The call we have to make

[DjJazzyPete]

Good thread Carter
Lots of uncertainty about the tigers going forward. We know a few of our greats will retire end of the season. A few others will be let go and probably other clubs will try to poach a couple of our players ( e.g maybe Short , Graham etc ) . Yep we need good midfielders very badly and a Jack replacement. Probably needed to take another midfielder at least in last years draft. But it looks like the players we did draft last year have a future at AFL level . Tarrant looking like a mistake .. not a fan of drafting over 30-year-old players .

Question marks on Dusty's return and even if he does return will he be with the Tigers in 2023 ?
Peggy Leaving.
Benny Gale May leave to take the AFL job ?
Hardwick will get offers Gold Coast, Port Maybe? .. Will he stay for a rebuild or go ?
Will some of our younger players make it , RCD , Dow etc ?
Lots of uncertainty!


Be a very young and different Tiger outfit in 2023 .

 

[Carter]

Good thread Carter
Lots of uncertainty about the tigers going forward. We know a few of our greats will retire end of the season. A few others will be let go and probably other clubs will try to poach a couple of our players ( e.g maybe Short , Graham etc ) . Yep we need good midfielders very badly and a Jack replacement. Probably needed to take another midfielder at least in last years draft. But it looks like the players we did draft last year have a future at AFL level . Tarrant looking like a mistake .. not a fan of drafting over 30-year-old players .

Question marks on Dusty's return and even if he does return will he be with the Tigers in 2023 ?
Peggy Leaving.
Benny Gale May leave to take the AFL job ?
Hardwick will get offers Gold Coast, Port Maybe? .. Will he stay for a rebuild or go ?
Will some of our younger players make it , RCD , Dow etc ?
Lots of uncertainty!


Be a very young and different Tiger outfit in 2023 .

We have good eyes on the VFL in here and by all reports all five recruits look great.

Imagine if we nailed three more this draft.

Plus a free agent or two.

That’s half the team under 23 and ready to fire within a couple of years.

That is so *smile* exciting.

Some thorny decisions this year but the refresh is well underway and looking spectacular.

 

[Smoking Aces]

Our focus now is for the progression of our Under 25’s. This is the group who will form our next premiership tilt.

Bolton
Balta
Baker
Graham
Ross
Dow
RCD
Ralphsmith
MRJ
Miller
Gibcus
Sonsie
Brown
Clarke
Banks
Stack
Mansell
Ryan
Collina
Cumberland
Nyuon
Martyn

Most of these players are around 21 years old.
I see 2-4 A grade talent in that lot.

Add another 3 early picks from this years draft and we are well and truly on our way.

The key for me is getting games into them. The quicker we get 50 games under their belt the better.

Potential team

Mansell Miller Nyuon
Brown Gibcus Ralphsmith
Banks Dow Ross
Baker Balta MRJ
Stack Ryan Clarke
Collina Sonsie Bolton
RCD Martyn Cumberland Graham

 

[achillesjones]

Our focus now is for the progression of our Under 25’s. This is the group who will form our next premiership tilt.

Bolton
Balta
Baker
Graham
Ross
Dow
RCD
Ralphsmith
MRJ
Miller
Gibcus
Sonsie
Brown
Clarke
Banks
Stack
Mansell
Ryan
Collina
Cumberland
Nyuon
Martyn

Most of these players are around 21 years old.
I see 2-4 A grade talent in that lot.

Add another 3 early picks from this years draft and we are well and truly on our way.

The key for me is getting games into them. The quicker we get 50 games under their belt the better.

Potential team

Mansell Miller Nyuon
Brown Gibcus Ralphsmith
Banks Dow Ross
Baker Balta MRJ
Stack Ryan Clarke
Collina Sonsie Bolton
RCD Martyn Cumberland Graham

Can't see this team dominating...

