Eddie's wonderful plan for 2012+ was their downfall in 2011

[Enrico_Misso]

Why were the Pies as cold as Meatloaf?

I blame Eddie

His hell-bent determination to unseat the incumbent successful coach with his unproven bed-buddy Bucks meant that barely a day has gone by this season without media speculation, questions to the club, questions to MM, questions to the players, speculation from the fans, contradictory statements from MM and the President, ambiguous answers etc.

That continual undercurrent that intensified towards season end must have eventually created a mindset of uncertainty for the players and distracted their focus?

That explains why they went from all-conquering for most of the season but dropped away towards the end as the distractions rose.

So Eddie's wonderful plan for 2012 and beyond with bed-buddy Bucks was their downfall in 2011?

Even better, anything less than a Premiership in the next two years with that list will be seen as a "fail".
So in two years time when Bucks hasn't delivered the Chalice - Eddie will have to sack him.

Just how FANTASTIC will that moment be !!!!!

[stinger]

something to really look forward to...

[stanthecaddy]

Why were the Pies as cold as Meatloaf?

I blame Eddie

His hell-bent determination to unseat the incumbent successful coach with his unproven bed-buddy Bucks meant that barely a day has gone by this season without media speculation, questions to the club, questions to MM, questions to the players, speculation from the fans, contradictory statements from MM and the President, ambiguous answers etc.

That continual undercurrent that intensified towards season end must have eventually created a mindset of uncertainty for the players and distracted their focus?

That explains why they went from all-conquering for most of the season but dropped away towards the end as the distractions rose.

So Eddie's wonderful plan for 2012 and beyond with bed-buddy Bucks was their downfall in 2011?

Even better, anything less than a Premiership in the next two years with that list will be seen as a "fail".
So in two years time when Bucks hasn't delivered the Chalice - Eddie will have to sack him.

Just how FANTASTIC will that moment be !!!!! :D :D :D

Well, to be fair to the situation, a flag had yet to be won when the arrangement was made. It was a nice way to secure both one of the best coaches of the moment and, in their mind, one of the best coaching prospects (and club favourite) of the future.

If the "cost" of such an arrangement is a flag one year and a GF loss the next due to inner turmoil, many supporters at all clubs would be happy to pay the price.

[dragit]

Why were the Pies as cold as Meatloaf?

I blame Eddie

His hell-bent determination to unseat the incumbent successful coach with his unproven bed-buddy Bucks meant that barely a day has gone by this season without media speculation, questions to the club, questions to MM, questions to the players, speculation from the fans, contradictory statements from MM and the President, ambiguous answers etc.

That continual undercurrent that intensified towards season end must have eventually created a mindset of uncertainty for the players and distracted their focus?

That explains why they went from all-conquering for most of the season but dropped away towards the end as the distractions rose.

So Eddie's wonderful plan for 2012 and beyond with bed-buddy Bucks was their downfall in 2011?

Even better, anything less than a Premiership in the next two years with that list will be seen as a "fail".
So in two years time when Bucks hasn't delivered the Chalice - Eddie will have to sack him.

Just how FANTASTIC will that moment be !!!!!

Well, to be fair to the situation, a flag had yet to be won when the arrangement was made. It was a nice way to secure both one of the best coaches of the moment and, in their mind, one of the best coaching prospects (and club favourite) of the future.

If the "cost" of such an arrangement is a flag one year and a GF loss the next due to inner turmoil, many supporters at all clubs would be happy to pay the price.

Who do you rate more highly Reid or Brown?

[Con Gorozidis]

I seriously think they just peaked too soon and maybe got the timing wrong.
Then injuries to jolly and reid at the end was just enough to finish them.

No need to win the frigging night comp.

The sad fact is eddie is still a premiership president. I wish our presidents would make those kind of mistakes.

[saintspremiers]

We farked up 2009 like they did this year.

[jonesy]

Is Arizona really the solution?

