Two questions:
1. Wasn't the intention of free agency to allow the mid-tier players to move for better opportunity at getting games? (But the result has been more A-grade talent moving than expected.)
2. Re freedom of movement/choice of employer, that's a fair comment, so do we accept that free agency is a compromise to an already flawed system, or do we look to shelve the draft and current recruiting systems and build a new system from the ground up. And if so, what?

Personally, I don't see the appeal with Owies. What am I missing?

Agree. Must be something that we are missing. Honey however has something.

The big list management questions we need answered:

McGovern - where is he at? Has he fallen off the radar to the point where he is simply a tall(ish) back-up utility? The next cab off the rank if there's an injury to a KPP? If he and we are happy with that, then so be it. If not... if he wants more game time or if we think he has no future... do you see if anyone else wants him?

No. 1 Ruck - Who is it? We don't have to answer this immediately, but in terms of team balance we need to make a decision. The extravagant publicity behind DeKoning's re-signing suggests he's viewed as no. 1 with Pittonet as no. 2. But they have not yet proven they can play together effectively, so for team balance reasons we have to decide who gets first crack.

Half-back line: Out: Simpson, In: Saad? Newman? Marchbank? Stocker? O'Brien? We played a pretty settled back 7 in 2020. Who slots in there in 2021?

Midfield: So we add Williams... who goes out? When do Dow and Philp and O'Brien and... Kennedy and Cunnignham, etc. get a chance? The automatic selections for the midfield are Cripps, Walsh... and then it's up for grabs.

A lot of questions for a team on the rise, with a plethora of First round picks and now a Destination club.

Sounds good, but as you say, the chemistry must be created for a winning formula.

I think SOS confirmed what the media and every Carlton supporter says that Teague gifted Gov games he didn't deserve. If Teague continues down this path, if Gov doesn't "get a move on" with his output/ form, as SOS suggested then Teague is spart of the problem, and thee heat will come. I'm expecting Gov to be embarrassed and will turn this around. If not, then he can sit in the stands whilst we look for a new suitor.

There's only 22 spots. At some stage during the season, whether its from injury or form, Teague has to give games to peripheral players as part of their development.

I disagree with that.

Play the best 22. Players should be fighting for spots in the side. We should be winning the reserves gf as well as the gf if we are going to be a serious threat.

Yesterday’s Grand Final once again highlights the importance of late picks and the rookie draft and recruiting that looks at the lower leagues
Whilst Martin is simply a legend now
Short
Broad
Baker Pickett were simply magnificent
Graham
Castagna
Lambert Grimes played there Roles

As I say every year the best bottom 6 players win the flag
Martin wouldn’t of kicked those amazing goals if it weren’t for his 21 teammates

Player development and a system is the key if we want to be successful

Richmond have it in spades

They hunt in packs and run you off your feet

It’s not rocket science

Really need to develop a hard edge

It’s why players like Dow, O’Brien & SOS are concerns

Have little intensity

There is more to it than that

Some of those players at Carlton don’t make much difference under our culture and player development system

Biggest issues for Carlton are a loser culture, player development and lack of a system that is drilled into each player on the list

It’s the reason why Richmond can easily cover injuries and still thrive

Personnel is just one part of it - but the work ethic and mental edge is what we lack severely.


We laud Geelong as an organisation but Richmond have taken it to another level.

tough on SOS

There are 2 simple things that Rich have perfected that you could drum into an U15 team...unfortunately, with the science of football these days, it's not sexy:

1. If you're chasing the ball and you know you're going to get tackled, kick it off the ground until the next contest...it does my head in when players have an opponent up their backside and still try to bend down to pick up the ball when they know they'll be tackled. Soccer it, tap it, palm it, punch it, just take it to another contest (closer to goal) and give more times for the troops to arrive

2. Rich players around contest do not spectate; they look at who the most obvious next recipient of the ball will be and one/two of them have already beelined them to tackle. They don't corrall and they don't hesitate. Their momentum supports the effectiveness of the tackle. BANG...turnover

Regardless of what you think about Garry Lyon, he is 100% correct when he talks about getting that ball I25...defenders panic, mistakes are made and someone kicks the balll (except that bc the ball is just 20m from goal), a scoring opportunity presents itself

There is more to it than that

Some of those players at Carlton don’t make much difference under our culture and player development system

Biggest issues for Carlton are a loser culture, player development and lack of a system that is drilled into each player on the list

It’s the reason why Richmond can easily cover injuries and still thrive