The Messiah Complex

[Leeroy]

Greetings Folks

I don't write here very often, but I've writ a footy column, The 'Mopsy' Fraser Cup, for several years and... it's time to a few ideas were aired.

The final score tonight flattered Sydney and will be just good enough for the Messiah to reckon he?s on the right track and select the same ol? same ol?. When they were bad they were diabolical. Several examples of sheer cluelessness reflect badly upon the whole set up. My personal faves were LRT spoiling a certain mark with about 90mm to spare, only it was Brett Kirk?s mark. Paul Bevan gathered a loose ball 40m out from goal and sprinted forward ? with clear space around him, he handballed to a player heading in the opposite direction. Both these led directly to Geelong goals and there were 4 or 5 other such unforced errors with similar results.

Just why would you drop young fast players like Jack and Veszpremi when playing the fastest team in the League? Crouch and Fosdike won?t be around for another flag, give the kids a run. Two weeks to go, maybe three ? maybe four. But that will certainly be it.

For the hell of it, assuming good news on the injury front, here?s my team for the rest of the season, with a view to the next:

F Bird O?Loughlin Veszpremi
HF McVeigh Hall O?Keefe
C Kennelly Moore Malceski
HB RichardsRoberts-Thom Mattner
B Kirk Barry Bolton
R Jolly Bolton Goodes
I Barlow Schmidt Buchanan Bevan

I expect some controversy ? why play Leo Barry? ?Cos I reckon he?s lost the edge of pace and agility and should retire before embarassment catches up with him, but he?s a smart player and others can learn from him while he?s still there.

LRT? Three years ago, he was near BOG in a winning Grand Final and seemed like a CHB we could built a backline around for the next 7-8 years. He?s missed a lot of football through injury and has hardly had a chance to settle in a position this year. At 24 and with some great football in his history, he deserves a chance.

O?Loughlin?s still a great player and has another two years in him.

Hall?s contracted for next year, but his form in the last two seasons makes his meetings with NFL scouts look like smart timing ? as a punter, tho, not a tight end, as has been bizarrely rumoured ? but his form in the last few weeks hasn?t been too bad.

Kirk gets a back pocket, cos I really admire the guy. He deserves the chance to retire when he chooses, and I hope he makes that choice in the next few weeks.

Jolly?ll have a tough time rucking all day, but Hall, Goodes and LRT can pinch-hit while he takes a breather. Blighty left a ruckman (Pittman?) on the bench all day once and put Trent Ormond-Allen, all of 183cm, in his place. Might?ve been the same year he called Pittman ?pathetic?. But Pittman?s got a premiership medal or two.

Basically, we get game time into the best of the kids. My dad, my Swans mates, most everyone sitting around us tonight and every other game I?ve been at this year, thinks much the same thing. It?s time for a change.

The Messiah has more personal power within the club than any other AFL coach. His ego has blinded him to the bigger picture. I haven?t spoken to anyone who, more or less, doesn?t think that Roos has run his race. Robert Walls was dumped by Carlton a season and half after coaching them to a flag (twas a Warwick Capper goal that sealed his fate!). Carlton are a ruthless club, which is why, after beating the Swans in ?45, they won another nine flags before the Swans played in another Grand Final.

I?m also highly suspicious of a coach that ordains his own successor three years in advance, as Roos has done with Longmire. Is that a power trip or what? Is it really the coach?s job to do so? Take Carlton, again (I don?t have any affinity with the Blues at all, they?re just a convenient reference) ? the board dumped Pagan, the board appointed Ratten, and he?s shaping up pretty well. Gary Ayres didn?t appoint Mark Thompson, Frank Costa did.

In any sphere of endeavour, if you don?t constantly re-invent yrself, you fall behind. The very fact that Sydney have beaten just one time in the top eight at the time of writing says it all.

[Bas]

Greetings Folks
Take Carlton, again (I don?t have any affinity with the Blues at all, they?re just a convenient reference) ? the board dumped Pagan, the board appointed Ratten, and he?s shaping up pretty well. Gary Ayres didn?t appoint Mark Thompson, Frank Costa did..

Although Thompson receieved his share of critics before Geelong transformed into the team it is today.

Both teams you mention have got quality stock. Sadly ours is based on players trying their best. Our 2005 GF win was a blessing and good luck now in hindsight.

