Destination Club: We now are (2024 edit - or are we not?)?)

[LaurieHolden]

^ you could put Bruce Lindner into the "could have been anything" file. Cruel run with injury. Hard to stand out with those names around you, but while up forward, he was like a Modra v.1 for a time.
If Exell had played in the '89 GF, his red hot form during the season might have been the difference.

If we were a destination Club at the time, I'd have welcomed in any of those names. We were still viewed as a bit of a rabble until Leigh Matthews broke through and reshaped the onfield side of the CFC.

[inxs88]

^

They sure were great to watch in full flight. Lindner "The Prez"

[inxs88]

Has there ever been a better time for Graham Wright and the club to "sell" an attractive destination? Me thinks not. With great targeted recruiting over Summer:

* Tom Mitchell: clearance and ground ball beast filling obvious gap
* Dan McStay: support for Mihocek and crumbers
* Bobby Hill: not since Leon Davis have we had such a speedy crumbing forward
* Billy Frampton: replacing Jordan Roughead
* Ed Allan: for life after Pendles
* Joe Richards: for life after Jamie Elliott
* Jakob Ryan: for life after Jeremy Howe

It's akin to when we secured Scott Russell and Tony Francis for 1990. What do we need for 2024?

Thoughts?

[BazBoy]

Destination may also be in our own back yard too with some likely colts a VFL
level which recently Geelong & Richmond have prospered from

On Saturday prior to AFL there were some who we would hope with guidance will help us be more frugal with recruiting

[inxs88]

^

Very true. Good depth:

* Tom Wilson: 5 goals
* Fin Macrae: B.O.G
* A Johnson: 4 goals
* Bianco, Allan, Ryan, Richards, Ruscoe strong performers plus Ginnivan, Krueger, Howe, Lipinski, Dean all whom are currently long-term injuries

[BazBoy]

Thing with our young talent is if AFL side keeps up those thumping wins a taste of AFL could be a long way off

Possible if we are still dominant thru the season a calculated rest of a player or two to give the young a taste

Build their hunger

[inxs88]

Good depth, low injuries and strong performances keep selection integrity high. The only downside is blokes like Fin Macrae could get itchy feet and impatient.

[Magpietothemax]

Very true. Good depth:

* Tom Wilson: 5 goals
* Fin Macrae: B.O.G
* A Johnson: 4 goals
* Bianco, Allan, Ryan, Richards, Ruscoe strong performers plus Ginnivan, Krueger, Howe, Lipinski, Dean all whom are currently long-term injuries

Fantastic to hear about Finn McCrae's BOG performance in the VFL.
If he continues like this, he will get his chance soon enough to play in the seniors.
Our midfield depth is continuing to improve.

[piedys]

Anyone remember 1989 when the Cats had a forward line roster of:

* Gary Ablett
* Bruce Lindner
* Baz Stoneham
* Shane Hamilton
* Gavin Exell
* David Cameron
* Billy Brownless

Sure do; and we were one of the last teams to beat them in the mud at MCG in July 1989. ...

We got done by 11 goals. Remember Sandy Roberts' famous commentary when Ablett kicked a miraculous goal?

Half right; you are thinking of the rnd.10 game: 03/06/1989.

https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1 ... 90603.html

I was there at the MCG, and had never seen the ball thrown around as fast as Geelong did that arvo; when Ablett kicked that goal burning off Kelly and Gayfer, we all applauded.
As a footnote, Gavin Brown withdrew from selected team that game; would have been Ablett's opponent.

So I was referring to the rnd.17 game at MCG: 29/07/1989; which we won.

https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1 ... 90729.html

We'd been flogged the week prior; nobody expected us to get close to them.
This time, Brown played on Ablett, and kept him somewhat quiet, with 3.6!

[inxs88]

Free agents available:

* Jade Gresham
* Darcy Parish
* Harry Himmelberg
* Ben McKay
* Tom Doedee
* M Redman
* J Silvagni
* Nat Fyfe
* Riley Bonner
* M Wood
* Jeremy McGovern
* Baily Williams
* Tom Liberatore

If you could select any two of the above, who would you pick or who do we need? Personally, I'd pick:

* Ben McKay &
* Jade Gresham

[RudeBoy]

The two I'd pick would be Ben McKay and Ben McKay.

[piffdog]

Who thinks the depth is still an issue at Collingwood i do.

Just dont think we have the depth to become really successfull.

Still alot depends on injuries.

I don’t. You can’t have 44 Brownlow medallist’s. I think our list is probably as deep as anyone in the comp - in large part because we got some games into guys in ‘21.

[piffdog]

Free agents available:

* Jade Gresham
* Darcy Parish
* Harry Himmelberg
* Ben McKay
* Tom Doedee
* M Redman
* J Silvagni
* Nat Fyfe
* Riley Bonner
* M Wood
* Jeremy McGovern
* Baily Williams
* Tom Liberatore

If you could select any two of the above, who would you pick or who do we need? Personally, I'd pick:

* Ben McKay &
* Jade Gresham

Jade Gresham - (spews up). Don’t see the appeal with this guy. What does he do so much better than anyone else we have in our list? (Happy to stand corrected). The only stat he ranks elite in is disposals - which is not that impressive in my view.

If we think we have a window opening where we can be contenders then we “trade for needs”. I think we need 25-26 year old midfielders and key position players.

Mackay, Himmelberg, maybe Silvagni.

[piffdog]

Who thinks the depth is still an issue at Collingwood i do.

Just dont think we have the depth to become really successfull.

Still alot depends on injuries.

I don’t. You can’t have 44 Brownlow medallist’s. I think our list is probably as deep as anyone in the comp - in large part because we got some games into guys in ‘21.

[pietillidie]

We haven't won anything yet, so there's a way to go in the process.

Improving the culture and hysteria management, and protecting players instead of bowing to media pressure and crucifying them is one ingredient (in progress).

Another ingredient is having a good team vibe and playing expressive, exciting footy (check).

A further ingredient is being trusted to win silverware rather than folding under the expectations, media targeting and histrionics (to come).

Sensible recruiting and salary management bind the whole, which thanks to Wrighty is also gradually being realised.

We've got the right football people in place for these, and the pres and new CEO are smartly keeping low profiles, ensuring we're a small target, so the direction of travel is very positive.

The (eventual) mature support and protection of Jordy, followed by the management of the Ginni and Ash Johnson situations, show that we're understanding that we need to have players' backs in the face of media mischief and hysteria, and life's ups and downs. Because this aspect of our culture is being led by our coach, who simply won't tolerate otherwise, this too is almost a check, but our shocking record means more proof is still required from us as an organisation.