John Peake's positive perspective !

[howlinwolf]

For a number of years now my wife has met John Peake through work from
time to time.
He has spoken to her often about how the Club is going.
I've been hesitant to repeat things here as it may not have been in the best
interests of the club.
However now he has moved back to Geelong I can't see any problem in
sharing what their latest conversation was.

This week she spoke with him and asked how he saw the way the Club was
going this year.

He said that it was a VERY professional club with some great people there.
Also that he is VERY impressed with our young brigade of players.
Said we have a wonderful list of young players.
That any club that had lost 2 GFs as we have had would be feeling the
repercussions exactly the same. That we will bounce back !

To use Ross's words we have climbed the mountain for a few years now.
I think Ross and his team have done an incredible job to give us a tilt
at the flag twice.

I am very grateful that we are a very professional club and one I can be
proud of. That wasn't always the way.
While 2011 hasn't been great so far I am fully supportive of our coaches
and players including Roo and BJ.
We'll never know the full scale of how difficult these campaigns are.

So there's a positive spin for ya !

[falka]

What do you reckon he will say

"We have a bunch of dud kids that I drafted for them"

[Dr Spaceman]

What do you reckon he will say

"We have a bunch of dud kids that I drafted for them"

Well that's your cynical response.

Me, I prefer to take it as written.

Thanks howlinwolf - I'll take any positive stuff that's going 'round

[spert]

Some positives, but I for one am sick at having tilts at flags..I want to see us win one!

[Moods]

Some positives, but I for one am sick at having tilts at flags..I want to see us win one!

You know what? We ALL would like to see them win one. I'm still happy to see them having tilts at them though. makes for a great year - only one day out of the year I get really really disappointed. If we go as bad as some on here are predicting, let's see what you prefer - tilts at the flag or......

[thejiggingsaint]

I'm with you moods me old pal! I'd MUCH rather see us having a tilt than go back to the early 2000's!!!!

[Spinner]

The kids have just been marinating in the second tier for a bit... And should make quick transitions.


I hope.

[plugger66]

The kids have just been marinating in the second tier for a bit... And should make quick transitions.


I hope.

I think may have drowned in the marination if that is a word.

[Richter]

The kids have just been marinating in the second tier for a bit... And should make quick transitions.


I hope.

I think may have drowned in the marination if that is a word.

A propos of nothing, reminds me of a song by Michelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen....

If sodomy is not just for animals
Human flesh, is not just for cannibals
I'll feast on your body if you'll feast on mine
'Cause blood is thicker, and redder than wine
Oh, lay ourselves out, upon the table
Ravish each other 'till we're no longer able
When juices mix in the heat of the fray
It'll make a formidable marinade

Ahem!

[SaintPav]

For a number of years now my wife has met John Peake through work from
time to time.
He has spoken to her often about how the Club is going.
I've been hesitant to repeat things here as it may not have been in the best
interests of the club.
However now he has moved back to Geelong I can't see any problem in
sharing what their latest conversation was.

This week she spoke with him and asked how he saw the way the Club was
going this year.

He said that it was a VERY professional club with some great people there.
Also that he is VERY impressed with our young brigade of players.
Said we have a wonderful list of young players.
That any club that had lost 2 GFs as we have had would be feeling the
repercussions exactly the same. That we will bounce back !

To use Ross's words we have climbed the mountain for a few years now.
I think Ross and his team have done an incredible job to give us a tilt
at the flag twice.

I am very grateful that we are a very professional club and one I can be
proud of. That wasn't always the way.
While 2011 hasn't been great so far I am fully supportive of our coaches
and players including Roo and BJ.
We'll never know the full scale of how difficult these campaigns are.

So there's a positive spin for ya !

Thanks for the post mate. I appreciated it and enjoyed reading it. Cheers.

[saintbrat]

why is it so hard for some to beleive the Saints have done some things right and some people are positive about their dealings...

[Dr Spaceman]

why is it so hard for some to beleive the Saints have done some things right and some people are positive about their dealings...

Indeed bratty.

