Trade talk - from October 2024

When the filth didnt take him that was a shock :flushed:

I agree with this in principal but when you take a step back from things and look at how we got to this point I think there’s some justification for why things have probably lacked a bit of assertiveness and clear messaging which is ultimately a frustrating thing for us.

If we rewind to the end of 2022 when the board dispute unfolded, it was clear that we unsuccessfully head hunted and missed out on our coaching target and probably our second choice as well (Ross the Boss). We were in a pretty crap spot and ended up approaching and strongly encouraged Scott to apply for the job, who at the time was sitting in a very comfortable position at the AFL. He ends up getting hired right on the eve of a pre season, and consequently we are behind the eight ball from the start. Add the CEO disaster and it’s a messy situation to walk into for anyone. It would seem that Scott and Vozzo had not much choice but to spend some time scoping out the situation and give those already at the club some opportunity to show their worth. Potentially they had to trust in some of the messaging that existed ( underperforming playing group narrative) while they were kept an open mind and worked things out.

By the end of 2023 we had the narrative that there was a lot of work to do in fixing our training standards and professionalism amongst the playing group. I think work has since been done to address this but it won’t be fixed quickly. Additionally, it was difficult to set a tone at selection in 2023 with the clear lack of depth on our list. Baldwin is the only one from memory who could’ve felt hard done by but this part is open for debate.

I think we would’ve been entering 2024 with a clear goal of seeing who was capable of taking a step forward under a program with better standards, while attempting to embed a front half game plan which we failed to do in 2023. Being second on the ladder at the half way point of the season probably complicated things and came as a bit of surprise. We did shuffle a few things around in the second half of the year but you’d say we still approached selection with finals in mind while that opportunity was alive. From my perspective, I found selection a lot more frustrating this year but can understand perhaps the way they were thinking at times. It would be difficult to drop a Stringer (our leading goal kicker most of the year) while most our supporter base is still thinking very short term. Perhaps this is where we needed a strong voice?

There’s things that have frustrated me this year but I’d like to think we’re at a point now where they’ve worked out who is in it for the long haul and the coaching staff and list management team are in full alignment. If you take the view that circumstances made Year 1 a bit of a write off under the new regime, you can see things a bit differently. If you think Scott and Vozzo should’ve come in and ripped the place apart from Day 1, then that’s a different story.
Unfortunately, we’re all losing patience after 20 years of inadequacies but when I hear supporters (not you) acting like it’s Scott, Vozzo, or Rosa’s fault that we’re in a tough spot I think they’re missing the big picture here.

26 Likes

We made no attempt to get RTB. He went to the media telling them to tell us to make an approach. We called him and told him to make an application which he refused to do.

1 Like

I get they’ll secure Tom McGuane next year so spending that 1st made sense.

But the Schultz one in this years draft is mind blowing, especially when they had Ginni and tossed him away for peanuts.

2 Likes

Which is all very well, but was also the direction they have laid out previously, and which they haven’t backed up. This board is impatient, because it knew 2 years ago that was the way, and the club has taken 2 years to look like they might go that way (and there’s still a chance they bring in 3 late 20s list cloggers before the year is out)

2 Likes

Maybe it was but Dodo was in the way

They heard that while at Essendon, Stringer ate all the Pies; and so they are worried that they might be next.

4 Likes

Otherwise known as the Essendon Way. Thankfully we look like we’re moving away from that.

He should not have pooped in Tom Boyd’s locker. Haunting stuff.

Minivan was let go for conduct unbecoming. Considering some of the things the Pies have let slip over the years… He lost the confidence of his teammates as a result.

If you compare it to some of his teammates’ behaviours at Collingwood, it’s laughable he was so ostracised.

1 Like

Yeah, nah.

100% Kako to pocket. Martin HF

2 Likes

Mmmmm ok

Probably because the dodgy behaviour of other players was not directed at teammates, but happened outside the precincts of the club.

Jai culley delisted by the eagles, i thought that kid would become a top player, what happened?

1 Like

He is the uncontested sideways kick king.
Don’t ask him to defend though, pointless.

1 Like

Except that Menzie is useless. And contributed bugger all in 2024

1 Like

You mean the board that said we believe an experienced coach can get more out of this list! :joy:

1 Like

Could have offloaded one in Schaches too.
How in the world was he still on a list?