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On field pain in the short to medium term no doubt a period of building. Off field should be in a position to keep the club viable for a long time. As far as Bronte putting money in, you would have to ask him. I believe he would but will not have to the club is much better run nowadays since someone was moved on.

Larry Bird wrote: Outstanding post couldn't agree more. Yes I didn't want to mention Jeremy's name as you know the type of people that frequent this website particularly the Swans and Perth threads. That era of players at EP was the toughest I have ever seen no doubt the alignment assisted EP on field but the culture change brought in by Tony Micale was the main turn around. His first training session was legendary he won the battle of wills against a wild bunch of lads. The current alignment is very different its only benefit is financial to the WAFL clubs in particular EP who will be set up for the future. The league has been uneven for 30 years with nothing much done so this alignment business has put another nail in the coffin.

How did Micale do that LB?? They are the kind of stories we should be sharing on this site.

Toddy back in his time at swans was famous for breaking players before building them back up. 100 sprints up the hill on the outer only to race off down to the river for relay swims between the 2 jettys down at the reserve, about 40mtr apart from memory. Believe me the water tasted like salty dung at best but they are the kind of things he did so players could run through walls and the results speak for themselves in the early 80's. I was a young kid witnessing this stuff down at training whilst I collected the loose balls behind the goals etc, it was only on venturing down to colts training in 1991 pre season did I first understand first hand how hard you had to work to play at this level, naive kid that I was. A big shout out to Terry Hall who invited me down as a kid to be around all that stuff. As an 11 & 12yo I loved being in and around the club after living in the country during my earlier childhood. A passionate Black Duck and a good man is Terry who continues to give to the club til this day. Respect!

In short the players ran the show Barnard,Swan,Perry,Butcher, Waller etc etc. Loved playing and very talented but a crazier bunch has never graced a football field. Micale rocked up to training and put a stop to the lack of discipline on the first night. He singled out the ring leader Jeremy who fired up, Micale issued the ultimatum straighten up or piss off right now. Barney backed down Micale was in charge and the culture was more professional from that day on.

Yeah, Micale is quality !

Larry Bird wrote: In short the players ran the show Barnard,Swan,Perry,Butcher, Waller etc etc. Loved playing and very talented but a crazier bunch has never graced a football field. Micale rocked up to training and put a stop to the lack of discipline on the first night. He singled out the ring leader Jeremy who fired up, Micale issued the ultimatum straighten up or piss off right now. Barney backed down Micale was in charge and the culture was more professional from that day on.

Interesting this is to me because an East Perth acquaintance of mine who played through the mid nineties, mostly reserves but cracked a few league games always told me in our wafl discussions that the coach Kevin worthington tolerated absolutely no bullshit and was a hard arse bastard.

TOO, guess that depends on the individual's interpretation of hard. One of my best mates had Toddy demand he break up with his girlfriend at the time if he ever wanted to play league footy. True to his word Toddy played him the week the relationship ended. Tough luv I guess.

Now on to more important matters, what's goin on with Leedy's avatar???

Wortho was loud and volatile but he came from a drinking old culture. Stories of him eating middy glasses etc are Collingwood legend. He expected effort but was not a modern professional like Micale demanding everything on and off field be meticulous.

Dirty Weekender wrote: TOO, guess that depends on the individual's interpretation of hard. One of my best mates had Toddy demand he break up with his girlfriend at the time if he ever wanted to play league footy. True to his word Toddy played him the week the relationship ended. Tough luv I guess.

Now on to more important matters, what's goin on with Leedy's avatar???

Dw you've probably heard this one but I like the story about when Ron Boucher first came down to training from gingin. Toddy thought he looked a bit rough around the edges and proceeded to flog the hell out of him on the track with big Ron doing everything asked of him and not saying a word. When toddy had finished with him Boucher said "is that all?" Toddy said yep and Boucher said " we'll you can get fucked!" And stormed off back to gingin. He returned obviously