How much for the Jousting Sticks ????????

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I wore number 25 on the back of my jumper 40 years ago..... yes, pre Marchesani !!

Eddie telling the world that Mick Malthouse was washed up and gone 2 years ago

and some think he is the person for the future

http://www.foxsports.com.au/AFL/why-edd ... =FoxSports

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

Of course Eddie was out there spruiking malthouse as the man to replace ratts. Makes sense he'd be out to sabotage.

Well, you could say that 'thinking' and 'hoping' is synonymous in a lot of cases. The sad thing is that sides like the Bulldogs go in to each season 'thinking' they can win the premiership but know deep down that it is a long shot at best.

We can 'think' we can win a flag all we like but unless we have the processes in place it won't happen. I would think that if we had Malthouse in mind we would also be 'thinking' ahead if it doesn't work for us within the alloted time.

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Just because I'm offended, doesn't mean I'm wrong.

I had to turn if off after "I don't have an acrimonious bone in my body" and " I did it for Mick and Nanette"

Truly vomit inducing. It should be sent to all homes and store in the household first aid kit with big letter.

"IN CASE OF POISONING WATCH THIS VIDEO"

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I hope Essendon* folds.

Well you'll have to ask Ratten. He is surrounded by experienced assistant coaches but the top job is another thing.
Clarkson, Hird and even Malthouse have/had guys who are former coaches themselves. They still have final say in coaching and matchdays etc. Not a new thing to be looking around for really if that is what Ratten or even the club thinks...

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Essendon-Only team to have ever been found guilty of salary cap breaches in a premiership year!

Strengths and weaknesses of the potentials IMHO.
Ratten
weaknesses-
average communicator, poor media performer, fails to inspire confidence in potential members, refuses to grasp the concept of embracing members/supporters. Yet to demonstrate he can oversee a football program that can develop players adequately.
Strengths-
The feedback I receive says he has a great understanding of the trends and tactical shifts during a game. He recognises the requirement to make changes much faster and better than Malthouse. Tactically superior to Malthouse.
(This comes from people who have been involved with both).

Malthouse.
Strengths.
Decisive. Experience as a premiership coach. Strong media performer but not always in a positive sense. Has overseen a strong and successful development program.
Weaknesses.
Clearly demonstrated last year a willingness to push his own agenda at the expense of club solidarity leading up to the finals.
Resists innovation. Refuses to accept any form of criticism or feedback. Self confessed control freak. Short term fix.

Looking at the above, perhaps we need to be a bit more innovative than what has proved convention. Could it be possible to appoint a senior manager to oversee the football program?
In reality, Essendon* probably have close to the ideal structure IMO. Hird is the manager with several "experts" managing their areas of expertise below him.

Compare that to other clubs like Collingwood. Buckley is an excellent communicator and his media skills are superb. He embraces the concept of supporter/member inclusion which assists increasing membership/club development. Is he a good match day coach? At the moment, he's off the pace IMO. Why should clubs accept that it wil take a few years for coaches to grow into the job?

Personally, I'd like to see us adopt an innovative structure that has a program manager overseeing the program.
Below him we would have a senior match coach and a senior development coach. Both with equal responsibility.
It is the match coaches role to oversee the formulation of game style, tactics and game day coaching in conjunction with the assistant coaching group.
The senior development coaches role would be to prepare the players, to recommend their availability and suitability for senior selection. He would work with the fitness and conditioning staff and oversee the development staff. Both are answrable to and work closely with the program manager.

For a structure like this to flourish, the major requirement is a strong and progressive management structure. (Board/CEO).
Do we have what's required? IMHO, No.
You cant have a President who is compromised by mateships. The President and as a result, Boards role is to ensure the football club stays on a structured path. Aspects like giving a bloke an extra chance because he's a mate belong in $100,000 small businesses, not $50 million organisations. The board needs to set strong directions and roles for the impending football staff.
ie. Program manager. Manage a program that fosters player development and achievement with an eye on supporter/membership inclusion and club progression. Manage media interaction.

Lastly, who could fill these roles? Football Manager? Andy McKay has impressed me this year. Rodney Eade could be Ok. Lets see who is out there but dont get bogged down or starstruck by names or personalities.

Senior match coach, I'd interview Ratten, Goodwin, Richardson and any other candidates who put their hand up.
Senior development coach, I'd throw it open but I wouldnt be adverse to Brown or Harris if they proved the best candidate.

I understand this structure could have issues to implement however, I fail to see the point in appointing someone because they have some of the qualities we're after. Why dont we try to cover as many as possible into our structure.
Personally, I cant see anyone out there at the moment who satisfies our requirements.
Thoughts?

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Yeah, I've been thinking and typed it here and there on TC, that removing Ratten entirely seems excessive.

If Ratten was open to having a senior coaching tactician installed, who would -- for no better analogy -- be our bomber to our hird, it would be the best way forward.

