When will Bernie go !!

[leon]

Maybe the club followed some good advice albeit 12 months too late.

"So in summary the list is good but unbalanced in relation to age profile, The game plan and the limitations of our coaching staff cant get the best out of our list and ignore to our detriment some class that lays mostly dormant at lower levels. Finally our list is short changed by game day coaching.

I have always acknowledged and applaud Hardwick for the change to culture, his ability to gel the group, his basic decency and likeability. His defensive set ups have improved us immensely from our very low base.

But I put him in the Ross Lyon category. His absolute belief makes him blind to other (and mostly better) options. Like Lyon he continues to stick fat with role players who can only play up to their limit and therefore are found wanting in big games.

He skews list development towards Hardwick drones ( Note how Lyon left St Kilda's list in a shambles) at the expense of balance.

He does not trust those that make the game look easy as it goes against his DNA.

If we had picked Hinkley we would be a vastly different team even with identical players. The coach matters!!

If there are no obvious contenders Hardwick stays but we must give him some help in the areas he lacks, match day, forward structure, identifying modifications to the game plan and players who are not naturals to the game plan which or who will make the team better.

Someone like Bomber would be ideal in a football sense although he is likely to be disruptive. Maybe some senior assistants like knights or someone with a different coaching philosophy who could challenge the ruling mentality on occasions.

If Hardwick was not coach and we had say Hinkley or Clarkson Id be confident of top 2 this year as I think our list is that good.

Sadly Hardwick's greatest skill is never missing an opportunity to miss an opportunity."

Interesting to see how the rest of the year pans out

So who are you quoting Chops? I see the speech marks, but no attribution. So I'm left to guess that it must be from your own prophetic words over a year ago. How modest of you not to claim the glory for such wisdom and prescience, and leave us to presume it could only be you!

I only have time for some very brief responses. I agree with some elements: the positive qualities Hardwick brings to the club; but he played 'drones' as you call them because he had none better due to expansion teams looting the drafts, plus poor selections from FJ, so in guys like Morris and Hunt he had some running power, courage, intercept ability, but unfortunately no hurt with ball in hand, too often turnovers.

Your continuing claim of there being "to our detriment some class that lays mostly dormant at lower levels" is just unsupported by the facts. Who are you talking about? McBean? Elton? Soldo? Other young players were taken too late to assist in our finals campaigns, or have talent that is only coming through now as their bodies became AFL ready and obtained some experience. Such as Short, Rioli, Menadue.

Bomber is a fruit-loop, and highly compromised by his contact with Dank at and prior to the Bummers. Clarkson - how is he going now without the great list of players in their prime, topped up with excellent quality FAs ripped off other, weaker clubs?

I question Dimma's overly defensive coaching style, his game-day decisiveness and strategic sense as well, but coaches can change, grow in confidence and improve too. Given far better support and finally some decent kids coming through, despite the mostly inept drafting of FJ and Blair's overly optimistic selections, Hardwick deserved this year to show us whether he has what it takes or not.

Still to be decided IMHO. But he's on the UP.

 

[Leysy Days]

Perhaps I'm going mad, or maybe just getting old n senile. Don't see all that much difference to our game style this year compared to our game of 2013, still swarming n charging forward, trying to use the corridor to attack. Except for the fact that we are working far better defensively all over the ground, instead of just all out attack n nil defense from our forwards n mids.

Yep your going mad.

We are the longest kicking team in the league this year.

Don't have the figures at hand but bet my bottom $$$ we weren't in 13'.

The change in game style from last season is the biggest leysy can recall from any team ever.

Complete 180 that has enabled many of the same players to flourish. Just shows how important getting that right is, as poor performing players suddenly improve to good and good become great.

 

[Baron Samedi]

So who are you quoting Chops? I see the speech marks, but no attribution. So I'm left to guess that it must be from your own prophetic words over a year ago. How modest of you not to claim the glory for such wisdom and prescience, and leave us to presume it could only be you!

I only have time for some very brief responses.

I think we need a new server for the long version.

 

[Baron Samedi]

Yep your going mad.

We are the longest kicking team in the league this year.

Don't have the figures at hand but bet my bottom $$$ we weren't in 13'.

The change in game style from last season is the biggest leysy can recall from any team ever.

Complete 180 that has enabled many of the same players to flourish. Just shows how important getting that right is, as poor performing players suddenly improve to good and good become great.

