Oldies strategy

[Memphistopheles]

I really don't like the GWS recruiting strategy and i think it is going to cost them a lot of fans in their first 'crucial' year in the AFL.

From what I can see they are signing up every older/recently retired players to tide them over for a season until bigger names come out of contract at the end of 2012.

It looks to me like these older players will play one season before taking up assistant coach roles and being replaced by a couple of big names like Pendles, Goddard/other in 2013.

This is going to make their first AFL season very disappointing for supporters and I expect they will lose almost all their games, nlike the Gold Coast who were somewhat competitive in some games.

And, then at the end of next year they will target some bigger names who are coming out of contract.

But, peopel will have already lost interest, especially with their ugly nickname and colours, and gone back to watching NRL.

[Boomz]

"This is going to make their first AFL season very disappointing for supporters and I expect they will lose almost all their games, nlike the Gold Coast who were somewhat competitive in some games."

Not true... Think it will have the exact opposite effect.

[MTTY]

"This is going to make their first AFL season very disappointing for supporters and I expect they will lose almost all their games, nlike the Gold Coast who were somewhat competitive in some games."

Not true... Think it will have the exact opposite effect.

As do i GC lost games that they were leading or were blown away due to the fact they didnt have enough older bodies/players who could play the whole four quarters.

[Memphistopheles]

"This is going to make their first AFL season very disappointing for supporters and I expect they will lose almost all their games, nlike the Gold Coast who were somewhat competitive in some games."

Not true... Think it will have the exact opposite effect.

As do i GC lost games that they were leading or were blown away due to the fact they didnt have enough older bodies/players who could play the whole four quarters.

Older bodied players are more likely to be injured and miss games though.

And, who wants to watch McDonald, Cornes, Power and Brogan - hardly big drawcards.

[MTTY]

"This is going to make their first AFL season very disappointing for supporters and I expect they will lose almost all their games, nlike the Gold Coast who were somewhat competitive in some games."

Not true... Think it will have the exact opposite effect.

As do i GC lost games that they were leading or were blown away due to the fact they didnt have enough older bodies/players who could play the whole four quarters.

Older bodied players are more likely to be injured and miss games though.

And, who wants to watch McDonald, Cornes, Power and Brogan - hardly big drawcards.

I love watching Junior Mac play, was dissapointed when he retired. Power is a flashy player as a forward so he's good to watch. Brogan has an irregular head, but seriously you barely watch footy for rucks bar Nic Nat. Cornes was a big draw card when Port played so why not as a cult player similar to Pods at Geelong.

[j959]

i think Sheeds has optimised what he/GWS is/are able to get ... Western Sydney (no offence intended) ain't the most attractive landscape especially in comparison to the Gold Coast.

GCS got GAJ with some cash and location - GWS just has cash ...

I'm seeing their strategy as spending the dollars (even though a bit too much imo) but again, there isn't a lot else to draw the young talent to GWS, but only on the young core as opposed to GCS where who were able to get some big-name established players.

i see no issue with Sheeds & Choco padding out the 1st year squad with oldies who clearly still want to play w/out taking the development spot of a youngster at their former clubs (MacDonald aside, Dees treated him badly from what i saw) - Sheeds saw what happened to GCS in terms of the lack of hardened bodies over the course of the season and will no doubt be padding around/filling the gaps with the oldies who he hopes will teach the youngsters a thing or two ...

will be interesting to see how it plays out next year.

[Fyfe_gun]

Clubs have prepared for 2011 uncontracted signings so i really like their strategy
kudos gws

They are competitive in their first year something gold coast was not (they got wooden spoon don't kid yourself) and they still have the ability to build for the future in 2012

they have signed scully, ward, palmer and davis who are your core leadership group for the future. the cream of the crop when it comes to future stars. They have got a ruckman similar to smith in giles and they have got a handful of smart, experienced players to coach their junior players through the year.

If gws can make finals in their first year they will gain fan support for at least 5 years
they are on the right track.
and then in 2013 they have a full panel of coaching staff. It is extremely smart and they have sat back watch gold coast backfire and worked out the perfect plan

i think Sheeds has optimised what he/GWS is/are able to get ... Western Sydney (no offence intended) ain't the most attractive landscape especially in comparison to the Gold Coast.

