TOPIC:

BC wrote: sorry to say it 30plus but i wasn't impressed when subi played you guys a few weeks ago. imo Perth is really lacking quality cattle at the moment...i thought the effort was certainly there but the game plan of pushing numbers behind the ball at every occasion to stop subi scoring made for an ugly game as perth didn't have anyone in the front half to take advantage of turnovers. it wasn't a pretty spectacle that's for sure.

That was the only game this season when Earl has played extra numbers behind the ball. I suspect after the EP blow out he reasoned that a nil-all draw was better for the players development than another spanking.

But the bottom line is as you said, Perth is lacking quality cattle. The level of intensity has been good in most games apart from the first one which suggests to me the coach's message and game plan is being embraced by the players. But without the cattle, particularly something to aim for up forward, they are pushing sh1t up hill with a pointy stick most of the time.

As I don't see Perth games other than when your playing WP can I ask a question and please don't be offended...
What is your honest opinion of who arguably has been touted as your best player, and in the elite of the WAFLs best stat wise this year:- Aidan Tropiano

Is his prowess what is reported or is there an amount of the others in the squad are so far behind the standard he has to stand out?

This may have been asked previously and answered but if so I've not seen it and I always have questions on the 'Rembrandt amongst the finger paintings' - no matter the team..

Pretty spot on Dazzler. I can't fault the endeavour but with the shortage of quality targets up forward and some smarter cattle around the field, not to mention some more height down back, it is a hopeless task. Having said that, there are several young players developing nicely and with some smart recruiting will help to lift quality of the squad.
As for the coach, it is refreshing to see his message getting through to the players and they are responding. Simply put, they are just not up to this standard.

Growler, Tropiano is clearly our best player atm. He is in and under, totally fearless and always the last man up at the stoppages if he has not already executed the clearance. I hope he gets good game time in the State game. Keep an eye out for him.

You say smart recruiting. Why has this not been done in the past 3 years?

Its not smart recruiting this club needs Smokey,its just plain old fashioned recruiting to your needs,nothing special just plain old recruiting 101.

Imo we have have missed the boat,we need to many players (recruits) in one hit just to get wins on the board and add to this players that i think will leave at seasons end and we will be even further behind the 8 ball.

Unfortunately we just dont seem to recruit the key personel that we need eg.how many years have we been screaming out for a key forward or 2 and a mature big ruckman??
Not to mention a quality outside mid,tall KP backman.

Can we get rid of the tyre power sigh?

Sorry but the Tyre power sign just obstructed the last two posts. Gone now. Am I correct to say you thought Earl was a dud 30+? Looks very good to me

Time For a Flag wrote: Sorry but the Tyre power sign just obstructed the last two posts. Gone now. Am I correct to say you thought Earl was a dud 30+? Looks very good to me

Never said he was a dud at all,get your facts right,so no you are not correct.
Was i happy about his appointment,no i wasnt.

Everyone knew that he wasnt our first choice as coach thats a fact and in fact he probably wasnt our 2nd or 3rd choice either.

Some were over-joyed about his appointment,the jury is atill out for me.
Coaches over time are judged on there performance in the box and Earl is no different.

30plusyeardrought wrote: Its not smart recruiting this club needs Smokey,its just plain old fashioned recruiting to your needs,nothing special just plain old recruiting 101.

Imo we have have missed the boat,we need to many players (recruits) in one hit just to get wins on the board and add to this players that i think will leave at seasons end and we will be even further behind the 8 ball.

Unfortunately we just dont seem to recruit the key personel that we need eg.how many years have we been screaming out for a key forward or 2 and a mature big ruckman??
Not to mention a quality outside mid,tall KP backman.

30+, I think that we all agree on our recruiting needs. But we need to be smart, astute and whatever else you like to call it. But in the end it must fulfil our dire needs.
And, I might add, we are not suddenly going to turn things around. Like it or not it is going to take time both for the right recruits and the development of the younger players coming through. ATM we are rock bottom and it is a long tough haul to get to finals footy let alone flags. IMHO of course.

I disagree, I think you guys are actually not that far off being very competitive.

You have a number of very good youngsters developing as a cohort which hasn't been the case at Perth for a very long time. In the past, maybe one or two have graduated to league from colts every year but for the first time in yonks you are getting games into a number of good youngsters - Bell, Tanner, Browne, Leggett, Doncon, Kalajzic etc etc.

What you need is experience around these youngsters in key positions.

Have a look at your injury list. Most of them are in your best 22 so that hurts not having them out there consistently.

You also have for the first time since maybe Stan Magro a coach who understands how to play modern footy and, critically, how to manage young men and their expectations and aspirations.

Yep, you've heard it all before but I'm telling you if your recruiters can get off their arse and get those 3-4 quality players in to complement the youth you are developing you will rise quicker than most expect.