I personally believe the core of our team is strong, but NO team can afford to carry players - and we carry 4 or 5 every week. Trading players from the core could see us in a worse predicament then we are already in.
The other problem compounding our lack of depth is the fact that our list is 2 players short to start with. We therefore can't really afford to trade say Bowden and Holland for one "Good" player without compounding the real problem of depth ie carrying 4 or 5 each week.
If we are to be any hope, the improvement has to come from within players on our list + 2 or 3 good pick-ups! When it comes to de-listing, THAT has to be the mindset.
Example:
These are the guys i think we could see real improvement from:
Hilton - if played where he can run straight at it, from defense
Dragicevic - with a solid pre-season, he's a midfielder with skills so improvement here would be invaluable.
Fiora - if used on a wing where his run and long kicking can hurt the opposition. Not in defence where they isolate him because he's physically weak. If used attackingly he could improve out of sight.
Fleming - started season with a broken wrist and had gradual improvement as season went on. Solid pre-season, he won't be a gun but could be a handy hard at it rotation in the midfield. There is worse on our list.
Ray Hall - Free of injury and with a role, could be THE big improver. Has heaps of agility for a tall.
*smile* - Should add something extra next year. Didn't get a chance to give us anything this year.
GET RID OF THESE AS THERE WILL BE NO IMPROVEMENT:
Houlihan - He is as good as he will ever be, and that isn't good enough.
Rogers - It's gone past him.
Biddiscombe - I wouldn't expect improvement from a 27 year old.
King - getting worse, not better. Will enter next season as a 26 year old.
Mills- Less likely than Hyde and Dragicevic to give the improvement we need.
Pettifer - You need some outriders, but if this guy rode any further our he'd have to get a stamp on his hand to get back in the stadium.
Nicholls - Can't even see why we got this guy. Redford, you obviously have an eye for talent, am i missing something here with Nicholls??
Seven de-listings when we were 2 short on our list to start with is heaps!
Along with the return of Gaspar and Campbell - a full season from Holland and Ottens, you'd think we wouldn't get a worse run in 2004 with injuries!
Our other area of improvement would be A BETTER GAME PLAN, now that would improve us no end. If we are serious, we'd at least try to get the Plough down as an assistant and then let him run the show over Spud!
The other problem compounding our lack of depth is the fact that our list is 2 players short to start with. We therefore can't really afford to trade say Bowden and Holland for one "Good" player without compounding the real problem of depth ie carrying 4 or 5 each week.
If we are to be any hope, the improvement has to come from within players on our list + 2 or 3 good pick-ups! When it comes to de-listing, THAT has to be the mindset.
Example:
These are the guys i think we could see real improvement from:
Hilton - if played where he can run straight at it, from defense
Dragicevic - with a solid pre-season, he's a midfielder with skills so improvement here would be invaluable.
Fiora - if used on a wing where his run and long kicking can hurt the opposition. Not in defence where they isolate him because he's physically weak. If used attackingly he could improve out of sight.
Fleming - started season with a broken wrist and had gradual improvement as season went on. Solid pre-season, he won't be a gun but could be a handy hard at it rotation in the midfield. There is worse on our list.
Ray Hall - Free of injury and with a role, could be THE big improver. Has heaps of agility for a tall.
*smile* - Should add something extra next year. Didn't get a chance to give us anything this year.
GET RID OF THESE AS THERE WILL BE NO IMPROVEMENT:
Houlihan - He is as good as he will ever be, and that isn't good enough.
Rogers - It's gone past him.
Biddiscombe - I wouldn't expect improvement from a 27 year old.
King - getting worse, not better. Will enter next season as a 26 year old.
Mills- Less likely than Hyde and Dragicevic to give the improvement we need.
Pettifer - You need some outriders, but if this guy rode any further our he'd have to get a stamp on his hand to get back in the stadium.
Nicholls - Can't even see why we got this guy. Redford, you obviously have an eye for talent, am i missing something here with Nicholls??
Seven de-listings when we were 2 short on our list to start with is heaps!
Along with the return of Gaspar and Campbell - a full season from Holland and Ottens, you'd think we wouldn't get a worse run in 2004 with injuries!
Our other area of improvement would be A BETTER GAME PLAN, now that would improve us no end. If we are serious, we'd at least try to get the Plough down as an assistant and then let him run the show over Spud!
