plugger66 wrote:Waltzing St Kilda wrote:ralphsmith wrote:Agreed with previous comment.
You don't win flags with players like MCqualter and Eddy (AND RAPH CLARKE) in a grand final teams.
Ro$$'s strange obsession with his role players -- McQualter, Eddy, Raph Clarke and even Blake and Dawson -- stood in sharp contrast to his seeming disdain for some of the heart-and-soul players -- Ball, Hudghton, Maguire -- and his disinclination to give game-time to some of the more promising young players: Armo, Geary, even Jack Steven.
A great tactical coach with a fair bit of mongrel in him (like many successful coaches), but his mental issues and insecurities probably prevented us from going the full distance.
Its amazing what we forget over time. max was finished for sure. Goose was also struggling at sandy. Ball had a very poor year. Look at the stats. Just a pretty simple question. If those 5 players you mentioned werent good enough how did we win 19 in a row? GT had a much better list and couldnt do it. Geary played a lot of footy by the way and wasnt Eddy young or that doesnt count. Armo played 12 games in his second year and jack was stuffed with OP. Mental issues. What a lot of crap.
You dont win flags with Eddy and Mini in the side. But you win 2 with Mario Bortalotto.
There's some re-writing going on here all round...
McQualter had a very good 2009 and deserved his spot. No issues there. How he got games late 2010 to me at least, will go down as the most bizarre, irrational mystery and the first concrete sign that something was erratic about RL.
Eddy fair enough
Blake and Dawson were solid, appropriate picks that justified their selection both years both pre and post GFs
I've always been of the opinion that Raph Clarke was better than he was ever credited but he was average in the 09 GF... though personally I think he was a big loss in 2010 but that's just me
Luke Ball didn't have a really poor year... that's just twisting the facts. He didn't have a great year but was playing decent enough football to be in the team in Sept and had an excellent first half to the 09 GF
Whilst I don't believe Hudghton was finished, he was a risky proposition and I don't begrudge the coach for going with Dawson instead. I just didn't have confidence in Max to see the game out though he was clearly a better player
Goose was just unlucky. I don't think he was struggling so much but he played in positions we had covered and then when he earnt his chance... he got injured. Disappointing but unlucky
I do enjoy the argument with Armo and Jack... Jack in particular was underutilised but it's made out as though he was injured the whole season to again suit the argument. Armo should have played more and should have got games ahead of Mini, Gram, Eddy, Dempster at the time to name a few