The GT interview of late '21

[shanegrambeau]

I apologize if this has already been posted and discussed previously.

But in the light of the new exciting changes, I think some of us might like to revisit GT here.

They are one year old comments.

GT is being fair here.

He is saying some of things many of us were saying back in '21.

The first of these is why was Gears re-appointed. Something that I thought was very poor at the time, and really stunk of something very wrong.

Anyway, enjoy.

[cwrcyn]

Seems he's had quite a lot of contact with Andrew Bassat. Hard to disagree with much of what Thomas said, and it hints at what ultimately transpired. The 8/3 start to the season masked the underlying lack of leadership and the inability to make a strong stance in relation to performance at all levels of the club.

Thomas intimated that Bassat had been making decisions based on information he had been given by those within the club and that the information had not been accurate or entirely honest. Once Bassat understood that the information had been misleading as it became apparent in the second half of the season, he acted.


Bassat has shown a big pair of balls in all this. I've no doubt he feels awful about Ratten's sacking, but the future of the club was a higher priority, as it should be.

[WellardSaint]

GT is not a fan of Lethlean.
Neither am I.
I have no idea whether he's great value, but the way he talks, and the things he does (Hannas deal, etc) make me think he's nothing but a self-serving ambitious bloke who only looks after himself.

[bigcarl]

Once Bassat understood that the information had been misleading as it became apparent in the second half of the season, he acted.


Bassat has shown a big pair of balls in all this. I've no doubt he feels awful about Ratten's sacking, but the future of the club was a higher priority, as it should be.

I’m impressed by Bassat. So glad we didn’t run a “process” a la Essendon and Carlton.

“Processes” are for weak organisations and ultimately are a get-out clause for when things go pear-shaped. We did our due diligence etc, etc. Not our fault.

It seems Bassat and the board identified their nan and went out and got him. It reeks of leadership.

[cwrcyn]

Thomas is either loathed or loved, although mostly loathed.

What can't be overlooked is that he wants the very best for our football club and although he can be blunt and at times abrasive, it's the truth that some can't bear to hear that matters.

I've been supportive of this club for the most part and will give the people in charge my trust to do the right thing. However, the failures of the past 11 years have been laid bare. A combination of poor recruiting, poor list management, fitness programs that were not up to scratch, and mediocre coaching

I'm not, and have never been, privy to its inner workings. Grant Thomas is privy to those inner workings, so we have to listen to what he says however unpalatable it is and how uneasy it makes us feel.

Now that Ross Lyon has been installed as coach, it brings into sharper focus the magnitude of those failures.

[SaintPav]

I think Grant identified the problem perfectly.

People usually don’t like inconvenient truths.

[SaintPav]

Selection integrity!!!

[Trev from the Bush]

Thanks for a great post Shane. The discussion prompted a globe to blow in my brain, highlighting the fact that I have never been privy to the inner workings of the Club and have never been to an AGM. More the fool me. Now I am sort of retired I will rectify that foolishness.

Given this discussion took place last December it proves to be a crystal ball into what has subsequently unfolded with Bassat's internal review. My concern at the moment is the coach (our perennial scapegoat) is the only person to have been shown the exit sign. I am convinced our long term issues are off the field and out of sight, moreso than what we see on field. After all, this is how the St Kilda Football Club has always rolled.

[cwrcyn]

Pretty sure Brendan Lade saw the axe coming and wisely jumped beforehand

[saynta]

Over an hour so no thanks even though I am GT fan (even have a GT car in the garage)

[B.M]

Love Grant

Says it as it is

Upsets some apologists or industry yes men… but nearly all of what he said was true!

[WellardSaint]

Over an hour so no thanks even though I am GT fan (even have a GT car in the garage)

I watched some of it, and GT only talks for the first 24 mins (not entirely, the others ask him questions during that time) then signs off. The remainder afterwards is the other old-timers chewin the fat and repeating themselves.
Indeed, after GT made one point quite clear, one of them spent 8 minutes starting with 'Grant, I'd like to clarify that what you're saying is...' and proceeded to repeat exactly what GT said, but in his own words.
What a huge waste of my time.
I turned off after that.

[loris]

Over an hour so no thanks even though I am GT fan (even have a GT car in the garage)

I watched some of it, and GT only talks for the first 15 mins then signs off. The remainder might be the other old-timers chewin the fat and repeating themselves.
Indeed, after GT made one point quite clear, one of them spent 8 minutes starting with 'Grant, I'd like to clarify that what you're saying is...' and proceeded to repeat exactly what GT said, but in his own words.
What a huge waste of my time.
I turned off after that.

I think you’ll find GT didn’t sign off. There was a glitch. One of the chubby bubbies, obviously flicked the wrong button and GT’s screen was off for a short time. It was rectified, and GT reappeared, to continue with his strong opinions.

That fellow who wasn’t a chubby bubby, I think his name was John, reminded me of a poster or two from SS. Loved the sound of his own voice, pontificating and delivering his sermon from on high. I noticed the shadow of a smile drift across GT’s face as the guy rabbited on. I could imagine what was going through GT’s mind. Oh, for gawd sake, what a circuitous way to get to a question, hurry up & get to your point.