[BSA5]

You hope Kirk retires in the next few weeks?





WWWWWWHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYY????????!!!!!!!! I don't suppose you've noticed the fact that he has probably been our best player this year? If Kirk was playing like @@@@, yeah, OK, maybe it would be time up, but he's playing as well as he ever has. I can only hope retirement is a long way off for Kirky.

[Seagoon]

LRT was excellent in the 05 GF. I dunno whats going on there. He seems to have gone down hill. He may be lacking confidence? If that's the case, I really hope he doesn't look at this site ;-) my recent posts included...

[Leeroy]

LRT hasn't had the chance to play football regularly in the position he seemed so well suited to, defensive CHB. He really needs the opportunity to settle back in there and not have to worry about filling in all over the ground. As a late convert to AFL, he doesn't have the inbuilt nous to be a utility, a role that Craig Bolton could fill easily.

BSA5, Kirk is a tremendous player, one of the best inside players of the last 20 years. But he has lost pace and is continually outrun. In the '07 final, Dale Thomas marked on the wing, looked around, saw the only Swans player nearby was Kirk, and took off on a long run.

Let's hope Freo do their usual and cough up a decent player and a good draft pick for Davis. Tho I don't think he should be traded - he was forced out.

[liz]

BSA5, Kirk is a tremendous player, one of the best inside players of the last 20 years. But he has lost pace and is continually outrun.

Kirk hasn't lost pace. He never had pace.

[robamiee]

LRT needs a week in the ressies to get his confidence, because he has none and is like a lost soul out there doing him or the team no good.

[mcs]

Imo kirk should play till he calls it quits. Sure, he cant run for the life of him but his work around the stoppage and footy brain is second to few in the league. Without him in the middle and leading from the front, we wouldnt be close imo to being in the eight. And just how you expect him to play in a back pocket when you say he cant run anymore? He can still more then effectively tag a player out of the game if need be, and imo is close to the best leader in the comp. And if you are going to keep Leo in there for others to learn from, surely the same must apply for Kirky.

As for only playing one ruckman, why would you do that? We all know Everitt is past it, but from all reports Currie is more then promising in the reserves. If your so much for playing the kids, then why wouldnt you have him or one of our other beanpoles in there? I agree that Jack and Ves should not have been dropped, but you also cant really criticise Crouch on the form he has shown since coming back. On current form, he is well and truly in our best team.

And you cant validly imo say that you wouldnt pick Fosdike because he wont be around for another flag when Jolly, Kennelly and Craig Bolton are only 1 year younger the Fosdike and Jude Bolton and Goodes are the same age. If Fosdikes age is the cut off for not being around for the next flag, then there wont be many players left in the team will there.

One last bugging point from me (Enough already I know) but you surely in your team would stick Leo Barry in a pocket and Craig Bolton at FB. Bolton is up there with the very best defenders in the game and shouldnt be wasted in a pocket.

After all that, I totally agree with your idea! We need to get as much game time into our good young players while we have some of the older players who have much they can pass on still around at the club. But to play several players out of position (Ie Kirk, Craig Bolton, Craig Bird- Im not sure how playing in the forward pocket will help him become the gun midfielder he is showing the signs of becoming) and not pick necessarily the best 22 in terms of balance is probably only going to hinder the progress of these players.

As for Roos, I dont know what to think to be honest. The current gameplan is well and truly past the use by date, but that is not to say that imo that Roos could not be the one to completely change our gameplan in the right direction either. And as pointed out, the players on your roster make a huge difference as well.


And on a sidepoint Bas, no insultment mate but there was no ****** way that good luck was the only thing that brought about the 05 flag! Sure luck had some part to play in it (As it does in probably every flag), but at the time, the game plan worked and we were right up there as one of the best teams in the comp and we were good enough to win on the biggest stage in footy.
We got within 1 point and a couple of dodgy decisions of going back to back! There is nothing lucky about that and we must of had more then just luck on our side! Imo, to say that the 05 flag was due to luck is nothing short of throwing a huge insult the way of an absolutely champion team.

[Yakety_Yak]

Basically, we get game time into the best of the kids. My dad, my Swans mates, most everyone sitting around us tonight and every other game I?ve been at this year, thinks much the same thing. It?s time for a change.

