Re: Post Game Analysis: AFL 2021 Rd 5: Carlton vs Port Adelaide
Reply #172 –
I have absolutely no doubt that the comments/criticisms from Sellers are borne out of two things and two things only:
1. His love of the club.
2. An experience, and understanding, of what is required for success at the highest level AND how to sustain that.
I bet most former players from our club pre, say, around 2002 would be thinking very similar to what Sellers has expressed. Likewise former coaches and Presidents.
Very few former players, pre 2002, right back to 1897, would have experienced such an extended period of abject failure from our club.
This is now THE most unsuccessful period in our club’s history in terms of on-field performance.
If Sellers wonders what we stand for, humbly, may I suggest – NICE. We are a very NICE club. We even make it a committed goal to please the AFL with playing pretty, bruise free, footy as well.
Have you ever had a chat with our President? I have, coupla times. And I found him to be a genuinely NICE person, really nice. He really is a warm, chatty and very likeable bloke. So approachable.
The TT. Another NICE person. Very even tempered too. Really likeable as well.
Our players are also really nice. So nice that when Pitto was in a scuffle with Port opponents on Saturday night not one of his team mates came to help out – we’ll have none of that vulgar aggression or ruthlessness… thank you very much, because we’re nice. Psychologically, we may just be the nicest and most submissive club in the AFL.
When Sellers, Sticks, Diesel, Rhys, Dommy, Vinny, Big Nick, Wallsy, Barass etc. were running around in Navy blue, there was no NICE, only a not-negotiable expectation to win – everything. You see something very similar with those pesky successful clubs of the past 20 years - uncompromising players, senior coaches and Presidents.
I suspect Sellers understands what it takes to succeed, what you have to stand for to succeed, and he is only trying to remind his beloved BlueBaggers of just that.
If there’s a Premiership Cup for 'nice'… give it to us now, we’re streets ahead of the rest.