‘Winning is not the most important thing, it’s everything’.
‘If you can accept losing, you can’t win.’
These two quotes came from the legendary Vince Lombardi, one of the greatest leaders in the history of sport. Lombardi led the Green Bay Packers to five NFL championships as head coach, including the first ever Super Bowl in January 1967.
Queensland AFL clubs could learn a thing or two from Vince’s approach.
The Brisbane Lions have had seven consecutive losing seasons, winning 46 of a possible 158 games since the start of 2010. That’s a paltry winning percentage of 29 per cent.
Down the road, the Gold Coast Suns are faring even worse. Since entering the AFL competition in 2011, the Suns have won just 36 out of 136 games, which translates to a 26.5 per cent winning record.
There were always going to be some growing pains at Metricon Stadium, but after seasons of 3, 3, 8 and 10 wins, 2015 was the year the Suns were going to shine and make finals for the first time. It was nearly a foregone conclusion.
Instead, they won just four games under new coach Rodney Eade, and have looked a long way off the pace ever since, plagued by ongoing injury issues and a raft of off-field cultural problems which had led to the AFL installing their own man in Mark Evans as CEO to put a halt to them.
What does the future hold for the two Queensland sides, who simply right now make up the numbers in the 18-team competition?
Brisbane seem to be on the right track under the guidance of new coach Chris Fagan.
The Lions led last year’s premiers the Western Bulldogs by 32 points at half time, showing the inroads the young side are making in 2017 with a different set of hands at the wheel. Despite a 64-point turnaround in the second half and plenty of positives, Fagan was pragmatic in his post-match review and emphasised the positives.
The Gold Coast, on the other hand, trailed ladder leaders Adelaide by 34 points at quarter time, eventually going down to the Crows by 67 points. The message from their coach after the game was the need for his ‘young team’ to get stronger.
However Brisbane had the youngest team of Round 5 with an average age of 23.52 and average games played of 66.7, while the Suns were just ahead of them with averages of 23.9 and 74.1. But look at the contrasting approaches of the two coaches post-game.
Which one reflects the winning mentality better? Fagan or Eade?
While the Lions might well finish below the Suns in 2017, their outlook for the future seems to be much brighter. Fagan is installing a winning culture at the Gabba and his players are responding and playing for one another.
At the Suns, losses seem to not only be tolerated but expected whenever they come up against quality opposition. Something drastic needs to change if they’re to not only change their mentality, but stay afloat as a football club.
But at least if you’re down by seven goals midway through the second quarter with the game all but over, you can celebrate being able to take the kids to Timezone. Are premierships are an ancillary objective on the glitter strip?
When you’re already accepting losing, there’s no way you can win.
The Suns should print off a few of Vince’s quotes and stick them to the locker room walls and have a good hard look at themselves before they take on North Melbourne in Round 6.
It’s little wonder they dropped the ball against the Lions in the opening game of 2017 when they cannot instil a winning mentality.
Phil
Guest
Clearly, the real issue is too much grabbing, not enough tackling. Also, the clock at Metricon should be set 10 minutes forward.
Seano
Roar Rookie
Mate I'm a Labrador man but facts are facts. sharks 21 flags, Aspley 9. Graham Rd is good but it's not Fankhauser is it?
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Seano. not to get into an argument but Aspley would currently be the most successful Qld AFL team at the moment. Won the 2014 NEAFL premiership by beating the Sydney Swans by 2 points and lost the 2015 grand final against NT Thunder by 1 point. They do have an impressive sporting club (not as big as the Sharks) and as well as their Graham Road Oval they have also just developed a new facility in Pine Rivers. With 440 junior members they also are the largest Junior club in Qld.
