I think that 2006 will be the first Year that DP can do what he wants to do considering since he has been at the Blues he has had his hands tied by the AFL / The Blues Board / Player Icons and the Past / Salary constraints and back ended contracts.

ALF - Has tied up DP's Hands when he first arrived at the club and stopped the blues getting any major gain even though we finished last and 2nd last the following year. These penalties came from the AFL but are one of the worst reminent of the past administration.

THe Board - Allowed changes in some of the list but still i belive has been responsible for Kouta being Captain ie with regards to renegotiating his contracts Collo prob said Kouta we have to adjust yer contract but we will make you Captainn... i dont think that is the ideal way to get your Captain.. not that we have had many good choices in the past 3 years seeing as our main options for Captain all retired. Also i think last year after Pagan did his big changes to the list and i know everyone expected more major changes we traded very lightly. I think the board may have asked for stabiilty and also that some key players where still in contract.

Player Icons and the Past - This is an area which has been damaging for the Blues ability to make change and make correct rather sentimental decisions. Take Kouta Icon and legend of the Blues even if he isnt the best leader he was appointed for being of the old guard deserving because he is Cartlon Icon / Legend... Though from what we have seen he is not a strong leader on-field or comunicator ... fails to ignite / Lift player around him... He was basically given the capptaincy for the reason above and DP would have had very little say in the matter.. The Positions of WHita and Campo are similar again they are the last of the Blues glory days from 2005 command respect and command large salaries to match. Imagine if Campo was by passed for being VC he would have caused so much negativity would have caused major issues at the club .. I think he was even upset when they made Whits the VC instead of having Campo as the single only VC.. But for intensive purposes he again fails on the field ... in his lack of discepline / Selfishness / and lack of being a good role model to the younger players... Whits is similar he could be a great leader he is football smart can do some inspirational things but again was made WC due to his longstanding postion at the club.. But he fails to lead the Kids by showing full comittment and showing what makes a good player vs what a polayer just has to do for the bare minimum. Good leaders in the cometition do alot more than the nare minimum.
So sentimental choice are not usually the correct one to go by and i think Until this year the current choices of KOuta Captain and Campo and Whits VC have been sending all the worng messages on and off the filed to our younger brigade.. Also there demands at expecting continued high salaries dosnt help our cause much either.
Think of the major problem with Port this year ... Choco wanted Tredrea to continue Captain which of course Treders wanted... They where both voted down by the playing group wanting Primus to continue in the role even though he was going to struggle and have little inpact on field. This has caused major issues of Leadership to Port and is probably one of the major problems the club has experienced this year. Rem you cant drop the Captain even if he dosnt deserve to be playing IE (Primus). Primus wont be Captain next year and Port will prob be all the better for it..

Salary Constraints and Back ended Contracts - Another hand tied up by having 3 Players on large Salaries which means they cant be traded properly have to played to get some value and also restrict what you can try and chase in the draft ie Out of contract players .. This will be a big constraint that goes end of this year with both Whits and Campo out of contract and the hardline being placed on any new Contracts.. Kouta is the last contract we have to have problmes in but that will finish end of next year and will be the last noose taken off the CFC.\

So what will this allow DP to do finally we;; no more AFL Penalties and we are in the best position to take advantage of the draft we will have all our picks and can try and attract some key players with freed up Salary
The board wont stop him now with the position the club is onfiled the sentimental favorites will no longer be off the Trade untouchable list.
Sentmental Icon no longer protected will be now accountable wont hold the club to ransom and he can hopefully appoint who he wants to be Captian and VC and give responability to players who have been shadowed by the current Leadership core group.. So i expect to see players like Waite / T-Bird / Stevo given much more input into on field leadership matters. Hopefully we can attract another player with similar traits to the club to also help there as well. And the Back ended contracts and playing for players on other lists will be gone by 2006 except Kouta which i guess is a bit of an unknown what he will do at the end of the season....One thing to note about good players who make good leaders also end up being good potential coaches .... none of Campo / Kouta / Whits would make good coaches which prob explain why we have issues in leadership.... of who we have on our list not sure who will be best suited but hopefully some of the players will put there hands up....

But one thing for sure the shackles will be off DP come year end .... Then it is up to him to fully change the disaster of the past 4 years

There is pretty much a blank canvas in front of him now. Its time for a very new picture, one thats painted by a master artist.

I do think that Denis will put all the right building blocks in place and lay the foundation for a very good side.

Im not sure though whether he will be the one who reaps the benefits of his hard work.

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My Blue Heaven

ah the blank canvas

you know there was this funy little play once

and the thing was th artist had a blank canvas

and he

he left it blank

get it!!! Post Modernism and all that!


actually it wasn't a very funny play at all, I just said that to keep you interested.

see now we're talking football!

seriously deep.

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

not many coaches would be given a 3 year contract extension after wining just 16 games out of the last 61 like denis has.

he is the right man for the job and i just hope people are patient