Donstuie wrote:
This is something that comes up each year, but I think it warrants a single point of discussion.
So what can the Carlton Football Club learn from the Western Bulldogs (or previous Grand Final winners, for that matter)?
To me, what it shows is (and what steps we've taken):
- The importance of the draft. Not just your first round picks, but your 2nds, 3rds and rookies. Use it to build one key area of the ground (in their case, the midfield) and build around that.
Last year was a good start, trading to move our position further up the list. Actually having a list manager who can see the long-term strategy (and not the panicky, ad hoc approach of yesteryear)
- Player development: Plenty of the Dogs' players were late picks, rookies or cast-offs. We have been atrocious in this area for so long, so much so that looking back on what has become of players of our last few drafts is a horror movie for the ages.
A work in progress, but Bolton's presence is a start.
- Make that big trade (ie Boyd) ONLY when you're at the point that only 1-2 gaps remain.
We've held off on this (for now)
- Don't be afraid to move on "favourite sons" (Griffen, Ward, Higgins) if the rewards are there for your future.
Moving Menzel on was a brave move, but looks to be coming off. We've given up players previously (Jacobs, Waite, Betts, Laidler, Garlett, Robinson) but for next to no return because we let the situations become untenable.
- Make yourself a destination club that people want to play for and can believe in, not somewhere they will get another 3-year overpriced deal for runs not yet on the board.
Again, Bolton is critical here. And Levi's 1-deal for $300k would've previously been 3-5 for $500k under previous regimes.
- Focus on players that can actually use the ball.
Yet to really start.
- Recruit a coach that is not only astute on game day, but has the total faith and trust of the players.
Bolton's done everything right so far, and the rest of our panel appear solid.
Based on this, we're at least moving in this direction. But obviously a LOOOONG way to go.
I liked some of the things in this article.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/w ... rt65j.html"There were one or two blokes over the age of 30 that the red line had been through either at the end of this year or next year because Brendan believed in a seven-year plan [that] was going to get us into the finals some time in late 2019 or something," Gordon said.
"'Bevo' said to [list manager] Jason [McCartney], 'I just don't believe in this sort of stuff and I need you to know that there are a few guys on that list that I actually think can make pretty important contributions to us in the next couple of years'.
"It was born of Bevo's belief in two things really – one is that Hawthorn got a lot of success out of actually encouraging blokes like [Luke] Hodge and [Shaun] Burgoyne and [Sam] Mitchell to keep playing because of the ability they've got, and secondly because the younger players learn more and walk a bit taller because those guys were in the side."
You don't always need long term plans. You have a good nucleus of experience, use the draft well, both National and Rookie, have a great coach, who has the faith and trust of his players and develops well and things can change very quickly. More importantly you need a club with a great on-field culture that have players that would "die" for each other, the coach and the club every week, not pick and choose as we do. You go no-where without that. Not a hope of a flag no matter how good you are.
Dogs had alot of players from the rookie draft yesterday as well as very good player from lower in the regular draft. Just shows what a great coach, great on-field culture and great development can do.You must have all of these ingredients. The Dogs just won a flag without what you'd term a great side on ability but with each one of those ingredients they were a great team and won a premiership.
Remember, we finished above the Bulldogs in 2014.
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