For those of you, who are frustrated by recent events or even bewildered by the leanest era in our proud history, despair not much longer. We all knew that when King Richard came on board that the off field issues would be resolved very quickly. There is no doubt that the appointments of key personnel that he has snared, has seen a huge turnaround in attitude>effort>results to the extent that we now may be set up for the next millennium.
All very well, I hear some of you crying, why doesn’t he fix some of the Moral Issues (TBird and JR not feeling wanted), Player Behavior (Scotto, Whittas, Fev etc), Leadership (Captaincy, Cast of thousands group), Selection Policy (Harder to get out of the team than in it), List Management (Trading /Contracts), The Great Coaching Standoff (Pago Pago and Mitch) and last but not least
The Full Coaching Panel (Game Plan etc)?
My investigations have revealed that plenty is happening behind the scenes that will set us up as a power for the next decade at least. Naturally the off field stuff had to happen first, but you will be surprised to know just how clever Dick actually is. He not only has learned to get the best candidate for a particular role, but knows what to delegate to them. Keep in mind he loves to dabble himself if for no other reason other than to have some self satisfaction that he still can pull off some difficult deals. He has also developed in recent years due to ill health more than anything, a teamwork concept of delegating time consuming tasks to his lieutenants, seeming to be a figurehead only whilst still being firmly in charge. Dick is renowned as a great listener who takes advice and acts when he has got the facts, but like all great Generals, timing is vital.
So what exactly has Dick and his band of merry men been working on? The answer is pretty simple!
Everything in Paragraph 2, and I can reveal that they are very advanced on all fronts.
Moral Issues: A clinically trained Welfare Officer will soon be appointed to interact between the club and the players with the emphasis on psycho analysis. Whilst this is intended more for the young recruits to get inside their heads to prepare them for their careers, there is plenty of work to do with some of our list, however some of the loonies won’t be at PP next year anyway.
Player Behavior: With the recent strong stand that Greg Swan has taken, it is obvious meathead behavior will no longer be tolerated at the CFC. Expect some lengthy suspensions and fines to be meted out in the event that these childish antics continue. Once again preventative medicine. We can no longer tolerate selfish egotistical lairs at Carlton.
Leadership: This has long been one of our chinks in the armour. How the hell do we expect the younguns to react when they have few senior leaders to look up to. Leadership is all about setting an example on and off the field. It starts with the training track and follows on to the after game functions and down time situations. There is no doubt that players of the ilk of Nick Stevens, Jarrad Waite, Kade Simpson and Andrew Walker set the tone and the example for the young guys. I expect that the Leadership group will centred around these guys with a couple of future kids thrown in for experience like Murphy and Gibbs. With the recent news that Stevo has signed or at least agreed to a new contract, expect an early announcement on who will lead us into battle next year.
Selection Policy: How many times have we read: “Why don’t they reward Joe Blow for his form in the 2’s?, Why isn’t Fred Nurks dropped on that performance, Why does the kid get picked only to warm the pine, Why are they playing Joe Bloggs as a tagger or in defence, How soft is Lucy Jones etc? Plenty! A clear mandate will be issued that when a kid shows enough consistent form in the two’s he will be selected and given reasonable game time to adapt to the tempo. Also the heartening thing is they will get at least 3 games in the AFL to justify their promotion. If it doesn’t work out, rather than just being axed, they will be specially coached in their deficiencies and given time in their senior playing position back in the two’s where they will be monitored with a view to re-elevation when the bugs are ironed out. This will be administered by the soon to be appointed Development Coach! Senior players form lapses will no longer be forgiven. It won’t matter even if the player has clocked up 150 games. Don’t put in, then pay the penalty. This will get them hungry.
List Management: Now hasn’t this been a real issue? Why was Fred retained?, Why was Joe delisted?, How come Bazza got 3 years when Charlie only got a years extension?, Why did they recruit him, he’s a dud? Why didn’t we trade the fat fella 3 years ago? etc, etc, etc. Let me assure you that the Ickey Man is working feverishly behind the scenes with Swannie and others to retain the kids we want and is already talking to Player managers and clubs about potential trades. Since they have been on board, they have extended more contracts in a couple of months that the previous mob who took all year to sort out (Walker, Kennedy, Simpson, Stevens etc). Little or no fanfare. No Player Managers using the media to shaft the club. We don’t hear about any player wanting to wait till the end of the season to begin talks do we? I can tell you that a number of quality players are on the horizon as potential recruits during the Trading/Draft periods. This may be the year that we land a couple of big fish. I am also assured that a couple of our guys are being shopped around, even as we speak!
The Great Coaching Standoff: My sources tell me that Dick/Swannie/Icke are amazed at how this situation was allowed to develop. How Smorgo/Malouf/Sticks either were responsible for the fiasco or at least turned a blind eye to the situation. I can reveal that it is about to cease. Don’t wet ya kimbies just yet. There are some difficult contract/legal issues to resolve first, but the ball is in motion. Firstly they are definite about a Carlton reserves team next year. This will do a number of things. Firstly, kids playing in the magoos will be playing roles that the Senior Coach needs for their development. Secondly, they will play half of their games at PP under the watchful eye of our Coaches. Thirdly they will be working closely with the Welfare Officer, Development Coach, Assistant Coaches, Senior Leadership and believe it or not, even the Senior Coach! I understand that they believe that Mitch has been at the club for a long time for little return. They are perplexed as to why it takes our recruits so long to step up where at other clubs, kids seem to flourish. Wayne Hughes and his team are highly regarded by the executive, so therefore the fault lies with development in their eyes. On that basis, Carlton Reserves will have a new Coach in 2008.
