Finally we appear to be moving forward

[Bono]

Why has it taken so long. Finally we have a development academy to enhance the skills and characters of the kids we draft. This is basically an entire department that our club has not had that the majority of others have. Why did it take Pelchen to come in and identify this, or do we just put it all down to that bloke who used to coach us. Nettlefold and Greg Hutchinson have been there for a few years now, where is their forward thinking to develop the club?! At least we appear to be heading in the right direction. Hopefully the crew can do what is required so first and second year players want to actually be at the club.

[BigMart]

I think the club was run by one authoritarian, single minded person....who put everything into the moment....

This was definitely the view of past assistant coaches...who admire Ross as a coach, but find working with him frustrating and tiresome due to lack of empowerment and constant critisism..

whilst all that energy into immediate results made us a great competitive senior team, we were lagging behind and floundering as a club....as we know a club is a lot bigger tha the 22 that run out in the AFL and the senior coaches....but in reality that is all Lyon was concerned with...

The appointment of Pelchin was not well recieved by Ross as it was seen as a bit of power removal and in his mind, some wasted energy concentrating on things that were not going to impact current results and possibly even detract from them.....ie/ playing some kids, putting coaching resourses into development, taking away control of list management...

Ross (like GT) was a control freak and at times a power tripper....

Luckily he could back it up with astute coaching

[HitTheBoundary]

I think the emphasis has changed from "the process" and systems, statistics etc to now being people focused.

I'm sure there will still be all the analysis, but the interpersonal aspect may be more important than before - as evidenced by the massive effort being put into development. It seems that in the recent appointments character and communication skills have been at least as important as football knowledge.

[Legendary]

+1 to Bono

Between 2003-2006 we were at the forefront of many of these things - overseas training camps, community camps, leadership training, wellbeing officers etc.

We really were a leader in the AFL and very innovative.

Good to see us getting back to that position.

[ralphsmith]

Well, whatever the case, what we were doing didn't work, wasn't going to work. The people make the club. The processess, the statistics, the impersonalness of it all can rot it to the core and destory the hope and desire of those who play football there.

Evolve and start anew.

Andy crawled to freedom for 500 yards of s*** smelling foulness i can't imagine.

[bobmurray]

+1 to Bono

Between 2003-2006 we were at the forefront of many of these things - overseas training camps, community camps, leadership training, wellbeing officers etc.

We really were a leader in the AFL and very innovative.

Good to see us getting back to that position.

So GT wasn't all that bad afterall....

[Dr Spaceman]

+1 to Bono

Between 2003-2006 we were at the forefront of many of these things - overseas training camps, community camps, leadership training, wellbeing officers etc.

We really were a leader in the AFL and very innovative.

Good to see us getting back to that position.

So GT wasn't all that bad afterall....

He cared a lot for their minds but not much for their bodies.

Sounds like the new crew will have all bases covered

[bigcarl]

So GT wasn't all that bad afterall....

He cared a lot for their minds but not much for their bodies.

Well we didn't spend a lot on sports science and facilities in those days. Perhaps it goes with being solvent.

[kaos theory]

+1 to Bono

Between 2003-2006 we were at the forefront of many of these things - overseas training camps, community camps, leadership training, wellbeing officers etc.

We really were a leader in the AFL and very innovative.

Good to see us getting back to that position.

We were at the forefront of gobblty-gook and slogans in those days.

We had the worst weekly injury list of any club, our players were poorly prepared and managed.

We got a lot better under RL in managing injuries, but RL like GT suffered from too much control and ego.

Those days of the head coach making all the decisions and controlling everything are over.

[Legendary]

+1 to Bono

Between 2003-2006 we were at the forefront of many of these things - overseas training camps, community camps, leadership training, wellbeing officers etc.

We really were a leader in the AFL and very innovative.

Good to see us getting back to that position.

We were at the forefront of gobblty-gook and slogans in those days.

We had the worst weekly injury list of any club, our players were poorly prepared and managed.

We got a lot better under RL in managing injuries, but RL like GT suffered from too much control and ego.

Those days of the head coach making all the decisions and controlling everything are over.

I totally agree with you

My post was never meant to be a reflection on Thomas/Lyon and their relative merits. Thomas had some big flaws and had to go at the end of '06, and Lyon had flaws (less IMO).


It was a reflection on the whole club - board, members, staff etc. and the way we used to be "cutting edge" and prepared to try new things.

It's good to be getting back to that.


Just because a particular coach was in charge at a particular time, does not mean that you conflate everything that happens at the club with that coach ... this new academy is the perfect example.