Balme

[Slippery Pete]

There's been comments like this.....

"people didn’t like Olsen because of his political affiliations, and most of all they remember him at the SANFL reaming us on every negotiation

turns out he’s just really, really good. And now he’s on our side we’re just starting to get a sense of why we lost every negotiation against him

Olsen is an original gangster. He’s just really fricking good. Quality. Only he’s on our side now

heck he’s only been here 5 mins and look at the impact

he’s proper bad ass "

There's other comments like this and your likes are all over them, but hey no one was talking him up.

Who was that?

 

[Jars458]

Then why were you so rampant with your criticisms of him when we appointed him

Olsen has been in the job for FOUR years, coming off a wooden spoon, yep he’s been a failure, no success, lol.

First chairman in 34 years to invoke a maximum term for board members, that in itself is a tick, second he’s got rid of a useless club legend without any bloodshed, it’s a brilliant move.

Found us a new home, whether you’re not invested is irrelevant, but odd given how much of a focus it’s been and how important it was.

Got Burgess.

Got rid of esports and other non-football crap.

You never wanted Olsen, wanting him out now has nothing to do with his performance. No success, lol.

Just proves I was right along.

 

[MRB37]

This is it in a nutshell

He's presided over two poorly timed and underserved extensions to Nicks' contract.

The second one, when pressed about why they re-signed him when they did, he simply justifies it by saying "why not".

Thebarton, the jury is still very much out on IMO. They've had to compromise the original vision etc and 10% of the cost is via handout to the SANFL, I'm waiting to see the actual lay of the land financially moving forward before trumpeting it as a "success".

The original Aquatic Centre plan had a price tag of $65 million, whereas Thebarton is coming with a price tag of $100 million so I am very keen to see the financial figures, costing and the amount of debt that we're going to be burdened with etc given that it's going to cost $35 million more before being able to pass judgment on it.

If Thebarton turns out to be great and we're not lumbered with a massive debt etc I will happily label it as a success, however, if the club ends up saddled with debt and resorts to cost cutting in terms of football spend to service the debt which impacts on ability to achieve on-field success then it will be a huge issue.

There's still a long way to go before anyone actually knows either way and I don't think we'll really know the answers for at least another 5-10 years.

Cost differences are probably purely down to inflation/greed cost increases like everything else in the world today. 2019's $65 million is now $100 million.

Given COVID happened a few months after we announced the original aquatic plan I doubt we'd of gotten it done for what we originally budgeted for and we'd be in a similar type scenario.

 

[1970crow]

I can make the same argument that everyone who makes the "political argument" about Olsen seems to be on the right.

Therefore it's blatantly obvious that those who keep pushing the political angle are clearly the ones who are looking at things through the political lens.

I've stated my argument countless times that my criticism of Olsen is not out of character to how I've treated anyone else at the AFC, I'm hyper critical about everyone and consistent.

Let's be honest about Olsen, if we're looking things on the basis of achievements then Chapman stands head and shoulders above Olsen in terms of what had been achieved. Seperation from the SANFL, becoming our own club, a stand alone reserves team, consistently playing finals, making an AFL Grand Final, starting the move away from Footy Park etc. Chapman also knew when to cut ties with underperforming coaches.

Let's not polish a turd, the last few years have been absolute rubbish and Nicks should have been sacked at the end of 2022. I'd also argue that the jury is still very much out about Thebarton at this stage so it's way too early at this stage to be heralding it as a success.

If Olsen leaves in the next season or two and the club is still floundering, history won't be painting his tenure very favorably regardless of the narrative that posters are trying to run with.

I think you're looking at Chappy's reign with rose coloured glasses;

Separation from the SANFL - Port pushed this, just like the move away from footy park, we rode their coat tails. And even then, out from the SANFL and under the AFL and we don't know what they're going to do to the constitution once the AFL have to hand over control.

becoming our own club - see above, this has not yet occurred and the way the constitution is written, the afl (controlling) membership can be transferred to a new category of membership created at the whim of the existing board.

a stand alone reserves team - i do like this, but it's not like we don't pay for the privilege. It definitely creates more of an overall club feel, but then many argue development was better under the previous system.

the club consistently playing finals, - by my reckoning, 2010-2020 we made finals 4 out of 11 years and his final year saw us win our first spoon. I'm not sure that's really a positive aspect of his chairmpersonship.

making an AFL Grand Final, - that was good, followed up by 12th, 11th and our first spoon, hardly set up a contending period. But that was also 8 years in, bit rough to expect similar after 4 years off a spoon base.

starting the move away from Footy Park - again, that was an 'over our dead bodies scenario' until port led the way and the AFL got on board and brokered the AO redevelopment. Even then, we cried poor over our deal and Fagan had to renegotiate it. I'm not sure it's yet that great.

