Rumour 2024 Rumours and Speculation (Rumours total 25, last 28th August)

[1970crow]

It's easy to understand why player decisions wait until trade week concludes, nothing to be gained by going early. No such reasoning with respect to coaches or club staff though. Surely if anyone was being moved on we'd know about it by now. It's not like they get traded and the club they're going to is still in the mix. Looks like we're goin* into 2025 with the same off-field group. Yippee.

 

[119others]

hmmm, I not lived there for 30 years but people are moving to adelaide in droves not just expats. melbourne is dead. covid killed it and it has not recovered.

MLB dead? Seriously? I get the hate the Big Brother thing but ADL would DIE to have many MLB qualities like The G, multiple massive global and iconic Aussie sporting events, bar and restaurant scene (despite some high profile closures which is inevitable with the discretionary expenditure crunch), so many festivals, arts scene in general. When major global acts come do you wonder why they often go to only 2 or 3 (Brissie often does well) cities only and bypass ADL and PER? Taylor Swift played at The G more than we did this year.

Work opportunities, more sophistication in many ways (as big cities often are compared to small cities)

A long weekend in MLB recently with mates and it’s an amazing city IMO. Smart, cultured but friendly and inclusive people I have found over many years of visiting and living there

 

[LoBu]

The football world is on Nicks back. Sorry to break this to you.

Nicks will 100% be sacked without incredible improvement* in the team. It's only a matter of when.

*Incredible improvement means mid top 8 or higher from the bottom 4. Like Melbourne, Collingwood, Brisbane and now Hawthorn all in the past 7-8 years.

I can't see Nicks getting sacked unless we don't make the finals, any talk of it taking an incredible improvement is more you projecting what you want rather than reality.

On SM-S928B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

1994? 2018?

I would argue both were significantly more so

For me, this year without question... but each to their own.

The issue is there have been no ramifications this time... so far.

The senior coach should not survive in these circumstances when they haven't had any previous success.

 

[119others]

For me, this year without question... but each to their own.

The issue is there have been no ramifications this time... so far.

The senior coach should not survive in these circumstances when they haven't had any previous success.

Ok fair enough. I just thought we would make finals this year with top 4 a best case scenario. The other 2 years and probably should have added 1999, I expected GF or a flag. All years we bombed and didn’t make finals

Agree needs to be change. As others have said ANB and Luko and a premium mid (and Welsh) and another decent mid 20’s pick would be more than adequate. Need at least 1-2 other Assistant changes also with Montgomery seeming likely if he misses Weagles

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Next year is too late as if he is flailing which we all think will happen, its another wasted season. It needs to happen now so a replacement can be brought in and have a full preseason to get the new message across and game plan in place

Exactly!

It's madness to persist with guaranteed failure.

 

[119others]

When I predict I generally look at list quality. I probably underestimate the ability of coaching to develop players and make them better than their talent level suggests, or to the level they should be.

Mitchell has developed his players.
Nicks hasn't.
For talent, we should have been knocking on the finals door.
Mitchell has probably over achieved.

Development is massive agreed and we seem to be lacking with many failures in recent years. Also agree Mitchell looks top notch as a coach. Different level to Nicks. And hearing Scott break down Powers weaknesses transparently before the game and then have the team execute perfectly just shows who the real class coaches are.

 

[119others]

Overall it was a shitty year no question and Nicks made lots of mistakes. Regression without a doubt and there should logically be pressure now on the club and coaches - and players - to be much better in 2025.

Happy clapper perspective:

• we had the hardest draw ANY team has EVER got. 1,2,3,5,7 and 11 is incredibly bad luck. Especially for a non finalist
• further to last we will get double ups against 2 of Tigers, Kangas and Eagles next year IMO. Draw much easier overall and is a key point. Port Power played only ONE finals team twice (under-performing and injured Blues). They were never a second best team.
• injuries hurt much more than 2023
• we were in most games but had a few shockers like Horks (twice) and Tigers.

Basically much easier draw, win most of the close games, less injuries, a couple of first team andditions and ORGANIC growth and we make finals next year.

 

[pjcrows]

We let Paul Thomas

Paul Thomas

Age

42

Ht

182cm

Wt

80kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.1

3star

K

4.9

2star

HB

5.3

4star

M

2.3

2star

T

2.4

4star

G

0.1

2star

No current season stats available

D

9.8

3star

K

3.6

2star

HB

6.2

4star

M

2.0

3star

T

3.0

5star

G

0.0

1star

go in 2021 due to the COVID cuts that hit all clubs. He'd be a better option than the current hacks we have.

