Apart from Kennedy , their midfielders are to small and light and akin to soccer players . If the Swans wish to improve go and watch a video of the old WCE’s side of the 90’s .

The Eagles had big, strong and fast men at the apex of their game – very physical and unrelenting over the ball . Mainwaring , Turley , Matera , Brennan , Kemp, Lewis – all beasts of footballers . Then look at the other bodies on display – Worsfold , McKenna , Jakovich, Lamb , Langdon ……the list is long.

To be fair , these old Eagles were the complete footballers and would annihilate Sydney today and any other AFL team – men against boys…….

Carlton will be a contender with GC and the Lions for Wooden Spoon honors in 2018.

They have a young and unremarkable list of players who lack genuine talent . To compound and exacerbate their problems Bolton is a nauseating little man who’s disposition is constructed and manufactured to act like a School Head Master – not a Professional Sports coach . Bolton was caught out numerous times throughout the year with no plan B and unable to deviate from his playing script . Carlton don’t need a new age pip squeak as Coach – they require a hardened personality ( preferable Carlton man) to bring out the best in its players.

Busty
” Saying that even as a staunch welshman ……..”

You should stop referring to yourself as that – the red dragon men are the butt joke of UK citizens and regarded at the wrong end of the evolutionary scale !
We have Queenslanders , Vicororians , West/South Australians , Tasmanians , Canberrans then ……N.S Welshman….minus the dodgy accent.

Great Article Les

Two weeks ago the AFL website had a tribute video to ” The Great Peter Daicos” and it was simply mind blowing . No player in the history of Australian Rules Foofball could turn on a dime , balk , weave , pirouette then of two steps kick a 65 meter torpedo on either foot – and Mr Magic did it weekly !

Daicos had the foot skills of an elite soccer player and the guile , anticipation and balance of a panther – he could literally strike out of know where and kick a goal from ANYWHERE . While Ablett was great in the air and exhibited sheer power , Daicos was far supreme at ground level where opposition players really struggled to get their hands on him , he was that good . Daics use to reguarly destroy Carlton and on the large spaces of Waverley it was like watching a cat play with lizards for fun .

As you said Les , Daics made the footy talk and no one could do it as well or consistently as the great Peter Daicos . It must be noted that he had a lot of serious injuries in his career and to later kick 97 goals as a small forward embodies his greatness . I don’t think a roving small forward will come close to his record number of goals in 1990.

After he walks away as a Coaching failure Bucks could have a career as a Magician, Illusionist and enduring artist , as he has pulled that much out of his arse to convince the footballing world that his act is for real . David Blaine would be super impressed by Bucks, take him on tour !

Warhead

Spot on !

Where was Twiggy when they really needed him – prior to bankruptcy ?

This would never work as the Force has a huge expat South African supporter base and also lots of Expat Brits , who’s first love is Union not League . Also lets not forget , West Australians do not have a good track record of supporting sporting events, actually the poorest attendances across a multitude of sports are in Perth .

Dr W

You are clutching at straws with your assertion “South Australia frequently bested Victoria ” . Victoria has dominated SA by a considerable margin on win/loss ratio , dating all the way back to the 1870’s . It’s not surprising as demographically , culturally, spiritually and economically Victoria is the home of Aussie Rules.

How you come to equate Bathhurst as an national institution is funny – most Australians don’t watch the race as is corroborated by its tv ratings . Similarly , most Aussies are not emotionally or mentally invested in the race. Unlike the Melbourne Cup , it does not cultivate big interest , especially with women . A sport does not have to be fawned on nationally to be considered an institution – it’s history , culture , membership and supporters manifest it’s sanctity.

Dr W

Port Adelaiide are a great club historically however , they earnt thier stripes in the inferior , poor man’s SANFL. I believe The Collingwood Football Club is an institution , it has a heritage , culture and norms and values which reflect its supporters and membership .

While Collingwood is not Privately owned like Man U – it’s importance in society is tantamount and/or like the English club . For a lot of supporters , Collingwood is an extension of who they are as people . They define thier identity by supporting the club , ” Side by Side we stick together……” Although it is no longer an exclusive working class club – supporters share a lot in common . Don’t underestimate the Collingwood Army , as Allan McCallister famously said , ” Collingwood doesn’t need the VFL (AFL) , the League needs Collingwood “

Rick from Disneyland

I feel that you fail to fully understand the gist of Tim’s article . Collingwood is The Manchester United of Australian sport – it is one of the few sporting clubs in Oz which is an institution, a very revered and celebrated one at that . Books have been written , films made all based on the legendary Collingwood Football Club . The pies are an integral part of Australian popular culture .

When a Club has over 1.5 million supporters nationwide, the largest membership in the League , the most resources and finances available , that SHOULD equal unparalleled success . With all that going for them , Collingwood under Buckley has failed miserably and that is simply unacceptable – do you think Man U would put up with failures of that longevity with that clout behind them ? Categorically , unequivocally NO ! Man U are winners because they don’t accept mediocrity and under achievers – Buckley’s coaching record underlines both !