The Full Coaching Panel: I intentionally left this issue till last, because like the rest of the Giant Jigsaw that Dick and co are piecing together, this is a burning issue that is dividing the club. The entire coaching setup seems on the surface to be dysfunctional. We are blessed with Premiership players, Brownlow Medalists and the like but they seem to be being played out of position and aren’t having much effect according to most posters. Crossisca played almost his entire career in the back half but finds himself tutoring the forwards. Ratts started in the BP and progressed to the midfield, but recently was looking after the forwards. Libba was the scragger of the century and has had a stint looking after the defenders. The part time coaches in Daniher, Dempsey & Braddles have contributed all over the spectrum as well. Mitch has been banished to Preston, but has a lot to do with the kids development without working with the other coaches. Paul Ford and his Freo mate finally have given us some comfort in the fitness programs stakes.
Finally to
Pago Pago who has been the ringmaster for this bleak period and he has his detractors and supporters. As much as I have been a supporter of Denis, there is little doubt that events all add up to him not being in the chair in 2008. In fact I’m tipping that after today’s loss, it might be even sooner!
The Big 3 are cleverly conspiring to bring out the giant broom soon and make a number of changes to the whole on-field structure. So far they have leaked to media friendly contacts that they are seeking a high profile coach who has had Premiership success and recently that they would consider a Young Buck. Hence the early speculation about Woosha, Roos & Matthews and more recently Ratts and Vossy. There has been further speculation that OOC star players are being offered massive sums of money to move camp. I reckon the tactic here has been to demonstrate that we are stable in the off field arena and our future is secure there before launching a raid on the best that we can attract. A precondition of some of the stars requirements would be that we show we have a top coaching setup and a no d1ckheads policy. The circus that we have become is hardly an attractive place for a Judd or a Dal Santo per se. If we were to lure an experienced coach or even a young buck just out of the game, you can be assured that discipline will be implemented as a prerequisite. A new Coach will also have a different view of our current list as well as a wish list of who he would like to get to the club to fill the holes. Some prospective coaches have been insistent that would want to bring their own team of Assistants with them. Dick will be assessing that right now and considering if he wants a whole new panel or just a Senior Coach who will be provided with hand picked AC’s. I don’t think he particularly likes that total replacement attitude, but could be swayed on this point. My gut feel is there will be a compromise struck and whoever gets the nod will be able to bring half the AC’s with the rest being picked from Carlton sons.
So how is
Denis going to be removed and what exactly will happen with the list? Firstly Denis will be offered the Coaching Directors role in the final year of his contract to oversee the incoming Senior Coach. Ego will see him reject this option. Secondly he will be offered a payout of approximately 60% of 2008 earnings to stand down. He will reject this also citing that it will damage his ability to secure another Senior Coach job elsewhere. Finally an agreement will be struck where he will get close to full tote odds to walk on conditions of his confidentiality and be able to claim personal or family illness as the reason he has to step down.
A Major Press Conference will be called to announce this surprising decision where the CEO will appear remorseful that Denis has to quit and he will be revered by all for staying with the club through difficult times. The club will also suggest that it didn’t expect this to occur and now has to work overtime to secure a suitable replacement. Keep in mind they will have almost completed the exhausting process of narrowing down the candidates behind the scenes. Not long after Denis is gone, a Caretaker will be announced if it is during this season. If it is at seasons end, I expect the new Senior Coach to be appointed within days of Round 22. In fact, I reckon the short list has already been drawn up and possibles contacted with a view to application after Denis stands down. Don’t be surprised if a deal hasn’t already been done.
On the playing List front, it has been vital to
play the divide and conquer game between Fev and Denis. They have been joined at the hip for the best part of 5 years, so it was important to stretch the limits on this one by splitting them up. Denis’ tenure has been reliant on Fev for yonks. With the last straw being broken and Fev likely to be seeking a new home next year, then there is less reason to retain Denis. Likewise if Denis is standing down, less reason for Fev to remain.
Considering this draft is reported to be shallow, securing at least one hard bodied midfielder or Defender as part of the possible trade scenario will be vital. I expect that
at least 6 clubs will be falling over themselves to offer a suitable player plus an early first round draft pick. Possible clubs to join the Dutch Auction might be: Richmond – Delidio & Pick 1 or 2, Melbourne – Sylvia or McLean & Pick 2 or 3, Brisbane – Charman/Big Berger & Pick 5 or 6, Port Adelaide – Salopeck & a traded Pick 6 or below, Bulldogs – Gianseracusa or Hahn or Higgins & a traded Pick 6 or below, Sydney – Malcevski or O’Keefe & a traded Pick 6 or below and West Coast – Hurn & a traded Pick 6 or below or straight swap for Juddy. Any of these will complement our likely picks this year. If we fail to win another game then we could end up with 1, 3, 4, 17, 33 and a seasoned Mid or Defender. If we do win a game or two our first pick will be Pick 2 or 3. Either way we have to be a stronger squad with the early selections plus the experienced player. Hopefully some of our current kids will take the next step as well and create more competition for spots.
Whatever happens, I am sure we will be much improved in 2008.
Go Baby Blues!!
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