Ironically, the only reason James Rahilly

James Rahilly

Age

45

Ht

187cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.2

3star

K

7.2

3star

HB

5.0

4star

M

2.6

3star

T

1.6

4star

No current season stats available

D

6.4

2star

K

2.8

1star

HB

3.6

3star

M

0.6

1star

T

1.0

3star

was let go by Geelong initially was the COVID cuts. They've now got him back anyway.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

The football world is on Nicks back. Sorry to break this to you.

Nicks will 100% be sacked without incredible improvement* in the team. It's only a matter of when.

*Incredible improvement means mid top 8 or higher from the bottom 4. Like Melbourne, Collingwood, Brisbane and now Hawthorn all in the past 7-8 years.

That's simply your opinion .....give me the evidence the football world is focussing on Nicks .....good luck there

 

[119others]

The football world is on Nicks back. Sorry to break this to you.

Nicks will 100% be sacked without incredible improvement* in the team. It's only a matter of when.

*Incredible improvement means mid top 8 or higher from the bottom 4. Like Melbourne, Collingwood, Brisbane and now Hawthorn all in the past 7-8 years.

You really think ending with say 14 wins (which 6 and 7 did this year) and losing a competitive elimination final would see him gone and paid out? I would think that’s extraordinary unlikely ANY club does that

 

[spenze]

Far more have developed under Nicks ....Keays, Nankervis, Rankine is far better than at GC, Thilthorpe, Fogarty Sholl ....I could go on & on

Rachele hasn't ....and I have an interesting theory

GEEL leaders laid down the riot act to Ablett Jnr, who was coasting along on his talent & playing a permanent small fwd .....this was pointed out to him, and that he needed to knuckle down to realise his full potential

Is this a similar scenario to Rachele ?

Anyway, back to your post ....yes IMO HAW are having an out-of-the-box season .....which doesn't reflect their list quality
This season could hurt them

Whereas the scrutiny on the Crows, another low Draft Pick ...and the urgency to get into Finals .....could be just the tonic we need

Yeah I can't remember them doing it in front of the press...probably because they didn't.

They had a sit down with Gablett about how strong the club would be if he got fit enough to play in the guts and was told by senior leadership that if he got fit, one of the mids would put their hand up to give him a spot.

Compare that to us blaming a kid for our loss in front of the press, even worse, players who have done 3/5ths of **** all feeling the need to get in on it.

I can't remember one club great from another club criticising Geelongs players for sitting Gablett down but plenty have had a go at us for our shit behaviour with Rachele.

Any chance you can pull your head in and stop spouting bullshit?

 

[crow2crow]

MLB dead? Seriously? I get the hate the Big Brother thing but ADL would DIE to have many MLB qualities like The G, multiple massive global and iconic Aussie sporting events, bar and restaurant scene (despite some high profile closures which is inevitable with the discretionary expenditure crunch), so many festivals, arts scene in general. When major global acts come do you wonder why they often go to only 2 or 3 (Brissie often does well) cities only and bypass ADL and PER? Taylor Swift played at The G more than we did this year.

Work opportunities, more sophistication in many ways (as big cities often are compared to small cities)

A long weekend in MLB recently with mates and it’s an amazing city IMO. Smart, cultured but friendly and inclusive people I have found over many years of visiting and living there

you clearly don't live here. the victorian economy is wrecked....
even the property market has crashed due to dan's stupid taxes.
it is definitely less clicky than adelaide i will give you that. drivers actually let you in here which wouldn't happen in adelaide. there are some great villages in the inner suburbs but the melb cbd is not what it was.... i dont know anyone who thinks its as good as it was 5 years ago... as locals we are shocked how far its fallen since covid

 

[119others]

What are you even on about?

What we achieved last year is in no way comparable to the Hawks this year.

And what you’re saying does not dispute my point.

I am sure that for Rahilly, moving to the Cats where he can coach under Scott was definitely a factor in his decision. Do you seriously think that people would look at Nicks the same way?

Hasn’t it been reported - a BF exclusive perhaps - that he didn’t enjoy living in ADL? That was the major catalyst for returning home after his most successfully acclaimed year last year as an Assistant- yes for M Nicks.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Hasn’t it been reported - a BF exclusive perhaps - that he didn’t enjoy living in ADL? That was the major catalyst for returning home after his most successfully acclaimed year last year as an Assistant- yes for M Nicks.

