There has been a bit of discussion on Lappin as forwards coach with a lot of people saying he needs to be replaced. It seems to me that he's been harshly judged on a comment he made at 3/4 time of the Collingwood game that our plan was to hope someone could take a big mark.

Thats easy to say and where a lot stop.

Personally, I wasn't thrilled at his appointment last year with the Bullants and in development and couldn't understand his appointment to assistant coach this season, but when you look at the raw numbers, we were the 3rd highest scoring team, scored 63 more points than last season and Fev scored 13 less goals in the H&A season so we were slightly more varied.

There were a couple of games before Waite was injured that our attack looked very dangerous. It'll be interesting to see what we come up with next season with another pre-season into Robinson, Garlett, Yarran and with Waite and Warnock fit and available.

I'd like to see the number of assistant coaches increased rather than replacing those who are there and to that degree I hope Lappin stays on.

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

If the extra goals have come from the midfield, which they appear to have, then there's no reason to think he's doing an acceptable job. Our forward attacks consist of "Kick it to Fev, unless he's double or triple teamed in which case kick it to Fev poorly".

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

We're still third in scoring so I'd suggest we're scoring enough already.

Our structure can certainly improve and hopefully next season we'll have more variety to work with.

The bomb it long to Fev problem I see as being a mix of forward structure, overall game plan in the way we bring the ball our of defence (i.e slowly) and also the mindset of the players in the midfield so while our scoring power has benefitted from the midfield kicking more goals, the midfield also contributes to the biggest knock on our forward structure.

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

Liked him as a player, but he hasn't shown anything as our forwards coach.



Can anybody show me any kind of decent structure that we have implemented this season?

The only thing we do is kick to Fevola, and when that doesn't work, throw Kreuzer down there and kick to him??????

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

Sorry ryan, but we were third in scoring, what more do you want to see from him?

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

Bradley - I see plenty of training throughout the year and as such keep an eye on the coaches and Lappin isn't up to par. Having said that - I don't expect him to be there next year and was hoping Peter Sumich came on board, but I don't think Ratts would want another senior coach in the ranks, so I can no longer see this happening.

Doc, what is it you see at training that leads you to say that?

Is it what he is doing or what he's not doing?

_________________
"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

I keep reading that Ratts would rather surround himself with numptys (ie unlikely future senior coaches) but rather than a guess, that Ratts is just covering his arse, where does this come from? Will Swann and co only realise Ratts isnt up to it if there is a "decent" coach also at the club, and so by not recruiting any, his job is secure for ever?

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Megaman I'm pretty sure the club (and Ratts himself) didn't want to put the senior coach under too much pressure by having someone there with the credentials to 'take over' should the team not perform and the pressure get too much. After all - there is already enough pressure with the President breathing down your back...but the President has to keep Ratts honest and report back to Fraser Brown over a few ales that 'our mate is doing alright'. Now - I've shocked myself in saying that last bit because I am actually a believer in Carlton nepotism - but the 'favours' might have gone a bit far. Which leads me to Lappin...



A bit of both Brad. He was really only appointed as a favour because we'd told him he had to retire...but he got to hang around the club with the boys for a couple extra years with his mate Teague who couldn't run a bath let alone a training session. Look - to simplify it...neither are committed enough...neither have the drive, the football intelligence, the ability to 'tear strips' off the boys when warranted and neither are the answer as assistant coaches. Why do we have to continually offer work experience to guys who aren't committed to the cause?

Committment was the major reservation I had with Lappin after his last couple of seasons as a player, but you do hear good things about his football knowledge prior to that. I can only take your word on his committment level at training.

If he goes and is replaced by someone better credentialed then thats great, but I won't be disappointed if he's there again next season.

_________________
"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

Lappin was a very smart footballer and it's not hard to see why he is an assistant coach. To stand in the outer looking in and claim he's no good doesn't hold much credibility in my eyes. You'd want to have a little more concrete evidence than that to dismiss him as a good assistant.

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You want the flame? Give us the marbles!!

Reckon Ratts's best chance of holding onto his job is to get the best around him...one step backwards next season and Ratts should be shown the door so best to look out for the best personnel out there and get them to the club over the summer quick smart. Our main areas requiring improvement are off field not on field.

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

IMO the best way to judge Lappin is to take Fev out of the equation and then ask yourself what is our fwd entry strategy in this instance and has it improved during the season. I would say that it would be non existent and given this it could not have improved if it didn't exist to begin with...so Lappin gets a fail and we look elsewhere sooner rather than later...

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

Fev played every game...how can you comment on our forward entries without him?

The rest of the side scored more than they did last season.

_________________
"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

Ok so you are happy with Lappins performance and the way with which our forward line structure has developed...fine. I disagree though...and the reason is because we did not explore any other avenue to goal other than Fev. Cloke and Wiggins were tried early on and failed and then dumped only to be re-incarnated again for finals. Other than that nothing much else was trialed.

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

I've already given my thoughts on our structure, what was tried and where I see its improvements coming from.

You didnt answer my question.

_________________
"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

Which was what?

_________________
"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

_________________
"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

That's about as logical as taking Judd, Murphy and Gibbs out of our midfield and judging the midfield coach on that. Fev played every game and is our best forward by a mile - of course a forward coach plans for a forward line with him in it.

Yes you plan a forward line WITH Fev not solely based on Fev...there is a difference. How was Fev's accuracy this year compared to last. All I am saying is that we did not come far this year as compared to last as being less Fev reliant up forward. So given this comes under Lappins umbrella of responsibility I rate his performance this season as being poor.

_________________
"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre