What does Laidley have to do to keep his job

[drewey10]

We are heading for an almost identical season to last. Some players have improved, some have gone back. Some will retire & some will be delisted.

Laidley has one year to run, people in the media spruke that he has done a great job, a lot of week in week out fans would disagree.

He has made lots of errors this year with his coaching, in my opinion. His setup of the forward line on saturday was one in a many weeks where he has no idea how to set the forward line.

What do you all think?. Is he a certainlt for a second contract?, or should they open the job up for applicants, I think they should.

 

[Ausgard]

We are heading for an almost identical season to last. Some players have improved, some have gone back. Some will retire & some will be delisted.

Laidley has one year to run, people in the media spruke that he has done a great job, a lot of week in week out fans would disagree.

He has made lots of errors this year with his coaching, in my opinion. His setup of the forward line on saturday was one in a many weeks where he has no idea how to set the forward line.

What do you all think?. Is he a certainlt for a second contract?, or should they open the job up for applicants, I think they should.

Finals finish next year and he will get another 2 year contract.

Finish 9 or 10 and they will think about it

11 or lower and he will most likely be Gawn.

Depends a bit on injuries and whether we were stronger at the start of the season or at the finish but this will be pretty accurate

 

[Woodson]

Depends a bit on injuries and whether we were stronger at the start of the season or at the finish but this will be pretty accurate

JYD will find it very hard next season to extract a winning season. I'm already bracing myself for a tumble. This season we had our chances and let 'em slip way too easily. If next season is reflected on whether JYD stays or not, then, it's going to be very traumatic. But I'll still be a member.

 

[edge]

He will get a contract extension for sure. The club can't risk taking a punt on someone untried and probably can't afford a big name.

I think the club has moved forward this year despite the record being the same as last year, we have become far more reliant as the year has gone on the young blokes. In effect guys like Brown, Wells, Harris have joined the core group. And Stevo and King have become more like fringe players filling gaps and spending more time on the bench.

We also have to remember that we can't afford to blood to many young players. If we finish with only 5-6 wins we lose members and therefore income. I think Laidley has got the balance right and we are still in a position to move forward next year.

 

[Gonzo]

The playing list is in transition - we have a lot of champions coming to the end of their careers and a lot of kids just starting and not much in between – to coach a team that is at this stage would have to be one of the toughest tasks in footy. If you honestly thought that we would be genuine contenders this year then you set your expectations way too high and no matter who the coach was you’d want their head!!

It takes at least 5 years to get a team fully redeveloped/rebuilt – Laids is coming to the end of his second and people want him gone - we ain’t Richmond for god sake!!!

Cheers

Gonzo

 

[Shagga#6]

I think Laidley has done a great job so far. We are rebuilding, which requires time and paitence.

I think the kids that has come through and that are deveolping nicely are proof of Laids ability.

Where he is lacking at present is getting the team to focus when we a re playing teams we SHOULD beat (Dogs x 2, Carlton, Adelaide), beucase they are the loses that have punctured the finals dream.

Has my stamp of approval. ANother 3 years please Doc.

 

[Ausgard]

We pretty much did the same thing this year as we did last year except that instead of Grant, Harvey and Simpson doing everything we had them drop off and we saw Harris and Wells starting to be serious contributors.

I think The improvement of the Younger second tier brigade will be greater than the decline in our older players so I don't see how finishing lower than what we are currently placed next year would result in any pats on the back to laidley.

Laidley has this season taken away our reliance on our older guys and given a lot of responsibility to some of the younger guys - and yet we are still pretty much where we were last season - this isn't necessarily a bad thing

 

[Thewlis Dish]

I think it's fair to say while Pagan had a very, very good team to work with, in their primes, the timing of his departure meant Dean's job has been much, much harder than anyone on here could contemplate. The nature of the list at the moment means that in only two seasons, he has had to worry about selecting a new leadership group, probable departures of players who were cornerstones of the Pagan era, and managing younger players well enough to help stop the bleeding when this list turnover is complete.

In short, his player management has been nothing short of first rate, while his coaching has been patchy, but has shown signs of improvement. The fact that he has had so many other issues to deal with as well as his on field coaching, for a first time coach, has obviously had an effect.