 

[Sintiger]

IMO we can’t play Jack, Lynch and Balta in the forward line together as full time forwards and if they are in the same team Balta has to at least play 2nd ruck or he has to go back. If Soldo plays (which imo he should) and Balta stays forward then Jack is the obvious casualty.

If I was picking our best team now for the future one of two things has to happen
1. Soldo in for Riewoldt or
2. Soldo in, Balta goes back for Tarrant

The other player who imo has to be close to being dropped is Edwards. For the first time in his career his feet and his mind look a little slow.

These are incredibly hard calls and if at some stage we can’t make finals then I am perfectly fine with them being carried to provide a dignified exit. Right now however if I was picking my best team I am not sure either would be in it

 

[Smoking Aces]

Can't see this team dominating...

Yes not now. But it needs to be viewed long term.

 

[The_Celebrant]

Plus a free agent or two.

Plus 3-4 from state leagues eg Pickett, Broad, Lambert.

 

[tigerlandishome]

We thought we could make another challenge. I don’t mind taking the risk for one last hurrah.
What really hurt us is the lack of talent in the coaches box.

I agree, and I also believe that the club were entitled to feel the same way and therefore have another go at it. But for various reasons already highlighted on here, it has not worked out like the club or we fans had hoped (so far). I think at this stage we have kind of made our bed and have to lie in it, and hope to get everyone on the list fit in order for the match committee to pick the best side possible each week.

I think if we wanted to be more aggressive in our approach as a club towards a rebuild, then Dimma would have had to go with the senior players being moved on and the challenge given to an new, up and coming coach like a Justin Longmuir for example.

I for one am completely comfortable in the path the club chose. They have done more than enough right over the last 10 years to be trusted. That it hasn't succeeded this season (so far) is almost irrelevant to me although not entirely painless.

I'll be interested to see what path we choose next year though.

 

[Aegean Tiger]

How selfless was Grigga in 2019? His decision to give his spot to MP contributed to the strong cultural fabric of the club that IMHO helped us win another flag in 2020.

How selfless will Jack be in 2022? Has that always been a knock? If his poor form continues then reckon its time to put the club first.....

 

[Bullarto Tiger]

How selfless was Grigga in 2019? His decision to give his spot to MP contributed to the strong cultural fabric of the club that IMHO helped us win another flag in 2020.

How selfless will Jack be in 2022? Has that always been a knock? If his poor form continues then reckon its time to put the club first.....

Very interesting proposition, AT
There's a bit to be played out here, I reckon.

 

[achillesjones]

Yes not now. But it needs to be viewed long term.

The idea that players who have been solid reserve grade performers turn into A graders is rarely the case.
After a handful of reserve grade games you can usually see which ones are genuine prospects. I can remember watching Geoff Raines playing in the reserves and he simply did not belong there. Gibcus should make it. Judson Clarke is impressive. Hugo has something. Banks, Sonsie and Brown strong possibilities.

 

[TigerFurious]

How selfless was Grigga in 2019? His decision to give his spot to MP contributed to the strong cultural fabric of the club that IMHO helped us win another flag in 2020.

How selfless will Jack be in 2022? Has that always been a knock? If his poor form continues then reckon its time to put the club first.....

Umm, pretty sure Grigg retired because he had ongoing knee and hip issues and didn’t play a single game all year in 2019. Easy to be “selfless” when you were absolutely no chance of playing.

Anyway, on Riewoldt. Why rush to push him out? He was our leading goal kicker last year (again) and third in the Coleman medal. Do those wanting to see the back of him have any idea how hard it is to find a replacement with that kind of output? Also he was contracted this year and is absolutely within his right to play out the year on his terms.

Bit more respect needs to be shown to a future hall of famer and club legend.

 

[momentai]

I agree.

someone like JR, contributes to the RFC for another 50 years,

culturally, strategically, financially.

Id honestly rather miss finals 3 years in a row, and afford Icons like Jack, Sheds, Cotchy the dignity and respect they deserve.

