Making men out of boys

[Waltzing St Kilda]

Whatever's GT's shortcoming as a tactician, his whole tenure was about instilling
pride and making men out of boys. So there were "life-experience" trips to
China and South Africa. And a rotating captaincy to accelerate the development of
the younger brigade.

Out of this era emerged strong leaders, many of whom are now in the media.
Or coaching like Lenny Hayes. Household names.

The miserable failure of the current coaching department is that the boys we recruit
still look and play like boys, even after years in the system.

[shanegrambeau]

Can never forgive GT for not choosing a ruckmen to run with Kosi in that last game, (Brooks? Name?) but in general I wonder if it was ‘the times man’, being 2002-2006 and a good bit of luck that those boys bonded and made their famous pledge.

[Joffa Burns]

Can never forgive GT for not choosing a ruckmen to run with Kosi in that last game, (Brooks? Name?) but in general I wonder if it was ‘the times man’, being 2002-2006 and a good bit of luck that those boys bonded and made their famous pledge.

Some trades are a bust but you have to be brave.
Barry Brookes was one bust that would have been a master stroke of it had worked trading PA for a young gun big man at the time.

Big, agile, great skills just didn't have the grunt to make it, knee reco didn't help but he could of overcome that.

He was the missing link in that GT team had he fulfilled his potential.

[shanegrambeau]

So my anger at him not being picked for that Melbourne final is misplaced?

[To the top]

Brooks should have been selected on the basis of his performance in the final minor round game where he kicked 3 whilst resting forward and should have kicked 5 because he missed a couple

Much criticised on here but not given the opportunity he deserved - including after his knee reconstruction

Also had the ability and skills to play as a forward

[skeptic]

Brooks should have been selected on the basis of his performance in the final minor round game where he kicked 3 whilst resting forward and should have kicked 5 because he missed a couple

Much criticised on here but not given the opportunity he deserved - including after his knee reconstruction

Also had the ability and skills to play as a forward

Interesting post... I would agree that players generally need opportunity as part of development

[Freebird]

Can never forgive GT for not choosing a ruckmen to run with Kosi in that last game, (Brooks? Name?) but in general I wonder if it was ‘the times man’, being 2002-2006 and a good bit of luck that those boys bonded and made their famous pledge.

Some trades are a bust but you have to be brave.
Barry Brookes was one bust that would have been a master stroke of it had worked trading PA for a young gun big man at the time.

Big, agile, great skills just didn't have the grunt to make it, knee reco didn't help but he could of overcome that.

He was the missing link in that GT team had he fulfilled his potential.

Disagree, 5th in line at Port and they were surprised at what we give up for what they considered was not a ruckman.

[To the top]

Wrong, Freebird

Was an 18 year old PA had used a high Draft Pick for - and they then had the ruck resources they had so that was also the commentary

They rated him very highly - ditto Watts when he left Adelaide

And not to the same level, but Austin also who PA reasoned needed some body definition to compliment his talent

[ausfatcat]

we gave up pick 6 and 31 for him, and then didn't play him at a time we were playing Trent Knoble