kosifantutti wrote:Teflon wrote:I don't think anyone is saying finish bottom, get picks = flag.... I think most people realise it's how you complement this with solid drafting along the way and that's a given
What finishing low absolutely, categorically, scientifically and any other (ally) we can think of, does is it puts you at the front if the queue for if/when a Patton or Boyd emerges (and that alone increases your overall drafting/trading power)
Reality for us is we do t have the choice to finish 'middle table to scrounge picks' as our core star group is dusted, we need high quality kids in and Pelchen (by aiming to get us as many high picks he can in short - mid term) knows this.
Battling it out mid table and picking up Mcglynns alone will only ensure we are Carlton IMO and will also ensure that should we want a quality injection of talent then we will end up paying through the nose for it under FA (bad way to chew up cap space and our us back in "eggs in 1 basket" category) IMO
But tanking is really an eggs in 1 basket strategy. The only difference between finishing last and finishing first is that first pick. If he turns out to be an average player or less than you hoped for then what was the point?
IMO it's much better to develop kids while trying to win games, draft the best you can and get them into a winning culture.
Nothing has guarantees and again getting a top pick doesn't mean stop developing - the two aren't mutually exclusive and I don't believe it has to be eggs in 1 basket at all.
Sure, luck to get N Riewoldt over a lessor player is still there but I'd rather still have control of the highest pick I can at the draft or trade table any day - are we truly saying Pelchen has it wrong to be attempting to "up" our draft picks every chance he gets??? Why???
If we were tanking (and no ones advocating that) we'd trade Armo, Joey, Fisher, Gilbert aka do a Melbourne. We aren't so I think tanking is irrelevant
Facts are we have second youngest list to GWS and an old core. We are going to finish near last so we will be drafting high and that's a good thing right now - we just have to pick well and be a little lucky OR use top pick to prize loose a Boyd.... (I can dream..)
Winning culture?? Not sure in football that doesn't come and go with your list tbh - some would argue Carlton have 16 flags? And a "winning culture" I'd argue they've been shyte for a decade trying to "win games" and pretend they are top 4 challengers when they aren't and as a result will have to pay over the odds at FA or take a dive to get picks
There's no doubt our last decade was on the back if multiple bottoming outs (thanks Tim) and using picks well. Do that again and a winning culture will come.
Is that full proof? No but neither is developing kids....