Claw our list isnt that flash. I cant understand why people seem to think we have a good list. 4 years ago we had the worst list since the dying days of fitzroy. We added Houli and Grigg and Maric. Ok so they have improved us a little bit but we are not a top 4 side. We are a 8 to 10 side and thats about it IMHO. If we cop injuries we would be a 12 to 14 side.
imo ramps the real difference between 4 yrs ago and now is the base from which we need to continue to build from. most dont realise it or at the least acknowledge it but we are still rebuilding and still need to do a lot of it.
what houli and grigg were was value add players. they were upgrades who replaced below standard players.i have no problem with it in fact we dont do enough of it in some ways. imo i think its easy enough to upgrade again on deficient player types like houli and grigg.
imo big ivan was a bargain but we need to make absolutely sure theres a decent ruckman coming behind him that is where we have regularly failed. ivan is now what 27 turning 28 succession planning and ensuring there is a continuation has been poor.
imo we continue to put all of our eggs in one basket or too few baskets. we also continue to hang onto players for too long we have to learn from the past. imo we continue to struggle with list management.
we have 17 18 juniors that is 18 to 21 yr olds. plus about 9 who are development players still 22 -24. in a lot of these cases its too early to say what they will become.
unlike 4 yrs ago we have a lot of youth and a lot of potential. we need to see a good chunk of that potential turn into bona fide players not glass half fulls that we have had to endure for yrs on end.
i think our mature players and vets continue to be the problem. not enough numbers in thses brackets and most certainly not enough quality and leaders. far too many of them are battlers but we are getting closer to fixing this problem just with juniors and development players coming thru.
mature/vets 25 plus are
tuck newman stephenson all have to be close to retirement/delisting.
jackson white, nahas mcguane, lonergan, knights king, derickx a edwards all mature/vet battlers who have real deficiencies or they struggled to get regular games.
chaplin foley deledio maric are the decent mature players. some would argue about these even.
we all know we have the makings of a very very good midfield its everywhere else that needs an awful lot of attention. yet we still need to add to the mids.
there is a lot of building blocks in place and the quality of the list is improving every yr albeit slowly.
thing is there is a lot of other sides in a similar position hence we are a chance to scrape into the 8. for about 12 teams there is no guarantees.
imo hardwick has done a pretty decent job to date he has made us pretty competetive. but i think we should not be expecting a real lot with the current list or the stage the current list is at.
