I'm disgusted. What a disgraceful club we have become.

[DirtySandman]

Don't stone me to death here but this wouldn't be the worst year to finish dead last.

We better not offer this tripe up, all year, and end up with pick 4 or 5.

 

[the harry]

We better not offer this tripe up, all year, and end up with pick 4 or 5.

Think we're safe on that front tbh.

Who is coming back before mid year? Sheed? Feels like this winter might be particularly dark, especially with all the young players that have been over exposed this early.

 

[Balls In]

The difference this time is we are now three seasons into the bottom out that started in the second half of 2021. When you are this bad for this long you run the risk of institutionalising failure. This is my fear. We have 70% of the salary cap sitting on the sidelines and no one to guide the next generation.

 

[CursoryMercenary]

 

[KERRPOW]

When theres a waiting list of 50k+ to get a membership, there is no pressure from a supporter perspective.

How long will this last tho, if we develop a carlton or Melbourne like culture on the field i can see people not wanting to renew their inflated membership costs.

Ive been ITW for 5 years now but i dont know if id take up a membership in 8 years if we are still rubbish and it costs me 1k a season.

 

[GWeagles]

This is what a club looks like when it has to play the bottom of its list. If we go all kids and depth players we will get this for a while. Sacking personnel won’t change the fact that we are in a transition and we can’t catch a break

 

[ziad]

The difference this time is we are now three seasons into the bottom out that started in the second half of 2021. When you are this bad for this long you run the risk of institutionalising failure. This is my fear. We have 70% of the salary cap sitting on the sidelines and no one to guide the next generation.

Our best Captains have been very young - Cuz and Woosh. Dont worry about the pensioners their time is nearly over.

 

[eagles rule]

What about if they come in peace ?

who's Peace ??

 

[Forward Press]

Enjoyed the vents, get them out while you can because I can see us rising next year quickly tbh. Call me an optimist.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

The reason we are in this position is ankle and hamstring injuries. We currently have 6 hamstring injuries and 4 ankle injuries.

Remove those injuries and we have a normal injury list. Whatever is causing these injuries is destroying the club.

Are we doing too much indoor training on concrete? I have no idea, but it must be something systemic like that.

This is not unlucky, there is something wrong within the club. No club can be this unlucky. I’m with Suma, a total review of the club needs to be had.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

In terms of investment, strategic decision making and strong work ethic, our marketing dept are leaps and bounds above the rest of the club. The addition of the fireballs was a inspired decision from them. It shows they actually care

Now if the football side of the club could show some initative

 

[Tyberious Funk]

In two years Ginbey and Long will be pushing 50 games and we'll have two more top 5 talents plus potentially a handful of other top 30.

They won't all make it but this isn't the EPL, big clubs don't just have sustained success as a birth right.

Unless, of course, you are Geelong... who somehow have won a slew of premierships, consistently make finals and don't seem to have bottomed out. Even their "post-premiership slump" still has them 3 wins from 6, and knocking on the door of the eight.

Wonder if that has anything to do with, y'know... being well run by people that seem to know their shit?

 

[Bacchus]

NO EVEN IN A REBUILD WE MUST BE TOP 8!!!

There’s a big difference between where we are and top 8.

 

[Obeanie1]

Unless, of course, you are Geelong... who somehow have won a slew of premierships, consistently make finals and don't seem to have bottomed out. Even their "post-premiership slump" still has them 3 wins from 6, and knocking on the door of the eight.

Wonder if that has anything to do with, y'know... being well run by people that seem to know their s**t?

If we had Vic Country and Vic Metro as our feeder zones, cheap land and a building sponsor to build 'discounted' mansions for players and throw in a $1 pub to attract free agents, then we would be in a similar position to Geelong.

They have some significant natural advantages others simply do not hold.

 

[timeforanother22]

Here’s a thought…

Tottenham’s players will refund the tickets of supporters who travelled to watch their chastening 6-1 defeat at Newcastle on Sunday, which plumbed fresh depths during a turbulent season for the club.

After todays effort the club hierarchy should consider this.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

That would make me feel better. I pay $110 a fortnight for the pleasure of watching that tripe. And I have the pleasure of the bloke in front of me turning around and telling me he can’t stand my negativity. This was after I asked ”Where the hell is Barrass?” After Curnow started his run to a new ground record for goals.

