i might be high on endorphins right now ... but i've a solid feeling Barker is going to turn this mess around which will breathe light that our list isn't as bad as mick made it look.

like psych said, solid without being outstanding, but a definite strong foundation to build on.

our turnaround will be 2-3 years, not 5-6, imo.

dropping the obsession with taggers with make us look instantly better. take note barker.

Tagging, more so than taggers; the only defensively minded players out there would be White, Rowe & Curnow. Armfield has plenty of dash and dare.

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

Reckon there hasn't been enough time since Mick was arsed for Barker to implement any major changes to the game plan before tomorrows game.
I think we ll have a better idea of the changes in game styles and beliefs between Barker and Mick in the game against the Crows in 10 days time.

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James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/a ... hawoo.html

Up until now the Blues have never hired the equivalent to Hardwick, Adam Simpson or Luke Beveridge, for the same reason that they long preferred to give up draft picks for "proven" players. They haven't backed themselves to locate the best unproven talent – on or off-field. This requires too much diligence and/or time, and their supporters – like their board – have wanted results last week.

The Blues had planned to invest in the draft in the late Pagan/early Ratten years, but bungled far too many picks, ...

This I think is quite correct. When we have gone for draft picks it hasn't worked out so well. We're almost surprised now when we draft a good one. It's like the whole club has lost drafting confidence or something, so it's easier not to try. More than anything this is what has to change.

I agree. Carlton stuffed it up because of incompetence, bad decision making. We have tried unproven talent

Ratten was unproven talent off the field
Malouf unproven talent off the field. (No football background, came from Melbourne City Council)

Thread needs more RED.

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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/

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

But Ratten was very inexperienced in terms of the AFL system, and nowhere near ready for a Senior Coaching job, having only been skills coach at Melbourne in 2004 and then one of the Assistants under Denis in 2007.

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James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

Don't forget Norwood. He coached Norwood, one of the powerhouses of suburban Melbourne grass-roots footy.

_________________
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/

Ratts just wasn't anywhere near ready. A ridiculous and arrogant appointment by the board.
Malthouse's appointment was catastrophic.

THIS!

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"Who discovered we could get milk from cows, and what did he think he was doing at the time?" Billy Connolly

didn't sticks basically give ratts the job as a mate?

Yes without process

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

..we have sweet eff all young Kpp talent, it's jaksch, a long shot foster (back), and a very long shot Giles.. ....retaining Hendo is crucial in my opinion.. ..right age, right games experience.. ..I prefer him forward, but he is a genuinely good Kpp that provides great structure to your list with him being good forward and back.. ..he needs a good partner at either end cos he does his best work when roaming far and wide.. ..he played his best down back cos in his time there he played with Jamo, yarran, Gibbs and simmo.. ..sometimes walker.. ....look who he got to play up forward with this year..

..we need to build around core types.. ..kpp, genuine mids.. ....if there's a buyer and a core type you need in the top dozen you offer up yarran or menzel.. ..but it doesn't sound like a strong draft this year, and you won't get a pick in the first half dozen with anyone on our list so it might be a moot point.. ..I don't think we have the list to sell and rebuild quickly through the draft.. ..I think it's a five year, slow rebuild, not a quick three year type.. ..we need to do it properly..

..and for all the talk of yarran and menzel being potential onballers.... ..has it ever truly been pushed on them?, because if they can run through the middle, that's your rebuild right there.. ....i'd definitely be using this care taker time to run players like yarran and menzel and Buckley through the middle.. ..I know there's graham on the outer, but he seems too benticky for my liking.. ..vfl star.. ....he's like ellard, but without the ticker.. ....i'd rather try those others in the midfield for a month..

....and play watto in the seniors for the rest of the year.. ..forward or back, settle him and see how he goes.. ..he's never had a decent run at it..

..hendo and jaksch as chf and ff please.. ..hendo will be the workhorse, and jaksch the finisher.. ..good long shot for goal, use him as a lead up target..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

Agree Kahuna
Hendo must be retained. And Jaksch needs time but would like him to be a forward

Can't contemplate trading Hendo when Jamison is on his last legs Watson will go at the end of the year and casboult and jones are just hanging on
Rowe and White are not necessarily long term prospects

No to Watson. And why play Henderson forward when he's an excellent defender?

Jones and casboult were bought in/ retained for the forward line. Add walker and there's your forwards with Rowe jamo and hendo at the back.

Edited for accuracy.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

will watch closely the strategy we employ this draft period

option 1
swap premium pick 1/2 to GWS for a rich bounty. cam mccarthy, dylan shiels and swap of picks ...plowman, corr, steele etc.
Pro - immediate return on pick and immediate improvement and improved revenue
Con - immediate improvement means draft picks in later years will be weaker and we risk not quite getting the list right. salary cap pressure will come sooner

Option 2
sieze the moment. everyone has low expectations on performance for 15/16. hold onto current picks and trade players for first round picks.
Pro - secure 2-3 future players including one bona fide a grader. supporters will get on board. slow improvement means we can secure good picks again next year. and build real list depth. salary easier to manage and provision for FA chase in 2018/19
Con - we need patience and need to prepared to see some shit performances in next 2-3 years

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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

I liked his interview at the airport.
1st Ive heard him speak.
Gee it felt good knowing MM was no longer there.
I wish him all good luck
And hope the players get back to playing enjoyable footy.

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”