Seems some people have to be unhappy in order to be happy

[Thinline]

why is it so hard for some to beleive the Saints have done some things right and some people are positive about their dealings...

Indeed bratty.

Seems some people have to be unhappy in order to be happy

Kinda like Collingwood people have that annoying habit of assuming you're interested in all things Magpie and Essendon people are fair weather ferals fuckers and Richmond eat their own on a whim, I reckon what you've described makes up a significant part of the Saints fanbase personality.

[Spinner]

The kids have just been marinating in the second tier for a bit... And should make quick transitions.


I hope.

I think may have drowned in the marination if that is a word.

Haha more flavour!

[Saints43]

Seems some people have to be unhappy in order to be happy

... I reckon what you've described makes up a significant part of the Saints fanbase personality.

Well considering we didn't pick them to support - in most cases they would have been foisted upon us by family and it's not that the club specifically attracts the fatalistic - then that's probably their fault as well!

[spert]

Some positives, but I for one am sick at having tilts at flags..I want to see us win one!

You know what? We ALL would like to see them win one. I'm still happy to see them having tilts at them though. makes for a great year - only one day out of the year I get really really disappointed. If we go as bad as some on here are predicting, let's see what you prefer - tilts at the flag or......

Yeah but as far as the history books go, a club gets remembered for what it did, not what it almost did.

[stinger]

If sodomy is not just for animals
Human flesh, is not just for cannibals
I'll feast on your body if you'll feast on mine
'Cause blood is thicker, and redder than wine
Oh, lay ourselves out, upon the table
Ravish each other 'till we're no longer able
When juices mix in the heat of the fray
It'll make a formidable marinade

Ahem!

sounds like some of the forumites at their little drinkie parties before the game......

[WinnersOnly]

When he is employed to acheive results with his recruiting he is not likley to say anything else is he? If he had anything to do with getting the Geelong 2008 & 2009 lists togther then he deserves all the kudos that can be caste his way.

His efforts at the SAINTS however as still very much in the under performing potential category.

I raised with his my concerns with our rucking stocks last year and the club electing to not drafting another ruckman at last years draft eg Jonathon GILES (ready made ex-Port ruckman). In hindsight it has been shown that the club has made a very poor decision in this regard!

Here is his response -

Thank you for your e-mail. You are obviously a passionate supporter. For a little feedback we had Presita very high on our priority list but we did not think he would last to pick 24. Michie was in strong consideration for pick 43. Having said that we are delighted to have pick up Sam Crocker and I hope you see why next season.

Aaron Mullet will be considered for a rookie selection.You were spot on with Aaron Siposs so I hope, like us you will enjoy watching him develop over the years.

With regards to drafting a ruckmen we felt for this year we will watch how Ben McEvoy and Rhys Stanley develop.Whilst everyone has their own theories on how this new interchange rule will effect the ruck position we wanted to see what happens over this year before we make any decision.
Hope this gives you a little insight into our plans and drafting strategy.

All the best.
John Peake

[howlinwolf]

When he is employed to acheive results with his recruiting he is not likley to say anything else is he? If he had anything to do with getting the Geelong 2008 & 2009 lists togther then he deserves all the kudos that can be caste his way.

His efforts at the SAINTS however as still very much in the under performing potential category.

I raised with his my concerns with our rucking stocks last year and the club electing to not drafting another ruckman at last years draft eg Jonathon GILES (ready made ex-Port ruckman). In hindsight it has been shown that the club has made a very poor decision in this regard!

Here is his response -

Thank you for your e-mail. You are obviously a passionate supporter. For a little feedback we had Presita very high on our priority list but we did not think he would last to pick 24. Michie was in strong consideration for pick 43. Having said that we are delighted to have pick up Sam Crocker and I hope you see why next season.

Aaron Mullet will be considered for a rookie selection.You were spot on with Aaron Siposs so I hope, like us you will enjoy watching him develop over the years.

