Opinion Chris Scott's coaching - Part II [NEW POLL ADDED]

[catempire]

I don't know why it is anybody's business about the contractural arrangements of coach, player etc. apart from the club hierarchy.

Come on mate. This isn't Darren in accounts. It's a very public position under intense scrutiny.

 

[Vdubs]

Come on mate. This isn't Darren in accounts. It's a very public position under intense scrutiny.

It may well be, doesn't sit well with me though.
Unless coach resigns or is sacked, negotiations should not be under scrutiny

 

[Spazz Cat]

As they are now.
In fact, I'd say that about 5-22
We had way more A Graders in Blighty's era- GAS, Couch, Buddha, Stoneham, Bairstow, Bews, Lindner, Brownless. These guys were recognised as match winners and super talented..
Now- Selwood, Danger, Hawkins, Taylor.

Yep more A graders back then. My comment was a response to a comment about us being such an attacking team though. There was a reason.
Today, even though we have less A graders we've had very very good key backs and small backs for years.
Not sure I'm with you on the depth.
We had Darcy, Simpson , Rogers, Trevor Poole, Merriman, Miles. Brunsy near the end.
If you look at the West Coast team in 92 it was actually amazing we got so close.
Weakest links you'll find are Evans who was quite good for a while, Harding (Still not bad) and Wilson (Decent Player) Amazing we even made the GF really.
Don't care what anyone says Blight was a excellent coach.
Blight : 5 GF's 2 flags
Malthouse : 7 GF's 3 flags.

 

[Vdubs]

Yep more A graders back then. My comment was a response to a comment about us being such an attacking team though. There was a reason.
Today, even though we have less A graders we've had very very good key backs and small backs for years.
Not sure I'm with you on the depth.
We had Darcy, Simpson , Rogers, Trevor Poole, Merriman, Miles. Brunsy near the end.
If you look at the West Coast team in 92 it was actually amazing we got so close.
Weakest links you'll find are Evans who was quite good for a while, Harding (Still not bad) and Wilson (Decent Player) Amazing we even made the GF really.
Don't care what anyone says Blight was a excellent coach.
Blight : 5 GF's 2 flags
Malthouse : 7 GF's 3 flags.

Scott 1 GF, 1 FLAG!

 

[Spazz Cat]

Scott 1 GF, 1 FLAG!

Yep. Can't beat that record.

 

[dazbroncos]

Come on mate. This isn't Darren in accounts. It's a very public position under intense scrutiny.

you rang?

GO Catters

 

[Vdubs]

Yep. Can't beat that record.

We ALL said after 2011 that things could only get worse for CS.
And of course they have.
He was never going to have that team again, or the success rate, yet he has done really well imo, with a diminishing set of resources.

 

[JumpyHolden]

Yep. Can't beat that record.

Yes you can.

wouldn't you prefer

Scott : 5 GF's 2 flags
or
Scott : 7 GF's 3 flags.

 

[Vdubs]

Yes you can.

wouldn't you prefer

Scott : 5 GF's 2 flags
or
Scott : 7 GF's 3 flags.

Strictly speaking the only way to beat that record is to win every GF you play in, 1 from 1, 2 from 2 etc. Never going to happen.

 

[Cronin]

Yep more A graders back then. My comment was a response to a comment about us being such an attacking team though. There was a reason.
Today, even though we have less A graders we've had very very good key backs and small backs for years.
Not sure I'm with you on the depth.
We had Darcy, Simpson , Rogers, Trevor Poole, Merriman, Miles. Brunsy near the end.
If you look at the West Coast team in 92 it was actually amazing we got so close.
Weakest links you'll find are Evans who was quite good for a while, Harding (Still not bad) and Wilson (Decent Player) Amazing we even made the GF really.
Don't care what anyone says Blight was a excellent coach.
Blight : 5 GF's 2 flags
Malthouse : 7 GF's 3 flags.

The thing I'll add about Blight is that his two flags with Adelaide were back-to-back, against a pretty good St.Kilda team and an excellent North Melbourne team, where they won them from 4th and 5th position respectively, with 5 of their finals' wins being interstate.

That's a phenomenal effort, with their 98' finals campaign right up there with the 16' Bulldogs IMO.

 

[JumpyHolden]

Strictly speaking the only way to beat that record is to win every GF you play in, 1 from 1, 2 from 2 etc. Never going to happen.

Neither is this.

Scott : 5 GF's 2 flags
or
Scott : 7 GF's 3 flags.

