I agree with some others who believe we have issues right through the Club.
For me, it starts at Board level. Without rehashing the arguments, Kernahan needs to go. I don't know enough about the others on the Board to know who should become President, or who outside the Club could come in and fulfil the role, but clearly this Board is too big and not getting the job done. A board of 6-8 (max) with a President who knows business AND knows football, and is NOT part of the Carlton '95 club.
Some on here think Swann isn't up to it, I don't know enough about how he rolls to make comment on that.
Ratten is a Carlton hero, but doesn't have what it takes to coach this Club to a premiership. I don't think we can afford to go with an untried coach, as I have written previously. I think we need someone who can come in from day 1 and DEMAND from ALL areas of the Club (players, administration, footy department and board) an attitude and approach and culture that can win premierships. We are so far off the mark in that area, last night a clear sign of that. I think Malthouse and Roos are the ones who stand out who could do that. It's really hard (but not impossible) for a new coach to establish that in a club where it's badly lacking, but it takes time, time we may not have in our 'window'. Given Roos is not available next year, that leaves Malthouse. He would surely bring in his own people.
Recruiting I think has been an issue for us for a while. Of course, it's hard to know when players don't come on whether it's recruiting or development or both, certainly as an outsider. So my comment is based as much on gut feel as anything else. I am curious that Hughes gets a demotion, but is still around. What's that all about? Why the demotion? I am concerned also that Rogers has declared speed to be his major goal at the draft. It reeks of the Ratten speed kills game plan, that consistently falls down against the better teams in really tight games (and finals like games). Of course, every team needs a spread of speed over the ground, but it also needs hard bodied players, ruthless extractors, and above all, FOOTBALLERS. Mitchell, Ball, Swan, Sewell, Kennedy, Carazzo, Priddis, Thompson etc are not quick. But they are brilliant footballers who get it often and mostly use it brilliantly - and they win you finals games. Hawthorn won a flag in '08 on the back of a recruiting philosophy that they would only pick genuine footballs who were elite disposers of the ball. It might get them another flag this year. It's not rocket science.
As for the players, two things. First, there is a clean out due. Russell, Thornton, Bower, Kerr and a number of others will likely go. The coach, whoever he is, needs to look at all the half back flank types on the list, work out who are the best, and get rid of or trade the rest. White, Davies, Duigan, McInnes, Laidler, Bootsma, McCarthy, O'Keeffe, Tuohy, Thornton, Bower...
Second, onfield leadership, which is severely lacking. It showed up again last night. To allow GC to kick the last 2 goals in such a game, regardless of our kicking at the other end, was criminal. Teams with strong leadership would never allow that to happen. Again, that's where a strong, experienced coach comes in, who can walk into the Club and on day 1 DEMAND that this is how things will be done, it's my way or the highway.
Finally, the boot studder. Doing a top job. Keep.
_________________ Mens sana in corpore sano.
Bring back the laurel wreath logo!!!
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