Chapman also knew when to cut ties with underperforming coaches. No doubt we were more ruthless, neil went 5,5,11,14 and got the boot. Sando 3,11,10. Pyke 5,2,12,11, but he was a rarity in terms of taking over a side that had played finals the prior year, so compared to most coaches, his record is inflated a little. But do agree here, extending Nicks for any more than 1 year at the time they did it and considering the stated reasoning (reduce external noise LOL) is enough to warrant dismissal as far as I'm concerned.

 

[skam85]

Ah so you meant mooted not muted, 2 very different meanings...

okay Mootineer

 

[relapse]

I think you're looking at Chappy's reign with rose coloured glasses;

Separation from the SANFL - Port pushed this, just like the move away from footy park, we rode their coat tails. And even then, out from the SANFL and under the AFL and we don't know what they're going to do to the constitution once the AFL have to hand over control.

becoming our own club - see above, this has not yet occurred and the way the constitution is written, the afl (controlling) membership can be transferred to a new category of membership created at the whim of the existing board.

a stand alone reserves team - i do like this, but it's not like we don't pay for the privilege. It definitely creates more of an overall club feel, but then many argue development was better under the previous system.

the club consistently playing finals, - by my reckoning, 2010-2020 we made finals 4 out of 11 years and his final year saw us win our first spoon. I'm not sure that's really a positive aspect of his chairmpersonship.

making an AFL Grand Final, - that was good, followed up by 12th, 11th and our first spoon, hardly set up a contending period. But that was also 8 years in, bit rough to expect similar after 4 years off a spoon base.

starting the move away from Footy Park - again, that was an 'over our dead bodies scenario' until port led the way and the AFL got on board and brokered the AO redevelopment. Even then, we cried poor over our deal and Fagan had to renegotiate it. I'm not sure it's yet that great.

Chapman also knew when to cut ties with underperforming coaches. No doubt we were more ruthless, neil went 5,5,11,14 and got the boot. Sando 3,11,10. Pyke 5,2,12,11, but he was a rarity in terms of taking over a side that had played finals the prior year, so compared to most coaches, his record is inflated a little. But do agree here, extending Nicks for any more than 1 year at the time they did it and considering the stated reasoning (reduce external noise LOL) is enough to warrant dismissal as far as I'm concerned.

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't a fan of Chapman nor was I trying to defend him.

I was just making the point (albeit rather poorly) that if we're going to use things like Thebarton as a get out of jail free card for Olsen then Chapman had his own stack of "wins" that you could use to justify his time at the club, however it doesn't change the fact that Chapman in the end rightfully deserved to be ousted.

I agree that you can't directly compare their achievements against each other, but was just making the point that having wins here and there ultimately mean very little if we're performing poorly on-field.

There's definitely been some wins during Olsen's time, but it's hard to look past the Nicks stuff and how the club has fumbled the bag twice by prematurely signing him when they didn't have to.

 

[1970crow]

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't a fan of Chapman nor was I trying to defend him.

I was just making the point (albeit rather poorly) that if we're going to use things like Thebarton as a get out of jail free card for Olsen then Chapman had his own stack of "wins" that you could use to justify his time at the club, however it doesn't change the fact that Chapman in the end rightfully deserved to be ousted.

I agree that you can't directly compare their achievements against each other, but was just making the point that having wins here and there ultimately mean very little if we're performing poorly on-field.

There's definitely been some wins during Olsen's time, but it's hard to look past the Nicks stuff and how the club has fumbled the bag twice by prematurely signing him when they didn't have to.

In terms of being a potential flag coach, I was off him very early, but I can definitely understand the previous extension.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

In terms of being a potential flag coach, I was off him very early, but I can definitely understand the previous extension.

1st extension - yes.

2nd extension - beyond stupid.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

This idea that the first extension was a given is complete bullshit. He absolutely deserved to be sacked at that point in time and it was unprecedented for Adelaide not to do so. No other coach in our history was given that sort of leeway.

 

[1970crow]

This idea that the first extension was a given is complete bullshit. He absolutely deserved to be sacked at that point in time and it was unprecedented for Adelaide not to do so. No other coach in our history was given that sort of leeway.