 

[Partridge]

The thing I'll add about Blight is that his two flags with Adelaide were back-to-back, against a pretty good St.Kilda team and an excellent North Melbourne team, where they won them from 4th and 5th position respectively, with 5 of their finals' wins being interstate.

That's a phenomenal effort, with their 98' finals campaign right up there with the 16' Bulldogs IMO.

I would disagree, purely as Adelaide were belted the first week of the finals in 1998 and should have gone no further.

 

[Cronin]

I would disagree, purely as Adelaide were belted the first week of the finals in 1998 and should have gone no further.

Yet they then beat Sydney in Sydney, Thrashed Bulldogs in Melbourne and took care of the best team of the late 90's; I would argue that their first loss only enhances their final's series.

 

[GTOA]

I think that's hugely understating the enormous amount of work bomber Thompson did building and teaching that list. He did an incredible job the team Chris Scott took over was viewed as being able to win the 2011 flag. We had been in a grand final or prelim previous 4 years and the list Chris Scott took over little to no changes were made. Mitch Duncan, Menzel, Bundy and possible Trent west in. All would of been on our list already far from reinventing the wheel. Chris Scott had a sensational first season it must be said but the situations each walked into were completely different and bomber created a dynasty and the greatest side we are likely to see as Geelong supporters.

He is the best coach Geelong has have coaching wise and strategy wise by a long way in the last 35 years before that I'm not sure. You wouldn't bring him back and I'm sure he wouldn't come back but dont discredit what he did and compare it any way shape of form to what Chris Scott has done he has been a solid coach and done as well as he could you couldn't ask for much more.

Regardless of what you think of him personally he was a great football coach for geelong. Without him at the helm I would hate to think where we would be today.

People get touchy about this subject because our game plan and particularly list doesn't look on the way up and developing it looks on its last tilt before the decline. Which is fine happens to every club but we followed a plan with topping up that historically isn't very successful and can lead to bottoming out badly.
That is a perspective point of view differs from supporter to supporter I for one don't like these high risk strategies and topping up as I think it inevitably sends your further backwards some love them because they think we will always be able to compete not true.

I don't even mind missing the 8 if it means we might be developing to a level to be really competitive in the 8. Some people don't see it like that

It was worth a shot this year close but no cigar now we have to deal with those risks and it probably won't be pretty for the fans who think the well of talent is never ending and the free agency well will fix our list holes it won't in my opinion.

Instead of a more traditional list re-tool through draft picks and then using free agents to to fill the gaps.

I'm not discrediting anything that Bomber did good for Geelong. His two premierships for us and being the second longest-Geelong coach ever mean something.

But the fact is, Bomber is gone. He isn't our coach anymore. Chris Scott is. Scott shouldn't be compared to Bomber, and should be judged on his own merits.

The fact is, if Scott coaches us to another flag, then he has won as many as Bomber. Also, he would have done it with two different groups.

I think too little is made of Chris Scott's contribution to our 2011 flag. People like BiggyBoy and BlightyCats minimise it, dismiss his achievement, and credit it as Bomber's flag as well, since he brought the players up. That is akin to someone saying that Brendan McCartney should get the credit for the Bulldogs' 2016 flag, not Luke Beveridge, as McCartney recruited the majority of the players who played in that flag. You can only work with what you have, and, as long as you beat a team on Grand Final day with that team, it counts.

Consider this. Chris Scott had to take over a team, after the shock loss of its coach mid-contract, and the loss of its biggest star, Gary Ablett jr. Most of the media pundits gave us no chance of winning the flag in 2011.

Scott took that team to win the first thirteen games of the season, without its main star. Also, we were the only team to beat premiership favourites Collingwood that year, and we beat them THREE TIMES. Also note that we beat Hawthorn three times that year as well.

On Grand Final day, Collingwood got on top of us in the second quarter. Travis Cloke was dominating, and we lost Pods in a marking contest, throwing out our structure. Even me, who thought that we would win all week, and even put money on Geelong to win the flag on Sportsbet, thought that maybe Collingwood would run away with it.

However, after half-time, Chris Scott moved Tom Lonergan onto Travis Cloke, and shut him down completely. He also made the masterstroke of moving Jimmy Bartel to centre-half-forward, to replace Pods. Bartel kicked three telling goals, and won the Norm Smith Medal.

A rookie coach in Scott moved Lonergan onto Cloke, yet a veteran coach like Malthouse left an injured Ben Reid on Tom Hawkins.

