Well, there goes another season without finals. We looked good there for a while in terms of competitiveness, until we didn't. A lot of supporters got sucked into the false dawn of early wins, but the fact we were rarely beating sides above us was really a more accurate reflection of us; that and our percentage. Not unhappy. We're a middling team in the midst of rebuilding. We need to turn the list over.
Anyway, here's my GBU for this year.
Good:
Edge. Okay, we couldn't make it last consistently throughout the season, but the foundations have been laid. It reflects a desired standard and it was communicated well by the coach because it did cut through. Alterations to the list and another preseason with this as our mantra and hopefully we do it better and more next season.
Zach's captaincy and leadership. Wow. Thank goodness.
Calders and Duz. Revelations this year, in part because they've bought in. Gives us scope to dispense with guys like Parish and Shiel. I guessed Duz to finish top 5 in the Crichton before the season started. He deserves.
Duursma gave us fantastic run, and although he has finished strongly (due to in large part to his supporting cast), I'm happily surprised by McKay's first season with us.
Both Draper and Bryan have matured a bit as players during the last month or so.
Tsatas, we're told, has improved. There's something to look forward to.
Nate Caddy has given us some exciting glimpses of the beast he'll become.
Archie Roberts. Has skills, appetite and an edgy attitude. I like him.
Harry Jones and Nik Cox getting a full year. Hopefully we'll be better for it. Loved Jones's forward pressure early in the season before being shifted to a wing.
The change to the draft rules for NGA players, allowing us to draft Kako. Hells bells. That's timely.
Dodoro and Sheedy goooorne
Best wins: GWS and WB.
Bad:
F***. Where do I start?
Martin HB experiment. The vision was good but failed. He's obviously a wing / forward.
Team selection for a couple of vital games post-bye. Selecting so many talls especially for the Cats game in the wet was baffling.
Consistent games being given to Laverde, Menzie, Kelly, Heppell, Perkins. There is the context of a dearth of options for some roles when injuries strike, but the quality of the middle to low end is very ordinary. The poor performances of these players might see their papers stamped, fingers crossed.
Gresham has turned out to be just an ordinary player. Not much of an upgrade on Snello by my eye.
The post-bye fade out for the second year in a row. Not sure if that's strength and conditioning or injuries or a bit of both, but it's obviously an issue.
Dumb contracts to some players, Parish and McGrath particularly. Too long.
Worst losses: Port, Geelong, Adelaide and Melbourne
Ugly:
The foul treatment given to the players by some of our 'supporters'. We're rebuilding. We're not playing for sheep stations yet. Our list is subpar. Accept it. I can't stand a lack of effort either, but abuse is disgraceful. They're humans. You'd be better off embracing the journey.
Kicking skills, but especially those of Martin, McGrath, Laverde and Kelly, at times was deplorable.
Accuracy in front of goal.
Disorganisation of forwardline and backline, at times, was stark. I'd think Tapping, at least, is gone.
Congrats on a solid career Dyson and Goldy.
I'm hoping Rosa and RFK are able to engineer a bunch of draft picks.
I'm interested in your GBUs.
Anyway, here's my GBU for this year.
Good:
Edge. Okay, we couldn't make it last consistently throughout the season, but the foundations have been laid. It reflects a desired standard and it was communicated well by the coach because it did cut through. Alterations to the list and another preseason with this as our mantra and hopefully we do it better and more next season.
Zach's captaincy and leadership. Wow. Thank goodness.
Calders and Duz. Revelations this year, in part because they've bought in. Gives us scope to dispense with guys like Parish and Shiel. I guessed Duz to finish top 5 in the Crichton before the season started. He deserves.
Duursma gave us fantastic run, and although he has finished strongly (due to in large part to his supporting cast), I'm happily surprised by McKay's first season with us.
Both Draper and Bryan have matured a bit as players during the last month or so.
Tsatas, we're told, has improved. There's something to look forward to.
Nate Caddy has given us some exciting glimpses of the beast he'll become.
Archie Roberts. Has skills, appetite and an edgy attitude. I like him.
Harry Jones and Nik Cox getting a full year. Hopefully we'll be better for it. Loved Jones's forward pressure early in the season before being shifted to a wing.
The change to the draft rules for NGA players, allowing us to draft Kako. Hells bells. That's timely.
Dodoro and Sheedy goooorne
Best wins: GWS and WB.
Bad:
F***. Where do I start?
Martin HB experiment. The vision was good but failed. He's obviously a wing / forward.
Team selection for a couple of vital games post-bye. Selecting so many talls especially for the Cats game in the wet was baffling.
Consistent games being given to Laverde, Menzie, Kelly, Heppell, Perkins. There is the context of a dearth of options for some roles when injuries strike, but the quality of the middle to low end is very ordinary. The poor performances of these players might see their papers stamped, fingers crossed.
Gresham has turned out to be just an ordinary player. Not much of an upgrade on Snello by my eye.
The post-bye fade out for the second year in a row. Not sure if that's strength and conditioning or injuries or a bit of both, but it's obviously an issue.
Dumb contracts to some players, Parish and McGrath particularly. Too long.
Worst losses: Port, Geelong, Adelaide and Melbourne
Ugly:
The foul treatment given to the players by some of our 'supporters'. We're rebuilding. We're not playing for sheep stations yet. Our list is subpar. Accept it. I can't stand a lack of effort either, but abuse is disgraceful. They're humans. You'd be better off embracing the journey.
Kicking skills, but especially those of Martin, McGrath, Laverde and Kelly, at times was deplorable.
Accuracy in front of goal.
Disorganisation of forwardline and backline, at times, was stark. I'd think Tapping, at least, is gone.
Congrats on a solid career Dyson and Goldy.
I'm hoping Rosa and RFK are able to engineer a bunch of draft picks.
I'm interested in your GBUs.
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