True - having time to execute comes from doing the identified team things. Something that disappears when people lack confidence in themselves and each other.

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"our electorate seeks less to be informed and more to be validated." Sad times.

IMO, it's too early to call on Ratts, but there have been BOTH positives & negatives to take from this season so far.

My concern was the process in which he was appointed. I just wish the club opened up the position, and did the proper process
of trying to find the best coach. Ratts could've been that person, but having not heard anything otherwise about the club looking at other
blokes it's a bit hard to justify....

My SANFL club Glenelg, had a a horror run of 5 coaches in 6 years, we were shit, and the future looked crap. The board was booted, a new one appointed (with much influence from the members) as well as a new Pres, they then set out to find the best coach and appointed a panel to find him.

They interviewed a heap of blokes, and through the process, chose Mark Mickan. His results so far 6th, 4th, 2nd (runners up in the GF), and we're currently sitting top. He has been re-appointed for a further two years. The future is looking really good.
They also re did the Reserves and underage football departments to all fall into Mark's domain. We've won a U19 flags as well as a Reserves flag since.

Perhaps Sticks should go back to the Bay and see how a minor league club can turn it around and show the big boys how it's done....

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Go to http://www.snoutslouts.org/ for a look at the mighty GFC...

Team ethic usually comes about when the group believe in the direction set by the coach. It's human nature. You believe in the outcome, you put your heart and soul into it. You have some doubts, you lose that 5% edge. Since we are discussing AFL seniors here, neither of us have the experience in coaching at that level. As they say, there is an ocean of difference between the VFL and the AFL. I'd say that difference is amplified 100 fold at the OMFL. Having said that, your experience at the junior level far outweighs mine.

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If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

Ovens amd Murray isnt 100 fold behind AFL but it is a world of difference. I have a level 2 coaching accreditation, where as AFL coaches have levels above.

I think with all due respect your missing the point being made here. My point is regardless of the level coached or played there are basics of football that win you, or lack of basics which lose you games of footy. I see it week in week out with my under 18 club squad. The game plan is another way to counter the opposition or in most cases give you an avenue to score. The basics of football apply whatever you do on the footy field. Get the team ethic right (generalisation) and the score board looks after its self...IMO of course.

And yes the coach is responsible for the way the team plays its footy

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Go BLues

A good discussion.

The basics are still the same, no matter what level. AFL is all about speed and time. I would suggest that is the biggest difference between AFL and VFL. Being able to execute quickly and effectively is the key. As Baz_Baz correctly points out, being given time by being part of a team is critical. That has the individual component and team component. This is what makes Geelong so good at the moment. It takes time to get that "ethic" into the team.

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"our electorate seeks less to be informed and more to be validated." Sad times.

You're saying that we have set plays for all parts of the game but yet we still havent got a game plan or set play for our kickouts. tell me why this is??? Ratts has had 2 years to at least work out a way where we can kick the ball out without having to boot it to a contest.

Again very good response, as for the selection process, I agree.

I amungst, other good friends, who are passionate members thought it somewhat odd, but we have to accept it. The decision was made, by those who are bestowed that responsibity. I stand to be corrected, but wasn't Voss handed the role, without any screening process! And on the same note, although the bombers looked at Hardwick the rumors are that Knights was assured that position!

A completely different debate can be had regarding the merits of conducting a screening process.
What we need to be sure of, is that Swan, Sticks and Co. truy reviewed Ratts if he indeed had the attributes to develop this list.

If at all true, it was said that during the Pagan / Mitchel era issues simple got out of hand, and that it took the CEO and Pratt some time to untangle the problems, and start a fresh. They felt that the blues had lost its Mojo. I guess the review on Ratts, was not solely based on football, but also the need to get the team back on some solid footing.

Ratts is a footy tragic, if you believe what is said regarding his kowledge and hunger to learn, he most likely would not have been chosen to soley rocket the club up the ladder. But may have also been given the task to assist in the rebuilding of our off field structures. The development and high performance teams would have required heavy input from Ratts, the results of which will not be evident for some time. These new structures and changes revitilised our brand, and would have had some impact in changing players attitude to playing for the Navy Blues. We now have Judd and others selecting Carlton as their preference.

With regard to the Pagan comment, my reference was to reflect that he (Ratts) was endorsed by three credible coaches. It was in no way intended to be a comparison between the two.

I along many, do sit here still hoping it was the right decision, but I guess time will tell, and ultimately best when he and Judd raise the cup toasting our seventithe flag.

Go Blues!!!