The Messiah has more personal power within the club than any other AFL coach. His ego has blinded him to the bigger picture. .

I don't post much but seeing you all seem to be backslapping one another perhaps a different opinion!

I find your thoughts (opinion) interesting but

At the business end of the season do you know Jack or Vezs's injury status?
Young blokes in first year struggle to play all 22 especially if they have been battling injury all year. Maybe get another pre-season in them first and leave them high in confidence or at least put on the park 100%?

Also Fosdike Crouch others need to have some chance to prove their worth? how else do you break the news to them it's over? They are at least experienced in the step up of finals intensity.

One ruckman is a joke surely?... if you believe that go follow St Kilda or Carlton or Melbourne... they tried that with DISASTEROUS results.


As for the messiah????... how much do you know about what the Sydney board want? How much did Longmire contribute to the overall success?, what was the carrot to stop him leaving?

Would you prefer Roos to just turn around and snatch it with all the older retirees and not give a stuff about successsion?

Widely respected as one of the best coaches in the league took the same group Eade had earmarked for slashand delist (inc KIRK) and in bottom 4, turned them around and won nearly two flags with an inferior on paper list.

Despite you your Dad and your mates "outstanding" knowledge as columists haha ROFL.... I suspect Roos knows more about it... and more about what the Sydney board want too!!!????


I do agree that youth must be persisted with but whilst they are still a chance at finals... then it must wait till next seasoon!

2 cents.... But I might be wrong???!!!

[dimelb]

For the hell of it, assuming good news on the injury front, here?s my team for the rest of the season, with a view to the next:

F Bird O?Loughlin Veszpremi
HF McVeigh Hall O?Keefe
C Kennelly Moore Malceski
HB Richards Roberts-Thom Mattner
B Kirk Barry Bolton
R Jolly Bolton Goodes
I Barlow Schmidt Buchanan Bevan

Barlow out, Currie in.

[robbieando]

[QUOTE=Leeroy]but I've writ a footy column/quote]

Off to a great start right there

..it's time to a few ideas were aired.

RWO is always a great place to air ideas because people will give you feedback.

The final score tonight flattered Sydney and will be just good enough for the Messiah to reckon he?s on the right track and select the same ol? same ol?.

Do you think the Final Score would stop Roos from selecting the same old team next weekend if we got blown out last night???? I doubt it and I somehow think you know that as well.

Just why would you drop young fast players like Jack and Veszpremi when playing the fastest team in the League? Crouch and Fosdike won?t be around for another flag, give the kids a run. Two weeks to go, maybe three ? maybe four. But that will certainly be it.

Agree with as to why would Roos and the coaching staff drop Jack and Veazpremi in Round 20 and showing good form and not looking as if they were injured. But on the other hand Fosdike needed a senior game at some point to prove his worth to the team going into next season. He can't prove his worth in the reserves. Jack and Veszpremi will become important players in the future but we need to know where Fosdike and Crouch stand as AFL "standard" players going forward. So I can't fault Roos giving them matches at this point in the season, but I can fault him for dropping promising kids who could of learnt something last night by playing against the Cats.

However one thing is for sure we aren't going to drop senior players for rookies in the coming weeks unless form says the rookie has earnt the spot and we aren't going to be giving Ben Mathews another Senior Game (I hope).

For the hell of it, assuming good news on the injury front, here?s my team for the rest of the season, with a view to the next:

Personally I only question the selections of Buchanan and Barlow in your side. I would bring Jack back in for Buchanan and (sadly) Everitt for Barlow. Also I would keep Grundy in the team over Leo because Grundy is worth grooming as a tall defender longterm and I personally think Leo is past it.

I expect some controversy ? why play Leo Barry? ?Cos I reckon he?s lost the edge of pace and agility and should retire before embarassment catches up with him, but he?s a smart player and others can learn from him while he?s still there.

If being smart is all he has got to keep him in the team then he should be dropped and our younger defender certainly shouldn't be learning Leo's tricks of the trades.

LRT? Three years ago, he was near BOG in a winning Grand Final and seemed like a CHB we could built a backline around for the next 7-8 years. He?s missed a lot of football through injury and has hardly had a chance to settle in a position this year. At 24 and with some great football in his history, he deserves a chance.