With regards to drafting a ruckmen we felt for this year we will watch how Ben McEvoy and Rhys Stanley develop.Whilst everyone has their own theories on how this new interchange rule will effect the ruck position we wanted to see what happens over this year before we make any decision.
Hope this gives you a little insight into our plans and drafting strategy.

All the best.
John Peake

As you said "In hindsight" it may not have been the best decision.

You are assessing his judgement then to be poor yet at the time
was he to know Stanley wouldn't be an option in the ruck at all, Kosi
would be injured up until round 6 at least, Gardi would be out also ?

All seems to be understandable to me considering this and the change to the interchange rule.

[Thinline]

Interesting and reasonable.

Despite the howls of some, I reckon we think longer term than many think.

I mean has anyone actually canvassed the possibility that this year was slated as a development year pre-season?

Perhaps THAT'S why the players seem disgruntled? They want to be winning, but winning this year ain't priority one.

Just a theory.

[Cairnsman]

Interesting and reasonable.

Despite the howls of some, I reckon we think longer term than many think.

I mean has anyone actually canvassed the possibility that this year was slated as a development year pre-season?

Perhaps THAT'S why the players seem disgruntled? They want to be winning, but winning this year ain't priority one.

Just a theory.

I've thought about this too. Would you formally announce it to the players as a development year or would you keep it at management level? In any case the players would probably work that sort of stuff out all by themselves - or at least the students of the game would - and play accordingly.

Is this a Paul Keating year then?

[Thinline]

Interesting and reasonable.

Despite the howls of some, I reckon we think longer term than many think.

I mean has anyone actually canvassed the possibility that this year was slated as a development year pre-season?

Perhaps THAT'S why the players seem disgruntled? They want to be winning, but winning this year ain't priority one.

Just a theory.

I've thought about this too. Would you formally announce it to the players as a development year or would you keep it at management level? In any case the players would probably work that sort of stuff out all by themselves - or at least the students of the game would - and play accordingly.

Is this a Paul Keating year then?

Who knows. Maybe they'd simply say 'this is how it's gonna be' and forge on.

As for the Paul Keating analogy, if you think it through, it simply has to be this year. There's no time otherwise.

Who knows. Just a theory. Probably a s*** one.

[Cairnsman]

Interesting and reasonable.

Despite the howls of some, I reckon we think longer term than many think.

I mean has anyone actually canvassed the possibility that this year was slated as a development year pre-season?

Perhaps THAT'S why the players seem disgruntled? They want to be winning, but winning this year ain't priority one.

Just a theory.

I've thought about this too. Would you formally announce it to the players as a development year or would you keep it at management level? In any case the players would probably work that sort of stuff out all by themselves - or at least the students of the game would - and play accordingly.

Is this a Paul Keating year then?

Who knows. Maybe they'd simply say 'this is how it's gonna be' and forge on.

As for the Paul Keating analogy, if you think it through, it simply has to be this year. There's no time otherwise.

Who knows. Just a theory. Probably a s*** one.

Ok so it's official then..."This is the collapse/slide/slump/depression/rebuild we had to have"

[shmic_s]

Interesting and reasonable.

Despite the howls of some, I reckon we think longer term than many think.

I mean has anyone actually canvassed the possibility that this year was slated as a development year pre-season?

Perhaps THAT'S why the players seem disgruntled? They want to be winning, but winning this year ain't priority one.

Just a theory.

Definitely something i have thought of, but only since Lenny went down.

[WinnersOnly]

[/quote]As you said "In hindsight" it may not have been the best decision.

You are assessing his judgement then to be poor yet at the time
was he to know Stanley wouldn't be an option in the ruck at all, Kosi
would be injured up until round 6 at least, Gardi would be out also ?

All seems to be understandable to me considering this and the change to the interchange rule.[/quote]

I think we saw in last years final series that McEvoy had a long way to go to carry the number 1 mantle. They knew Gardiner was not going to be ready and was 50/50 about going on. Plus they knew of kosi's ankle injury and his inability in the ruck also.

IMO they rated McEvoy and Stanley a long way ahead of where they were and are going to get to this year.