Not a given, but I can understand the rationale. In terms of precedence and the AFC, surely you’re not suggesting that what we’ve done in the past needs to be followed religiously?

 

[George Kramer]

This idea that the first extension was a given is complete bullshit. He absolutely deserved to be sacked at that point in time and it was unprecedented for Adelaide not to do so. No other coach in our history was given that sort of leeway.

Never in our history have we cut out list as deep plus he had the players on side.

Imagine what a dog act it would have been to cut him then, “we are going to cut the guts out of the list, develop it, don’t worry about win loss for now”

“Shit you lost, you’re gone”

 

[Mr_Moogle]

Not a given, but I can understand the rationale. In terms of precedence and the AFC, surely you’re not suggesting that what we’ve done in the past needs to be followed religiously?

When you win a spoon if your first year and it's not a red flag, you ****ed up.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

Never in our history have we cut out list as deep plus he had the players on side.

Imagine what a dog act it would have been to cut him then, “we are going to cut the guts out of the list, develop it, don’t worry about win loss for now”

“Shit you lost, you’re gone”

Well that settles it then, resigning him was actually the right move because it didn't upset anybody.

It's hilarious watching you run interference for Olsen when you've been complaining non stop about the state of the club for years.

 

[1970crow]

When you win a spoon if your first year and it's not a red flag, you ****ed up.

2020 was a 17 round compromised season. Crazy to expect him to be sacked at the end of that, especially considering the back end of the year was much better than the front end. And having survived that, it’s unsurprising he got that first extension. I’d have been happy if he didn’t, but I understand why they did.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

2020 was a 17 round compromised season. Crazy to expect him to be sacked at the end of that, especially considering the back end of the year was much better than the front end. And having survived that, it’s unsurprising he got that first extension. I’d have been happy if he didn’t, but I understand why they did.

We're talking about the end of 2021. If you agree he should have been sacked, what's understandable about resigning him?

 

[George Kramer]

Well that settles it then, resigning him was actually the right move because it didn't upset anybody.

It's hilarious watching you run interference for Olsen when you've been complaining non stop about the state of the club for years.

Dude this has zero to do with Olsen and if you think that you’re one paranoid fella.

Look at what we done with the list.
Look how Nicks seemed to unify the club and mend relationships.
At the end of 2021 we had won 7 games after 3 the previous year, we were moving up, they thought the rebuild was going well and most on here did too.

I don’t think a club in the competition wouldn’t have re-signed Nicks under those circumstances. Know of any in a similar position that have sacked their coach?

 

[1970crow]

We're talking about the end of 2021. If you agree he should have been sacked, what's understandable about resigning him?

Linear progression from the spoon base and the playing group were in a much better space than what he inherited. I think he’s a coach that can get this group up and around 5th-8th and that’s what our club is about. So he ticks the box. I disagree, but it’s pretty easy to see why they made the call.

 

[relapse]

Never in our history have we cut out list as deep plus he had the players on side.

Imagine what a dog act it would have been to cut him then, “we are going to cut the guts out of the list, develop it, don’t worry about win loss for now”

“Shit you lost, you’re gone”

I don't think that's true, the standard tenure for coaches that come in during a rebuild phase historically is about 2-3 years.

Here are some examples from various clubs

Brendan McCartney 3 years - Bulldogs
David Noble 2 years - North
David Teague 3 years - Carlton
Ben Rutten 2 years - Essendon
Mark Neeld 2 years - Melbourne
Matthew Primus 2 years - Port

It wouldn't have been a dog act, it would have been consistent with how other clubs have moved coaches on.

For me I would have sacked him after the Hawthorn loss in 2022.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

Dude this has zero to do with Olsen and if you think that you’re one paranoid fella.

Look at what we done with the list.
Look how Nicks seemed to unify the club and mend relationships.
At the end of 2021 we had won 7 games after 3 the previous year, we were moving up, they thought the rebuild was going well and most on here did too.

I don’t think a club in the competition wouldn’t have re-signed Nicks under those circumstances. Know of any in a similar position that have sacked their coach?

It's obvious what you're doing. I don't mind if you criticise people for their knee jerk reactions to Olsen's appointment. It's a whole other thing when you've got 5 years worth of actual results and you're trying to strike things off the list of acceptable things to criticise him for.

