Mate for me this is one of the more sensible reads that I have had on this forum in the last three weeks.
The first strategy we need to undertake is to stop bagging each other. Over the last three weeks I have read nothing but blokes on here ripping into each other after every loss. As a long term fan of 36 years that disappoints me the most.
The second thing is to remember exactly what you pointed out. Most people tipped us for the spoon, however three weeks ago every 'good' judge on here had us winning the comp. We have never had the side that can do this and the sooner we realize this the quicker we can focus on remaining loyal and positive to the club we all love.
The third thing we must do is experiment a little with our personnel. However, we need to win that Toyota Cup so we can't be affecting those chances. We have had very little success in any grade for so long that it is imperative that we give that comp a good shake. If we can do this and retain many of them then our future is very bright. Blokes like Chad Townsend, Stuart Mills, Luke Pickerd, Tyrone Peachey and Tyson Frizell need to experience that victory and then bring that culture into the top grade. We can't dick around with that side too much.
The fourth thing is to build our depth in key positions. This year we have had injuries to key players at the wrong times. AK and Gardner getting hurt in that one game turned our season on it's head. J Smith and J Morris injuries affected us also. We unearthed some good players in Bukuya but in the last few weeks he has been out and with Gal out also and Snowden battling injury, we have been a shadow of what we were three games ago. Our back line doesn't seem to scare anybody so it is here that we must look for those Toyota Cup guys to come through for us. We have started the process and already bought a few decent players to plug the gap that Dougie will leave, we must do more though. Toupo has to be our impact off the bench and while I like Pom sometimes, he just makes himself out to look ordinary at other times.
The fifth and final thing is to not turn on our coach. He has done some very good things so far and up until the last few weeks was a hero to many on here. It was said a few weeks ago that if we made the 8 he might be coach of the year. To me, he has gone a long way to repairing the damage the last idiot left the place in. Stuart was a bloody disgrace, he never looked after or nurtured any of the local talent. At one point last season in the depth of our despair, not one player in the 17 was a local junior. Our Toyota Cup was near the bottom. That guy really did nothing to inspire my confidence as a long term supporter. Flanno on the other hand is in his rookie year and he has done more to inspire my confidence in that time than Stuart did in his whole time here.
Sorry about being so long winded. This is a good thread and one I hope will invoke good sensible discussion rather than resulting in the infighting occurring among many of the members of this forum.