In 08 they they ran out of steam in the finals

In 09 in round 21-22 they were touted as our main threat,then completely ran out of steam

in 10 they got it right....or would have they if the ball bounced only poorly to Milne instead of the most horrific bounce in games history

2011-Comprehensively ran out of steam in the finals again

[8856brother]

They have some extremely overated players. And they shone out like beacons on Saturday. It was on the cards all year. Look at the brownlow votes. Take out Swann, Cloke, Pendelbury and Thomas and how many votes did the other plebs get. How many did Maxwell get??

They rely as much on their guns as we do. Their bootom 6 are no better than ours or many other sides. Just perceived to be better. FFS their captain is lucky to even be in their bottom 6.

I'd take Raf and Farren over Maxwell and Possum eyes any day of the week.

[BigMart]

I agree

They were the best team....going into the year by a distance....

The distraction was obvious, micks continual digs and obvious anger about the decision.....out of regret for agreeing to it cost them a flag...

I for one could not be happier....

Eddy thought he was a mastermind who had his cake and ate it.....instead he caused unrest, destabalised their club and it blew up in their face

I belive if this ridiculous deal had not been done, they would have gone for 3 in a row.....

[thejiggingsaint]

I personally think that the reason the ragpies lost the GF was the fact that they were up against one of the greatest finals teams in AFL history, and it showed up like the proverbial "dogs". Geelong were more experienced, more focussed on the contest, had more hard bodies where and when it counted.
I remember an incident during our game against Colondud @ the dome, when that turd Davis "showed the ball" to Milney. I thought to myself "now THAT'S what's gonna cost these turds the flag" all the showboating from the likes of him and Didak is well and good when the side are up and about.
Where were they when it counted? The same goes for several others.
Last year they were up against a side who (for all the talent it had) carried the scars of a losing GF. This year they had the pressure of delivering back-to-backs and it brought them undone (as it did with Geelong in 08)
I would not be surprised to see them fall even heavier in 2012, particularly with West Coast and Carlton emerging from the pack.

[thejiggingsaint]

Fair comment Big mart, but I think the ragpies were in disarray in the wake of the 2009 finals campaign. They scraped into the PF thanks to Adelaide's woeful tactic of icing the clock in the semi, and were PASTED by Geelong in the PF. McGuire had the chance to simply say to Mick Malthouse: "thanks for everything, we'll pay you out" and start with Buckley being given a clean pallette to work with . (History of course shows my thoughts to be utter crap! ) Up till 3/4 time on saturday it was looking to be a wise decision

[Eastern]

I believe the REAL ISSUE is that Heddie was Chyt Scared that Buckley would go off coaching elsewhere and that alone was the reason for hatching this Malthouse-Buckley Plan !!

[thejiggingsaint]

Eddie's man-crush on Bucks is a given, maybe he SHOULD have been allowed to coach elsewhere and get experience......but then that may have helped the turds and we DO NOT want THAT

[Fidelis]

Seems to me that Leigh Matthews was about right when he said (while talking of the Lyon defection) that the coach sets the 'team first' tone. Clearly Malthouse failed that test over the past few months. His footy show appearance, newspaper articles, interviews (even arguably his tears post PF) were all about him and what he was/wasn't going to do, how he would/wouldn't be remembered. Yes, he always finished by saying that it would be wrong to individualize, but he had invariably done just that. No surprise that individuals (Shaw, Swan, Thomas) all gave signals that they were above it all. Opened up just enough cracks to undo them.

Patrick Smith picks up this theme in a fairly extreme but insightful article at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sp ... 6156435344

[thejiggingsaint]

thought that fatprick got it pretty much on the money re; hubris

[Dr Spaceman]

Eddie's man-crush on Bucks is a given, maybe he SHOULD have been allowed to coach elsewhere and get experience......but then that may have helped the turds and we DO NOT want THAT

After spending so many years trying to get Buckley in the sack, it would be quite ironic if he ultimately had to give him the sack

[thejiggingsaint]

Post of the thread young Doctor!!!! Now excuse me while I find a new pair of rubber underpants!!! (these have sprung a slight leak )

[The Sainter]

Geelong was the best team by far this year. They played Hawthorn and Collingwood each 3 times winning all 6 games. Look at the winning margins in their 3 finals. Give credit where it is due, well done to them. Hope with a new coach we can be right up there next year.