Why are the bays winning?

[Jimmy]

What has changed?

Is it Mickan? release of dead wood? McConnell? Player development?

Will it last or will they fade?

Serious questions....well done on their early season form and i hope for their fans they have a productive season, but where has it been turned around so far?

[Wedgie]

I asked the same thing of Bays fans yesterday.
I listened to Mickan at the 1/4 time break and he's far from insperational.
I honestly can't work it out but he must be doing something well.

[am Bays]

two reasons:

1. A coach with credibility and knows how to teach league footballers how to play not juniors
2. Dead wood gone - coaches way or the highway boys, don't want to do it his way, there is a bus leaving in 15 mins, be under it...

Oh yeah good palyers with a bit of experience i.e 20-50 games

[am Bays]

I asked the same thing of Bays fans yesterday.
I listened to Mickan at the 1/4 time break and he's far from insperational.
I honestly can't work it out but he must be doing something well.

Being closer to the club than I have been in 5 years I detect a distinct feeling from, supporters, admin, coaches and players that we are sick of underachieving. A line has been drawn in the sand and we aren't going to put up with crap of the last 10 years anymore. The writing was on the wall in August last year, we were doomed to mediocrity and possible extinction if we didn't do something drastic with the old board and coaching regime.

Maybe last year was the straw that broke the camels back and made us finally say **** it, that is enough of this. We belong back up the hgher echelons of SA footy playing finals footy year in year out.

Hence why you have got old players back on board, they has been selective recruitment, a strong coach with credibility. And supporters starting to come out of the woodwork.

Don't underestimate the contribution of the 'louts, In my last few years at the bay and when I was watching as part of the Sturt brains trust, the support looked fractured. The 'louts has seen a collection of supporters gather together to show that they are unified and passionate in their support of the bays and that support is starting to grow. There are a lot of latent Bays supporters out in the community the 'louts are leading the way for the others to say hey be a Glenelg supporter get out and support our great club.

This is not to say we are out of the woods yet there is a long way to go for us as a club but the early signs are good. As I've said previously it could be an interesting next year losing up to five players to the AFL for the majority of the season. We need to make sure our underpining development plans ensure good juniors coming into our club and the supporters and sponsors stay on boars. Memberships = $$$.

To make a realistic observation we are probably where North were in 2004. Not to say we are going to do as well as North did in 2004-05. We have to make sure our develpment process are spot on so we don't build ourselves up only to fall down again.

[Jimmy]

I asked the same thing of Bays fans yesterday.
I listened to Mickan at the 1/4 time break and he's far from insperational.
I honestly can't work it out but he must be doing something well.

Yeah, I mean, preseason they were unsure of their recruiting saying they had missed out on a few and werent happy with it overall, but have picked up McConnell who has turned out to be very good. Also, this douglas bloke on the cows list has been good for them too, wonder how long he will last before getting a call up?

Maybe their 2nd tiers from last year have stepped up???

bays fans??

[Jimmy]

cheers tassie....i hadnt refreshed the page since wedgies post hence my ?. cheers for the info...

[mighty_tiger_79]

i believe, that we are starting to win again possibly because the boys believe in the coaches game plan and the grand plan. Maybe they respect the current coaches whereas previously they didnt and it showed with the coaches gone, now the board has stuck behind the coach and the coach has told several players to go.

Sure we have juniors that are playing really well and it looks as though they will get picked up in the draft, the big test will be for the juniors currently at the club to step up.

we didnt do a whole lot in the off-season in terms of recruits and McConnell looks good when he gets the ball, but like a lot of players a tad slow when he doesnt have it.

Fisher has improved in his disposal, he would have 25+ possessions and the opposition would get 20 of those straight back.

Mitch is playing a lot more up the ground and not just out of the square, Buck Rogers has gone from CHB to CHF.

I believe a most under-rated player is Jeff Smith, i thought he had a good year last season and got dropped on occassions where it wasnt warranted but you get that with a mini bus (half a coach). he always makes a contest and is a good mark and kick.

whatever it is that has caused the major turn around in form lets hope it continues!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[drebin]

Good luck to Glenelg. It doesn't take long at times to turn things around. Look at North from 2002/2003 and the change in 2004 with Jars.

[Rushby Hinds]

You guys don't realise, I put all the new success on the magic powers of Barney, the secret silent Snout, who has wormed his way into the inner sanctum and workings of the GFC...

[leftlegger]

Agree with mighty tiger79 and 1980TM, Logan has also been very handy and Panozzo playing well.

Just seems to be generally more professional attitute within the football department.
lets hope we continue to improve

[mal]

GLENELG ?

So far brilliant running skillful team and great to watch this emerging team.
Will be a threat to all on fast dry tracks.
The test will be against quality opposition when the winter sets in.
Also having a good run with injuries.
They have beaten CD and EG but they were both undermanned.
Cant do anymore too date , I hope they do well in the heavier
conditions as BAYMANS mob are terrific to watch.

Lets not forget SA looked a million dollars this time last year and
we all know how they disintergrated when it got wet and willing.

[bayman]

a game plan
belief in themselves & each other
confidence
one chief in charge (not the patients running the asylum)
wanting it by working hard & playing as a team not as individuals as has happened in the past
thats the basics in my opinion

[John_Fidge]

Nothing to do with any 'dead wood' going. We barely had 'dead wood' to remove as the vast majority of our list last year were emerging early 20s and under players.The only player that departed that fell into that dead wood category was Paul Allison and maybe Sudjai Cook. The rest that left, the club was disappointed they went and tried to keep many of them. With the b's being so good last year, we always had the base. It was just down to selecting the right coach with the right game plans, together with a couple of quality recruits. This along with the natural progression of the younger guys has been the recipe for success.

[Aerie]

I rate Mickan highly as a coach. He took on the Eagles when the chips were down and had them playing simple direct footy. He is very quietly spoken, but his game plans work. Glenelg are in a similar situation as the Eagles were with plenty of exciting youngsters destined for AFL. Back then it was Burton, McGregor, Pavlich and now he has Gibbs, Sellar, Willits etc.

[doggies4eva]

I asked the same thing of Bays fans yesterday.
I listened to Mickan at the 1/4 time break and he's far from insperational.
I honestly can't work it out but he must be doing something well.

I don't think it is necessary these days for a coach to be "inspirational" once the game is underway. If a player needs someone ranting and raving at them they probably aren't going to cut it.

From what I have seen of Glenelg, they have some very exciting emerging players - my tip for the big improvers this year.

[Wedgie]

I'be been thinking about this questions a bit more today and having seen the Bays a couple of times this year 2 words spring to mind:
"HARD WORK"
Some of their players may lack a bit of polish but they never stop badgering the opposition all day.

[Dog_ger]

Mark Mickan...! A new culture. A new hope. Well done Mickan...!