Is Watters' WA obsession an issue?

[PJ]

No he just has good intel and connections in WA. Why not exploit that rather than treat it as a negative.

does he really though?

Why do you say that he does?

I would have thought that was obvious. Past coaching positions, past playing history - he did most of his coaching development years in the WAFL system.

[gringo]

we got some duds, didn't we...makes terrible reading actually....

Then consider when we've used late draft picks on kids with ability rather than delistees, we've picked up Siposs, Stanley, Steven Ledger and Newnes. There will always be some who don't make it (Smith, Crocker, Heyne etc) using this method, but it's got a much better strike rate than recycling duds. It's high-percentage recruiting, and I really don't want us to stray from it again. Dempster is probably the only player of about 15 who weren't wanted by their club (due to ability) that has actually worked out for us.

I would say that isn't really true. We have had a shocking run with recruiting at all levels recently. A lot more are taken as picks than shift clubs and the strike rate has been pretty poor. Schnieder, Farren Ray, King, Dempster, Gardiner etc all gave good service even Peake had one good year. Apart from Steven most of those guys have potential but not really cemented their spots even. Siposs will more than likely make it but the rest are projects still. If we are only good with late draft picks we did well to get some duds with the early picks that are useless anyway I guess.

[defacto]

pathetic OP

we brought in cripps and ledger under lyons error. thats two WA boys. like st trav said many WA people existed there before.

i do however question the micale appoint. what a f****** disaster that will turn out to be.

[mad saint guy]

pathetic OP

we brought in cripps and ledger under lyons error. thats two WA boys. like st trav said many WA people existed there before.

i do however question the micale appoint. what a f****** disaster that will turn out to be.

Cripps and Ledger are kids who went around the mark they were expected to. They cost us about what they were worth, and filled a need in the list. No problem at all there. Other than two phantom drafts floating around of about 20, none had Lee going before the third round, and I really don't see any point in the TDL trade; he's a 24 year old small forward (we already have starting players + depth) who hasn't been able to get a kick in three years, but he was coached by Watters and TDL has spoken glowingly of their relationship - it absolutely reminds me of a (less costly) Fergus Watts trade. And he takes a spot on the list that could have given us extra ruck depth or the chance to elevate Dunell or Curren.

[bobmurray]

pathetic OP

we brought in cripps and ledger under lyons error. thats two WA boys. like st trav said many WA people existed there before.

i do however question the micale appoint. what a f****** disaster that will turn out to be.

Cripps and Ledger are kids who went around the mark they were expected to. They cost us about what they were worth, and filled a need in the list. No problem at all there. Other than two phantom drafts floating around of about 20, none had Lee going before the third round, and I really don't see any point in the TDL trade; he's a 24 year old small forward (we already have starting players + depth) who hasn't been able to get a kick in three years, but he was coached by Watters and TDL has spoken glowingly of their relationship - it absolutely reminds me of a (less costly) Fergus Watts trade. And he takes a spot on the list that could have given us extra ruck depth or the chance to elevate Dunell or Curren.

Obviously the Saints brainstrust don't share the same faith in the other incumbents as the supporters do, hence the TDL option, where ever it is he does his thing best...

[defacto]

pathetic OP

we brought in cripps and ledger under lyons error. thats two WA boys. like st trav said many WA people existed there before.

i do however question the micale appoint. what a f****** disaster that will turn out to be.

Cripps and Ledger are kids who went around the mark they were expected to. They cost us about what they were worth, and filled a need in the list. No problem at all there. Other than two phantom drafts floating around of about 20, none had Lee going before the third round, and I really don't see any point in the TDL trade; he's a 24 year old small forward (we already have starting players + depth) who hasn't been able to get a kick in three years, but he was coached by Watters and TDL has spoken glowingly of their relationship - it absolutely reminds me of a (less costly) Fergus Watts trade. And he takes a spot on the list that could have given us extra ruck depth or the chance to elevate Dunell or Curren.

phantom drafts. ahhh ok. they're a reliable indicator of a players worth... i could write one now, doesnt make it anywhere near true. sheahan/wallet rated him. apparently the dockers were going to select him with their first rounder. the trade for me made sense if pick 25 was used on hickey. we ended up paying slight overs on lee and hickey though.

TDL is more of a lead up fwd as opposed to a crumbing fwd.

i am struggling to see what point you are trying to make.

[The Redeemer]

pathetic OP

we brought in cripps and ledger under lyons error. thats two WA boys. like st trav said many WA people existed there before.

i do however question the micale appoint. what a f****** disaster that will turn out to be.

Cripps and Ledger are kids who went around the mark they were expected to. They cost us about what they were worth, and filled a need in the list. No problem at all there. Other than two phantom drafts floating around of about 20, none had Lee going before the third round, and I really don't see any point in the TDL trade; he's a 24 year old small forward (we already have starting players + depth) who hasn't been able to get a kick in three years, but he was coached by Watters and TDL has spoken glowingly of their relationship - it absolutely reminds me of a (less costly) Fergus Watts trade. And he takes a spot on the list that could have given us extra ruck depth or the chance to elevate Dunell or Curren.

If it is one thing we have depth in...it is small forwards.

Where else can they play? as in Saad, Milera, TDL, Schneider, Milne, Dunell.

[Dr Spaceman]

If it is one thing we have depth in...it is small forwards.

Where else can they play? as in Saad, Milera, TDL, Schneider, Milne, Dunell.

Not sure Dunell belongs in that group.

[st_Trav_ofWA]

Albert Einstein once said "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" we have been going down the path for years of looking in our own backyard for coaches players ect and ultimately we have failed if the WA influence isn't the answer then we are no worse off then we were with the Victorian influence ...

As for Tom Lee as a pick 13 im thinking he will be more effective than Fergus Watts ( a Vic boy traded for pick 17 by a Victorian coach) or Andrew McQualter ( again a Victorian boy costing us pick 17 by a Victorian coach ) ...