(didn't catchy come out of retirement for a BOG on Saturday night?)

agree, Out: plodders Aarts, Ross, Parker. If a triple premiership hero must go, surely its George? Robbie Tarrant stay on the back seat of the bus, while JR gets dropped off at the servo? Nah.

In with The Future: Dustin Martin, Sonsie, Stack, Brown, Gibcus, Clarke

Going out with dignity and the recognition they deserve has got to be based on the match committee sticking to the truth..
Cotch has earned his place on last weeks showing where on a smaller ground he did well.
Jack and Shed will have realised they havn’t earn’t their selection this week and that, that has been the situation for some time.

 

[Ghost of 29]

Fully agree that if this is the last year for JR8, Cotch and Shedda then let them play each unless they literally can’t through injury.
It’s critical to get Shedda to 300 games which will be around rd16/17 I think. That will be a huge celebration for him and the club.

 

[Merveille]

How selfless was Grigga in 2019? His decision to give his spot to MP contributed to the strong cultural fabric of the club that IMHO helped us win another flag in 2020.

How selfless will Jack be in 2022? Has that always been a knock? If his poor form continues then reckon its time to put the club first.....

By playing second ruck - old fashioned ruck rover role. Upgrade on Grigger, will mark everything dropping behind the ball as well. I think I am alone with this one

 

[Leysy Days]

Umm, pretty sure Grigg retired because he had ongoing knee and hip issues and didn’t play a single game all year in 2019. Easy to be “selfless” when you were absolutely no chance of playing.

Anyway, on Riewoldt. Why rush to push him out? He was our leading goal kicker last year (again) and third in the Coleman medal. Do those wanting to see the back of him have any idea how hard it is to find a replacement with that kind of output? Also he was contracted this year and is absolutely within his right to play out the year on his terms.

Bit more respect needs to be shown to a future hall of famer and club legend.

To add him and Chimp (possibly others) accommodated the club when we courted Lynch on big money.

i.e. They both re-engineered their contracts for an extra year into 2022 on lesser money so we could fit Tom into our salary cap.

All for re-generating the team, but calls to push these guys out when they have done the above is crazy talk - Let alone they are walk-up Hall of Famers!

 

[tigerdell]

We’re not winning the premiership this year or next. Our old champs are too old and our young ones – too young.

We’re in a transitional phase between dynasties. And we’re going to transition the right way. Like a great club would and should - but like it has never been done before. Even in the waning of our first 21st century dynasty – we will be the league benchmark.

Over the next few years we will retire our champs in a dignified way – managing their workloads and game appearances so that they can depart in a manner fitting of their stature. Correspondingly we will be putting games into our younger recruits.

By the time our new champs - Balta, Bolton, Gibcus and co are ready for their turn at premiership glory we will have a solid core of experienced players to complement them – Rioli, Short, Ralpho, Baker for instance and we would have recruited the eyes out of the rest of the competition. A selection of the likes of Hipwood, Green, Taranto, Hollands, Anderson, King will be on board (I have no doubt) because they know we’re a club that wins premierships and plays in front of 80,000 adoring fans on a bad day.

I give it 4 years until we’re tops again.

This will be a hair-raising ride no doubt – but aren’t all the best rides a little dangerous in nature?

2025. Thats gotta be our target.
So need to be top 4 /5 in 2024

 

[tigerdell]

With RCD called up, this is an opportunity in the two's midfield.
Hopefully MoJu gets a full game on-ball.
And lets give Will MartYn another shot too

The future Midfield has to be our focus

 

[Aegean Tiger]

Going out with dignity and the recognition they deserve has got to be based on the match committee sticking to the truth..
Cotch has earned his place on last weeks showing where on a smaller ground he did well.
Jack and Shed will have realised they havn’t earn’t their selection this week and that, that has been the situation for some time.

This is the crux M. Delicately poised situation. MC integrity key. Ongoing selection of non performing champs invites chaos.

 

[TigerWinner]

I disagree it is about form...you have form, you play.
If you feel the need to compensate past champs give them a job off field.