GCS got GAJ with some cash and location - GWS just has cash ...I'm seeing their strategy as spending the dollars (even though a bit too much imo) but again, there isn't a lot else to draw the young talent to GWS, but only on the young core as opposed to GCS where who were able to get some big-name established players.

i see no issue with Sheeds & Choco padding out the 1st year squad with oldies who clearly still want to play w/out taking the development spot of a youngster at their former clubs (MacDonald aside, Dees treated him badly from what i saw) - Sheeds saw what happened to GCS in terms of the lack of hardened bodies over the course of the seas and will no doubt be padding around/filling the gaps with the oldies who he hopes will teach the youngsters a thing or two ...

will be interesting to see how it plays out next year.

Have you seen the resort the players get to stay at. All contracted players get to live at this 6 star resort on a marina

[TheMailman]

I just feel like this whole GWS strategy is a giant miss (no pun)

I mean seriously:

Palmer doesn't have a whole lot of skill and in a weak team might struggle

Ward has shown glimpses of a future bigshot. GLIMPSES

Davis has played 18 games  ??? and is a key backman that will take time to develop

Scully has played 31 games and is already suffering knee injuries

God Sheedy better planning something that we don't know about because I think that they'll make Gold Coast look huge  :-X

[Nails]

I think GWS' first season will be a lot better than GC's

I wouldn't be totally surprised either to see GWS finish above GC on the ladder in 2012.

[Ziplock]

Being biased, I think GWS could really surprise you all, I  certainly don't see them wooden spooning it, and with some experience they could be pushing for top 8 in their first year; Personally, I'm signing up for membership when I get back.

[Ringo]

I think GWS' first season will be a lot better than GC's

I wouldn't be totally surprised either to see GWS finish above GC on the ladder in 2012.

Agree I think GWS watched the Suns closely and built much of their recruiting strategy based on these observations. That is why I can see these Older players being rotated so there will always be experience out there.  Will also be interested to see if they follow GC's trade strategy in trade week with trading draft picks but maybe clubs will be a wake up after the end result of GC trade was known.  I think from Memory they have a number of first round picks banked for use over the next couple of years.

[valkorum]

I just feel like this whole GWS strategy is a giant miss (no pun)

I mean seriously:

Palmer doesn't have a whole lot of skill and in a weak team might struggle

Ward has shown glimpses of a future bigshot. GLIMPSES

Davis has played 18 games  ??? and is a key backman that will take time to develop

Scully has played 31 games and is already suffering knee injuries

God Sheedy better planning something that we don't know about because I think that they'll make Gold Coast look huge  :-X

Palmer was recruited to be a hard body in and under the packs.  That is all he will do (which is what he should have been doing at Freo).  Palmer has a big tank and the ability to gut run so he will run to every contest all day long.  As long as he is feeding it out to the other players who can deliver the ball then his job is done (and done well).

[SydneyRox]

The other reason why it could be considered very smart is like GC the GWS will have a larger roster of 48 compared to other teams 38. For GC this drops to 46 in 2012, 42 in 2013, 40 in 2014 and then back to the regular 38 in 2015

So if GWS have a couple of older guys retire or get delisted after the first or second years, it just helps them retain some of the younger talent.

GC had to cut 8 players, as well as Harris retiring, some may well come back as rookies, but that is one of the hard parts to their list management.   

[PowerBug]

I think GWS' first season will be a lot better than GC's

I wouldn't be totally surprised either to see GWS finish above GC on the ladder in 2012.

That's a big call. I hope to see the GWS youngsters get on well with the Oldies. A good team morale is everything at a club.

[Memphistopheles]

I just feel like this whole GWS strategy is a giant miss (no pun)

I mean seriously:

Palmer doesn't have a whole lot of skill and in a weak team might struggle

Ward has shown glimpses of a future bigshot. GLIMPSES

Davis has played 18 games  ??? and is a key backman that will take time to develop

Scully has played 31 games and is already suffering knee injuries

God Sheedy better planning something that we don't know about because I think that they'll make Gold Coast look huge  :-X

Completely agree.
And, Brogan, Power, Cornes and McDonald don't add much to the team.
Those expecting GWS to do better than GC are in for a big shock. I think GWS will  easily finish last and I can only really see them competing against GCS and Port.
Gold Coast's draft was a lot stronger than this year’s prospects IMO.
Look at some of the players the GC didn't get who played this season - Heppell, Conca, Gaff, Darling, Brodie Smith, Polec, Fasolo, Isaac Smith, Howe, Jacobs, Batchelor, Siposs, Alex Johnson, Wallis and Liberatore.
Most of the GC picks theoretically should turn out better players than most of those guys.
After the top 3 picks this year the talent isn’t as exciting.