Is GWS's premiership window about to close?

[tombomb]

Eventually they will get a coach who gives actual roles to their players that suit the team.

With the exception of Haynes and Greene and couple of others, they all just run around like it is the under 10s.

 

[Damon_3388]

A fit Kreuzer would be amazing for us. Don't think it would happen.

From a structural and age profile perspective, Rory Lobb could have been the biggest loss of any player to leave the Giants.

 

[Roobs321]

When a team is in contention for 5 years and has little to show for it, especially a new franchise, questions will come.

2016 - bullet rise, were a little scary, seemed to have the wood on the Swans (or the least fear), played their 2nd biggest rival in the prelim and narrowly lost
2017 - looked like a possible Grand Finalist until mid season malaise. Still made the prelim but were out of form, and became lower-scoring, were no chance against the Tigers or Crows come the pointy end
2018 - started to become the clutch 5th-8th side we see today as the list started to come into its prime and a few inaugurals had moved on, showed an ability to win away against the best, but by now the dynastic fears of opposition fans were receding
2019 - same as 2018 but turned up for the finals series and then had a stinker on GF day
2020 - seemingly another 5th-8th year, which is fatal for a side that turned in at least one poor finals performance in each of 2017-19

Obviously were peppered with injuries a lot during that time, but there were also some insipid out-of-character performances from time to time which most other contenders would find disreputable.

North Queensland Cowboys had a similar finals assault in the 2000s without winning their first flag. After a Freo-esque very inept first decade, they first made finals in their 10th season and ran to the prelim, 2005 was that famously unexpected Wests-Cowboys GF from the bottom half of the 8, and they remained a quality side in 2006-07. 2008-10 they fell away (the 3rd QLD team the Titans also entered in 2007), but then rebounded with a really strong 2011-17 which included 2 more GFs, including their 1st flag.

If this era proves to be flagless for the Giants, it will be interesting to see how they rebound. Critics will say they failed to hit targets despite ample assistance, but like any new club which has an initial taste of success, it will be interesting to see if the club culture has ongoing substance to it and can resurge with a largely new 22. The Giants obviously have an AFLW as well as Netball franchise and have had some grassroots appeal in their market (not to mentioning the ongoing concessional influence), so there is the base there for future launches at a flag.

 

[Damon_3388]

You need to get some see you next tuesday into your team.

They've arguably gone too far with the "unsociable" stuff already.

The Giants have been one of the leading teams in the league for freedom against in the last couple of years.

 

[Roobs321]

The Giants have had an 'unsociable' onfield character since the very beginning. Sheedy clearly brought that Bombers quality into the young Giants from day 1, it was what made them likeable and effectively implemented to many neutrals compared to the Suns.

 

[lordo2000]

I think they're overrated every year and they're just not that good which puts unrealistic pressure on them.
Yes they had an amazing list in 2015-16 but they don't anymore.

 

[JayJ20]

GWS are a team full of champions.
Richmond are a champion team.

That's the difference.

 

[JohnZ]

If they miss finals or bow out early (week 1, maybe 2) then I'd expect those FA types linked elsewhere (Cameron, Z. Williams) to end up at Geelong. Help the cats go back to back, 30mins from the best beaches in Australia, cheap housing (uncle frank might throw one in for free!)

 

[dean33]

Like the Crows before them it seems the Tigers have broken another team.

 

[Priddis Is Done]

GWS are a team full of champions.
Richmond are a champion team.

That's the difference.

It's why they need a different coach

 

[Tasmanian saint]

Duds. Maybe they've been scarred Port style from the GF loss, but really, they have all these talented players, but produce insipidness like this. They have had injuries of course, perhaps more than their fair share to some of their big names over the years, and they've mown through #1 picks like Patton and Boyd in their earlier incarnations.

But tonight's dross against a rebuilding Sydney is pretty poor.

This may sound stupid but do they have to much talent and to many stars ? to gel as a team it seems like they could really do with 2-3 really good role players that are not stars but just consistently turn up each game and do there job the 1% type things

 

[Atomboy]

This may sound stupid but do they have to much talent and to many stars ? to gel as a team it seems like they could really do with 2-3 really good role players that are not stars but just consistently turn up each game and do there job the 1% type things

Their barometer seems to be Matt deBoer who is no frills but just cracks in and gets on with the job. If they had 2-3 more of him they might be on a more sound footing.

 

[Ok Boomer]

Compare their 2016 side to the 2020 side and they are just so soft now, both with effort and mindset. GWS in 2016 were a tough and skillful side.

Players like Finlayson (and he isn't the only one), who just mope around the ground with half hearted effort after half hearted effort unless they get the ball on a platter just demonstrate this point. Where is the selection pressure on these guys who have served up this trash all year? In hindsight the snow game against Hawthorn last year was a window into the future. They were soft and didn't want to be there.

 

[Ok Boomer]

GWS are a team full of champions.
Richmond are a champion team.

That's the difference.

How many truly elite or potentially elite players do they have now? I don't think there are that many any more. They have potentially the most damaging player in the comp, but he is often injured.

 

[Holden Hillbilly]

Too many forward runners and passengers and not enough get yer own ball types.

 

[Pessimistic]

Can GWS be successful unless they rebuild now.

 

[Dangerousfield]

Get on the phone to Clarko, another threepeat possible with this list.

 

[Greenac]

Like the Crows before them it seems the Tigers have broken another team.

And yet in both cases it was self-inflicted. But hey, keep grabbing each other's genitalia if it makes you feel good.

 

[Pessimistic]

Actually my "seven years after rebuild" theory means 2021 is their earliest year, and there's often a blip on the way. Do they change coach or stick it out for a Thompson/Hardwick type turnaround?

 

[Anja_Nees]

More than a few people thought they might battle a bit this year after the grand final drubbing and it’s happened, so I don’t get the surprise.

They have a fair bit of talent on the list but Ward, Davis, Shaw, Mumford and some others are past their prime. Obviously they’ll get a few more years from Davis and Ward but not at peak performance.

They still have a lot of players around their peak years but some just aren’t delivering. Would honestly trade a few out for top value. Don’t need a rebuild but a rejuvenation is in order. Some just seem stale.

Don’t think any of Finlayson, Himmelberg or Cameron are playing that well and probably don’t work that well together. Might be they let Cameron out because in terms of cap room and compensation they should do well.

 

[dean33]

And yet in both cases it was self-inflicted. But hey, keep grabbing each other's genitalia if it makes you feel good.

Ahhh Adelaide, the new Carlton.

 

[Greenac]

Ahhh Adelaide, the new Carlton.

Wont be down for 20 years champ.

 

[Pessimistic]

Wont be down for 20 years champ.

cos 95-97-98 is such a big difference

 

[Greenac]

cos 95-97-98 is such a big difference

Sure, but we won't still be rebuilding in 2038 as Carlton has spent most of the new millennium doing.

 

[dean33]

Wont be down for 20 years champ.

Famous last words...