Thunderbird
Team Captain
Re: Ladies and Gents, I Introduce to you the AFL's Most Underrated Coach of All Time!
It's one thing to have star players, but it's another to have star players with finals experience. This contributed to the Swans' premiership this year - of the top 8 sides this year the Swans had more collective finals experience than all the other top 8 sides except Port. Don't underestimate the role that experience in finals plays in success.
If the Saints do win a premiership in the next three years, people will view the Saints' losses in the preliminary finals in 2004 and 2005 in their proper context. Those losses would be a part of the journey to a premiership, and not a destination in themselves.
Most clubs that have won premierships in the last 10 years did so after previous unsuccessful finals campaigns. Adelaide in 1997 and 1998 are the sole exception. For each premiership, I list the results of finals campaigns for the previous four seasons for that club.
Sydney 2005: lost semi in 2004, lost prelim in 2003, lost elimination final in 2001.
Port 2004: Lost prelim in 2003, lost prelim in 2002, lost semi in 2001.
Brisbane 2001-2003: Lost semi in 2000, lost prelim in 1999, lost elimination final in 1997.
Essendon 2000: Lost prelim in 1999, lost elimination final in 1998, lost prelim in 1996.
Kangaroos 1996 and 1999: Lost Grand Final in 1998, lost prelim in 1997, lost prelim in 1995, lost prelim in 1994, lost elimination final in 1993.
For comparison, here are the Saints finals results over the last four seasons:
St Kilda: Lost prelim in 2005, lost prelim in 2004.
So the Saints are no worse off than the majority of sides that won premierships in the last ten years.
I'm worried about GT though. Gehrig on Hall in the PF was not a brilliant coaching move. Hall was smart enough to expose Gehrig's weakness by running around and around and around until Gehrig tired. If GT can eliminate such brain explosions from his coaching decisions, then the Saints will be dangerous in 2006 and 2007.
I think this is a fair assessment.douggie the don said:saints have a good list but i can't see how they are expected to have a flag by now.....
a majority of their gun players are 23 and under...
look at port and brisbane, they had success now their lists are looking old..
i think the saints have primarily under-achieved due to the pre-mature pressure that was put on them for success.
i don't really think that you can put Thomas on either side of the coin yet.
the next two years will be a better indication..
to say that they should have 1 or 2 flags by now is crazy
It's one thing to have star players, but it's another to have star players with finals experience. This contributed to the Swans' premiership this year - of the top 8 sides this year the Swans had more collective finals experience than all the other top 8 sides except Port. Don't underestimate the role that experience in finals plays in success.
If the Saints do win a premiership in the next three years, people will view the Saints' losses in the preliminary finals in 2004 and 2005 in their proper context. Those losses would be a part of the journey to a premiership, and not a destination in themselves.
Most clubs that have won premierships in the last 10 years did so after previous unsuccessful finals campaigns. Adelaide in 1997 and 1998 are the sole exception. For each premiership, I list the results of finals campaigns for the previous four seasons for that club.
Sydney 2005: lost semi in 2004, lost prelim in 2003, lost elimination final in 2001.
Port 2004: Lost prelim in 2003, lost prelim in 2002, lost semi in 2001.
Brisbane 2001-2003: Lost semi in 2000, lost prelim in 1999, lost elimination final in 1997.
Essendon 2000: Lost prelim in 1999, lost elimination final in 1998, lost prelim in 1996.
Kangaroos 1996 and 1999: Lost Grand Final in 1998, lost prelim in 1997, lost prelim in 1995, lost prelim in 1994, lost elimination final in 1993.
For comparison, here are the Saints finals results over the last four seasons:
St Kilda: Lost prelim in 2005, lost prelim in 2004.
So the Saints are no worse off than the majority of sides that won premierships in the last ten years.
I'm worried about GT though. Gehrig on Hall in the PF was not a brilliant coaching move. Hall was smart enough to expose Gehrig's weakness by running around and around and around until Gehrig tired. If GT can eliminate such brain explosions from his coaching decisions, then the Saints will be dangerous in 2006 and 2007.