Does anyone else think we can turn things around quickly?

[Bulluss]

While walking back to my car last night, i was discussing with Jackstar the fact that i didnt think it would take much for us to turn our fortunes around.

I am not saying that we just go ahead and sack Wallace and start fresh with a new coach.

I do believe that our best 22 is a good line up and would be very competitive with most teams.

I actually think Wallace can turn us around quickly next year but he would have to change his thinking and approach to the game. Certainly a different coach with the right capabilities could turn us around quick smart.

We need to change our game plan and also the whole outlook to the game. I speak to many different people about our training and it appears that we play as we train. Its a common saying, but true more often than not.

Wallace needs to undergo an extreme make over and maybe admit that some of his thinkings about how football should be played arent right and they are off the mark.

Wallace seems to me to be a person who changes with the times. Well this is certainly the time for change, try something different. Play more direct or develop some new strategies.

What are peoples thoughts? Do you think our team is that bad?

Sure our depth needs to be improved but i think our onfield performance could change fairly quickly if we try something different.

[Ramps]

The bulldogs run and carry game hasnt won them a flag. Wallace coached them for how long...then Rohde coached...and now eades coaching them. Theyre not going to win a flag with that type of game. Its good in theory but it doesnt work when it counts. I agree Plough needs to think about how he'll go about it for the future.

[Tigermonk]

Richmond have major injuries to the side of course it can be turned around

[mightytiges]

The AFL is made up of mostly of mediocre sides (Essendon being one of them) which we aren't too far away from even in our current state. Injuries, form, the draw and other subtle things can make the difference between scrapping in the Eight and finishing in the bottom 4. A tweaking of the gameplan, better luck on the injury front and more experience in the cubs could see us rise again quickly next year so I agree on that front Bully.

However we're a long long long way from being a top side. The side is very young and inexperienced meaning we lack physical presence and are less drilled (although Petts should know better by now at his age than to stuff up tempo footy by bombing long to Richo ). Our skill level is also subpar. We are our own worse enemy in most games due to basic schoolboy turnovers.

We are improving so I'm still positive but it's going to take 3-4 more years. Better off copping the rough side of dodgy rules now and use the draft rules to our advantage so we rise with a classy list with depth.

[Moi]

We're a few years away.  Anyone who thinks success is just around the corner and says if Wallace does this or that, we're there is just in fairyland
Unless we can get players instantly in to fill that huge void we have in experienced players, we're going nowhere for a while.  I'd still prefer to keep on recruiting kids though and have some patience, but I think those who want the instant success have none and the club will fold to their wishes again in recruiting hacks.  Pray they don't though and continue doing what they're doing.
I'm rapt in some of our kids coming through, but they're not seasoned veterans despite how they're going, and they need time to develop and definitely not undue pressure in expecting them to be finals candidates next year. 

[mightytiges]

Well said Moi  .

[Moi]

Essendon are a young side too, but they had 1000 games more experience than us last night according to SEN.  How can you expect miracles like that?  Just unrealistic.

[WilliamPowell]

Sacking a coach isn't going to fix things.

We are a young side - not an excuse a fact. But the last 2 weeks in particular I've seen some things that makes me think that things aren't as gloomy as what the media experts and some of our supporters are painting.

I watched Thursfield last night and thought yeah I reckon we have a kid who is a natural defender and given a good run will be our FB for the next decade.

I've watched Polak all season and have been impressed but the last 4-5 weeks when he has been settled at CHB I've thought finally may have 10 year player here.

I look at the kids in the mid-field and think geesh we've got Deledio, Polo, Tambling and Foley who are all very different but isn't that what you need in the middle. I honestly believe they just need time. Going into 2008 they all would have played 50-70 games

I see a kid like Edwards who is just a natural footballer as opposed to an athlete and think "hell-lay-loo-ya" - that's what we need. Ditto with Jack Reiwoldt, Cleve Hughes.

I watch the kids running around at Coburg in particular Casserley and think yep that kid maybe a chance if he can get and stay fit...

But despite seeing all these things I now know that it is going to take time.

And I do reckon if we can win one game it will start things ... we will get on a bit of a role.

I don't think we are that bad - actually I reckon we are on par with a number of other teams in the comp. We like Melb have had a number of injuries that have been costly - none more so than Simmonds. There are about 3 amybe 4 standout teams in this comp and the rest well on a given day ....

And I know we've lost 9 games but with the exception of the Geelong debacle we've been bloody close in 7 of them.