https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/02/09/weve-taken-the-next-step-blues-boss-makes-flag-declaration-in-five-year-plan/
Its nothing earth-shattering or a new revelation, every club should be aiming to win a flag within a five-year time-frame. The obvious exceptions are Essendon who just want to win a final in that time & St. Kilda who just want to win something.
Thing is, Cook is a proven performer who is not prone to making rash predictions or outlandish comments so most Blues fans should have some genuine expectation & excitement after reading that.
The other benefit of the Blues becoming a real challenger is that the membership base will crash right through the 100K barrier and more than likely get up around 120-130K.
Remember the crap we copped when we last made a similar prediction.
Surely there is no egg on face this time.
Have to win a final this year as a bare min imo to keep the critics at bay for now.
Last time it was 3 flags in 5 years though wasn't it?
Personally I hate putting a cap on it like saying 1 in 5.
We should be aiming to be the best performing club we can be, and striving for continuous improvement. It shows no respect to others to state this and will draw a huge target on our backs.
Actual quote is AT LEAST 1 in the next 5 years. ;)
“In our business plan, we’ve indicated we’ll win at least one men’s and women’s premiership… in the next five years that is,” Cook added.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/02/09/weve-taken-the-next-step-blues-boss-makes-flag-declaration-in-five-year-plan/
With the right people in place, these plans can come to reality. Look at Richmond, Gale presented a plan years ago with 4 or 5 key goals and they hit every one of their markers including the first of their premierships in 2017. Cook is the best in the business, no argument or debate there. The list is strong, no argument or debate there either. It comes down luck with injuries and the coaching, conditioning and development teams. The ball (pun intended) is well and truly in their court.
Nice one Cookie!
You've nailed!
Maybe we can jag that flag by 2028, or maybe not...
When Cook made that statement it was prior to teh AFL changing rules and interpretations.
FWIW, if I recall correctly around the time Cook arrived, we were being bullied by the AFL Media, mostly BT and Ch.7 CheatsFC TV, because we were accused of playing boring football nobody wanted to watch or commentate. They called for the AFL to bar us from prime time.
I recall a presser when Voss come out and stated his intention was specifically to get a more exciting brand.
Step forward to 2026, the AFL have basically ruled heavy lifting slow moving inside Mids like Cripps out of the game, redundant with the swipe of a pen! We are in fact now playing a drastically different more exciting game style, chaotic with wild swings in scoring both for and against, using a list that isn't really suited to that style. Yet we are again being told we aren't worth watching and they want us banned form prime time.
The only consistent claim from the AFL Media critics is the claim nobody wants to watch us, we are boring, and they want us banned form prime time coverage.
If we as a club do not push back against this rubbish it will never end because they are not really making a valid criticism, they are pushing an agenda described as criticism.