Also, take someone like Cameron Ling. End of 2010, he was finished, and I thought that he should have retired after the PF. He played on, and after kicking a late goal in the GF, after a great year, I thought that he could play on in 2012. He, and the other veterans, played better and fresher than they had for a couple of years. Scott also showed faith in Duncan and Christensen. In fact, he used the sub rule cleverly, by having Christensen start as a sub every game, and then, when the other team were spent, he was brought on to use his speed and fresh legs to tear the opposition apart.

He rolled the dice on Steve Johnson Grand Final Day, and it paid off. Johnson earned his medal, and wasn't playing badly due to injury, unlike Ben Reid and Darren Jolly from Collingwood, who had dirty days. Also, Johnson paid off for Scott, unlike Bomber picking Stokes, Varcoe or Chapman for the 2008 GF and dropping Wocjinski. But I bet BiggyBoy didn't bag Bomber for his mistakes in the 2008 GF, yet if Scott made the same ones, he would want him sacked.

Also, Chris Scott, in his first year, outcoached a coach who had done it for 27 years, on Grand Final day.

Not enough credit is given to Scott for that season, or that game. If you think he needs to do things better, I would have more time for your opinion if you didn't minimise and discredit him for the times where he did coach us to success. What is a pass mark for you? Does Scott have to deliver a flag every year, or every two years, or he isn't a good coach?

BTW, I spoke to a Richmond supporter, who questions why Geelong fans want their coach sacked. He asked if we would prefer Damien Hardwick.

 

[Ray Donovan]

I'm not discrediting anything that Bomber did good for Geelong. His two premierships for us and being the second longest-Geelong coach ever mean something.

But the fact is, Bomber is gone. He isn't our coach anymore. Chris Scott is. Scott shouldn't be compared to Bomber, and should be judged on his own merits.

The fact is, if Scott coaches us to another flag, then he has won as many as Bomber. Also, he would have done it with two different groups.

I think too little is made of Chris Scott's contribution to our 2011 flag. People like BiggyBoy and BlightyCats minimise it, dismiss his achievement, and credit it as Bomber's flag as well, since he brought the players up. That is akin to someone saying that Brendan McCartney should get the credit for the Bulldogs' 2016 flag, not Luke Beveridge, as McCartney recruited the majority of the players who played in that flag. You can only work with what you have, and, as long as you beat a team on Grand Final day with that team, it counts.

Consider this. Chris Scott had to take over a team, after the shock loss of its coach mid-contract, and the loss of its biggest star, Gary Ablett jr. Most of the media pundits gave us no chance of winning the flag in 2011.

Scott took that team to win the first thirteen games of the season, without its main star. Also, we were the only team to beat premiership favourites Collingwood that year, and we beat them THREE TIMES. Also note that we beat Hawthorn three times that year as well.

On Grand Final day, Collingwood got on top of us in the second quarter. Travis Cloke was dominating, and we lost Pods in a marking contest, throwing out our structure. Even me, who thought that we would win all week, and even put money on Geelong to win the flag on Sportsbet, thought that maybe Collingwood would run away with it.

However, after half-time, Chris Scott moved Tom Lonergan onto Travis Cloke, and shut him down completely. He also made the masterstroke of moving Jimmy Bartel to centre-half-forward, to replace Pods. Bartel kicked three telling goals, and won the Norm Smith Medal.

A rookie coach in Scott moved Lonergan onto Cloke, yet a veteran coach like Malthouse left an injured Ben Reid on Tom Hawkins.

Also, take someone like Cameron Ling. End of 2010, he was finished, and I thought that he should have retired after the PF. He played on, and after kicking a late goal in the GF, after a great year, I thought that he could play on in 2012. He, and the other veterans, played better and fresher than they had for a couple of years. Scott also showed faith in Duncan and Christensen. In fact, he used the sub rule cleverly, by having Christensen start as a sub every game, and then, when the other team were spent, he was brought on to use his speed and fresh legs to tear the opposition apart.

He rolled the dice on Steve Johnson Grand Final Day, and it paid off. Johnson earned his medal, and wasn't playing badly due to injury, unlike Ben Reid and Darren Jolly from Collingwood, who had dirty days. Also, Johnson paid off for Scott, unlike Bomber picking Stokes, Varcoe or Chapman for the 2008 GF and dropping Wocjinski. But I bet BiggyBoy didn't bag Bomber for his mistakes in the 2008 GF, yet if Scott made the same ones, he would want him sacked.

