The Sheik....

_________________
Love Cricket? Love me

_________________
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!

Oh! I hate Mexican stand-offs!

_________________
Just because I'm offended, doesn't mean I'm wrong.

O'Reilly cost us a lot more than 3 draft picks. Cos the squealing little cauliflower dobbed us in he cost us $960000, 4 1st or second roudn draft picks, one priority pick and a whole lot else. I remember a few months ago someone wrote out exactly what the recruitment of O'Reilly cost this club. I'm too lazy to dig it up though.

That was a terrible terrible decision.
Building the stand was pretty retarded as well ...

_________________
The only way for some people to understand is for them to be on the receiving end

Left wing moralists
In self serving denial
They shit me no end

Thanks to all who replied, don't want to incite old rivalries or scapegoats, just interested in peoples thoughts. I generally suspect our no rebuilding policy and taking the AFL senior citizens and its subsequent dramatic failure has served as a model for all clubs (well maybe barring the Roos). A few years ago I suspect we woud have not only got Woewoedin but thrown 500k at him for good measure.
Seems everyone has learned and confidence in the draft is proven. Well maybe it will be proven the day Geelong or StKilda or Freo actually even make a Grand Final.
The decision to build the Dome was the crash financially and even the high reserved seat ticket prices when the Legends Stand was built was a interesting gamble. The death of the away supporter is also an interesting evolution of the game, many folks simply go to the homers and "can't afford or Foxtel" the others.

_________________
Green Shooter

Our great club legends Braddles and SOS squealed as well

Can you keep that quiet? If we delete all references to that little bit of info, in 10 years time the whole world will only remember it as being O'Reilly's fault.

_________________
Formerly: Ackland the Wonderkid / Army the Wonderkid / quivering mess / molsey / Tony Lynn Fan Club

SOS and Braddles were asked to talk, bit different.

_________________
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!

Haven't read the whole thread, but I reckon it was after the 1995 Grand Final.

It all went to Jack's head and he thought we were invincible.

We should have started to re-build there and then.

_________________
Writer for SuperCoach Paige www.scpaige.com.au
Twitter - @johnfeeney24

You shouldn't be so naive mate!!!
They were awesome players on the field but off it they only played for themselves.
Don't worry they are playing a part in the misery that we have endured in the last 3 years. Thanks SOS thanks Braddles

so you saying they weren't asked?

or that tarring everything with the same brush is easier than working out different aspects?


mate.



maaaaate



mmmmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate

_________________
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!

I dont think SOS played for himself.
In fact SOS made less money out of footy than anybody else of his stature.
He covered for everybody else.Id never say SOS was selfish when it came to our club.
Braddles was different.. but he was also a champion.

_________________
Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

The Sheik did indeed predict a downturn and questioned our recruiting methods, list management ,and did cop a beating over making those comments and I supported what he said. There was no succession plan to replace our champion players and instead of embracing the draft/salary cap we chose to live in the past and use the old methods and the rest is history. Finally those days are over and we have a recruiter for the times in Wayne Hughes but its taken 10 years to wake up and get the navy blue glasses off and admit we are in trouble and need to start again rather than the bandaid approach.......I agree with the sheer arrogance comment as well....the management at the club treated the supporters/members poorly and paid the price..hopefully the new board have learnt from that.

re: Kernahan...legend and all time great but needs to be removed from football dept decision making and used in more marketing/admin type roles where his good name and endearing manner can help the club....he is and was just too close to some of the playing group and its been to the detriment of the club...

_________________
"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

I could predict that the Oz economy will suffer a downturn in the next 10 years and I'd more than likely be right and still know nothing about economics. You two blokes were doing all this huffing and puffing in 2001 - calling for re-building and Elwood's famed Youth Policy. In 2001 and the year before it could be argued that Carlton was stiff not to play in grand finals. Why would you be talking about re-building? Sure the piper may have to be paid further down the track but while you have the likes of Kouta, Ratts, Braddles, SOS, Whits, Hicky, Lappin, Campo, Macca, Ang, etc on your list and still playing good footy, why would you want the club to switch to re-build mode?? There is no club or coach in the AFL who wouldn't do what Carlton did in those years and go all out for the flag. That the luck every team needs to win a premiership wasn't there for us in those years, is neither here nor there.

So now we're finally re-building. You both should be very happy. Next year we can initiate Elwood's Youth Policy and play everyone 18 and under.

But you're right about one thing Elwood - Sheik did cop a beating.

When you have a list like Brisbane had for 4 years you can afford to sit on your arse and do jack shite about list management but we never had that.....your kidding yourself Billy if you thought we didnt have to rebuild and reinvent ourselves..GF in 2001 ???..get the Navy Blue Glasses off and rethink...
The Piper got paid alright....he would be retired early and investing his money..maybe you could enlighten him with some of your economic prowess..
Youth policy..sure I wanted youth and you have a good memory.....embracing the draft and youth has been a painful process for some...having to take a few steps back to take some big ones forward seems to be a foreign concept..to me and the Sheik it was common sense not rocket science.
Luck...you make your own luck by being smart and getting the basics in place...good coach, good recruiter, good admin, get the sponsors onboard and then take advantage of the rules ie priority draft picks when you get them..if your waiting for luck to find you then get in line with the other suckers....sorry..its called hard work and being the best in the business is about working harder these days...the old days where a cheque book would fix everything are over....

I am happy we are rebuilding and we are getting the pieces of the jigsaw together...and confident we are building a succesful cycle of the club...I expect 2 flags from the next dynasty led by Murphy, Kennedy etc

_________________
"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

2001. Just wondering if Essendon* tanked round 22 against Richmond to avoid playing Carlton in the Qualifying Final knowing they would smash Richmond again the next week. Don't know if they did but there was a bit of talk. After all Carlton had beaten them twice, and the other GF, Bisbane, by 74 points the only time they played them. As Brittain said at the time, 2001 was a wasted year. I don't think the Navy Blue glasses needed to come off in that situation, we probably should've made the GF or gone close if we'd had worked harder in some games. After all we were in the GF in 99 and PF in 2000 after a streak of 13 wins in a row. Maybe it was a pointer of things to come in 2002, which shouldn't have happened with the players we had. We did though have to look at re-building eventually and that may have been round about the point to start. The fine line between topping up or working towards a new era in the future. Timing is of the essence. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but who thought differently at the time.