What should we make of the preseason so far?
One of the more interesting questions I have been asked is how does it compare with previous preseasons but really we need to try and get a broader perspective to show where the club is heading.
Turning to history we see that the club’s last big turnaround after a lengthy premiership drought began in the early eighties and resulted in a grandfinal in 1983 and premierships in 1984 and 1985 after nineteen years. The comparison with the start of the Sheedy era is somewhat compelling as we enter a sixteenth year without a flag.
Sheedy replaced Barry Davis – great player, poor coach while Worsfold has replaced Hird – great player, poor coach. In both cases the club was breaking a tradition by going outside outside the club for the appointments.
A point of difference is that Sheedy was an untried coach after the club missed out on Jeans and Barassi while Worsfold was experienced and successful. The two coaches also have different personalities – Sheedy outgoing and left field, Worsfold calm but engaging.
Sheedy inherited a reasonably good list with players like Madden and Watson and built it up to be a formidable list, one of the best in the club’s history. Sheedy was adored by his players (mostly) and by the supporters. Worsfold is on this path but is not there yet. In both cases there are new, strong presidents and an improving organisation. e.g. Sheedy became the first full time coach, Worsfold has a strong coaching panel and excellent facilities.
Worsfold inherited a reasonably good list, then lost it for a year and now has it back and is building a formidable list with Dea and Kelly emerging from the top ups and players such as Walla, Fantasia and Hartley developing from getting games in 2016.
The hope is that our early draft picks will now put us in a strong position. Interestingly Danihers play a key role for both coaches.
Both coaches look to building a culture of excellence and a dynasty so you have to view this preseason as part of a greater whole. This brings me back to the topic of the preseason so far.
The plan appears to be quick ball movement and improving skills. The style of play revolves around flexible key position players and a stronger physical presence as evidenced by the types of players recruited who tend to have mature bodies. This is of course very general but it is the basic framework of what is happening.
How well are they going? I think the culture and ethos is developing very quickly. In the training reports I try to capture the “mood” of each session and the following adjectives frequently apply: upbeat, professional, determined, competitive and the coaches and players are working very well together. Not the slightest sign that anybody isn’t completely behind the coach.
The playing list is developing very well indeed. If you want evidence of this just sit down and try to pick your best 22 now and in two years time. I have never found it so difficult.
The most useful comment I can make, partly as a result of input from a club official, is that we need another five or 6 A graders. We may recruit one or two from outside the club but which players currently on our list have the potential to develop into A graders? This will be an interesting exercise to discuss.
Summary – I expect, based on what I have seen, finals next year, premiership contention in the following two or three years. The preseason has gone well, a strategy is in place, we are getting there.