Next season will say a lot.

 

[myboywellsy]

laidley has done a remarkable job with what is an average list, can't imagine anyone else doing a better job with the talent on offer.

His development of wells/harris/motlop has been terrific, however on occaisions he has picked the wrong team to play a certain opposition (sydney 1st time, bulldogs 1st time, and stkilda are obvious examples)

We should be in the 8 and had it not been for terrible goal kicking (not for the 1st time in our history) we'd be doing extremely well for a list in transition.

must give blokes more than 1-2 games to impress and should get given the flick if he ever and i repeat ever choses shane clayton again.

contract extension until end of 2007, if stagnating, then he must go and the big horse will be contention after a few more years under roos.

go kangas.

 

[Shinboners]

I reckon that the hardest coaching gig in the world is following up another coach who has taken a club through a golden era. I don't think many clubs have handled that change well - look at the decline of Melbourne after Norm Smith, Hawthorn after Allan Jeans, Richmond after Hafey (sure, they snaffled a post-Hafey flag, but they never regained their stability as a club) Adelaide after Malcolm Blight, and I pity the guy who has to take on the Brisbane reigns after Matthews finishes up. I reckon that the only club that has managed it was Hawthorn when they went from Kennedy to Parkin to Jeans.

The other problem for Laidley is that there isn't really much difference between the clubs that will finish between 4th and last (especially since the Dogs and Tigers now have half decent coaches), with Hawthorn the only club that looks like being a rabble next year. Every club has a good bunch of youngsters they can pin their hopes on and I reckon that every club (bar Hawthorn) now has a coach with some idea of what they're doing. So with that in mind, we could just as easily finish 5th as 15th - a few injuries here, or some players stepping up or going backwards could have a massive effect on what will happen in 2005.

I reckon that we still have to take a long term view as Geelong has done with Thompson. Laidley has really only gone as far as laying down the foundations of rebuilding the North list. As long as we can see the youngsters getting developed, I'd be happy if he's given a 2 year extension halfway through next season. If anything, we have to commit to him no later than mid-2005. Any questions over his tenure and we run the risk of having a lame duck coach who won't be able to push the youngsters into improving themselves as players - and we will lose that half season of development as they wait around for the next coach to arrive.

Laidley has not been perfect this season - he has made decisions that have left me bemused. But I reckon he's made more correct calls than bad ones. And the other thing, as others have pointed out, is that the keys to our wins have switched from the older brigade (last year and early this year) to the younger brigade (end of season). Surely that indicates that he is managing the changing of the guard as well as anyone could expect.

 

[Moti]

As I have said previously, I don't think he has necessarily made huge mistakes but perhaps could have made some better one. My main concerns were prior to the Bombers game when he failed to change the midfield and forward structures. After that he did much better, but he hamstrung himself because during our low period, both Chad Jones and Hale should have been used forward while Drew should have had a run or 2 in the PM side. Might not have changed out fortunes a lot, but a more confident Hale, a rejuvinated Petrie and an actual quick leading forward may have been a good outcome for the 2nd half of the season.

But yet again it might not have workd but I would have preferred to have an answer than not, and that is where my criticism of Dean lies. I think it is so important for him to clear out the older players just to change his options and hopefully he can think a little more laterally. Our next great defender could be playing full forward as we speak.

 

[Flaymin' Maurie]

As I have said previously, I don't think he has necessarily made huge mistakes but perhaps could have made some better one. My main concerns were prior to the Bombers game when he failed to change the midfield and forward structures. After that he did much better, but he hamstrung himself because during our low period, both Chad Jones and Hale should have been used forward while Drew should have had a run or 2 in the PM side. Might not have changed out fortunes a lot, but a more confident Hale, a rejuvinated Petrie and an actual quick leading forward may have been a good outcome for the 2nd half of the season.

But yet again it might not have workd but I would have preferred to have an answer than not, and that is where my criticism of Dean lies. I think it is so important for him to clear out the older players just to change his options and hopefully he can think a little more laterally. Our next great defender could be playing full forward as we speak.

Would somebody please open a window and let all of the 'wrong' out of the room????

 

[utility]

Dupe.