Agree. Injuries haven't helped him and this year he hasn't been helped by being played out of position. Let him play a full season in defence before we pass judgement once and for all.

O?Loughlin?s still a great player and has another two years in him.

Agree, but I think he'll go on only for next season to get pass the 300 game mark.

Kirk gets a back pocket, cos I really admire the guy. He deserves the chance to retire when he chooses, and I hope he makes that choice in the next few weeks.

Now that's just crazy. Kirk might be 31 but his form this season has been good enough to prove that he has at least 2 more seasons at this standard left in him. To expect him to retire within the 14 days is just crazy.

Jolly?ll have a tough time rucking all day, but Hall, Goodes and LRT can pinch-hit while he takes a breather.

I'd like Hall to go back to rucking in the forward line again, but LRT to pinch hit just goes against expecting him to hold down a spot in defence. As for Goodes rucking, just rule that idea out because of past injuries. We have Currie coming though and he will be good enough for 2nd ruck for next season.

Blighty left a ruckman (Pittman?) on the bench all day once and put Trent Ormond-Allen, all of 183cm, in his place. Might?ve been the same year he called Pittman ?pathetic?. But Pittman?s got a premiership medal or two.

He did that once as a tactic, not to improve his ruckman.

Basically, we get game time into the best of the kids.

So we haven't given enough time to Moore, Jack, Grundy and Bird?? Or haven't we given first games to White, Smith, Veszpremi, O'Dwyer and Brabazon. If anything we are guilty of not giving more games to Barlow and Schmidt this season than we would of expected at the start of the season. Hell its better than nothing and certain better than last year

My dad, my Swans mates, most everyone sitting around us tonight and every other game I?ve been at this year, thinks much the same thing. It?s time for a change.

You want change of the ilk of Hawthorn 05/06 and St Kilda 02/03 or even Carlton of the last 6 years. Problem with that is we as a club we will never go in that direction and always go about change but change by a different name.

The Messiah has more personal power within the club than any other AFL coach. His ego has blinded him to the bigger picture. I haven?t spoken to anyone who, more or less, doesn?t think that Roos has run his race.

Personal opinion and I certainly don't think he has run his race and could certainly take us to another premiership if he wanted to coach past his next contract which he already has stated that he won't extend, won't coach another club and end at the end of next year. So your point is moot regardless.

Robert Walls was dumped by Carlton a season and half after coaching them to a flag (twas a Warwick Capper goal that sealed his fate!). Carlton are a ruthless club, which is why, after beating the Swans in ?45, they won another nine flags before the Swans played in another Grand Final.

Carlton are a club with no morals and no heart and plenty of money and hence why they were able to win 9 Premierships in that time. The Draft and Salary Cap came in and they thought both didn't apply to them and gee since then they have won premiership off the back of interstate recuiting in 1987 and 1995. When the effects of the Draft and Salary Cap finally caught up with them, the wooden spoons finally came and we won our Premiership and the have been the ones stuggling to cope with "rebuilding".

I?m also highly suspicious of a coach that ordains his own successor three years in advance, as Roos has done with Longmire. Is that a power trip or what?

and you think he didn't have board approval for that decision?? You think Colless would rather pick someone else in 12 months time (which when you consider isn't such a good idea after last time anyway)

Is it really the coach?s job to do so? Take Carlton, again (I don?t have any affinity with the Blues at all, they?re just a convenient reference) ? the board dumped Pagan, the board appointed Ratten, and he?s shaping up pretty well.

He was the only person who wanted the job when Pagan got sacked and did a good enough job to keep it without the board having to interview anyone official (although they made plays at Voss and Roos early on and got rejected). But don't forget that David Parkin named his successor at Carlton in 2001 only to leave the successor a list that was sinking without trace.

Gary Ayres didn?t appoint Mark Thompson, Frank Costa did.

Why would of Ayres done that, when he quit the Cats first, thus leaving him no chance to make the decision.

[swantastic]

That post from robbieando has to be the longest post in RWO history.

Scott can you give us some stats.?

The page down button on the keyboard had to be pressed 10 times to get to the end of it.

[robbieando]

That post from robbieando has to be the longest post in RWO history.

Scott can you give us some stats.?

The page down button on the keyboard had to be pressed 10 times to get to the end of it.

There have been longer with quotes.