This is just a theory I've concocted but I think things that were said in the 2019 review made the Crows admin insecure about the club's previous treatment of coaches. I think Dunstall and the like probably told them they need to be more patient. I would even go so far to say that advice is not unreasonable most of the time. They just underestimated how uniquely terrible Nicks is at coaching.

 

[relapse]

Not a given, but I can understand the rationale. In terms of precedence and the AFC, surely you’re not suggesting that what we’ve done in the past needs to be followed religiously?

Did you actually agree with it at the time?

I can definitely remember you saying midway through 2022 that the only reason that Nicks still had a job at that point and hadn't been sacked was because the club re-signed him before the season started.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

Also enough of this lefty garbage. I can tolerate a bastard if they win. That's always been the rule in footy. No different for players, coaches etc.

 

[George Kramer]

I don't think that's true, the standard tenure for coaches that come in during a rebuild phase historically is about 2-3 years.

Here are some examples from various clubs

Brendan McCartney 3 years - Bulldogs
David Noble 2 years - North
David Teague 3 years - Carlton
Ben Rutten 2 years - Essendon
Mark Neeld 2 years - Melbourne
Matthew Primus 2 years - Port

It wouldn't have been a dog act, it would have been consistent with how other clubs have moved coaches on.

For me I would have sacked him after the Hawthorn loss in 2022.

Dude, now list those clubs where they finished prior to these coaches taking over, had they just started their rebuild, were the results on the way up or down.

 

[George Kramer]

It's obvious what you're doing. I don't mind if you criticise people for their knee jerk reactions to Olsen's appointment. It's a whole other thing when you've got 5 years worth of actual results and you're trying to strike things off the list of acceptable things to criticise him for.

This is just a theory I've concocted but I think things that were said in the 2019 review made the Crows admin insecure about the club's previous treatment of coaches. I think Dunstall and the like probably told them they need to be more patient. I would even go so far to say that advice is not unreasonable most of the time. They just underestimated how uniquely terrible Nicks is at coaching.

For starters its 4 years he’s been in charge, I won’t list his achievements, I already have and you lefties, yeah you lefties can’t bring yourself to acknowledge them because you’re lefties and he was a previous Liberal Premier. Did I mention lefties?

Now I’m critical of the re-signing of Nicks last year, I’ve gone to town on that. I’m even pretty sure I’ve posted before anyone involved should go. But if you want him gone because of that fine, sack him, but to not even acknowledge the good stuff is just lefty bias.

In terms of the initial re-signing, you’re being massively paranoid if you think I’m defending that because I want to defend Olsen. I’ve explained it and explained it again. If you don’t believe me that just makes you more paranoid. His initial re-signing was not some shock, what would have been a shock was if we sacked him. Ask any impartial what they think.

 

[1970crow]

Did you actually agree with it at the time?

I can definitely remember you saying midway through 2022 that the only reason that Nicks still had a job at that point and hadn't been sacked was because the club re-signed him before the season started.

2 things, firstly, our rebuild strategy of returning to competing for the 8 ASAP was progressing, so I understand why they were happy with what try were seeing and didn’t want to risk upsetting our delicate senior group. Secondly, I wholeheartedly disagree with the strategy, so wouldn’t have re-signed him.

If you were to read my posts in the Nicks thread you’ll see a lot where I post that he’s an ok coach, but doesn’t have the smarts or edge to be a premiership coach. He actually delivered in season 2023, in the hunt for a finals berth all the way to the last minute of round 24. That’s our club, that’s all that is asked for as it keeps the masses happy and engaged. Tracey I can understand the decision, we’re a mediocre organisation with mediocre expectations and demands on our footy dept.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

For starters its 4 years he’s been in charge, I won’t list his achievements, I already have and you lefties, yeah you lefties can’t bring yourself to acknowledge them because you’re lefties and he was a previous Liberal Premier. Did I mention lefties?

Now I’m critical of the re-signing of Nicks last year, I’ve gone to town on that. I’m even pretty sure I’ve posted before anyone involved should go. But if you want him gone because of that fine, sack him, but to not even acknowledge the good stuff is just lefty bias.

In terms of the initial re-signing, you’re being massively paranoid if you think I’m defending that because I want to defend Olsen. I’ve explained it and explained it again. If you don’t believe me that just makes you more paranoid. His initial re-signing was not some shock, what would have been a shock was if we sacked him. Ask any impartial what they think.

Mate it's obvious what you're doing and it's not surprising who your supporting cast is.

As for this "good stuff", it hasn't materialised into anything tangible on the field. Until it does, listing his accomplishments just looks kind of pitiful.