Hopefully the board will have the courage to make some big decisions in the not too distant future.
Pagan gone is the most obvious, IMHO Libba and a few others need to go with him.
But what is the best strategy going forward for the club?
Obviously different coaches will have different opinions on which strategy would best suit the list and the club.
Add to that that different potential coaches will have differing opinions of the players on our list, and also the roles that they are currently being used for.
I would like to think that Ratten will be given the coaching job ala Worsfold going back to WCE.
But maybe the club might think that he won't make the hard calls on former team-mates?
Maybe an independent person like McKenna would make those decisions without any emotional baggage?
Will Voss be as successful as everyone thinks he will by going straight in without an apprenticeship?
Whoever it is, McKenna, Ratten, Voss, Bond, etc they will have different views on the best way forward for the list, and who to add/delist from it.
FWIW, here are my thoughts on trading, and the additions/delistings etc.
New Coach: Ratten
PP: Kruezer
#3: Cotchin (or Palmer)
Delist: Obvious list but I'll run through 'em
McLaren, Saddington, Bannister, Teague
Retire: Kouta, Whitnall, Lappin, (Saddington?)
Trade: Fev (nothing personal, just could be a win/win for both parties) for eg Hurn+ top ten pick (Myers/Morton?)
Betts? Carrazzo? Bentick?
Ins: Kruezer, Cotchin, Hurn, Myers
Out: PAGAN, Kouta, Whitnall, Lappin, McLaren, Bannister, Saddington, Teague
Possible Line Up (on paper)
FB: Anderson, O'Hailpin, Thornton
HB: Scotland, Cloke, Grigg
C: Simpson, Hurn, Walker
HF: Fisher, Waite, Gibbs
FF: Houlihan, Kennedy, Edwards?
R: Kruezer, Stevens (Capt), Murphy (VC)
I: Hampson, Carrazzo? Blackwell, Myers
Em: Hartlett, Betts? Austin
As you can see, I believe that the best way forward is for a total youth approach. We have nothing to lose because we are already getting smashed. Let them all play in the same side week in week out so that they become a team together, one that hunts together.
Denis says "they will learn from it" but they don't because they are not getting enough support.
FWIW, I think Hartlett will be okay if he can sort out his injuries.
Betts doesn't have any consistency yet.
Carrazzo gets a heap of possies and tries his guts out every week, but has to be more damaging with those possies.
Not convinced that Bentick will stand the test of time once we get a few more draft picks, although he does give 100% each week.
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