Maybe he is right, maybe i should have given Barrass a fairy clap for that shit?

 

[greatwhiteshark]

If we had Vic Country and Vic Metro as our feeder zones, cheap land and a building sponsor to build 'discounted' mansions for players and throw in a $1 pub to attract free agents, then we would be in a similar position to Geelong.

They have some significant natural advantages others simply do not hold.

Cmon mate, we can hardly cry we are at any disadvantage. The reality is we are run poorly as a football club. Everyone wants to keep ignoring the obvious. Football clubs business is football. Making money is a different business all together. We are not a good football club, we operate poorly have have done for many many years. Way to loyal to long term players, never prepared to make tough decisions. It’s our motto to be the nice fluffy club.
I don’t care we are last as all teams have their time there. But we don’t action for the next good period. We are way to nice.
Until this culture changes which I highly doubt ever will the. We will remain one of the softest clubs in the league long term.

 

[Bacchus]

I'm happy enough with Simpson, we asked for a rejuvenated game plan and for the most part we were seeing it. The players were buying in after Round 2 and then the wheels fell off. A loss like last night was always going to happen at some point.

Normally the Coach is the scapegoat and in this case it might turn out that history repeats itself but i'm more annoyed with list management, S&C, Club Doctors & Upper management.

Trevor Nisbett should have stepped aside a a year or two ago and handed the reigns to Vozzo, or at the very least announced a succession plan. Sadly he's the Queen and he'll hold onto the position till death. I don't even know who would replace him if he did leave atm. Certainly no one internally so we're probably stuck with him. His level headiness has been a blessing in years past but you could argue his belief in some at the club that are underperforming is no longer admirable. Such as Warren Kofoed.

We moved some deck chairs around in the S&C department last year but how the * Warren Kofoed kept his job is beyond me. The head honcho stays but his staffs get moved on. Explain that one to me.

I've been satisfied enough with our drafting the past few years but why in the hell do we give out 2 year deals to blokes that are constantly injured and or over 30?

First the club says Nic is only a few weeks away, then they update it to a few more. Then Simmo comes out and admits they always knew it was a long term injury. He states Nic has been dealing with Achilles injuries for a awhile now. So why the * give him two years? I love Nic and he's been a loyal servant to the club. It would kill me to him wear another clubs colours but offering a two year deal to a 114kg, 32 year old Fijian (i mention his ethnicity as typically they are big fellas) with bad knees and a dodgy achilles seems crazy. Yet we did it.

Gov is now asking for two years. Same with Cripps. Gov has played a total of 40 games in the last 4 years to date. He is such a valuable player but what am i missing here? He's had some unlucky "collision" accidents but he's still injury prone. Regardless of what the injury is. Cripps hasn't had the injuries that Gov has but he will still be 32 years old this time next year. Why would we give a bloke a two year deal heading into his 33rd year?

As for Boots? I love the guy but the time has come to tap him on the shoulder and say it's time. Don't even know what to do with Yeo. His prime has been wasted by our inability to get him fit. Such a waste.

All these servants have been loyal but loyalty goes both ways and they have been paid well and not shopped around. A one year deal with triggers for another year should be the maximum that's offered to anyone the other side of 30. If that's not good enough then see you later.

Hard calls need to be made on the future of this club. I don't think throwing the whole list out and playing just youth is the answer. We need some experience to help guide them and to avoid a season of performances like last night but the elders in the group need to make the future of the club their priority, whether that's with their contracts or their positions in the team. If they are not on board with that then it's time to say farewell.

Lastly we need to get a lot better at recruiting. We are going to have a lot of money in our shopping bag soon and heaven forbid we * it all up and overpay for just anyone. At both the trade table and contract negotiations. I don't mind paying a little more coin to secure the right person if we pay less at the trade table. Don't worry about the good guy persona, just get the best deal for OUR club.

We are not the basket case the eastern state like to thump their chests about but we are on the precipice of having to make some very important decisions regarding the fitness of this club, the direction of this club and the management of the list and those decisions will play a major role in whether this rebuild lasts 3 years or 10.

