That is not completely true PPW. The Collingwood game in round 3 was considered a hurdle at the time. Last years final was considered a hurdle.

I think 5 years is enough for Ratts to show more but at the same time he was a bit unluckly this year at times. Over all though he put the list together and unfortunately for him he put too much faith in players that are physically and mentally fragile.

Not sure a change will bring results for a while but it could be worth a shot.

If its about memberships get Fev.

There's 10k for you.

Unbelievable.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

Did anyone say we should sack or appoint a coach based on membership???

If that's your point it was a waste of effort.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

Yep time for a change I agree....successfully crossing hurdles is based on what you do after them otherwise they are nothing more than anomalies....bit like the tigers beating the hawks by 10 goals this year....an anomaly....not the norm....

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

Summed up well. Still not sure a change of Ratten is the complete fix though.

Sure you arent underselling the swans?
They are a very seasoned outfit and have been virtually injury free throughout 2012 - a game clear at the top of the ladder
- 10 players have played every game - A further 5 players have missed just 1 game. So 15 players that have played 17 or more matches this season (we've had 5)
- 18 swans players have played 15 or more games this year (we've had 10).

White - 1st game of the season, 13th game overall (long term injury earlier this year)
Davies, 2nd game of the season, 15th game overall (long term injury earlier this year)
Casboult - 3rd game of the season, 3rd game overall (long term injury earlier this year)
Bell - 3rd game of the season, 3rd game overall (long term injury earlier this year)
McInness - 5th game of the season, 5th game overall

so 5 players with less than 15 games experience - 4 of whom had long term injuries earlier this season. Bell only resumed VFL in mid-May, the others in July.

Forward line = Waite missed the last 10 games - first game alongside casboult ever.
Mids = 2 topline mids missing (Judd+Robinson) + a tentative simpson in his first game back post-broken jaw
Backs = fairly inexperienced given that we were missing 50% of starting back 6 from 2011 (henderson, laidler, duigan) and then we lost jamison in the 3rd 1/4 (easily in our best players list up until that point)

From the team against the swans, there were 7 players that had missed approx 6+ matches of football or more - murphy, carazzo, waite, bell, casboult, white, davies. Excluding simpson who had missed the last 3 matches, thats approx 1/3 of the team that have missed huge chunks of the season

I would think that the level of inexperience and lack of continuity might have contributed to the perceived lack of structure

See post by Effe's 2 pages back where he wrote...

The club know that if Ratten is retained there will be a 30% drop off in membership.

Go back one page and he even quoted it himself.

I see why well reasoned and thoughtful posters often give up around here. It can be a bit like ->

Is the coach ever asked what he would/should have done differently if given the chance?

Would really like to hear the coach's response.

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THEY LIKE TO SEND UP!!!!!!!!

Until each team plays each other the same number of times, the AFL, as a fair dinkum competition, cannot be taken seriously.

He (Mr Swann) said the honour and pride associated with the club's traditional navy blue jumper was priceless.

Did I, where was it?

I have re read the last few pages and I cannot find ONE comment where anyone has said we should change the coach based on membership figures.

Comments have though been made on the effect it might have on membership.

Maybe, if people consider themselves thoughtful and reasoned posters they should read the text properly first and not call people #%^Q%# flogs

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

Swans are a very disciplined side without doubt. I don't think that their best will be good enough against quality opponents in the finals, but I could be wrong.

I've used the same argument you're putting forward and it is a matter of fact that we can't perform whilst constantly having 30% of our best team out.
That wasn't my issue with our performance on Sunday. It was about our methods that had me scratching my head. (Pulling my hair out actually)
Our effort on Sunday was 95% and I had no problem with that, but our positioning around the ground wasn't in the same league as the Swans.
I know that they had a settled line-up and we had not, but to see the way we set up around the ground was ordinary at best, and that's what killed us as much as our poor stoppage work.

The only way you could fully appreciate what I am saying, was to have been at the ground.
We have some coaching work to do, in order to meld our squad of 40 into a unit, irrespective of which name is on the ground.

Where did I say replace Ratten with Malthouse because of membership????

I made a comment about the effect it may have but certainly did not advocate change because of it.

Is this the well reasoned and thoughtful posts you were talking about???

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

2011... the year we couldn't beat a top 4 team in six attempts!
Yet we were automatically going to be top 4 in 2012!

Brad to post in green in three....two....

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#DonTheStash

For what it's worth I will be very surprised if Ratts is coaching us next year. Whether thats the right decision I would not know. Would have loved him to coach us to a premiership.

Just watched the first half replay.

Liked garletts game so far, playing him midfield has definetly boasted his confidence.

The transition from back half to forward half was the main difference in the game. They continually moved the ball quickly, and their forwards always seemed to have so much space, and they consistently hit their targets in the half forward line. They play man on man footy much better than
Us and know how work together.

We on the other hand have a few tricks but but quickly get found out. So many times yarren would stream forward and it was 50/50 whether he could find and option.
Is this due to such a high turn over of players? Im sure that contributes but not convinced that is the main reason. Gibbs would be an absolute star in the sydney team and he is not in our team and i think that sums it up in a consise example.

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'‘He had an enormous capacity to pump himself up and get the best out of himself when it mattered. He had a fire in his belly – a passion for the contest like few other players’' -- D Parkin in reference to the dominator

Coaches' Votes
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