GT, like a few on here, have reservations about Lethlean. I still can’t reconcile how Lethlean could be on the review panel when the football department being reviewed was under his stewardship. Unless he stood aside for that part of the review

[loris]

Wellard, which video are you talking about? First or Second? In my reply to you, you mention you only watched 15 minutes then turned off. Now I see you altered that to 24 minutes.
My reply to you was about the first video, that’s where they momentarily didn’t have GT up, but rectified the prob.

I haven’t completed viewing the second video. All those wobbling, hairy double chins was getting too much for me. I was nearly peeing myself with laughter & I couldn’t concentrate on GT’s serious message. I’ve been to the loo, and feel more comfortable now, so I’ll be able to resume watching the show.

[Trev from the Bush]

Over an hour so no thanks even though I am GT fan (even have a GT car in the garage)

Bugger the footy, I'm coming to your place to check out the GT!

[Trev from the Bush]

Over an hour so no thanks even though I am GT fan (even have a GT car in the garage)

Bugger the footy, I'm coming to your place to check out the GT!

[WellardSaint]

Wellard, which video are you talking about? First or Second? In my reply to you, you mention you only watched 15 minutes then turned off. Now I see you altered that to 24 minutes.
My reply to you was about the first video, that’s where they momentarily didn’t have GT up, but rectified the prob.

I haven’t completed viewing the second video. All those wobbling, hairy double chins was getting too much for me. I was nearly peeing myself with laughter & I couldn’t concentrate on GT’s serious message. I’ve been to the loo, and feel more comfortable now, so I’ll be able to resume watching the show.

I typed my post in a hurry and guessed on the 15 mins.
On my lunch break, I rewatched it n realised GT finished at ~24 minute mark.
That John is the one who just crapped on and was boring as batshit

[WellardSaint]

Over an hour so no thanks even though I am GT fan (even have a GT car in the garage)

You've told us maybe a year or 2 ago, that you had a limited edition RX8.
I think you took ages to decide to buy it but Mrs Saynta convinced you to buy it?

[Yorkeys]

Grant must have another communication style when talking to players, otherwise they would have needed to do some guessing about exactly what he was getting at (?).

Kent selection referred to was amateurish but more specific/systemic examples would have been interesting to hear.

I take it he is no fan of Simon Leathlean. Or James Gallagher.

[Teflon]

Grant must have another communication style when talking to players, otherwise they would have needed to do some guessing about exactly what he was getting at (?).

Kent selection referred to was amateurish but more specific/systemic examples would have been interesting to hear.

I take it he is no fan of Simon Leathlean. Or James Gallagher.

He often talks in generalities - when he coached he did too
The odd mug supporter loves “win hearts n minds” type drivel
Problem was when his game style was broken down by opponents he couldn’t tactically work out where it was going wrong or how to fix it
Bring coach is not all “man management” your players have to believe that you’re taking them somewhere
Contrast to Lyon who was methodical in pressers breaking down where we lost and why abd what was going to be needed to fix it
His players - Freo/Saints alike have all commented they knew his game plan inside/out and it stood up in finals
Anyhoo he’s back so we’ll what Ross 2.0 brings

[saynta]

Over an hour so no thanks even though I am GT fan (even have a GT car in the garage)

Bugger the footy, I'm coming to your place to check out the GT!

[shanegrambeau]

..

...
Problem was when his (GT's) game style was broken down by opponents he couldn’t tactically work out where it was going wrong or how to fix it
...

How so?


What aspects of his game plan broke down?
His win/loss was close to 70% three years running. That is as good as Geelong's now.

It is true that perhaps '04 was the peak, but we were very competitive in '05 and '06.

I don't have any probs with how it went down, but I wonder how his game-day tactics were flawed. I heard Brereton say he was a very difficult coach to coach against, which intrigued me - and suggested that he wasn't orthodox. Maybe he had some novelty to his moves..which ultimately became too obvious because they were uniquely signature GT moves?

[saynta]

Over an hour so no thanks even though I am GT fan (even have a GT car in the garage)

You've told us maybe a year or 2 ago, that you had a limited edition RX8.
I think you took ages to decide to buy it but Mrs Saynta convinced you to buy it?

You have a good memory. Still got it too, It's parked next to the GTS Monaro which is my current project.

Love driving the rotary.

[WellardSaint]

Over an hour so no thanks even though I am GT fan (even have a GT car in the garage)

Grant only speaks for the first 24 minutes.
I recommend watching him speak, then turn it off when he leaves the chat.
What he says is eye-opening
He doesn't speak like a salesman, he's the exact opposite.
Very clear, no ambiguity, and speaks from the heart.

[saynta]

Over an hour so no thanks even though I am GT fan (even have a GT car in the garage)

Grant only speaks for the first 24 minutes.
I recommend watching him speak, then turn it off when he leaves the chat.
What he says is eye-opening
He doesn't speak like a salesman, he's the exact opposite.
Very clear, no ambiguity, and speaks from the heart.

Thanks mate, will do.