There are certianly plans in place for kick outs. Plans are dependent on people Plans are dependent on players being in the right position in their zone, other players dumming runing to draw out opposition, decisions by the kicker to determine the best option, the correct kicker (depending on who is manning who and then skill disposal

Just to say plans are not in place is quite ridiculous frankly and is typical of the tripe served up on this site constantly.

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Go BLues

People are dependant on plans.....

Sure there are plans.. but theyre yearrrrrrrs behind.....cos Ratts isnt an AFL standard coach...what makes it worse... Sticks is in the box... as if he has anything to add.... go pay for a brainiac to be in the box Sticks!!!
They are not effective.....
The players reflect this.
Unless you strongly believe our players are the dumbest.. most unskilled... deaf... blind... dumb.... not able bodied... and have the memory of a goldfish.....

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

The correct way to put that is...People depend on plans....but it isnt quite correct anyway.

see previuous discussion

Stll waiting Synbad for your list of experience as questioned by Spider......

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Go BLues

You keep telling everyone they're missing the point. Let's just agree to disagree. It's an opinion game and I'm sure the real answer lies somewhere in between

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If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

Just like the tripe served up at kickouts CONSTANTLY

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If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

I AGREE with Synbad.

You can over analyse or look as deep as you want baz_baz but i think what we're doing is making it as simple as possible. You say Ratts has plans in place and yet we dont see them. When we win it looks more like JUDD, FEV and MURPH and maybe 1 or 2 othesr having blinders more so than a game plan has been implemented. One week we play man on man, the next its a zone and the next its slow it down football all the way through and the next its play on at all costs.

Hawks won with a GAME PLAN, thats right a GAME PLAN and they players were drilled to that GAME PLAN. Anyone who didnt work with that wasnt in the team.

Ratts has nothing, no forward structure, weak at stoppages and no kickouts structures to name a few. Ratts is great at being friends with the guys, lifting spirits and shite like that but doesnt have the brain or the balls to take us to our next flag. its been proven with Sydney, Essendon*, freo, crows still smash us.

When we played Syndey he said we need to be beat them at stoppages and in close and thats where we got killed.

When we played the bombers he said we need to stop their run and thats where they killed us.

When we played Crows he said we have to beat them at contested ball and beat their Zone and thats where they killed us

When we played Freo he said, well nothing important and they beat us and havent won since.

He comes out to the media and make statements and then gets found out by not following through. he gets bullied by media into making decisions on who gets selected, where they play and what he says about individuals because he cant think for himself, or when he does its laughable.

I loved Ratts as a player, I even had number 7 on my jumper even though we had players like Sticks, SOS, Kouta, Diesel and Braddles but as a coach he hasnr even made the smallest positive impression. But what do i know, i dont have a qualification in coaching. Does Ratts???

"walkers a gun"


First up...you are not permitted to coach at any level without accreditation. That also includes Auskick which is possibly where you had your number 7 jumper on when ratten was playing, so i am tipping your not all that experienced, and thats not a criticism simply an obervation.

Now, Hawthorn was successful in 2008 due to the players preparedness to play and sacrifice for each other. Zoning in defence and the rolling halfback line has bee in vogue in coaching for 10 years, its just that Hawthorn did it better than those others who chose to employ it.

As for all of the other games you mentioned every statement is correct. That is, Ratten correctly identified thye things required to defeat htose sides. Problem was the players are not playing for each other and consequently were beaten. Nothing to do with planning, all to do with implemntation.

As for the media stuff...who cares?

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Go BLues

It is intriguing .......earlier in the season we were moving the ball on quickly and running the ball forward in convoys to a fast

leading Fev and crumbing Eddie.......our kicking to team mates was precision like.......and all of the experts and

commentators were saying......"they're not coming.....they've arrived!"......we were playing with enthusiasm and

confidence......and now?.......we've ground to a halt.

Have all of the other teams sussed us that well?........or?...........

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No ones listening till you make a mistake.

your observation is wrong.

If a coach had indentified thing like taht and then the team comes out and does the opposite, what does that tell u? it tell me he either doesnt have a plan to stop those trends or he cant get the guys to do what he wants, either way he is failing as a coach either tactically or in his team management skills.

All good points Warby

I think the reality is somewhere between the players need to refind the passion and committment to sacrifice for each other and the other sides unpacking what we do. Either way the boys will learn and grow

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Go BLues

Thats the recruiting (right type of player interms of attitiude), development (development of the player and the list), inexpoerience (old heads on young shoulders), morale (the winnning belief) disciplne (see recruiting) type arguements.

If we win this week, lets reassess then Ok?

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Go BLues

maybe the break just came at a really bad time and [REDACTED] up our momentum

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

Yep....you could be right there.

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No ones listening till you make a mistake.