Goes to show people on this board can post more than one line if they put their mind to it

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

That post from robbieando has to be the longest post in RWO history.

Scott can you give us some stats.?

The page down button on the keyboard had to be pressed 10 times to get to the end of it.

It's time you moved on from your Commodore 64 mate.

JF

[connolly]

Greetings Folks

I don't write here very often, but I've writ a footy column, The 'Mopsy' Fraser Cup, for several years and... it's time to a few ideas were aired.

The final score tonight flattered Sydney and will be just good enough for the Messiah to reckon he?s on the right track and select the same ol? same ol?. When they were bad they were diabolical. Several examples of sheer cluelessness reflect badly upon the whole set up. My personal faves were LRT spoiling a certain mark with about 90mm to spare, only it was Brett Kirk?s mark. Paul Bevan gathered a loose ball 40m out from goal and sprinted forward ? with clear space around him, he handballed to a player heading in the opposite direction. Both these led directly to Geelong goals and there were 4 or 5 other such unforced errors with similar results.

Just why would you drop young fast players like Jack and Veszpremi when playing the fastest team in the League? Crouch and Fosdike won?t be around for another flag, give the kids a run. Two weeks to go, maybe three ? maybe four. But that will certainly be it.

For the hell of it, assuming good news on the injury front, here?s my team for the rest of the season, with a view to the next:

F Bird O?Loughlin Veszpremi
HF McVeigh Hall O?Keefe
C Kennelly Moore Malceski
HB RichardsRoberts-Thom Mattner
B Kirk Barry Bolton
R Jolly Bolton Goodes
I Barlow Schmidt Buchanan Bevan

I expect some controversy ? why play Leo Barry? ?Cos I reckon he?s lost the edge of pace and agility and should retire before embarassment catches up with him, but he?s a smart player and others can learn from him while he?s still there.

LRT? Three years ago, he was near BOG in a winning Grand Final and seemed like a CHB we could built a backline around for the next 7-8 years. He?s missed a lot of football through injury and has hardly had a chance to settle in a position this year. At 24 and with some great football in his history, he deserves a chance.

O?Loughlin?s still a great player and has another two years in him.

Hall?s contracted for next year, but his form in the last two seasons makes his meetings with NFL scouts look like smart timing ? as a punter, tho, not a tight end, as has been bizarrely rumoured ? but his form in the last few weeks hasn?t been too bad.

Kirk gets a back pocket, cos I really admire the guy. He deserves the chance to retire when he chooses, and I hope he makes that choice in the next few weeks.

Jolly?ll have a tough time rucking all day, but Hall, Goodes and LRT can pinch-hit while he takes a breather. Blighty left a ruckman (Pittman?) on the bench all day once and put Trent Ormond-Allen, all of 183cm, in his place. Might?ve been the same year he called Pittman ?pathetic?. But Pittman?s got a premiership medal or two.

Basically, we get game time into the best of the kids. My dad, my Swans mates, most everyone sitting around us tonight and every other game I?ve been at this year, thinks much the same thing. It?s time for a change.

The Messiah has more personal power within the club than any other AFL coach. His ego has blinded him to the bigger picture. I haven?t spoken to anyone who, more or less, doesn?t think that Roos has run his race. Robert Walls was dumped by Carlton a season and half after coaching them to a flag (twas a Warwick Capper goal that sealed his fate!). Carlton are a ruthless club, which is why, after beating the Swans in ?45, they won another nine flags before the Swans played in another Grand Final.

I?m also highly suspicious of a coach that ordains his own successor three years in advance, as Roos has done with Longmire. Is that a power trip or what? Is it really the coach?s job to do so? Take Carlton, again (I don?t have any affinity with the Blues at all, they?re just a convenient reference) ? the board dumped Pagan, the board appointed Ratten, and he?s shaping up pretty well. Gary Ayres didn?t appoint Mark Thompson, Frank Costa did.

In any sphere of endeavour, if you don?t constantly re-invent yrself, you fall behind. The very fact that Sydney have beaten just one time in the top eight at the time of writing says it all.

Placing Kirk in the back pocket disqualifies any other of your opinions from serious consideration. The Carlton model of tanking, salary cap cheating and pigs arse in-fighting doesn't attract. As for Roos running his race he is the most successful coach we have had in the modern era. Why don't you try and re-invent yourself as a believable writer?