SurreyBlue wrote:
Couldn’t disagree more with Braithy.
The obsession with cutting the list deep, does not sit well with me.
Some need to be careful what they wish for. We aren’t rebuilding.
why is that surrey? do you believe this list can win a flag? or are you (emotionally) invested into this current mob?
for me ... we reloaded the same list last season and went again hoping to go one better than a prleim, and we digressed and went backwards. we weren't even in the hunt, and only beat norf and eagles since june. JUNE! and we were wiped off the park by the lions in an elim. something has to give here, and praying for good health or better health isn't much of a plan, imo. bcos what if this list even when healthy isn't up to it?
fwiw, i don't think the list is.
some list rejuvenation is necessary to progress. it tells the current mob, not to get complacent, and to stay at your maximum. it also gives us a few fresh looks and new ways of playing that other teams and coaches will have to counter.
hawks - very successful this season, and they had 8 new arrivals from other clubs. pies won their flag and had 6 new guys arrive in the offseason. list rejuvenation is a must to progress.
imo, this list wasn't winning a flag. even when fit, there's flaws. too one dimensional and 1-paced thru the middle. too charlie and harry- centric in attack where we just bomb it long and cross our fingers.
and team defense was deplorable. a league worst in many areas. to overcome that for 2025, we need more foot speed to pursue and disrupt the other team. we need another key back if they decide young isn't up to task, and we need some dynamism and creativity in the forwardline among the smalls.
but more than all of that, there's two areas we actually suck at. our tackling & the way we move the ball is our absolute achilles. league worst from D50 to F50 ball movement and scoring.
houston immediately improves both. leads port in tackle success % and tackles made and intercepts. along with his league best kicking disposal.
i've said it before, if kennedy was as mobile as walsh, he'd be an all australian. but he isn't, he's lumbering. cerra can be good, and he can disappear in a game and he can also be injured.
if we can improve the list, and upgrade some positions to make us more competitive, why would we oppose that?
Most this is coaching. As an example playing Cripps, Hewett and or Kennedy together in the midfield. Kicking long into the forward line and not setting up with small forwards. I could go on but I’m sure you get the drift.