Gerard Healy has lost the plot...

[Charlie]

I'm not a fan of the 'ugly' gameplan - but I'd rather Roos stick to his guns than take heed of tripe like this article. The relative importance of the Swans to the overall AFL market is completely irrelevent to any coaching decision. Gerard should know that, and he should have more regard for his reputation as a commentator than to forget it.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,%255E20124,00.html

[SimonH]

That is a 5-bucket article, if you know what I mean. It's like he dictated it at 3am after a long night with the lads, and the newspaper just printed it without any subediting.

It's very hard to know what its central thesis is through the incoherent rambling. The only thing that's clear is that Andrew Demetriou should be forcing Paul Roos to play Barry Hall within 20 metres of the goalmouth at all times.

Genius.

[NMWBloods]

Do you want to be specific rather than just complain about Swans-bashing?

The central thesis is quite clear - the AFL needs a healthy Sydney market and the Sydney market needs an entertaining game to survive and thrive.

[Charlie]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Do you want to be specific rather than just complain about Swans-bashing?

The central thesis is quite clear - the AFL needs a healthy Sydney market and the Sydney market needs an entertaining game to survive and thrive.

Who are you asking for specifics?

[NMWBloods]

Huh?

[Charlie]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Huh?

I would have thought it was a simple question.

Do you want to be specific rather than just complain about Swans-bashing?

Who is the 'you' in this question?

[NMWBloods]

Sorry - I misread what you wrote.

I meant either of you - what specifics are you complaining about?

[Schneiderman]

Originally posted by SimonH
It's very hard to know what its central thesis is through the incoherent rambling.

Its in the last two paragraphs:

He must look to devise ways to allow stars to develop fully, and keeping players on the ground in position is the obvious starting point. Hall is the game's most important player, but not if he's playing on the wing.

It's your move, Andrew.

There are lots of ways the AFL can achieve this, but he wont state them publicly because people will get hung up on one point or another without understanding the whole issue. Not seeing the forest for the trees, if you know what I mean. Here are some for starters:

1. Keep the salary cap concessions. Without it Sydney haven't a hope of attracting top players, because such a large part of their salary disappears in cost of living. Our most recent Melbourne convert, Jolly, admitted as much on 2UE the other night.
2. Go back to a more proactive state-based draft selection for NSW and Qld. Make the second round a priority pick round for Sydney to pick the best remaining NSW player after the first round. We all know that there is extra spice to a NSW player playing for Sydney.
3. Figure out a way to isolate a FF in a one-on-one more often. Without the excitment of the Capper and Lockett eras, the dynamic appeal of AFL is waning in NSW. It is in Vic too but they have no other code to turn to

[barry]

I totally agree with the idea that its Roos' choice as to how he plays his team, and draws on its strengths. But the very reason Andy D and Healy are claiming its hurting the AFL brand, is the reason we are forced to try and make the finals year after year.

Demitriou, if you dont like the way the swans do it, get another team up here. That actually a part of the sport you can control. No point blaming the swans for AFL's failure to make further inroads into NSW, when you've ridden on the swans coat-tails for the last 10 years. There is only so much one team can do.

[SimonH]

Originally posted by Schneiderman

There are lots of ways the AFL can achieve this, but he wont state them publicly because people will get hung up on one point or another without understanding the whole issue. Not seeing the forest for the trees, if you know what I mean. Here are some for starters:

1. Keep the salary cap concessions. Without it Sydney haven't a hope of attracting top players, because such a large part of their salary disappears in cost of living. Our most recent Melbourne convert, Jolly, admitted as much on 2UE the other night.
2. Go back to a more proactive state-based draft selection for NSW and Qld. Make the second round a priority pick round for Sydney to pick the best remaining NSW player after the first round. We all know that there is extra spice to a NSW player playing for Sydney.
3. Figure out a way to isolate a FF in a one-on-one more often. Without the excitment of the Capper and Lockett eras, the dynamic appeal of AFL is waning in NSW. It is in Vic too but they have no other code to turn to

If you think that Gerard Healy 'won't state [his ideas] publicly' because people would get too upset, then you were reading a different article to me. He just doesn't have any (apart from bizarre ones). Completely agree with points 1 and 2. Disagree with point 3. Barry Hall is more value to the side playing more of a Warren Tredrea-style CHF role at the moment. The crowd gets excited when Barry gets the ball, and Barry gets more of the ball now than he would if anchored where Warwick Capper used to play.

what specifics are you complaining about?

As stated, it's very hard to give specifics where the article makes so little sense beyond some calls for action which are about as realistic as saying 'let's throw Lord Lucan onto the half-forward line and get the Beaumont children to tie down the other team's gorilla'.

'AFL needs Sydney, Sydney likes entertainment' is self-evidently true. In the same way, 'without eating food, people die' is self-evidently true. But it's not a solution to starvation in Africa. Gerard Healy has no solutions other than, seemingly, Andrew Demetriou taking the reins as coach. If Sydney (under Demetriou) actually did start "keeping players on the ground in position" (whatever that means) we would be the only team in the AFL to do so, and we would be battling against the fact that the opposition would constantly have half-a-dozen loose men whenever they got the footy.

[Schneiderman]

Originally posted by SimonH
Disagree with point 3. Barry Hall is more value to the side playing more of a Warren Tredrea-style CHF role at the moment. The crowd gets excited when Barry gets the ball, and Barry gets more of the ball now than he would if anchored where Warwick Capper used to play.

I said "a FF". Not Barry Hall, who is an All-Australian CHF. Maybe a Vogels, or Jolly, or MOL, depending on the game.

[NMWBloods]

How about the coaching staff do what they're paid for and come up with some answers rather than rely on other people giving them the solutions. It's one of the functions of the media and supporters to complain when things are going badly, but it's not up to them to provide answers - that's what the coaching staff are paid for.

[shearer]

Well said Gerard Healy, i agree with everything youve said.

[SimonH]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
How about the coaching staff do what they're paid for and come up with some answers rather than rely on other people giving them the solutions. It's one of the functions of the media and supporters to complain when things are going badly, but it's not up to them to provide answers - that's what the coaching staff are paid for.

The options are:
a We here on RWO have plenty of answers. We have opinions about team tactics, about each and every one of the players (especially LRT), about recruiting strategies, about attracting crowds, about winning flags, about the whole box and dice. Just read us.
b I'm just a supporter. It's my prerogative to whinge when we lose, but strategy, team selection and club vision are not my problem. They're the problem of those getting paid to do this stuff. Don't go looking to me for answers.

No matter what your line, you've got to take it and run with it. And maybe hope for a shepherd from a team-mate.

I'm not forcing you to pick one or the other, but geez, it should be pretty obvious that you've got to take your pick.

[NMWBloods]

Why do you have to choose? You can just whinge or provide solutions or a bit of both. Either way the coaching staff are going to do what they choose to do, not listen to some half-baked supporters or media.