Opinion Men's 2023 Leadership Group - Merrett/McGrath captain/vice

[MPMonkeys]

Milestone misery: Heppell joins long list of unlucky Bombers

Dyson Heppell is the latest Bomber to taste defeat in his milestone game

t.co

7 of 30...

Average losing margin 38.9 points.
That is an indictment.

 

[thebigboy]

Now whilst we are all quick to pile on about our lack of on field leaders, a title shouldn't define a persons ability to 'lead'. Doing the right thing and holding others accountable is a real leader. Getting a player to buy in is just one part hence why Nick Maxwell, who, as a limited player was held highly as a leader. Speak to him and it's clear to see what he wants and how he goes about it.

I want to see guys like Parish, Merrett, Ridley now who seems to creep into the freewheeling are not held to account by the powers above. That is on Rutten, and if Rutten is not held to account by Mahoney who is held to account by XC who is held to account by Brasher then what are we doing as a football club?


Redman yelling at Shiel is exactly what I want to see. Redman is not in our leadership group and not one of highly paid players but had little reason not to hold someone to account. Bloody brilliant. More of it is needed.

Now off field, Dodoro has not picked up a champion player in years yet he's got a free pass for years. This is well documented yet he remains whilst roles and people around Dodo have changed for decades (two to be exact). He's been untouchable. Someone mentioned XC has been on the board for 11 years in an upper echelon position in that time, why? Having the same board for years on end is unhealthy, especially trying to break the shackles of the myriad of shines we've served for years.

Brasher has said all the right thins, releasing tough guy videos ad nauseam now but right now we need a leader. If he was serious about change then now is the time to see it. Do what is right not what the club (he) wants. IF that means being told we are shit by an external power broker, so be it. IF that forces change we don't want to accept, but need. Do it.

It has been a boys club for years, and this will continue if we don't change it, or at least have it looked at.


Pull me up, correct me where needed but these are my views and frankly, it is systemic from the top down.

100% spot on. What is even more hard to fathom is how poor we've been for this long and there's never been (to my memory at least) a rival ticket challenge for the board. Perhaps our constitution makes it too difficult or whatever, but you'd think that there's enough frustration from fans & ex-players that you'd at least get some talk about it.

I don't see many other ways you'd get fundamental changes from within the club without it.

 

[Yoda_]

I think you're missing the point.

Sometimes physically sticking up for each other (and for yourself) creates the unity and team-first feeling that is the foundation for everyone busting a gut to run both ways.

People didn’t like the ‘unsociable hawks’ or the line Richmond have toed for 5 years etc. but they all play on the edge and occasionally over it.

Since the saga we have almost gone out of our way to be the nice guys in the AFL.


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[ant555]

Milestone misery: Heppell joins long list of unlucky Bombers

Dyson Heppell is the latest Bomber to taste defeat in his milestone game

t.co

7 of 30...

This situation actually says more than you would think about the nature of our list and how little our players go in to bat for each other. You will never always win milestone games but how much do our guys really care ?

 

[ant555]

People didn’t like the ‘unsociable hawks’ or the line Richmond have toed for 5 years etc. but they all play on the edge and occasionally over it.

Since the saga we have almost gone out of our way to be the nice guys in the AFL.


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I agree. It is like the AFL has told us to stay in our room. You have embarrassed us enough . On top of that within we seem to have been walking on egg shells as far as the players go as well. I still think there is a recruiting issue here as well. Lets face it we have not really gone out of our way to recruit what I call vanilla role players other than the odd guy in a rookie draft. Dare I say it , no Luke Parker types all that often.

 

[TheWeapon]

I would go with Laverde as a kinda process of elimination. We lack onfield leadership and someone that can be strong at the contest. It is actually quite hard to find someone that consistently does this in our current team

Stringer would be my pick if he was consistently playing as he can play hard, contested footy and lead by example onfield in that regards. His aggression around the contest made a huge difference last year

Not wanting to put too much pressure on Hobbs, but his attack on the footy is already a stand out in this group. His time will come. Perkins is another that is showing leadership traits

Merrett, McGrath, Langford are “nice” players that I wouldnt trust to win a fight in a dark alley, but can give feelgood press conferences like Heppell. I really hope that they stay away from captaincy based on current output

 

[NAB777]

That’s what he meant, he meant be physical. That may be him speaking as a player of that era, but I’d far prefer we skip the faux tough stuff and show leadership and courage by gut running both ways until you’re about to spew.

