This is our biggest issue atm and one that will cause us the most problems moving forward. We no longer have any leaders. We have great teammates and great mateship at the club but we lack any real leaders. That is what is causing all these fade outs and complete chokes this year. I don't think it is a lack of effort or want.
The problem is the actual leaders we do have are either not getting on the park due to injury or the ones that are getting on the park are no longer able to exert their influence due to ageing legs.
I see Cotchin as one of the greatest leaders this club has produced and really hasn't been given the credit he deserves in the AFL Community as one of the great Captains of our game. Unfortunately injuries and age have limited his output.
Jack R. Another leader who just can't influence games anymore.
Sheds. Ditto
Lambert. Another unsung hero who has been a massive leader within the club. Not sure people realise just how much we miss this guy. Mentally one of the best leaders we have had and in a crucial part of the ground being the midfield.
I also think Lynch is a good leader and should have been looked at for the captaincy.
In our dominant years we had some great leaders throughout the spine of the team. Dave, Houli and Rance in the backline. Cotch, Lambert and Grigg in the middle. Jack, Caddy and Sheds in the fwd line. That is almost all gone now.
The co-captaincy is a sign that we lack any real leader outside of Cotch. Grimes and Nank are not leaders of men. They are great teammates. Great players. Great Clubmen. They cannot lead others around them though when faced with pressure. Grimes for all his positives is a panic merchant when under extreme pressure. Same with Nank. They were the wrong choices.
The biggest concern is that there really isn't much outside of them. I thought Jack Graham could be the next captain but he is another one that cannot lead. Ross had the potential but is struggling to keep his spot.
Off the field is also telling. Our success and the soft cap have been our biggest issue. We lost some significant leaders throughout the years. The most notable being Innes, Leppa and Fly. Not sure bringing in Teague was the right move. Problem is we don't have the cap to go out and grab a Hodge who i think would be fantastic as an off field leader. Outside of him i'd be trying my darnest to get Grigg back at the club.
Then there is the official leadership. Peggy will be gone. Gale, how much hunger is left after achieving what he set out to do with the 3-0-75. Balmey. He's hardly sighted anymore and how much involvement does he actually have?
Think we are in for a lot more pain as those drafts during our dominant years have not yielded any leadership at all. RCD, Dow, Martyn, Cumberland, Aarts, Miller etc not a leader amongst them.
I think the club has addressed it with the likes of Gibcus and Sonsie who i do think will give us some leadership in years to come but not sure what we do in the short term to remain relevant. If we could recruit someone like Touk Miller for now that would be ideal. For this alone i wonder if we retire Jack R, Lambert and Sheds and give Cotch one more year.
The problem is the actual leaders we do have are either not getting on the park due to injury or the ones that are getting on the park are no longer able to exert their influence due to ageing legs.
I see Cotchin as one of the greatest leaders this club has produced and really hasn't been given the credit he deserves in the AFL Community as one of the great Captains of our game. Unfortunately injuries and age have limited his output.
Jack R. Another leader who just can't influence games anymore.
Sheds. Ditto
Lambert. Another unsung hero who has been a massive leader within the club. Not sure people realise just how much we miss this guy. Mentally one of the best leaders we have had and in a crucial part of the ground being the midfield.
I also think Lynch is a good leader and should have been looked at for the captaincy.
In our dominant years we had some great leaders throughout the spine of the team. Dave, Houli and Rance in the backline. Cotch, Lambert and Grigg in the middle. Jack, Caddy and Sheds in the fwd line. That is almost all gone now.
The co-captaincy is a sign that we lack any real leader outside of Cotch. Grimes and Nank are not leaders of men. They are great teammates. Great players. Great Clubmen. They cannot lead others around them though when faced with pressure. Grimes for all his positives is a panic merchant when under extreme pressure. Same with Nank. They were the wrong choices.
The biggest concern is that there really isn't much outside of them. I thought Jack Graham could be the next captain but he is another one that cannot lead. Ross had the potential but is struggling to keep his spot.
Off the field is also telling. Our success and the soft cap have been our biggest issue. We lost some significant leaders throughout the years. The most notable being Innes, Leppa and Fly. Not sure bringing in Teague was the right move. Problem is we don't have the cap to go out and grab a Hodge who i think would be fantastic as an off field leader. Outside of him i'd be trying my darnest to get Grigg back at the club.
Then there is the official leadership. Peggy will be gone. Gale, how much hunger is left after achieving what he set out to do with the 3-0-75. Balmey. He's hardly sighted anymore and how much involvement does he actually have?
Think we are in for a lot more pain as those drafts during our dominant years have not yielded any leadership at all. RCD, Dow, Martyn, Cumberland, Aarts, Miller etc not a leader amongst them.
I think the club has addressed it with the likes of Gibcus and Sonsie who i do think will give us some leadership in years to come but not sure what we do in the short term to remain relevant. If we could recruit someone like Touk Miller for now that would be ideal. For this alone i wonder if we retire Jack R, Lambert and Sheds and give Cotch one more year.