Financially it makes most sense, but most of all, I'd hate to see what we have here with ratten abandoned. The players really like him and want to play for him. I've noticed Ratten and a few others have commented, that behind closed doors since the port game, that Ratten has been more firmer and telling the not just the players, but his line coaches as well, how it is and what is expected and if they don't tow the line, they'll be in the ressies or at centrelink.

The effort, and commitment to the ball in the last month has been impressive and hard to fault. And it is completely plausible Ratten's new philosophy is the reason why. It's just a shame if the rumours are to be believed, it has taken ratten to be given his notice to hand his papers in at season's end, to get him to fire up to the required level of a successful AFL coach.

I feel like if we get our full list back in 2013 along with the added development of a few key kids -- McInnes, Bell, Cas, ROK, Lucas and Collins, maybe a savvy trade of one of our rucks for a gun mid with Ratten as head coach, and a senior coaching technical advisor type installed, we'd be a legitimate threat.

I've been on the fence for a while, but now I'm leaning toward tweaking what we already have, rather then revamping and restarting again. As long as we're top 4 material and competing for flags, it should bother a single member or supporter who takes us there and how they do it. Huh?

Its not a "senior tactician" thats required IMO.
Ratten is quite good with his tactics, its the rest of the equation where he falls down. Media interaction, program management, understanding the bigger picture requirements of the club.
We need someone who has more management ability and has the capacity to prioritise, delegate and most importantly, understand all aspects of what makes a successful contemporary club.
Ratts falls down in too many areas. Unfortunately, I dont think any one person can fill the role adequately looking toward the next few years of club progression.
We need to break it down and put people in place who specialise in their specific area.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

That's kind of interesting. Watching the games I find that Ratts is very slow at adjusting to tactical shifts, very frustrating in fact, and when he does make a change its predictable and usually a result of poor match-ups to start with.

Hard to say. If I had one definite fault of Ratten, it would be his seemingly lack of a plan B. If teams don't let us out and running, he seems completely at a loss to make strategical counter plans. From my spectator's pov, tactics seem to be his biggest achilles. He also persists playing players out of position -- see Duigan, Nick Vs the pies, it worked, the following week Vs North, it didn't -- like he's to proud, stubborn or simply doesn't have the tactical awareness to change it back when it's not working.

Instead he takes Henderson down back and our forward structure fails. Why he didn't try Duigan down back first, and keep Henderson forward, we'll never know.

the AFL seems to be going the way of the NFL really quickly. A million line coaches all answerable to one head coach. For me, if the HC cannot be the face of the organisation to the media, the fans and anyone else -- like a Buckley can -- he probably is more of a line coach.

Maybe Ratten is a great assistant, or stoppage/ midfield coach??

lol ... King Kenny beat me to my post.

I'd be interested to read some examples KK. How would you feel being a Collingwood supporter then. I thought he outcoached Buckley both times easily.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

I think we just matchup well against Collingwood.

Jolly is one of the few rucks where Kreuzer gets his hands to the ball first.

Malthouse wouldn't come in as a "Director" of coaching as such. His ego wouldn't allow it. And what an ego it is.
Ratten can't accept such a person now. 5 years is too long in the business for him to have one of these. He should be moving / growing into this type of role himself by now.
I feel we have a real conundrum right now and only the next month will show us a true indication of what decision needs to be made come the "end of September", not now!!
Ratten has time to show the board he has learnt and is ready to go for 2013. Very short time though. That goes for the players as well - do they want to play for the coach?

The Duigan example is interesting. Moving him forward against Maxwell was lauded by everyone so it deserved another shot. The problem wasnt moving Henderson back IMO but leaving him there too long.
I'm not saying Ratten is perfect but I'll back it in every AFl coach has made 100s of mistakes this year. Some of the match ups including several of the Armfield match ups have turned a very average player with substantial deficiencies into an integral player. Thats quality coaching.

The plan B idea always interests me. Anyone who has coached knows its difficult enough having a game style that everyone in the team understands. From there its a matter of players making correct decisions that work within the confines of that structure. There is no "Plan b" where everyone changes to a different structure at the click of a finger. The most you can do is change some tactic leading into a game. Even then, that requires several training sessions to nail it down properly.
Imagine how long it would take to teach someone like Mitch Robinson how to set up and play at multiple structures.
He'd take 10 years to absorb plan A!

As I said, I'm not saying Ratten has been a good senior coach. If you read back at my posts, you'll see I've been a critic for a couple of years now. I do however understand that he has strengths as well. Just as I realise Malthouse has plenty of weaknesses. Having either coaching in a similar structure to this years is doomed to fail either way IMO.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Who wants him to?
I defintely dont. He's the last person suited to such a role.
IMO, we should totally restructure our football department and dispense with the role of senior coach.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Hey BV - I agree pal. Don't want him anywhere near us either. I'd prefer Eade if we went down that road but that's just me.
Just out of curiousty and because I do value your input what would you strucutre up and how?

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Never argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience!!!

After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says W T F .........
Visit http://fromthemoshpit.com/

must have missed something....your at your best I see moshe....oh well.