Thompson took over as coach of Geelong for the commencement of the 2000 season. He inherited a list formulated during a very successful period for the GFC, and although they had been absent from finals footy for the previous two seasons, they had enough aging talent on the list to again make the grade under the new coach...(Ayres is so cr@p :hihi!).
Wallace's first year was nothing short of remarkable......he had the reigning wooden spooners, the perennial cellar dwellers during the latter part of Frawleys tenure at 7 & 2 and playing a brand of football no one had thought possible. Brown's injury was untimely and unfortunate, and I have no doubt it cost us a final's berth :'(.
Thompson 2001, 2002 & 2003....12th, 9th & 12th but importantly added class to the
what was already a developing/emerging list. Credit where credit is due....Geelong drafted particularly well during that period!
Wallace 2006 & 2007....9th & 16th and similarly (but finally at Richmond) adding class through the draft.
Points of difference:
Thompson inherited a developing list in 2000, Wallace inherited an aging train wreck :
Wallace has one more year of development (08) if we want to make an apples for apples assesment of the two coaches.
I can't help but think our performaces of 07 are largely consequent to crap trading during 01, 02 & 03 (notwithstanding injuries & confidence). This period is like a black hole, we operated with zero foresight......and it is little wonder we have this vacuum of talent which I sincerely believe Wallace has, at the very least, tried to address during his tenure thus far.
I am prepared to cut Wallace some slack......, I think GM is the one with blood on his hands and he needs to be made accountable for his role in the pre-Wallace years.
