like most who just didn't get a lot of it. A clear injury free run at it would help but the head injuries issue must be a worry to him and the club.

Agree I think we have taken some significant steps in this area, add some experienced coaching (Stone & co) and it will at least break even more often than not.

Very, it's always been the main issue although we do get sidetracked by the ancillary issues of the lying and cheating that go with it. Not to mention our attitude to the EFC.

Sure hope so 'Jack', but who will be our Haddin? Jamar maybe or will Vince step up at his new club?

Yep, I think he is treating the players as adults. Amazing what that approach has done for the Australian Cricket team with Lehmann in charge.

Interesting to know when they take time off. Given that they have to work on list management, draft and trade at the end of the season when do the other coaches take a break. My guess is there would be no ideal time, some may miss the first few weeks at the start of pre season which wouldn't have been an option for Roos. Anyone know what the other coaches have done? Also remember Roos was not just doing "On the Couch" last year, he was still working for Sydney.

Short but sweet...

I hope so, he needs to settle in a position and it looks like the midfield. I could still see him rotating forward as a resting option but that would be it.