Tim is entilitled to rant and rave in light of Collingwoods history and premier standing in the game . Based on Collingwoods economic status , supporter base and status as the biggest club in Australia they should be achieving finals success , end of story !

Gday Tim

I sent through a rebuttal to Ricks line of thinking but appears did not get through mods – Rick is out of line…..

Pendlebury is an absolute dud as Collingwood Captain – the only Pies Skipper I have ever seen who walks off the field after a loss laughing and joking ! Great player but not a natural leader at all – hence Collingwood’s position on ladder. Incompetent Coach and Flawed Club leader .

Unfortunately the options you suggested to replace Captain Comedy aren’t great either . Taylor Adams might be the best out of a bad bunch – the other candidates are choir boys .

Peter

Firstly , I don’t go down the pub .

Secondly , Collingwoods best player left because of Buckley ( Heath Shaw)

Thirdly , Collingwoods third best player left because of Buckley ( Dale Beams)- not because of a sick dad or to play with his brother ( Collingwood spin).

Fourthly , Daren Jolly got shafted after he criticized Josh Fraser – one of Buckley’s best mates . Collingwood spun a story on injuries finishing his career .

Lastly – Malthouse left because he didn’t want to oversee an ongoing train wreck because he new Buckley lacked experience and smarts to be a top flight coach

And here we are today……..

Very true – I am all for people enjoying their vices , it’s unfortunate that some are more effected than others.

Rick

Buckley is not a born winner . If you read his book ,” All I can Be” you ascertain quickly he is the product of an unrelenting father who went to extraordinary lengths to manufacture an AFL footballer . The old man ” tried ” to get him on steroids , growth hormones …….the full nine yards so to speak . Bucks went from a skinny kid to a Hulk rather rapidly . Although he is greatfull for his Dad’s support and management , he leaves the reader with the impression that his formative years were unhappy due to his fathers football obsession to create the perfect player .

Well , that has made my week , knowing the great Craig Bellamy is a Woodsman!

Hopefully the Storm win the Granny 60-0’and he reflects ” This caper is getting all to easy ” , need a new challenge ? After he takes the Pies to Five in a row he can start on the Wallabies next !

Tim

“Only we can truly destroy us” ……….not truer words spoken today!

I say go and get Craig Bellamy – pioneer , innovator, tactician , genius , brainiac …….. world class coach ! Bellamy is that good he could dissect an AFL game plan and and empower the flightless Magpies to win in ways never seen before. Throw the bank at Bellamy as he is more than capable of becoming Australia’s (first) Hybrid Premiership winning Coach – NRL/AFL .

Members dues/fees pay coaches salaries . If you are not getting a return on your membership you are entitled to tear it up – it’s a brutal business not a membership to a social club .

PtS

“they are young christo…the youth were exposed too early because of the huge injury count in 2014-2016…”

What are you talking about ? Collingwood won the Flag in 2010 with the second youngest list in the AFL .Youth has nothing at all to do with their demise.

Players subsequently left because they did not get on with Buckley or vice versa .

Billary
I wouldn’t get to excited – Bolton is laughable as a Head Coach. To constructured and methodical – it’s like watching a trained method actor undertake a coaching role. Now let’s here the alphabet boys ……oh B ….we haven’t got a plan B , shucks I love coaching though!

CT
Not even close….nice try though.

Mickyo
“Hes not perfect “……..,hilarious the Pies have gone all touchy feely , the PC Pies ! Poor little Nathan needs a mentor and someone to hold his hand as he failed as a Captain and can’t cut it as a coach either……lol

Doesn’t he live in Toorak near Eddie and all the other Collingwood supporters – nepotism at its very worst . McGuire and Buckley will both resign after round 10 next year when the Pies have three wins on the board !

Pickett

“In Aus , most kids played league and union growing up.Unless you were from that shiiiittewhole called Melbourne.”

Geography, Demographics and Traveling are not your forte Pickett . Kids in Perth , Adelaide , Hobart , Darwin did not grow up playing League or Union . Give you one guess the dominant sport in those cities ? Another clue , it has the highest attendances, biggest TV deals and turns over more money than League and Union combined ?

West
If you lose 4 games on home soil to England and Scotland and then leak a record against NZ ……..you are a rabble! Yes sure the Wallabies improved , but they still lost .

As Thurston said if you are on the pi$$ 5 days out from a huge game you are a goose , end of story !

You don’t need a degree in Medicince , Biology or Physiology to know that there will be residual effects physically and mentally if you get hammered in that timeframe – that’s science .

It’s no coincidence that the best players in the NRL are the most disciplined – Smith , Slater , JT , Cronk. Their discipline translates into wins on the field – unlike some NSW players.
If alcohol was discovered tommorrow as a new drug and/or substance and studied under controlled scientific environments , it would be banned immediately . The only reason booze isn’t banned is because of tax dollars , commercial interests .

Alchol causes more damage to individuals , families and society than ALL drugs combined ! It’s no coincidence that over 80% of Hospital Accident and Emergency wards are filled with alcohol related cases Friday and Saturday night . Maybe the NRL should start their own chapter of AA – it can only help.