Yep, maximise your talent. That's all any good coach should be doing.

Dimma got a decent model BMW and was terrified of fifth gear.

 

[AngryAnt]

Yep your going mad.

We are the longest kicking team in the league this year.

Don't have the figures at hand but bet my bottom $$$ we weren't in 13'.

The change in game style from last season is the biggest leysy can recall from any team ever.

Complete 180 that has enabled many of the same players to flourish. Just shows how important getting that right is, as poor performing players suddenly improve to good and good become great.

All this is true - longer more direct kicking, less handball, more tackles, more contested possessions, less uncontested. Tackling has been the most remarkable turnaround IMO.

But significant change/rotation in playing personnel also helps - Caddy/Lambert/Meatball freeing up Dusty/Cotch to be more outside and run forward. Addition of Butler/George/Shai to harass and tackle and kick smart goals in addition to Rioli. Return to form of Astbury.

 

[leon]

I think we need a new server for the long version.

So who's post was longer - Lambchops or mine? Selective comment? As if you're always Mr. Brevity.

 

[leon]

Yep, maximise your talent. That's all any good coach should be doing.

Dimma got a decent model BMW and was terrified of fifth gear.

No, just traded the Hyundai Sonata in for a Subaru Impreza.

 

[lamb22]

So who are you quoting Chops? I see the speech marks, but no attribution. So I'm left to guess that it must be from your own prophetic words over a year ago. How modest of you not to claim the glory for such wisdom and prescience, and leave us to presume it could only be you!

I only have time for some very brief responses. I agree with some elements: the positive qualities Hardwick brings to the club; but he played 'drones' as you call them because he had none better due to expansion teams looting the drafts, plus poor selections from FJ, so in guys like Morris and Hunt he had some running power, courage, intercept ability, but unfortunately no hurt with ball in hand, too often turnovers.

Your continuing claim of there being "to our detriment some class that lays mostly dormant at lower levels" is just unsupported by the facts. Who are you talking about? McBean? Elton? Soldo? Other young players were taken too late to assist in our finals campaigns, or have talent that is only coming through now as their became AFL ready and obtained some experience. Such as Short, Rioli, Menadue.

Bomber is a fruit-loop, and highly compromised by his contact with Dank at and prior to the Bummers. Clarkson - how is he going now without the great list of players in their prime, topped up with excellent quality FAs ripped off other, weaker clubs?

I question Dimma's overly defensive coaching style, his game-day decisiveness and strategic sense as well, but coaches can change, grow in confidence and improve too. Given far better support and finally some decent kids coming through, despite the mostly inept drafting of FJ and Blair's overly optimistic selections, Hardwick deserved this year to show us whether he has what it takes or not.

Still to be decided IMHO. But he's on the UP.

Cheers Leon.

Some points. The point about ignoring youth covers Hardwick's reign. For example his preference to go with Miller, Mcguane, Thomas, Petterd, Azza Edwards et al. I think the Jinx put up some stats which basically showed we were the worst at getting games into kids or keeping draft picks over the Hardwick years.

Your point about Bomber is well made. That's why I said he was disruptive. The key point is there needed to be another voice. The focus on a skills or attack minded senior assistant with nous was the key take out.

On Clarkson, he took on a rabble in 2004 and yes he got lucky with some draft picks, but then fashioned a game plan which took advantage of his players talents.

His game plan got found out in 2009 and then he slowly refashioned the team. Again yes he got lucky with FA but he noted that they lacked leg speed and key defenders and in came Smith Hill and Lake. Hawks downfall this year not just losing Mitchell and Lewis added to the overall decline of the list. Losing Hill was massive. Your point about having down years is pretty ridiculous. You judge a coach's body of works and Clarko will go down as one of the best.

 

[AngryAnt]

Yep, maximise your talent. That's all any good coach should be doing.

Dimma got a decent model BMW and was terrified of fifth gear.

Yet this year he's going great with AA mid-season honours and you are adamant the car needs a complete engine rebuild.

If that's not maximising available talent then I don't know what is. Truly superb effort by Dimma to have us top four with a clapped out 1988 Corolla.

 

[year of the tiger]

Yet this year he's going great with AA mid-season honours and you are adamant the car needs a complete engine rebuild.

