So basically we should just listen to media hacks & and vocal, disgruntled fans as the way to fix footy clubs??
That would mean Buckley and Hardwick (you could prob add in Brad Scott too) would all be out of the senior coaching gigs at their respective clubs if the chorus of discontent from some fans and the media were enacted during various difficult periods in their recent history.
I’ll say it again, what a great diversionary tactic by Cornes to draw attention away from the perennial ‘contenders’ Port - who have topped up with older players then missed the finals altogether. They have played finals ONCE in the past 4 seasons and lost that final at home to Weak Coast. We’ve won the minor premiership and finals in that time - just sayin’.
If we’re going to talk about underperforming teams from the past 4 seasons -then let’s start with them.
At least our club committed to a long-term rebuild, drafted accordingly and only brought in free agents/trades that matched this strategy in terms of age profile. All recent trade in’s (since 2015) have been under 23 - with the exception being Matera who was 25.
This strategy has been backed by the Board and administration, clearly articulated to members and, like it or not, the path we are on whether we change coaches mid-stream or not.
Those in the ABR faction, maybe out of frustration for not having a consensus replacement despite umpteen threads discussing just that matter, make the assumption that those not calling for Roly’s head must “love” him. I do not and I know from my chats with Morgan that he is no Lyon-sycophant either. Haven’t had the pleasure to meet Jezza but I don’t believe he wants to have Roly’s love child either.
What I do have is respect for him as the only coach to lead us into consecutive final series (5) and our only Grand Final. He also has a body of work prior to his appointment here that rivals most AFL coaches - including a few Premiership ones - in terms of win/loss ratios. Players also seem to love him, for what that’s worth.
So when someone, either in the media or on here, comes up with a realistic and genuine alternative with the runs on the board and a proven ability to function in a two-team town where we are always the poor cousin - then I’ll listen. The silence so far has been deafening apart Ass Coaches who no-one else has rated enough to give a senior gig to - or sacked coaches working in the media.
And trying to compare us with Hawthorn is laughable.
We don’t get to play 10+ games a year on the ground the Premiership is decided, or only have to jump on a aeroplane for more than an hour once or twice a season.
Free agency has completely undermined nearly all the other equalisation measures the AFL have introduced and the Victorian teams are by far the biggest beneficiaries. The Hawks have been able to stay at the top by poaching the best players from other teams - something a WA side will never be able to do.
If we want to look at where our problems really lie it’s in the players we have drafted the past decade or so. Too many busts with early picks (some were unlucky with injury but not all), not enough local talent brought it and not enough highly skilled ball users. That would seem to be the domain of the recruitment and football department.
Now that our primarily Melbourne-based list manager is off to ‘manage’ someone else’s club - perhaps we should be throwing ridiculous sums of money at, say, Hawthorn’s list manager??
Because at the end of the day, a coach can only work with the players at his disposal and if they’re not up to AFL standard then you really are up the proverbial creek without a paddle.