Do you cope well with working for a stupid manager?

I certainly don't... & have changed jobs because of it.

 

[119others]

Do you cope well with working for a stupid manager?

I certainly don't... & have changed jobs because of it.

Didn’t impact his standing and success in the eyes of the industry

Spending the last three seasons as an assistant coach at the Crows overseeing their forward line, Rahilly was the recipient of the 2023 AFL Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year award.

 

[Eddie Murphy]

Hasn’t it been reported - a BF exclusive perhaps - that he didn’t enjoy living in ADL? That was the major catalyst for returning home after his most successfully acclaimed year last year as an Assistant- yes for M Nicks.

If this rumour is true so be it. However, we completely failed to replace him. Another rumour was that big name assistants like Dew and Rutten didn’t want to join us because we were unwilling to give them senior assistant over Burns, who has been largely unimpressive here.

 

[crow2crow]

If this rumour is true so be it. However, we completely failed to replace him. Another rumour was that big name assistants like Dew and Rutten didn’t want to join us because we were unwilling to give them senior assistant over Burns, who has been largely unimpressive here.

burns largely unimpressive everywhere

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Didn’t impact his standing and success in the eyes of the industry

Spending the last three seasons as an assistant coach at the Crows overseeing their forward line, Rahilly was the recipient of the 2023 AFL Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year award.

It was well deserved & he was clearly a huge loss.

 

[Eddie Murphy]

burns largely unimpressive everywhere

It’s seriously time to move on from him. A senior assistant spot here could be very attractive to big name assistants when our senior coaching spot is tentative.

 

[WeeBlake]

I can't see Nicks getting sacked unless we don't make the finals, any talk of it taking an incredible improvement is more you projecting what you want rather than reality.

On SM-S928B using BigFooty.com mobile app

Agree and even worse, it just means he’ll (again) be coaching for his survival, so we better get used to him prioritising that over development.

 

[Jcpdragonx]

Basically much easier draw, win most of the close games, less injuries, a couple of first team andditions and ORGANIC growth and we make finals next year.

Making finals is one thing but being a contender is another. 8th place this year was a mile off being a finals team. I worry if we do make finals we'll just get schooled by Geelong or Hawks like we have for most of the past 15 years.

 

[WeeBlake]

I work on Suburban Rail Loop and if there's a single accident a 90 minute journey becomes just under 3 hours one way.

Considering my future.

Hate to say it but the suburban rail loop is a colossal waste of money and should be scrapped immediately.

Anyway, on point, having lived in both, I would say:

1. For most people 18-30 years old (ie footballer aged), Melb is a much better city to live in than Adelaide

2. Many people in Melb - especially posh private school people - think Adelaide is a joke and would be embarrassed to live there

3. For many people Melb is better for non-footy career reasons

These things are just reality, even if you think they aren’t true or fair they are what people think, and so they are still a huge problem for recruiting and retaining players, coaches and staff.

These disadvantages are not going to disappear any time soon, so we can only overcome them them with either

1. Luck - like some truly great father sons all in a bunch

2. Building a widely respected great club that people want to come to - like Sydney or Geelong

3. AFL handouts

 

[Toucan Ocean]

you clearly don't live here. the victorian economy is wrecked....
even the property market has crashed due to dan's stupid taxes.
it is definitely less clicky than adelaide i will give you that. drivers actually let you in here which wouldn't happen in adelaide. there are some great villages in the inner suburbs but the melb cbd is not what it was.... i dont know anyone who thinks its as good as it was 5 years ago... as locals we are shocked how far its fallen since covid

 

[119others]

If this rumour is true so be it. However, we completely failed to replace him. Another rumour was that big name assistants like Dew and Rutten didn’t want to join us because we were unwilling to give them senior assistant over Burns, who has been largely unimpressive here.

Yep agreed, IF that’s the case with Burns - but do we really know for sure or only loosely rumoured here re players not liking him ? - then the club does need to make a call and replace him with one of those other names you mentioned. Or perhaps Montgomery fills the Snr Assistant role if he is interviewing for Snr jobs

With Burns to be fair…he has clearly been our backline coach for 3-4 years before this year. Most of us here LOVED the progression of this line - many calling it their favourite part of the team last year - with Murray near AA form before injury, Worrells development, Max amazing first year being compared to Ben Hart, Hinge and Milera and Jones all good off hbf at different times. Now Burns was the main guy looking after this? Why is he thought so lowly of by fans if he has helped craft this exciting part of our team?

Genuine question as I am not sure.