If that's not maximising available talent then I don't know what is. Truly superb effort by Dimma to have us top four with a clapped out 1988 Corolla.

Yep - the AA honours just show that those outside the club respect what Dimma has done with the players at hand.

 

[Ian4]

I'm pretty sure that sentiment was universal and not just the domain of the "anti-Hardwick".

I hope you're right (for once).

 

[toby64]

Yep - the AA honours just show that those outside the club respect what Dimma has done with the players at hand.

Yep.

I would guess that there would be very few non-Tiger supporters who believe that Dimma has had a premiership worthy list at any stage during his tenure and his coaching has single handedly prevented the club from securing its 11th premiership, as some one-eyed Tigers around here would have us believe.

 

[TigerMasochist]

Yep your going mad.

We are the longest kicking team in the league this year.

Don't have the figures at hand but bet my bottom $$$ we weren't in 13'.

The change in game style from last season is the biggest leysy can recall from any team ever.

Complete 180 that has enabled many of the same players to flourish. Just shows how important getting that right is, as poor performing players suddenly improve to good and good become great.

FMD Leyser, go easy. Where did i bring up last years game plan? Yep, I'll agree that the change in game style from last year is massive, but ANY change in game plan compared to last year's shambolic pile of crap would be classed as massive.

We may well be kicking longer more often than 2013 but without specific numbers I doubt it's a massive difference. Still think it's a very similar style of play to what we were running in 2013. But with the smaller more mobile forward line and quality, mature midfield, we've finally got the all ground defensive aspect Dimma's been hunting for these last few years.
Apart from the Crowbaits nightmare this year we've been in every game right up to our eye balls, even in games where sides get control n look to dominate. They struggle to hurt us on the scoreboard due to Dimma's defensive requirements, we're always in a position to score briskly, sometimes early in games but often late when games start to open up a bit.

Also helps with the second tier being bolstered over summer by newbies and some mature players uninjured. Bunch of kids that got a taste last year putting the hand up again doesn't hurt either.

 

[tigertime2]

I have only one question - who selected Morris for the Adelaide game?

 

[Al Bundy]

I have only one question - who selected Morris for the Adelaide game?

I think Neil Balme was rubbing his own back in disbelief during the game that day. LOL

 

[lamb22]

I have only one question - who selected Morris for the Adelaide game?

That's when Hardwick said "OK fellas your new fandangled game plan is OK but a bit flashy for my liking. Come see how a real coach operates!"

 

[tigermike]

Hardwick's interview on SEN yesterday revealed how he knew he was close to being sacked last year and what he did to make changes for this season. Highlights of that interview will be replayed on SEN today.

 

[spook]

I heard that interview. Interesting notes, from memory:
- Club is confident Griff will play again, but unsure if it will be this year.
- As things got worse last year, Dimma doubled down and worked harder, not smarter. Didn't listen to advice. Accepted he needed to and gave credit to Balme and new assistants for their input. He wasn't sure what Balme's role would be coming in but he's been invaluable with his wisdom, advice, and taking the load off Dimma by doing the 'other' stuff.
- Jack will coach one day. Understands the game as well as anyone Dimma's seen. Needed to work on other aspects and has, hence v/c.
- Other leaders without titles include Astbury, Grimes, Edwards, Vlastuin.

 

[Blind Turn]

I heard that interview. Interesting notes, from memory:
- Club is confident Griff will play again, but unsure if it will be this year.
- As things got worse last year, Dimma doubled down and worked harder, not smarter. Didn't listen to advice. Accepted he needed to and gave credit to Balme and new assistants for their input. He wasn't sure what Balme's role would be coming in but he's been invaluable with his wisdom, advice, and taking the load off Dimma by doing the 'other' stuff.
- Jack will coach one day. Understands the game as well as anyone Dimma's seen. Needed to work on other aspects and has, hence v/c.
- Other leaders without titles include Astbury, Grimes, Edwards, Vlastuin.

He actually told my brother at a corporate gig on Thursday that we are actually kicking it backwards more this year than last!!

 

[Rowdy]

Dimma is mid season AA coach of the year according to the site that cant be named.

God bless 'im. ;D

Good PR for the Tiges. Better than being laughed at I suppose.

He will get a pat on the back from me if and when he delivers a flag, I don't give a rat's for the mid season AA, or the end of season AA for that matter. Only a Flag = success