Also, Chris Scott, in his first year, outcoached a coach who had done it for 27 years, on Grand Final day.

Not enough credit is given to Scott for that season, or that game. If you think he needs to do things better, I would have more time for your opinion if you didn't minimise and discredit him for the times where he did coach us to success. What is a pass mark for you? Does Scott have to deliver a flag every year, or every two years, or he isn't a good coach?

BTW, I spoke to a Richmond supporter, who questions why Geelong fans want their coach sacked. He asked if we would prefer Damien Hardwick.

More time for what opinion ? Your jumping to conclusions I didn't mention anything other than scotts and thompson's situations when they took over were completely different and shouldnt be compared

When did i minimise his results ? I simply said there was little list changes as happens when you change coaches in the off season taking over a top 4 team in premiership contention is an extremely rare situation.

The WB situation Beveridge and McCartney is not similar at all not even close. Yes McCartney did a lot of the recruiting but quit when Griffen left. And Beveridge took over in 2015 they won a flag two years later its nothing like taking over a list in the summer and winning a flag 8 months later. Yes he deserves credit McCartney for helping build the list but that is all same for mark thompson.

He did a fantastic job in 2011 but don't blow it out of the water like a rags to riches scenario took a top 4 side and won a flag. Those are the facts doesn't discredit his effect I'm sure he was a large factor in us winning it.


Chris Scott has received enough credit for success of 2011 he did a good job what more do you want its 5 years ago.

I don't have a pass mark I just look at the side how its playing how its players are developing and consider injuries etc and weigh it up after the season. If you made me say a pass I would say make finals and win one which wouldn't be outrageous.

Just for the record I'm not interested in your conversations with Richmond supporters

 

[Spazz Cat]

Yes you can.

wouldn't you prefer

Scott : 5 GF's 2 flags
or
Scott : 7 GF's 3 flags.

Yes. Yes I would.

 

[Spazz Cat]

We ALL said after 2011 that things could only get worse for CS.
And of course they have.
He was never going to have that team again, or the success rate, yet he has done really well imo, with a diminishing set of resources.

True. He doesn't help himself sometimes though by making strange decisions come finals time, and has been unable to fix some reoccurring problems in the past 4/5 years.
He's had a diminished team but unlike most coaches he's had part of it replenished with some quite good mature players.
If he does pull off a flag though in the next couple of years it will be an awesome effort.

 

[Ray Donovan]

This is my latest thinking on Scott's contract.I keep going back to Moon's statement earlier this year about Scott having 2 year,in effect being offered a one year extension that now looks like if true Scott has told them to stick up their bums,I guess he would be after a 2/3 year extension to take him through to end of 2019 minimum.
I couldn't see the Cats giving Scott more than a one year extension with his finals record since 2011 they would be thinking they have the building blocks of a team capable of going all the way and to commit to Scott long term could come back to bite them on the arse.So it's likely now it will be Chris having to convince the club he's worth the risk with results this year or he may have decided already FU and will move on at the end of the year.

I did read a few clubs had interest in him Richmond was one I believe. I think a 1 year extension including this year is plenty. But long term its not the best situation for him as we will need to start re-tooling and blooding some youngsters if this season isn't a remarkable GF type season.

 

[Ray Donovan]

True. He doesn't help himself sometimes though by making strange decisions come finals time, and has been unable to fix some reoccurring problems in the past 4/5 years.
He's had a diminished team but unlike most coaches he's had part of it replenished with some quite good mature players.
If he does pull off a flag though in the next couple of years it will be an awesome effort.

If he could pull off a flag with the list we have today in the next 2 years he would become a master coach in my eyes. A world beater one slot behind Clarko or bevo. A genius !

 

[Larry Donohue]

Yes you can.

wouldn't you prefer

Scott : 5 GF's 2 flags
or
Scott : 7 GF's 3 flags.

Well he needs truckloads more yeaes if that is your preference

 

[Bobby_]

We ALL said after 2011 that things could only get worse for CS.
And of course they have.
He was never going to have that team again, or the success rate, yet he has done really well imo, with a diminishing set of resources.

What are those diminishing resources?
Mark Thompson never managed to bring in a player the caliber of Dangerfield. This was a bloke who nearly won the Brownlow medal a year earlier.
Brad Ottens came to the club with question marks but most of us presumed he was a dead set gun in need of a new environment but the ACL injury still made it risky business.

