This was sent to me about a RFC run fan forum recently.
I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere else and figured it had some interesting points.
I hope the author doesn't mind it being reprinted here, but did state he believes the purpose of getting a small group together to spread the message was probably the objective so I'm guessing he won't mind.
The club put on a fan forum tonight for a few people - about 50
members to go along and hear what Craig Cameron had to say.
I guess the thinking is that they're trying to put there message out
to fans and hope it spreads widely.
Pinching what someone else had to say - it captures most of the points
- and adding a few comments myself.
--
Simon Matthews was the compere, and Craig Cameron gave a power-point
presentation about the club, in particular the footy dept, and where
we're heading.
Cameron comes across as a sound and intelligent guy, with his feet on
the ground; very little spin, just matter of fact; answered questions
honestly and sensibly. I think this guy is under-appreciated, for I
see him as a reasonable and methodical manager who goes about things
in a low-key and respectful manner.
I wish I'd been game enough to take notes, but I wasn't sure if that'd
be frowned upon. I've forgotten so much of what was said.
I'll just give what I can presently re-collect, all jumbled up and not
in the logical and coherent way in which it was all presented.
- Cameron is the general manager of football, and his role is to
basically manage all the various arms of the footy dept, whether that
be recruiting, list management, strength and conditioning, etc
- 2010-2011 was about transformation across all areas, whereas from
now on it is much more about winning games to get into the
finals.Since 2009 we've turned over more than half the list, got
almost an entirely new coaching dept, more development coaches, beefed
up so many of the areas across the footy dept. In the past we spent
too much money, relatively, on the coaches and player wages, and
nowhere near enough on recruiting, development, etc.
- This season we tried to pump 500 games into our 22 and under
players, but achieved 600.
- The big improvers this year were Cotch, Martin, Rance, Vickery and
Grimes. I noted Nahas wasn't listed, read into that what you will with
regard to the rumours about him.
- they probably won't start the upgrade of the oval until aug/sept
next year, although they will next week flatten and clean-up the
centre wicket area which will improve things for this coming
pre-season
- They will be getting a seasoned coach to assist Damien next year. I
asked a question if it was worth reading into this about his match day
performance, CC said they were happy with his match day coaching,
although much of it has been about our gameplan, our players, not the
opposition.
- They have an integrated approach to trading and drafting. Each
current AFL player we look at re trading is given a score out of 1000,
and each draftable (eg u/18, state leagues) is given the same. If a
player that we could trade pick 18 for has a (current & potential
future) higher score than the youngster we would rate at pick 18, they
then may discuss/consider that trading that pick is the best way to
go.This is just an example, not an intention to use pick 18, please
note. Recognise we'll get anything between 12-18 at the moment.
- Astbury put on 9kgs this season - perhaps that was too much too soon
as he, and his body, found it hard to adjust. (My read - could his
kneecap have been caused by a slightly out of balance leg, or was he
struggling with his size slowing him and his agility on field?)
- re international scholarships - we need to wait and see if this
approach works. Can a guy who hasn't grown up on footy have the footy
intelligence to pick his way through the forward press, for instance?
At the moment, our PNG scholarships are essentially carried free for
the club.
- we will be looking at the state leagues re drafting, no doubt. We
will also be waiting on GWS re their plans for the 17yo mini-draft, we
are talking to them.
- every first and second year player gets all their training recorded
and analysed with a view to self-analysis and development, although
the ones who graduate to senior teams (Martin, Batchelor, Conca) have
minimal involvement.
- The List Management committe is made up of:
Hartley
Jackson
Cameron
Hardwick
Gale
Stahl (the finance guy)
- Hardwick has a fair bit of say in trade deals, but very little in
draft selections
I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere else and figured it had some interesting points.
I hope the author doesn't mind it being reprinted here, but did state he believes the purpose of getting a small group together to spread the message was probably the objective so I'm guessing he won't mind.
The club put on a fan forum tonight for a few people - about 50
members to go along and hear what Craig Cameron had to say.
I guess the thinking is that they're trying to put there message out
to fans and hope it spreads widely.
Pinching what someone else had to say - it captures most of the points
- and adding a few comments myself.
--
Simon Matthews was the compere, and Craig Cameron gave a power-point
presentation about the club, in particular the footy dept, and where
we're heading.
Cameron comes across as a sound and intelligent guy, with his feet on
the ground; very little spin, just matter of fact; answered questions
honestly and sensibly. I think this guy is under-appreciated, for I
see him as a reasonable and methodical manager who goes about things
in a low-key and respectful manner.
I wish I'd been game enough to take notes, but I wasn't sure if that'd
be frowned upon. I've forgotten so much of what was said.
I'll just give what I can presently re-collect, all jumbled up and not
in the logical and coherent way in which it was all presented.
- Cameron is the general manager of football, and his role is to
basically manage all the various arms of the footy dept, whether that
be recruiting, list management, strength and conditioning, etc
- 2010-2011 was about transformation across all areas, whereas from
now on it is much more about winning games to get into the
finals.Since 2009 we've turned over more than half the list, got
almost an entirely new coaching dept, more development coaches, beefed
up so many of the areas across the footy dept. In the past we spent
too much money, relatively, on the coaches and player wages, and
nowhere near enough on recruiting, development, etc.
- This season we tried to pump 500 games into our 22 and under
players, but achieved 600.
- The big improvers this year were Cotch, Martin, Rance, Vickery and
Grimes. I noted Nahas wasn't listed, read into that what you will with
regard to the rumours about him.
- they probably won't start the upgrade of the oval until aug/sept
next year, although they will next week flatten and clean-up the
centre wicket area which will improve things for this coming
pre-season
- They will be getting a seasoned coach to assist Damien next year. I
asked a question if it was worth reading into this about his match day
performance, CC said they were happy with his match day coaching,
although much of it has been about our gameplan, our players, not the
opposition.
- They have an integrated approach to trading and drafting. Each
current AFL player we look at re trading is given a score out of 1000,
and each draftable (eg u/18, state leagues) is given the same. If a
player that we could trade pick 18 for has a (current & potential
future) higher score than the youngster we would rate at pick 18, they
then may discuss/consider that trading that pick is the best way to
go.This is just an example, not an intention to use pick 18, please
note. Recognise we'll get anything between 12-18 at the moment.
- Astbury put on 9kgs this season - perhaps that was too much too soon
as he, and his body, found it hard to adjust. (My read - could his
kneecap have been caused by a slightly out of balance leg, or was he
struggling with his size slowing him and his agility on field?)
- re international scholarships - we need to wait and see if this
approach works. Can a guy who hasn't grown up on footy have the footy
intelligence to pick his way through the forward press, for instance?
At the moment, our PNG scholarships are essentially carried free for
the club.
- we will be looking at the state leagues re drafting, no doubt. We
will also be waiting on GWS re their plans for the 17yo mini-draft, we
are talking to them.
- every first and second year player gets all their training recorded
and analysed with a view to self-analysis and development, although
the ones who graduate to senior teams (Martin, Batchelor, Conca) have
minimal involvement.
- The List Management committe is made up of:
Hartley
Jackson
Cameron
Hardwick
Gale
Stahl (the finance guy)
- Hardwick has a fair bit of say in trade deals, but very little in
draft selections
