Lets just play a few games this year before we give up on the next ten years.
I am worried we didn't bottom out enough to get a few more really high draft picks. Pick 1, 3 & 5 (which we traded out for Carsile who has had some injuries). Is that enough to build another dynasty? Our last dynasty was built on Rooey, Ball, Goddard picks 1, Kosi pick 2, Lenny pick 7 I think. We needed that advantage as as a club we were behind the eight-ball with money, training facilities etc. but we have improved in that area.
Billings I disagree with you JM> He is showing signs of brilliance already and this preseason is chalking up possessions at will now he's over all his injuries and had a solid preseason. He's got that high footy intelligence I value. He's one of our few who can almost always get it out cleanly and intelligently in heavy traffic.
I'm a McCartin fan. I think most flag winner have that huge, defender-splitting big fwds sending the backmen flying like ten-pins and opening things up. They come into their own in the congestion of finals. But if Paddy can stay on the park he's showing signs his endurance is getting up there and can mark well, kick long, kick pretty straight, his field kicking is pretty damn good for a big unit and he seems a clever player who can set others up. I likey. Yes, if Petracca becomes a gun it will twinge the "Did we choose wrong" nerve. But if we can keep working our engine room over to get upto a high level, our investment in spine will pay off huge.
I think there is great potential in Acres, Gresham, Long, Steele (who showed signs he could be "the man" for us as the inside/outside marquee onballer), White, Rice. There is some real talent and x-factor there. Will they come on to become the a-graders/elite we need is the question. And whether Richo will play them enough is another.
Dermot says if a player is a gun they will nearly always show it by their third year. You may still be struggling with your tank and size but if you got talent, you got talent and you will be able to show it. 95% or AFL players are good players but don't have that high, creative, x-factor instinct that lets the special ones do things others can't. Thats why I'm putting a fair bit of stock in this years performance. Billings, McCartin, Acres and Carlisel have all suffered injuries that have slowed them down a bit. But few excuses this year with Billings and Acres in their 4th year, Paddy his 3rd. Time to show why we used our high picks on them
Footy fans obsess over lists but don't often seem to consider coaches as much in how players are performing. A good system lets the players shine. Billings is an amazing talent. If Richo can't get the best out of him then questions have to be asked. Melbourne didn't just take bad pick after bad pick - their whole system was flawed.
If you only have 18 head coaches, the ability to get a competitive advantage is huge with your coach of choice whereas lists tend to even themselves out with 40 or so for each team. That's why I put great stock in a great coach with a clever, innovative system - it amplifies everything and lets you get a genuine advantage. Wouldn't surprise me if Clarkson gets Hawks back up and running for a top 4 again. His system is so clever. Richo has some good talent and now some older, bigger body players around them. No exuses anymore. Richo needs to show he can coach at a high level with innovation and vision to get the best out of our players.