Chris Scott has been replacing retired players with guys having 1-2 years of good footy still left in them. He did this when Ottens retired by trying his luck with Orren Stephenson (regarded as the best ruckman in VFL at the time), he tried it with Hamish McIntosh.
We lost Podsiadly and we go out and try our luck with Mitch Clark and then Aaron Black.
We lost Scarlett and he goes out and gets Jared Rivers.
We are about to lose Lonergan and he gets Henderson.
We fail to develop players so we are up shit creek with midfielders and he tries poaching Boak before landing Caddy.
Of course, Caddy fails to develop so he then goes out and gets Scott Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield.

After of all this, the club's fate rested in the kicking accuracy of Issac Smith before handing Scott a rare finals victory.
We then show our true colours in the following final by displaying one of the most embarrassing performances since the 94/95 grand finals.

Has he done well?
I would say no he has not done well. He has done well by getting the most out of the veterans.
If it was not for Johnson, Kelly, Stokes, Lonergan, Chapman, Bartel and Enright's longevity, he would have been in a spot of bother a long time ago.

 

[Larry Donohue]

What are those diminishing resources?
Mark Thompson never managed to bring in a player the caliber of Dangerfield. This was a bloke who nearly won the Brownlow medal a year earlier.
Brad Ottens came to the club with question marks but most of us presumed he was a dead set gun in need of a new environment but the ACL injury still made it risky business.

Chris Scott has been replacing retired players with guys having 1-2 years of good footy still left in them. He did this when Ottens retired by trying his luck with Orren Stephenson (regarded as the best ruckman in VFL at the time), he tried it with Hamish McIntosh.
We lost Podsiadly and we go out and try our luck with Mitch Clark and then Aaron Black.
We lost Scarlett and he goes out and gets Jared Rivers.
We are about to lose Lonergan and he gets Henderson.
We fail to develop players so we are up shit creek with midfielders and he tries poaching Boak before landing Caddy.
Of course, Caddy fails to develop so he then goes out and gets Scott Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield.

After of all this, the club's fate rested in the kicking accuracy of Issac Smith before handing Scott a rare finals victory.
We then show our true colours in the following final by displaying one of the most embarrassing performances since the 94/95 grand finals.

Has he done well?
I would say no he has not done well. He has done well by getting the most out of the veterans.
If it was not for Johnson, Kelly, Stokes, Lonergan, Chapman, Bartel and Enright's longevity, he would have been in a spot of bother a long time ago.

Regarding your last point bobby, most clubs would struggle without their champs. Case in point Lyon without Sandi and Fyfe.

 

[Spazz Cat]

If he could pull off a flag with the list we have today in the next 2 years he would become a master coach in my eyes. A world beater one slot behind Clarko or bevo. A genius !

Yeah he would be this year.
I know it's just hoping, but if we could get D.Smith next year, even Gazza if he's got a decent year left in him, Cocky improves massively, Parfitt has an amazing first year and Duncan becomes elite next year would be a massive chance for the flag.
Still that's a fair few ifs and still hasn't solved the CHF problem.
Any criticisms I've got of Scott are not because we're not winning flags. It's because we're not giving ourselves our best chance in finals.
Like most people who are willing to question him I think.

 

[Vdubs]

What are those diminishing resources?
Mark Thompson never managed to bring in a player the caliber of Dangerfield. This was a bloke who nearly won the Brownlow medal a year earlier.
Brad Ottens came to the club with question marks but most of us presumed he was a dead set gun in need of a new environment but the ACL injury still made it risky business.

Chris Scott has been replacing retired players with guys having 1-2 years of good footy still left in them. He did this when Ottens retired by trying his luck with Orren Stephenson (regarded as the best ruckman in VFL at the time), he tried it with Hamish McIntosh.
We lost Podsiadly and we go out and try our luck with Mitch Clark and then Aaron Black.
We lost Scarlett and he goes out and gets Jared Rivers.
We are about to lose Lonergan and he gets Henderson.
We fail to develop players so we are up shit creek with midfielders and he tries poaching Boak before landing Caddy.
Of course, Caddy fails to develop so he then goes out and gets Scott Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield.

After of all this, the club's fate rested in the kicking accuracy of Issac Smith before handing Scott a rare finals victory.
We then show our true colours in the following final by displaying one of the most embarrassing performances since the 94/95 grand finals.

Has he done well?
I would say no he has not done well. He has done well by getting the most out of the veterans.
If it was not for Johnson, Kelly, Stokes, Lonergan, Chapman, Bartel and Enright's longevity, he would have been in a spot of bother a long time ago.