 

[utility]

I think he is doing a great job of list management, though there have been some highly questionable decisions, particularly with team selection, but I don't think these would be a threat to his position. He is still learning and I believe he has what it takes... though there are times where I am pulling my hair out, like not letting Leroy settle into one position (and not the ruck!). What has hurt us is dismal games this year... Bulldogs x2, Collingwood, Adelaide, Carlton (x2). How much of that you can put down to Laids I don't know.

I think he will be a dead cert for a contract extension unless the wheels fall off and we turn into a rabble like Richmond, Hawthorn etc. Many were quick to tear apart Bomber Thompson but his work is now bearing fruit.

 

[hundini]

Ignore this type of hypothetical stuff!

 

[greg]

I reckon that the hardest coaching gig in the world is following up another coach who has taken a club through a golden era. I don't think many clubs have handled that change well - look at the decline of Melbourne after Norm Smith, Hawthorn after Allan Jeans, Richmond after Hafey (sure, they snaffled a post-Hafey flag, but they never regained their stability as a club) Adelaide after Malcolm Blight, and I pity the guy who has to take on the Brisbane reigns after Matthews finishes up. I reckon that the only club that has managed it was Hawthorn when they went from Kennedy to Parkin to Jeans.

The other problem for Laidley is that there isn't really much difference between the clubs that will finish between 4th and last (especially since the Dogs and Tigers now have half decent coaches), with Hawthorn the only club that looks like being a rabble next year. Every club has a good bunch of youngsters they can pin their hopes on and I reckon that every club (bar Hawthorn) now has a coach with some idea of what they're doing. So with that in mind, we could just as easily finish 5th as 15th - a few injuries here, or some players stepping up or going backwards could have a massive effect on what will happen in 2005.

I reckon that we still have to take a long term view as Geelong has done with Thompson. Laidley has really only gone as far as laying down the foundations of rebuilding the North list. As long as we can see the youngsters getting developed, I'd be happy if he's given a 2 year extension halfway through next season. If anything, we have to commit to him no later than mid-2005. Any questions over his tenure and we run the risk of having a lame duck coach who won't be able to push the youngsters into improving themselves as players - and we will lose that half season of development as they wait around for the next coach to arrive.

Laidley has not been perfect this season - he has made decisions that have left me bemused. But I reckon he's made more correct calls than bad ones. And the other thing, as others have pointed out, is that the keys to our wins have switched from the older brigade (last year and early this year) to the younger brigade (end of season). Surely that indicates that he is managing the changing of the guard as well as anyone could expect.

I just hope that Laids has learnt his lesson form last years trading period where he was prepared to give up the likes of Trotter and Chad Jones for Jade Rawlings.

Eventhough Jade would have been a handy (and only handy) inclusion for now, he'll be 30 by the time we have team pushing for the Flag.

I don't want us to try and trade away our draft picks again.

 

[gokangas]

Laids has to have another year but the Kangas must play finals 2005 (horrendous run of injuries excepted).
I have a feeling we would trade picks one and two for an Ottens or similar as our bunch of kids (don't forget we have Smith) is promising. just a feeling but I reckon it will happen.
Lets face it - we need a tall forward or we will struggle to improve - don't think there is any argument there, so spend the draft picks if needs be and get one.
I know the chat around not getting Jade has swung but he probably would have been the difference to playing finals this year. the value of Trotter and Jones in years to come may make us glad it fell through but today he would have made a difference.

 

[greg]

Laids has to have another year but the Kangas must play finals 2005 (horrendous run of injuries excepted).
I have a feeling we would trade picks one and two for an Ottens or similar as our bunch of kids (don't forget we have Smith) is promising. just a feeling but I reckon it will happen.
Lets face it - we need a tall forward or we will struggle to improve - don't think there is any argument there, so spend the draft picks if needs be and get one.
I know the chat around not getting Jade has swung but he probably would have been the difference to playing finals this year. the value of Trotter and Jones in years to come may make us glad it fell through but today he would have made a difference.

I would rather see us pick up one or two of Roughead, Meeson, Willits, Deluca, Tournier or Dunn from the TAC if available, they might not play next year but we'll be better for it.