Lol, again that was never going to happen. He’d mentally checked out of EFC long before the trade request. Some players are professional enough that they will give 100% even if they want to leave a club but Joe was never that player.
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I for one wanted Ross if we didn’t get Clarkson imagine if we did he would cop it more then Brad is currently
you just wanted ross because he gets angry and screams at the players
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No I wanted him because he would fix our defence from the leakest team to the most stingiest. Remember how hard Saints were to score against when Ross returned that could have been us.
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Think best 22 guys Scott has put to the sword
Heppell (eventually), BZT, Kelly, Stringer, Walla, Phillips, Snelling, Hind
who has he brought in:
Best 22: Duursma, McKay, Gresham, Caddy, Kako, Bryan, El-Hawli, Roberts/Prior
Caldwell/Martin/Durham/D Ambrosio played 2022 under Rutten he rated them highly and wonder if he had any impact in the decision to select them.
That’s not very inspiring.
Hooker was a selection in 2007. I was barely a teenager that is so long ago. But yes, that was a fantastic one.
Redman sure, but pick 30 isn’t too high anyway and Redman hasn’t been setting anything on fire since he signed a juicy 5 year contract extension under Brad, where maybe we could have explored him going home.
Martin, sure, but he was a pre season supp pick anyway.
Archie Roberts has played 4 games, so can’t really assess that one a whole lot.
Saad El Hawli has played 0 senior games so that is an unknown.
Sam Durham, good pick, but it was a mid-season pick number 9.
And Massimo, oh sweet Massimo. Love him. But he was a mid-season pick number 3 and Brad didn’t believe in him.
Most late picks don’t end up working out and end up delisted after a year or two.
So it’s hard to get excited about all this talked up number of draft picks narrative that some have taken, when most of them are late picks and one is like 70 or something.
I want top of the class talent, we NEED top of the class talent, picks in the 40s and 50s isn’t going to get us anywhere anytime soon. A few gems found every now and then in the scraps is nice and all. But cmon.
We NEED actual top picks. And until we properly drop to bottom 1 or 2 on the ladder and can actually get that talent, we’re not going to get very far.
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We had just as many first round picks over the years as the expansion teams yet still suck.
The clubs player development and culture is a far bigger problem for us then simply needing more high end picks if we don’t fix that first then high end talent will go to waste
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Saints are an absolute basket case. they’re a perfect example that ‘winning final’ doesn’t means sh*t, if your list is hot garbage.
They’re in the exact same loop as us. Ie. Believing they can rebuild on the run.
Yet All they’ve done, is finished between 6th-12th…. With no hope of getting better.
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How does Geelong do it those farks haven’t been near the bottom in like 20 years yet still put themselves into contention every year
Good talent identification, a self-sustaining culture, and a willingness to make hard list calls without fear or favour.
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Which hard list calls did they make because i cant think of many. Danger is beyond cooked and still getting games
Rhys Stanley still on their list
If you can’t figure out why Geelong have been so good…… and why we haven’t.
You’re never going to get it.
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they are a well run club, with everyone being on the same page. They all have a core group of senior players who are very consistent-You know what your going to get from them every single week
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We only have Merret who’s like that
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Over how long?
They moved on Stevie J, Paul Chapman, James Kelly - all club champions and will be in their hall of fame- because they weren’t going to take them forward anymore.
Heck, even this offseason they delisted Parfitt and Rohan. Both could have been mounted a decent case to stay on the list.
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See, the thing Geelong does well, is that they’re actually a football club.
Unlike us.
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2 clubs that are stuck in mediocrity.
St. Kilda
2024: 12th
2023: 6th
2022: 10th
2021: 10th
2020:6th
2019: 14th
Essendon:
2024: 11th
2023: 11th
2022: 15th
2021: 8th
2020: 13th
2019: 8th
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At least out list has some promise and hope to work with
Are you saying that if we ‘win a final’, we could be like Geelong?
If we win final it could change the fortunes of the club or nothing will change who knows.
Richo thinks the team is fearful of failing when it gets to the pointy end of the season hence why we have these fade outs