Where's the photo of the little Mexican girl at the dinner table..?

"Why don't we have both"?

It's not an either/or situation. It's not faux tough stuff if you stand up for your mates & take a stand. You can also bust your ass with gut running.
At the moment, we are doing neither.

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

Leadership. Yeah. List management.

 

[Yoda_]

Leadership. Yeah. List management.

List management is a by product of the lack of leadership. The bloke shoulda been moved on years ago but no one had the balls to do what is best for the club.

 

[Nifft]

There was a thread a while back that asked who would win out of today's team and the 2000 premiership team. A lot of people said that training and tactics had evolved to a point that today's team would easily win.

I think the 2000 side would easily win. I think the game would be won before the teams even ran out on the ground. Sheedy would be talking it up, there would be marshmellows being thrown and scarves twirled, and our current side would be afraid before the game started. Even if they played by today's rules, after a couple of crunching tackles in the first 5 minutes it'd all be over.

 

[faible]

There was a thread a while back that asked who would win out of today's team and the 2000 premiership team. A lot of people said that training and tactics had evolved to a point that today's team would easily win.

I think the 2000 side would easily win. I think the game would be won before the teams even ran out on the ground. Sheedy would be talking it up, there would be marshmellows being thrown and scarves twirled, and our current side would be afraid before the game started. Even if they played by today's rules, after a couple of crunching tackles in the first 5 minutes it'd all be over.

Most of that 2000 side are in their mid 40s or early 50s now though. They'd struggle to run out the first quarter I'd think.

 

[thebigboy]

Most of that 2000 side are in their mid 40s or early 50s now though. They'd struggle to run out the first quarter I'd think.

Agree. Probably only win by 5 goals lol


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[Mr Mojo Risin]

This is always interesting, because we don't see most of what 'leadership' is, we just see the results for good or ill. And as concept leadership can mean many things to many people

Using Heppell as the logical example, who was apparently elected by his peers as captain unanimously; his he a good leader because he has the respect of his peers, they listen to him and they value his judgment and experience? Did they pick him because he's a pushover and lets them get away with things?
We heard last night that he was the only one giving instructions on the field. Is that good leadership, or bad because no-one listened/responded?
If he sets the example and no-one follows is that a failure of leadership, or a failure of the group to be able to respond?

What we want is a highly-skilled, hardarse who sets the tone from the first bounce and can will his team to victory off his own boot, but they are very rare individuals.

Is there a singular leader who could make this group respond in a positive manner, or is it a case that organizational culture needs to be fixed first, which will naturally allow leadership to come out of the group in a way that works for them?
That may mean bringing in some mature players with a different outlook to help change the standards

Reading this made me realise we miss Hooker quite a lot.

 

[Mr Mojo Risin]

Zach Merrett- Captain
Andrew McGrath- Vice Captain
Will Snelling- Leadership group
Kyle Langford- Leadership group
Mason Redman- Leadership group
Jayden Laverde- Leadership group

Following this format, I'd go:
Mason Redman - Captain
Andrew McGrath - Vice Captain
Will Snelling - Leadership Group
Jayden Laverde - Leadership Group
Kyle Langford - Leadership Group
Dyson Heppell - Leadership Group

 

[Yoda_]

Since that dogged loss to the Blues in round 13, Zac Merret who had 6+ tackles once prior has averaged 6.4 since then in our last 5. A big statement from one of our leaders.

Shiel has gone from a 4 tackles a game to 5 in that same time frame.

Two of our best players have really stood up. I for one was questioning where our leaders were and these numbers alone should give us confidence that they are prepared to do the dirty work for the betterment of the team.


