Every week I read blog after blog singling out the coach or particular players for their weaknesses and mistakes.
For years I have watched this pattern unfold on this site - Sef Paulo is just the latest in a line of players stretching back through Matt Keating, Kris Keating etc.to be blamed for all of the woes - yes he is below par - but that is not really the sole problem and removing him (whilst it might be justified) is not the panacea.
We lack leadership and stability at all levels in the Club - from the Administration, to the Coaching Staff and the Players. And we have been missing this for a long time.
Love them or not, in 1996 we bought in a leadership group of Pay, Smith, McCracken and Dymock, which under Brian Smith established a strong culture on and off the field. Whereas we did not make the finals at all for about 10 seasons from 1987, we then had 10 mostly good years from 1997 to 2006. Yes, we did not win and carry the "choker" tag, but we made the finals 8 times out of 10, including a GF, a minor premiership and plenty of trips to the preliminary or major semi final. We were competitive most games in most seasons.
The leadership group and culture we had in the late 90s paved the way for the next generation of leaders, especially Cayless and Hindmarsh, who learnt from the more senior players and then carried on into the first half of the 2000s. We could build a team around them.
We had a stable coaching staff and - yes - a stable administration, even if unpopular!
Unfortunately things started to fade from 2005/2006 and in the 9 seasons since 2007, we have only made the finals twice, we have had two spoons, other finishes in the bottom 4, 4 or 5 coaches, and a turbulent administration. For most of this time, we did not draft in any leadership, just signings like Karl Webb, Whatuira, Ben Roberts, Chris Walker, Willie Tonga, Rene Maitua and then a couple of skilled players like Sandow and Norman, and a few Englishmen who barely got a run. No leaders amongst them however.
We now have no leadership off the field and without Hayne, not much on it. We used to read criticisms of Hayne's on field leadership, but last year it really shone through.
You can fiddle around with the squad all you want but until we build a strong leadership group on and off the field, the performances will be up and down just like they have been. It will take a while to build this culture, because right now there are no real on-field leaders - rather there are mostly young, inexperienced players, a few journeymen and one or two at the back end of their time. Things are still pretty flimsy off field too in the Administration.
Arthur now has Watmough, perhaps Gower and Peats, and with Foran & Beau Scott he might be able to try to begin to rebuild a leadership group and culture. Despite Watmough's performances so far, I think we as the fans have to give him (Arthur) a chance to execute the strategy as otherwise it will just be more chopping and changing and more set backs, and I can't see any other real leaders emerging from within the Club.
Replies
Good blog RV, first thing we need is a new on field captain.
Good blog RV and I agree with you Snake.
As I said in another thread, I'd be handing the captaincy to either Watmough or Peats. I'd just like to see a bit of fire when we make mistakes or concede tries rather than moping around the in-goal waiting for the conversion to be taken.
Watching the game live you can see the ones who have leadership potential, the ones screaming to lift their teammates or to correct their errors.
Unfortunately Watmough is to busy trying to fix his errors to be captain.
Leadership group 2016:
Watmough
Foran
Wicks
Gower
Norman
Peats
Mannah
Scott
Unfortunately Choc and Peats haven't been firing at 100% this year. Maybe a captaincy would lift one of them to another level?
For mine peats should be captain, watmoughs form is toilet
You are possibly correct ...but it depends on what you are looking for in off/on field leadership.
no real on-field leaders - rather there are mostly young, inexperienced players, a few journeymen and one or two at the back end of their time. Things are still pretty flimsy off field too in the Administration.
I don't know what you are getting at here especially ...isn't our current board doing a good job? Aren't two rep players from the successful Manly culture the same as (similar to) the Bulldogs who came across from the dark side? Do you mean there just isn't enough of them? When Foran and Scott gets here will that be enough? Didn't Mannah learn from Hindmarsh, Cayless and Hayne? Didn't Pay impart any leadership culture during his tenure as useless defensive coach with Sticky? Too many questions ....
IMO it boils down to basics on the field. BA should use the Gibson ideals that it is all about defence and ball security. The attack will take care of itself because all footballers like to attack.
If we weren't leaking points thru poor defensive reads and gifting the opposition possession via dropping the f#cking ball I think the off/on field leadership would not be an issue to us fans. Perhaps making an example of anyone who misses more than 3 tackles or drops the ball more than 3 times in a match would help.
we are missing a coach with big balls/pelotas/coghones to make changes. 8 rounds in same team bottom of the table!!!!!
it aint rocket science BA.
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