Paul D
Roar Guru
See I agree on that one - I think it would have been much better to grant the Sharks the license. Surely some sort of deal could have been struck to split ownership between AFL and the Sharks - Gold Coast Sharks has a much better ring to it than the Suns too. Local side, less of a plastic artificial feel to it. But anyways, shoulda, woulda, coulda. They didn't. I think the main drawback for the coast in terms of the tangible obstacles to be overcome is the lack of public transport connectivity - if the tram line ever gets out to Metricon then you'd see more crowds. I'll have to go to Sharks club next time I'm down on the coast in winter too! You've sold me
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
The Southport Sharks do have a truly First Class set up - I was amazed by it the first time I went there knowing that they are a Queensland State League side. The Sports Bar is particularly good in winter when they have half a dozen screens showing everything going on the night from AFL to RL to RU and soccer.
Martin
Guest
I am predicting Gold Coast to make the finals this year with 12 wins plus percentage. Here are the next ten wins: round 6 firstly and then rounds 10-17 on a winning streak, and finally round 22 against Essendon.
Seano
Roar Rookie
Contrary to popular opinion the GC is an AFL town. More afl teams than RL or Union ones. I wa surprised when i moved up here 10 years ago. The suns will be ok in a few years, AFL implant running the show and tons of GC juniors running around. I still think they shud have granted the Sharks the licence. It would be similar to when port entered, successful club ect however the sharks are richer than most AFL clubs. Everyone on the coast has been to sharks for a beer, they are part of the fabric and the ground is on the tram line! But the AFL wouldn't have had control so it was never going to happen. Probably for the better, i hate the sharks! It's getting better at Metricon, the crowd is growing and learning.
Kevin
Guest
Lucky for Vince green bay had far less distractions than the gold coast ....
Paul D
Roar Guru
Different circumstances in a state league - I mean, the whole economy is totally different for starters, the Gold Coast certainly isn't a backwater in that competition, whereas in the AFL it is. I don't know why Southport are good, but it obviously whatever it is doesn't translate to the top tier and competing with interstate demand for talent. Can you name one gold coast team that has ever done well in a national sporting competition? Most of them have folded and the two survivors are welfare states
Seano
Roar Rookie
If the laid back life style is infectious on the GC can you as a Brisbanite explain why Southport is the most successful AFL club in QLD, routinely smashing all that Brisbane had to offer, over and over again? Can you explain why Labrador has won the last 3 QAFL state league premierships against the best that Brisbane has to offer? The only thing worse than a Melbourne based writer making crappy time zone jokes is a Brisbanite bringing up the "laid back culture" rubbish.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Ok... Well, I guess I agree with you that Brisbane's coach is doing a good job - but the Suns. well what do you expect - every team that has ever existed on the Gold Coast has been ordinary. The laidback lifestyle is infectious. It's hard to be committed to the cause 100% when you can go out whenever you want because no-one recognises you or pays you any attention. Only a real strong club culture can keep players focused in that enticing environment and the Suns have never had that. Look at what happened in their early years, they let Hunt set up a coke ring - and they weren't doing it during the day, that was all late nights - there is a distinct lack of professionalism on the Coast, always has been, always will be. Titans, Suns - both have had very similar problems and I don't believe it's a coincidence. I don't think the Gold Coast is that interested in professional sport, full stop. It's full of people who are there for a lifestyle that by and large doesn't include sitting in a stadium for a few hours. Means players can get away with being disinterested too. And honestly, I don't know how that is ever going to change. Sacking Eade would be a good start though.
Brando Connor
Guest
I dont think you have made persuasive arguments that GC has a culture of losing. I dont see the examples of the coaches post match comments showing anything in particular. Having lead last years premiers at half time would give you some positive comments to make. On the other hand getting flogged by the competition leaders most likely gave few positives to comment on. Similarly the GC twitter feed is about generating engagement with the fans to keep membership numbers up. It isn't sent out by the coach. So it is possible that GC is in trouble culturally, I'm just not seeing it from what you have put forward.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
First year psychology student by any chance?
gyfox
Guest
another code war article ;-)
Matt Jones
Guest
i dont know how you draw a bow between Vince Lombardi and Queensland AFL