As you know I go back a fair way but the Ratten sides of the last 3 years remind me of an earlier era in the mid to late 70s coached by Thorogood where we played finals had a lot of talent but ultimately didnt have character mental strength or grunt to go to the top
Players cruised on talent alone but could never bridge the gap with the better sides because apart from talent didn't have the other various intangibles that a great side needed
Ultimately Thoro was shown the door because the side continually couldn't come up with the goods -made the finals but didn't have the hard edge
In particular during a couple of seasons Thoro sides would always be beaten in the wet because games in the wet required a lot more than just talent
Our present side seems to lose quite often especially this year where games need more than pure talent
They lost the finals in 2009 2010 when they were in front and should have gusted it out we now lose to sides that apply physical pressure -talent alone won't win you enough games
Ratts may get more grace than Thoro but the similarities are apparent
Anyone agree

As you know I go back a fair way but the Ratten sides of the last 3 years remind me of an earlier era in the mid to late 70s coached by Thorogood where we played finals had a lot of talent but ultimately didnt have character mental strength or grunt to go to the top
Players cruised on talent alone but could never bridge the gap with the better sides because apart from talent didn't have the other various intangibles that a great side needed
Ultimately Thoro was shown the door because the side continually couldn't come up with the goods -made the finals but didn't have the hard edge
In particular during a couple of seasons Thoro sides would always be beaten in the wet because games in the wet required a lot more than just talent
Our present side seems to lose quite often especially this year where games need more than pure talent
They lost the finals in 2009 2010 when they were in front and should have gusted it out we now lose to sides that apply physical pressure -talent alone won't win you enough games
Ratts may get more grace than Thoro but the similarities are apparent
Anyone agree

before my time, interesting

so what happened next?

before my time, interesting

so what happened next?

Jezza took over in 78 was a very basic coach but hardened players
Premiers 1979

As you know I go back a fair way but the Ratten sides of the last 3 years remind me of an earlier era in the mid to late 70s coached by Thorogood where we played finals had a lot of talent but ultimately didnt have character mental strength or grunt to go to the top
Players cruised on talent alone but could never bridge the gap with the better sides because apart from talent didn't have the other various intangibles that a great side needed
Ultimately Thoro was shown the door because the side continually couldn't come up with the goods -made the finals but didn't have the hard edge
In particular during a couple of seasons Thoro sides would always be beaten in the wet because games in the wet required a lot more than just talent
Our present side seems to lose quite often especially this year where games need more than pure talent
They lost the finals in 2009 2010 when they were in front and should have gusted it out we now lose to sides that apply physical pressure -talent alone won't win you enough games
Ratts may get more grace than Thoro but the similarities are apparent
Anyone agree

Stewart was the wrong choice but one Jezza took over in 78 we started playing tough football and if we hadn't have lost those early games in 78 would have been a big chance to take it out
You also need to remember that Jezza walked out after winning in 79 and we could have done better in 1980 if he was coaching parko took over in 1981 and 1982 back to back

Yep,agree Frank.Those truely were the wasted years.Reckon in those days we had GUN footballers by the dozen.Pretty mediocre lot now compared to then.

Not Juddy as captain coach but get someone who will develop other aspects of game
Malthouse Roos Lyon
The query on Ratts has never been whether he can improve us from the dark hole we were in but whether he could take us to the ultimate prize
This obviously is the key question that board have to decide in September
They made the hard call on Thoro and ultimately won 3 premierships in 4 years with obviously a few hiccups along the way

Maybe different types and not as talented but if we can't build a really good side around walker murph Kreuz Gibbs henderson then there is something seriously wrong
Others such as Judd Simpson Jamison all a bit older etc should make a very good unit

As I said we recruited about 6 or 7 players (from about 76 to 79) who went on to play 3 premierships for the club in Buckley, Sheldon, Johnston (played 4), Harmes, Glasscot, McConnville and Marcou - these young guns we added to our seasoned chamions like in Southby, McKay, Doull, Jesaulenko, Keogh, Maclure, Fitzpatrick, Jones, Armstrong etc.

At the moment our seasoned champions, are Judd, Murphy and then the list starts to drop off but for the sake of argument I will include, Walker, Gibbs, Simpson, Kreuzer.

But our list of 18, 19 and 20 year old up and comers is almost non-existant.

We are (unfortunately) in no way positioned to be even close to emulating the 79 to 82 golden era - and that is disappointing and the Board and Football Department need to be held accountable for squandering the opportunity.