The champs we had are irreplaceable, and as they aged and dropped off in efficacy, so have we. Inevitable. Good on him for at least trying to rejig the careers of some likes for likes- we were never going to get the cream of any drafts.
It might be about time to accept that we had a once in a lifetime set of players that had great success. What you struggle with is that Hawthorn has been able to do that three times in a lifetime already (my lifetime, anyway)- 71-78, 83-91, 2008-2015, and I know that grates with us Cat fans, but it is the truth.
CS is trying to blend an ageing and departing list with intakes of possible adequate replacements.I am happy with his attempts.
Bomber had a better player than Danger and managed to let his own petulance interfere with decent player management, and so we lost the best mid we will ever have seen at KP. Danger is a fair replacement, but meanwhile Bartel, SJ, Corey, Kelly, Rooke, Ling have all departed and Selwood is left.

 

[GTOA]

What are those diminishing resources?
Mark Thompson never managed to bring in a player the caliber of Dangerfield. This was a bloke who nearly won the Brownlow medal a year earlier.
Brad Ottens came to the club with question marks but most of us presumed he was a dead set gun in need of a new environment but the ACL injury still made it risky business.

Chris Scott has been replacing retired players with guys having 1-2 years of good footy still left in them. He did this when Ottens retired by trying his luck with Orren Stephenson (regarded as the best ruckman in VFL at the time), he tried it with Hamish McIntosh.
We lost Podsiadly and we go out and try our luck with Mitch Clark and then Aaron Black.
We lost Scarlett and he goes out and gets Jared Rivers.
We are about to lose Lonergan and he gets Henderson.
We fail to develop players so we are up shit creek with midfielders and he tries poaching Boak before landing Caddy.
Of course, Caddy fails to develop so he then goes out and gets Scott Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield.

After of all this, the club's fate rested in the kicking accuracy of Issac Smith before handing Scott a rare finals victory.
We then show our true colours in the following final by displaying one of the most embarrassing performances since the 94/95 grand finals.

Has he done well?
I would say no he has not done well. He has done well by getting the most out of the veterans.
If it was not for Johnson, Kelly, Stokes, Lonergan, Chapman, Bartel and Enright's longevity, he would have been in a spot of bother a long time ago.

He only really went out and got players from other clubs for the last couple of years.

He has played plenty of kids as well, but either they have got injured (e.g. Menzel, Vardy, Cowan, McCarthy) or haven't come on (e.g. Horlin-Smith, Bews, Kolojasnij). If you want to blame someone, blame the medical or fitness staff for not being able to put players on the field who don't break down constantly. Or maybe blame the development staff, who haven't been able to develop our youngsters. Not everything is the coach's responsibility.

Caddy was a lazy-ass, who didn't go for the hard ball. As for Dangerfield, are you saying that we shouldn't have tried to get possibly the second best player in the AFL? Would you have preferred that we turned down his request to play for us? Scott Selwood cost us nothing, so it is a good risk to take.

What about picking Zack Smith? He is in his early 20's, so he is young. Is that not a far pick-up?

What would you have Scott do? Retire Lonergan and Mackie early, and play kids instead. We will get smashed in defence. Would you prefer all youngsters, retire all our veterans and bottom out? Or recruit players from other clubs, and develop some youngsters, like we have, and try for a flag.

Having Danger, Henderson, Smith and S.Selwood isn't a failure, because they have been there for ONE year. Just because we didn't win the flag this year, doesn't mean it was a wrong decision (maybe you hope it fails, so that you can blame Chris Scott for it).

Besides, do you know what Danger, Henderson, S. Selwood etc all have in common? They are around 23-29. We have few players in that age bracket, and most of our team were either 29+ or 22 and under. That would mean that we would drop down the ladder for a couple of years if we didn't bring in players of that age. Besides, we will get 5-6 years out of them if they don't get injured. Zac Tuohy also looks like a very good pick-up as well, is durable and gives us some pace off half-back.

Look, we need another key forward, to help out Hawkins, and some speed and pace in our midfield. I think we aren't far off, but we need a bigger workrate from some of our other midfielders, and to fill the holes I mentioned. I would also play Blicavs off the wing, or as a linebreaker, since he has pace. What tagger in the league is both tall enough and quick enough to beat him?

Personally, I would like to see us trade for off-casts from GWS and Gold Coast over the next couple of seasons. Kids who can play, are still young, but have a couple of seasons in them too, and are high-quality.