Caldwell (tagging) is the next one to add to the list of guys sacrificing for the team. Keep developing the young guys and the fruits may very well be seen sooner rather than later

 

[citizen-erased]

Since that dogged loss to the Blues in round 13, Zac Merret who had 6+ tackles once prior has averaged 6.4 since then in our last 5. A big statement from one of our leaders.

Shiel has gone from a 4 tackles a game to 5 in that same time frame.

Two of our best players have really stood up. I for one was questioning where our leaders were and these numbers alone should give us confidence that they are prepared to do the dirty work for the betterment of the team.


Caldwell (tagging) is the next one to add to the list of guys sacrificing for the team. Keep developing the young guys and the fruits may very well be seen sooner rather than later

think we're seeing a leadership group pop up

Zach as the competitor
Shiel the standard setter
Hobbs the tough nut
Andy doing what he does.

 

[bomberlegend2007]

Since that dogged loss to the Blues in round 13, Zac Merret who had 6+ tackles once prior has averaged 6.4 since then in our last 5. A big statement from one of our leaders.

Shiel has gone from a 4 tackles a game to 5 in that same time frame.

Two of our best players have really stood up. I for one was questioning where our leaders were and these numbers alone should give us confidence that they are prepared to do the dirty work for the betterment of the team.


Caldwell (tagging) is the next one to add to the list of guys sacrificing for the team. Keep developing the young guys and the fruits may very well be seen sooner rather than later

Merrett is going to be our Cotchin.

 

[Yoda_]

Merrett is going to be our Cotchin.

The similarities are there for all to see. Just need the three flags to boot

 

[Yoda_]

think we're seeing a leadership group pop up

Zach as the competitor
Shiel the standard setter
Hobbs the tough nut
Andy doing what he does.

Ive always thought it was never about the top group(s) of any category. It is always about the next group down, be it role players, be it tackles numbers. Leaders is no different.

We always knew McGrath was a leader, Merrett was a leader, Shiel. That next group is starting to emerge. Langford is back and doing well, Laverde has stepped up two - fold into a rock in defence, Redman has become a force and no doubt someone the players look up to now. Allows our role players to do just that, play roles with direction from everyone else in the best 22 to support them.

 

[Albertross]

Merrett is going to be our Cotchin.

So Merrett is going to take Shiel out in a final??? This ****ing club!!!

 

[ant555]

Since that dogged loss to the Blues in round 13, Zac Merret who had 6+ tackles once prior has averaged 6.4 since then in our last 5. A big statement from one of our leaders.

Shiel has gone from a 4 tackles a game to 5 in that same time frame.

Two of our best players have really stood up. I for one was questioning where our leaders were and these numbers alone should give us confidence that they are prepared to do the dirty work for the betterment of the team.


Caldwell (tagging) is the next one to add to the list of guys sacrificing for the team. Keep developing the young guys and the fruits may very well be seen sooner rather than later

Do not under estimate the likes of Hobbs and Durham coming into the side and gradually out working the leaders. The embarrassment factor plays a part when everyone is talking about what they are doing.

 

[Yoda_]

Back to old habits on the weekend, very few stood up when it needed

 

[JT_the_Man]

We will desperately need someone to stand up this preseason. Regardless of whether Heppell stays or goes, we will be needing a new captain and some leaders in general.

 

[thebigboy]

What are the chances we try to lure someone to fill a similar Hodge to Brisbane role? Would be a tough sell for the player based on last week, but from a list/leadership perspective, getting 1-2 well respected senior players who can still contribute to me is a must to help fill the void and develop the younger guys

 

[Bjchan13]

What are the chances we try to lure someone to fill a similar Hodge to Brisbane role? Would be a tough sell for the player based on last week, but from a list/leadership perspective, getting 1-2 well respected senior players who can still contribute to me is a must to help fill the void and develop the younger guys

We could try but i don't think we'd have any luck. Hodge went to help out Fagan. Can't think of any players that fit the description right now that would come to Essendon.