To push for a flag, you need 5 or 6 players who can make a claim at AA selection.
The days of this for Judd have gone, same too Scotto and Waite. Possibly Carrots too.
Thomas, Muprhy, Henderson, Jamison (though has waned recently), Yarran, Gibbs, maybe special K are all posibilities but all have big question marks.
Doesn't seem enough quality and our foot soldiers all have major deficiencies. Will be an interesting year.
Agree with you there, 2014 is a very important year for our development. We can't blame the new coach/new game plan thing anymore, Everyone on the list for 2014 should be absolutely on board with all of that, and Mick should have a much better understanding of how to get the best out of the playing group. You only get that understanding through experience, but he'll have had plenty of time by then.
We could either jump up like Freo did under Ross Lyon, or we could slip even further down the ladder.
Make or break year for everyone at the club next year, really.
No excuses should be tolerated at any level.
Agree, and it'll be down to pretty much the same list we fielded this year. Can't say I'm feeling optimistic but if things go pear shaped at least it will be a good reason to clear out the club's management and admin. from board down to bootstudders.
I have grave fears for the future as well Gozza but I want to see how we have gone at the end of the trade and draft periods to get my own ideas clear about where we may actually stand.
At this stage I'm not feeling optimistic and I have little faith that our board and management have the vision and determination to steer us into better times. Dick Pratt's passing was a massive blow for us, and we are way behind the current heavyweights like the Hawks, Cats and Swans in our approach to pretty much all aspects of running a successful AFL club.
I am far from confident currently about winning a flag in the foreseeable future, especially with the careers of Judd, Scotto, Waite, Carrazzo etc. all looming and the lack of promise we saw with the NBs last year.
The key to the future of course lies in us having the right people on our board and the right people running the operation of the club. It appears that we have a lot to do to improve to the required levels in both those areas, but we'll know more about just how good they are this time next year, when their initiatives, especially the appointment of MM should be bearing fruit.
I see the appointment of MM as a positive and as key to turning things around for us. I'm keenly awaiting to see what he can achieve next year by both improving the existing/retained players and by the injection of some new talent. Hopefully we may be in for some pleasant surprises.
Personally I will continue to support the Blueboys out of a long standing love of the club and the jumper and I will certainly continue to attend games as an important part of my social life, but I have realistic expectations these days. I used to see the start of a new season as a new flag opportunity - now if we could just move a few places up the ladder it would be good!
i think Ross touched on something interesting during the week which applies to Yarran You have to emotionally commit. Its easy for players to withdraw emotion and effort - This is Yarrans problem doesn't emotionally commit or risk to a game
That's it. He always seems to be holding a part of himself back somehow. The only time I've seen him really go for it was in his dust up with Geary in the Saints game.
I'm sure Adelaide fans have celebrated long over Dangerfield winning. By memory I heard one guy ran it last year to get his mate a ticket to the GF. Doubt any of them take it seriously.
Dangerfield does because he's a born competitor, you'll never see him laughing with his opponent while on the receiving end of a shellacking in a final.
Yarran is more talented than 95% of the players who played on Saturday but he wouldn't get a game at either club.
Agree with this - Yarran seems gun-shy of really putting his talents to the test - scared in a way.
Just did enough to qualify in the heat - was looking around to make sure he was OK before slowing down. Obviously not risking his hammy in the final - agree, he was content to go into cruise control for that last 20 or 30 meters. I too thought he looked pretty quick off the mark - quicker than I expected.
Be interesting to see how he goes actually. I always think that he takes 15 - 20m to get into his stride before he pulls away. When he gets caught it seems to me to be in that first 15 - 20m.
Yeah me too, it's like when I used to go out clubbing every weekend and every Monday I'd say that's it, no more for me! Sure enough I'd backing up clubbing the following weekend. Following Carlton lately is very similar.
I'm just too old, too grumpy, too stubborn - I answer to Waldorf or Staedtler!
Outside of a few games it was a very ho hum season. That's a worry. I'm curious about our membership count next year.
That's a strong reason why we should get very busy in the draft/trades and off season generally.
And try a secure a few early as well.
Well they won't be getting me early BP that's for sure. I want to see how we go on improving our list and club management, including the board structure, not to mention what goes down re. the Bummers, before I commit to putting in one effin' cent (including Foxtel) for next year. Time to get serious.