You’ve covered most of it.

It could begin with Shuey retiring immediately - great guy, great servant of the club - but obviously cooked as an AFL footballer. Naitanui should follow him if he is not going to be able to play this year. Same as Shuey, great bloke, great player, great club servant but now finished as a player. This would open up two mid season draft options which would help to alleviate the injury situation.

It’s possible that Redden should still be playing instead of Shuey. Not on the same level as a player but far more durable, he could be a protector and mentor of a young midfield. That bus has gone but is indicative of decisions made on emotion and sentiment than reason.

Plenty of others, both on and off field, should be following these guys out the door at the end of the season if things haven’t turned around.
Our current situation is lamentable and approaching the now defunct Fitzroy level.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

That would make me feel better. I pay $110 a fortnight for the pleasure of watching that tripe. And I have the pleasure of the bloke in front of me turning around and telling me he can’t stand my negativity. This was after I asked ”Where the hell is Barrass?” After Curnow started his run to a new ground record for goals.

Maybe he is right, maybe i should have given Barrass a fairy clap for that s**t?

Dont worry to much about it, I reckon 70% of AFL supporters know nothing at all about the game and it’s just a cool thing to attend. I am no longer a member but when I was there was 3 women who sat in the row in front of us who just went there to have a chat as if they were at a coffee shop, none of them watched any of the game. We joked every week, year in year out what the hell they attend for. It’s hilarious

 

[amazingjoshy]

In two years Ginbey and Long will be pushing 50 games and we'll have two more top 5 talents plus potentially a handful of other top 30.

They won't all make it but this isn't the EPL, big clubs don't just have sustained success as a birth right.

Pretty big difference between "sustained sucess" and just wanting a semi competitive team on the patk.

The last 3 weeks were what should be the minimum standard. Last night we didn't have a crack. The coach agrees

 

[Cuzz09]

Everyone on this board during pre season....

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Tyberious Funk]

If we had Vic Country and Vic Metro as our feeder zones, cheap land and a building sponsor to build 'discounted' mansions for players and throw in a $1 pub to attract free agents, then we would be in a similar position to Geelong.

They have some significant natural advantages others simply do not hold.

Sorry, but half of this is crap. You are essentially accusing Geelong of cheating, which reeks of sour grapes. Whatever they are doing in terms of player payments, is within the rules and is available to us, too. If they have sponsors that they're leveraging, why don't we? And besides, everyone keeps telling me how wonderful Perth is to live... why aren't we leveraging that, too? The truth of the matter is that despite being a financial powerhouse and a successful club, West Coast have never been a "destination club"

Besides, none of that explains their superior S&C, or their superior player development. Let's be honest, Geelong utterly smoke us in every single department, and a lot of their success started with Brian Cook.

IMHO, our issues are with leadership.

 

[BandF]

We need one of those independent reviews that the Vic clubs have had over the years, need a complete look at the whole club and what's wrong.

Wholeheartedly agree - I vote for Kane Cornes, Brad Hardie and Robert Walls to conduct the review.

 

[Westend]

I'm disgusted, flabbergasted, befuddled, bemused and paradoxically non-aligned with the hyper inflated emotional content of this thread?
Seriously, what was anyone expecting? Some magical turnaround when all our injured senior players return and play like it was the summer of 2018? Expecting all our young players to suddenly show amazing talent and skills and all turn into guns overnight? Or expecting them to play top teams week after week and not get battered and sore? We're barely managing to field a team, it's probably our C team?
There will be more of this over the coming weeks and season, with little ups+downs, little glimmers of light through the dark clouds - then the mid season draft - then the 2023 draft+trade period. Be patient grasshopper. It could be worse, you could support Fremantle? The thought they were headed for the GF this year?

I was expecting a 4/5 goal loss to be fair

 

[Cuzz09]

I was expecting a 4/5 goal loss to be fair

Yep. would've been happy with that.

I mentioned in the gameday thread it could be a hard fought close game or we'll get blown away.

I didn't think we'd have another stock standard 40 point effort

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[bzparkes]

I was expecting a 4/5 goal loss to be fair

Players are cooked. I've no doubt half of them wouldn't be playing if we had a full squad to pick from.