Sentiment in football.

[Wollongong_saint]

I'm sitting in in the post-disappointment haze and started philosophizing......is there any room in football for sentiment nowadays? The "retirement" of Bakes in particular leaves an empty feeling.

Surely if it was known he was to be pushed a few weeks ago, there could have been some symbolic on-field gesture to say thanks? Even it was in Sydney which (I think) was his last game.

It really seems like the Ross Lyon era, assuming it is coming to an end sometime soon will be remembered for bad luck, missed chances, could-have-beens......it also seems like it will be remembered for a time that loyal players were neglected and I think that betrays our motto. Thoughts?

[dcstkfc]

I'm sitting in in the post-disappointment haze and started philosophizing......is there any room in football for sentiment nowadays? The "retirement" of Bakes in particular leaves an empty feeling.

Surely if it was known he was to be pushed a few weeks ago, there could have been some symbolic on-field gesture to say thanks? Even it was in Sydney which (I think) was his last game.

It really seems like the Ross Lyon era, assuming it is coming to an end sometime soon will be remembered for bad luck, missed chances, could-have-beens......it also seems like it will be remembered for a time that loyal players were neglected and I think that betrays our motto. Thoughts?

The issue was that Bakes was only an injury to a defender away from being back in the side, so it's pretty hard to farewell a guy when they could play next week. None of Prestigiacomo, Lockyer, Medhurst or O'Bree got farewell games at the Pies last year and it didn't seem to do too much damage.

Doubtless it could have been handled better last night, but a farewell game was impractical.

[Jacks Back]

What about Maxy Hughton? Surely he would have been a better prospect that Dawkson. Even now!

[Schillaci]

It'd be nice if they were given a sendoff but the big picture of making finals and focussing on winning each week sits well with me. Not like we had the luxury of resting players like Hawthorn did this year.

[Johnny Member]

What about Maxy Hughton? Surely he would have been a better prospect that Dawkson. Even now!

The bigger issue there was him leaving to coach Collingwood!

Could we have done things differently to prevent that happening?

[dcstkfc]

What about Maxy Hughton? Surely he would have been a better prospect that Dawkson. Even now!

The bigger issue there was him leaving to coach Collingwood!

Could we have done things differently to prevent that happening?

Max was done. Zac was great in 09. Get over it.

And as for him leaving, you don't just keep all ex-players on as assistants.

[Wollongong_saint]

The bigger issue there was him leaving to coach Collingwood!

Could we have done things differently to prevent that happening?

That's what I'm getting at. Surely giving Max the proper goodbye he deserved, some sort of sentimental notion at the time (NOT the next season) would have changed things. He may still have been at Collingwood in 2010 but it just wouldn't have been so bad!

[Sainterman]

Not a great deal of room left for sentiment in footy. It has become too cut throat. I think we all feel Bakes is probably done at the top level, so what are the club to do? I loved Bakes and the way he went about it but he has just moved past it now.

I think the comment that it is the "end of an era" from Ross means that we are now about to embark on some significant change. This year we blooded some kids, got a look at who might and might not be likely, and then tweaked. Was a gutsy effort to come back and play finals.

Going forward though we are probably behind the 8 ball mainly from what I think was some poor drafting in 2009. Of that group only Winmar looks a chance to make it and even then I would consider him an unknown. Last year gives some hope though, Sipposs, Cripps and Ledger all seem likely. Not sure about Tom Lynch, reckon he might be under some pressure to retain his spot too.

I too am nostalgic, full of what if from 09 and 10. But what we can we do? I know I will always look back with some frustration but in my years of watching footy this is still the best Saints team I have seen. A toe poke here, a bad bounce there, if not then we would have our holy grail.

We now have to move forward and sentiment really doesn't provide too much in a practical sense. If Ross is anything he is pragmatic. He will look at things, together with the footy department, and hard calls will be made (I am assuming and hope he will stay with us).

If Bakes didn't want to go, how could we have handled things better? Delisted him?

I am glad the 2011 season is over, we can now look to next year, prepare well (as we did at the end of 08) and look to build again. In the end the only thing that ever stays the same at the Saints, is us, the supporters. Coaches, players and admin will all come and go, we will remain.

Hopefully a positive off season ahead and some new energy in 2012.

[Wollongong_saint]

None of Prestigiacomo, Lockyer, Medhurst or O'Bree got farewell games at the Pies last year and it didn't seem to do too much damage.

True, but that's Collingwood. What I'm saying is that I wish our club could stand apart and do things differently.

[plugger66]

What about Maxy Hughton? Surely he would have been a better prospect that Dawkson. Even now!

The bigger issue there was him leaving to coach Collingwood!

Could we have done things differently to prevent that happening?

How could be have prevented that?

[dcstkfc]

None of Prestigiacomo, Lockyer, Medhurst or O'Bree got farewell games at the Pies last year and it didn't seem to do too much damage.

True, but that's Collingwood. What I'm saying is that I wish our club could stand apart and do things differently.

Max got a lap around Etihad before Rd 7 last year. Why would we keep guys on purely because of sentiment?

[Wollongong_saint]

You sound like a wise man Sainterman! Wish I held your optimism.

[Wollongong_saint]

Why would we keep guys on purely because of sentiment?

I don't think he should have been kept on the list. I just think symolic gestures are important.....by Round 7 2010 feelings had been dealt with already, Im sure that didn't have any effect on Max or the players around him.

With the focus on developing young players, sentiment can help breed loyalty and success. Players are human, after all.

[Sainterman]

You sound like a wise man Sainterman! Wish I held your optimism.

Mate, am as dissapointed as you, but we just have to move on again.

Think about it, in 95 Plugger left, I was devastated, but in 97 we were playing off for the flag. Footy is a funny game...who knows what might be around the corner??

[dcstkfc]

Why would we keep guys on purely because of sentiment?

I don't think he should have been kept on the list. I just think symolic gestures are important.....by Round 7 2010 feelings had been dealt with already, Im sure that didn't have any effect on Max or the players around him.

With the focus on developing young players, sentiment can help breed loyalty and success. Players are human, after all.

I agree on the importance of making sure emotions are looked after, and Ross is pretty average in this area. But it's a cut-throat business, and as I said, it didn't seem to hurt the Pies.

[Wollongong_saint]

True, True.....time will tell. Too bad we all have to get through a long summer before we will know anything about where we are at.

Oh well. Fortius Quo Fidelius, I'm not going anywhere.

[dcstkfc]

True, True.....time will tell. Too bad we all have to get through a long summer before we will know anything about where we are at.

Oh well. Fortius Quo Fidelius, I'm not going anywhere.

Me neither mate.