I'm confident that Johnson and Geary both have experiences and skills that will benefit our players. I'm just not confident they have the experience and skill to help create the step change we need to make and win finals next year.
This team got smashed in a grand final. Embarrassed in an elimination final. And couldn't get a win against bottom of the ladder teams to make finals this year. It's on a declining trajectory. And when you look at the teams going past us, our aging midfield that probably peaked two years ago, and a tiring head coach, we could well be headed for the bottom six.
So what I would like to have seen in the development coaches, or at least one of them, is demonstrated and regular success in the last two weeks of September. Players who've played in tough games and led their teams to victory. I'm not sure Johnson counts here (there's a big difference between leading a team on the field and patting guys on the back).
These are some names of recently retired players who I think meet that criteria. Josh Kennedy (Syd). Phil Davis. Tent Cotchin. Joel Sellwood. Ben McEvoy. Shannon Hurn. David Mundy. Shaun Burgoyne. These are the types of leaders and achievers who would give our list an advantage over others and in my view help create the step change we need to bounce back in 2024 and win big finals.
