I was disappointed and surprised your post didn't get more acknowledgment, Pauly. The Gestalt Therapist within me marvelled at your perspective.
Yes. So many parts of the CFC in support of the playing group, and the playing group itself, have changed in the off season... with significant leadership credentials added to the mix along with strengthened support for existing leadership.
Yep
And Wright spent the year having a good look at what was going on and as soon as he took control he made some changes.
Coach and Recruiting team weren't part of those changes...yet!
What was wrong with Cook?
Our injury list in 2024 consisted of much more than TDK and Curnow
Docherty didn't play until the end of the season and was clearly underdone.
As well as an extensive list of players down through the year..
Players listed as doubtful or needing tests prior to the elimination final against Brisbane included-
McKay
Cerra
McGovern
Willliams
Martin
Boyd
Durdin
Marchbank
We didn't fall off a cliff in 2024...we were pushed off by the injury gods.
The Giants game where Charlie stepped in a hole in the warm up was a turning point. Yeah we had a lot of injuries but he was the best forward in the comp.
We had Brian Cook and Graeme Wright last season.
Yep
And Wright spent the year having a good look at what was going on and as soon as he took control he made some changes.
Coach and Recruiting team weren't part of those changes...yet!
If you go back a little further to 2024 when we had our run and looked the best we have since 2000 it was on the back of Cripps, TDK and Curnow.
The latter two got injured and we fell off a cliff.
Our injury list in 2024 consisted of much more than TDK and Curnow
Docherty didn't play until the end of the season and was clearly underdone.
As well as an extensive list of players down through the year..
Players listed as doubtful or needing tests prior to the elimination final against Brisbane included-
McKay
Cerra
McGovern
Willliams
Martin
Boyd
Durdin
Marchbank
We didn't fall off a cliff in 2024...we were pushed off by the injury gods.
We had Brian Cook and Graeme Wright last season.
Whilst I acknowledge this thread is about the list improving or worsening, I am a little surprised about the lack of discussion throughout the forum of things beyond the list. Leaving aside the obvious ultimate goal of a premiership, what we all want to see is more wins and more convincing form. Improvement can come from a number of sources, which are not always on field and when they are, they're not easy to gauge or measure. It may be that Davies and Wright will provide leadership and direction that has been previously lacking, which will flow through the organization. It may be that the presence of Boak, Simpson, and new assistant coaches will give Voss the support and feedback he needs to go to the next level. There may have been disharmony and distraction throughout the playing group wrt Charlie, De Koning and Jack Silvagni - perhaps that is now in the past, and a more unified, less distracted group may play better football. We have finally have better luck with injuries etc.
Treating the players as atomistic, self contained entities, like parts of a machine, certainly has its place, but can only take you so far IMO.