Ok, the clubs finances are looking better. We were tipping a $1m profit this year, but I reckon we'll be lucky to make $600k given how poor on the field we've been.
We have several hard questions coming up, which we really need to deal with, rather than just bury our heads in the sand and say we'll be fine next year or 2011.
We need to rebuild properly. I'm convinced this short term fix of Wallace has been requested by the club, to get some cash flowing through the coffers again. Now that we're getting on top of things, we need to make hard decisions on the following.
Gaspar, Richardson, J and P Bowden, Johnson, Tuck, Coughlan.
Quite clearly, our midfield lacks pace, class and players who can get first use of the football (outside foley).
We need to stop protecting the young guys, and throw them in the deep end. It's time for Tambling, Delidio, Polo and Raines to get thrown into the middle. If we need another Raines type to hold down a back pocket, give matty white a game.
Tuck needs to be traded. His kicking is poor, he's a bit slow for the middle of the ground as well. I could handle him not having 1st class speed, if he had 1st class skills. Sadly he has neither.
Johnson is a poor captain. I'd say the fourth worst in the league (Not including Brisbane, who use the entire list to captain the club). I'd say the Hawks, Roos and Carlton are the ones below us. Certainly Essendon, Collingwood , Bulldogs, Swans, Eagles, Crows and Port have unquestionably better captains. The others might be debatable, but I'd rank them higher. It's time for Kane to pass the Captaincy on to someone from Generation X and let them lead the way. certainly anyone who carries the scars from the Frawley era should not be part of the leadership group.
J Bowden, for all the skill the man possesses, wastes it. He got all Australian honors for largely being a loose or unaccountable defender. He either needs to return to this role, or be traded. Same goes for Patrick. I don't see us being able to fit them both into the same squad, as both are too lose and too unaccountable.
Gaspar is on his last legs. I'd say get at the end of the season, he needs to be tapped on the shoulder and told it's time to go. Has had a distinguished career, copped a lot of flak - a lot of it unwarranted. However, the game is or has, closed in on gaspar at an accelerated pace. One more year will truly see it pass him by. I don't want to see him finish up in a pocket or playing for Coburg.
Coughlan - as much as we need a hard inside midfielder, I just can't see him getting back to anywhere near his best for at least 2 years. He's missed so much football, you wonder if he'll ever be able to get back on the park and play 22 straight games. I'd keep him around on one year deals for next year, and probably the year after. if he can stay on the park for 44 games over the next 2 years, regain the depth in his kicks (I remember when he could kick a goal from 50, last year he could only just make the square) I'd be happy to resign him longer term. Until then, he'd be on the trade table, and any reasonable offer would be listened to.
Last but not least Browny. He's genuinely a class player. He will, if fit enough, make a significant impact to our team. Sadly, it will be fools gold. It will be the wallpaper over all the cracks in the list while he's performing to his best. It will mask the real deficiencies we have. Given he's probably got 3-4 years left, I'd rather not have one person make us appear better than we are. Cause when he goes, I think we'll fall into the crap heap we really are. So, if he needs to be rested for 4 more weeks to get that leg about right. Let him go until midseason. Make sure it's right. We aren't going to be playing finals this year anyway, so it isn't going to hurt our chances, unless it's the chances of getting the best possible youngster for the 2011 "golden opportunity" period.
We have several hard questions coming up, which we really need to deal with, rather than just bury our heads in the sand and say we'll be fine next year or 2011.
We need to rebuild properly. I'm convinced this short term fix of Wallace has been requested by the club, to get some cash flowing through the coffers again. Now that we're getting on top of things, we need to make hard decisions on the following.
Gaspar, Richardson, J and P Bowden, Johnson, Tuck, Coughlan.
Quite clearly, our midfield lacks pace, class and players who can get first use of the football (outside foley).
We need to stop protecting the young guys, and throw them in the deep end. It's time for Tambling, Delidio, Polo and Raines to get thrown into the middle. If we need another Raines type to hold down a back pocket, give matty white a game.
Tuck needs to be traded. His kicking is poor, he's a bit slow for the middle of the ground as well. I could handle him not having 1st class speed, if he had 1st class skills. Sadly he has neither.
Johnson is a poor captain. I'd say the fourth worst in the league (Not including Brisbane, who use the entire list to captain the club). I'd say the Hawks, Roos and Carlton are the ones below us. Certainly Essendon, Collingwood , Bulldogs, Swans, Eagles, Crows and Port have unquestionably better captains. The others might be debatable, but I'd rank them higher. It's time for Kane to pass the Captaincy on to someone from Generation X and let them lead the way. certainly anyone who carries the scars from the Frawley era should not be part of the leadership group.
J Bowden, for all the skill the man possesses, wastes it. He got all Australian honors for largely being a loose or unaccountable defender. He either needs to return to this role, or be traded. Same goes for Patrick. I don't see us being able to fit them both into the same squad, as both are too lose and too unaccountable.
Gaspar is on his last legs. I'd say get at the end of the season, he needs to be tapped on the shoulder and told it's time to go. Has had a distinguished career, copped a lot of flak - a lot of it unwarranted. However, the game is or has, closed in on gaspar at an accelerated pace. One more year will truly see it pass him by. I don't want to see him finish up in a pocket or playing for Coburg.
Coughlan - as much as we need a hard inside midfielder, I just can't see him getting back to anywhere near his best for at least 2 years. He's missed so much football, you wonder if he'll ever be able to get back on the park and play 22 straight games. I'd keep him around on one year deals for next year, and probably the year after. if he can stay on the park for 44 games over the next 2 years, regain the depth in his kicks (I remember when he could kick a goal from 50, last year he could only just make the square) I'd be happy to resign him longer term. Until then, he'd be on the trade table, and any reasonable offer would be listened to.
Last but not least Browny. He's genuinely a class player. He will, if fit enough, make a significant impact to our team. Sadly, it will be fools gold. It will be the wallpaper over all the cracks in the list while he's performing to his best. It will mask the real deficiencies we have. Given he's probably got 3-4 years left, I'd rather not have one person make us appear better than we are. Cause when he goes, I think we'll fall into the crap heap we really are. So, if he needs to be rested for 4 more weeks to get that leg about right. Let him go until midseason. Make sure it's right. We aren't going to be playing finals this year anyway, so it isn't going to hurt our chances, unless it's the chances of getting the best possible youngster for the 2011 "golden opportunity" period.