Where to from here?

[blueandwhite]

South are now on the cusp of throwing away another season after 2 appalling recent results against Glenelg and Norwood. Will we see the same South of recent seasons?, the team that disintegrates into an undisciplined rabble and assumes its customary position toward the base of the ladder come September. Or will Souths few dedicated loyal supporters witness a team that shows some grit and pride in performance for a change. I have over the years witnessed some very insipid efforts from the panthers, none more so than late last season when it was quite obvious that the players could not give a shit. Well now is the time to stand up and prevent the club slipping down that familiar slippery slope and show some backbone.
There are quite a few big name players who have really underperformed this season and its time for them to stand up- and there are supposed big names among them too. There are no excuses-if they are not fit they dont play, if they are out of form-kick the dew off the grass at 11.30.
We have the salary cap issue hanging over the club.
The coach is also at the crossroads. Two years ago he knocked back an AFL assistants role because" the job hasnt finished here..."- well I'm sorry Rob but things have'nt really gone anywhere since then, and the clock is ticking....
To the board who at the end of last season had an infusion of exhuberance and enthusiasm and were going to bring respect to the club, and make South a club that every sanfl club respected, .....? as a famous red headed woman said "please explain." And while your at it explain how you can fill a casual vacancy on the board without asking for nominations from the members.The members are few but I think we should at least have a say if we want a comedian on the board. Mind you it is probably not a bad idea seeing there is not a lot to laugh about at the moment.
I've raised a few issues here, so Southies...discuss.....

[MightyEagles]

I think that South need 1) a coach who has the pride and passion for the club, but I don't know where that is going to come from at this stage and 2) players who also have pride for themselves and a club in the SANFL.

[Blue Boy]

No Where

Just like us

[Adelaide Hawk]

South are now on the cusp of throwing away another season after 2 appalling recent results against Glenelg and Norwood.

Appalling? Glenelg and Norwood have been in very good form this season, and South narrowly lost both games. Hardly appalling.

[Dog_ger]

I agree with Hawk. You are a little hard on your team B&W...?

You have a good Percentage and are 1 win out of the 5........

This is the best season for a long time........

[blueandwhite]

I may be a bit hard but I wasnt old enough to remember 1964 and my patience is wearing a little thin.
The losses against Glenelg and Norwood were critical in the scheme of things for this year. They were games that would have been pencilled in as "must wins" before the season, if we were to take the next step.They were both winable and now we South supporters cringe as we await the coming weeks.

[spell_check]

Get the Gowans to come to South.

[sydney-dog]

blueandwhite

first north supporters last week now south supporters this week....

north showed last week, if you play with som heart and desire anything is achievable, South supporters, get behind your club and the players and maybe it's your turn this week to do a north adelaide, it's a close season, if you can get on a roll and win two or three straight your in with a chance, now is not the time to start pulling punches, now is the time to get your butts to Norlunga this week and support your club......

[Jimmy]

south need to find players that actually care for their jumper

thats going to be hard in this new era of sa footy

[godoubleblues]

I must agree with B&W, I obviously do not follow the Panthers but if I was a supporter I would be an extremely frustrated supporter
they spend up big each and every year (to quote a famous footy caller ), get some quality players but dont put the results on the board
how I would love to get a couple of players of the calibre of Kenna, McGlone, Bennet, Cupido at Sturt

and anyway, I have been picking them, come on South, lift your game

[spell_check]

south need to find players that actually care for their jumper

thats going to be hard in this new era of sa footy

Welcome to the 1000 post club Jimmy.

I'm sure plenty of players care for their jumper, you would know if they don't.

[Jimmy]

south need to find players that actually care for their jumper

thats going to be hard in this new era of sa footy

Welcome to the 1000 post club Jimmy.

I'm sure plenty of players care for their jumper, you would know if they don't.

yeah, they would leave, like a whole bunch did last year and just like a whole new bunch will again....maybe...

[Wedgie]

Jimmy's only made 5 posts, the other 995 were just emoticons!

[sydney-dog]

the best way to find players that want to play for the jumper, look in your own back yard

[am Bays]

I posted this in the middle of January. I said it then and I'll say it again I can not believe South have been so unsuccessful particularly in the last decade when you compare them to their outer suburbs cousin Centrals. I know over the past 10 years my club hasn't been the epitome of a successful club but at least we have made the finals once since they moved to Noarlunga.

I think their mission statement gives a pretty good guide as to why they have been unsuccessful. No mention of success or achievement in that.....

Speaking of South Adelaide, does anyone know who is coaching their reserves team this year. Spoke to a player before christmas and they were yet to appoint anyone leaving things a bit late arn't they...?

Dunno, I had a look on the South website but couldn't find details.
I did find their mission statement though:

“The South Adelaide Football Club, through a focus on Australian Football, provides to people within the Southern Region of Adelaide and beyond, a sporting and cultural experience which reflects the Australian way of life.”

Correct me if I'm wrong but shouldn't it be to win premierships or have they given up on that?
Are they running a charity, a social workers workshop or a football club?

I can't believe that.

As a fanatical Bays supporter I know with my club's performance over the past 10 years I am on shaky ground but still here goes:

It has continued to amaze me since Centrals got their shit together in 1992 under Stewart why South couldn't do the same. I see the same key similarities between South and Centrals:

Relatively strong metro league to draw on: BLG and SL (in fact South should do better as Centrals only has a the BLG (1/2 country 1/2 metro where as South have the SFL and GSFL within 1 hrs drive of their home ground)
Similar population demographics - City of Onkaparinga prides itself on being the biggest council in SA hence they charge my old man such high rates for living at Aldinga!!!
combination of mortgage belt and housing trust
Similar Socio economic status - no jokes please
Similar pokie competition

So what have South been doing, if I was a South supporter I would be asking some serious questions of my admin to ask why we at least haven't been making finals as we should at least be doing as well financially as Centrals and that then helps us buy and develop players.

Before I get bombarded by the South supporter(s) YES I do re-acknowledge my club hasn't done well over the past 10 years and I'm not happy about that either. Also I acknowledge Glenelgs mission statement is similar to Souths but the Vision statement is all about being the most successful and professional club in SA - YES I know we aren't there yet!!

OK you SOUTHS supporters let loose the dogs of war, INCOMING!!!!!!

[Jimmy]

Jimmy's only made 5 posts, the other 995 were just emoticons!

996

[Adelaide Hawk]

I may be a bit hard but I wasnt old enough to remember 1964 and my patience is wearing a little thin.
The losses against Glenelg and Norwood were critical in the scheme of things for this year. They were games that would have been pencilled in as "must wins" before the season, if we were to take the next step.They were both winable and now we South supporters cringe as we await the coming weeks.

I understand what you are saying, and we certainly understand the frustrations of long suffering South supporters. My point is you may travel to the Parade with expectations to do well, but South's record at Norwood Oval hasn't been great over the years, and to "pencil in" a win at Norwood would have been more optimism than reality. Even Port Adelaide has struggled over the years to win at Norwood Oval (except this season).

And sure, at the start of the season any home match against Glenelg looked like a win, but Glenelg have played very good footy so far in 2006. Hang in there and see how the season unfolds. Too early to toss in the towel just yet. Remember, South are a relatively new side with players probably still getting used to each other. I think they can improve.

[longtimewaiting_2]

south need to improve on a few little things there disposal of the ball and too much handball its not all game just 10 to 15 mins that these mistakes occur and teams pounce on thes little errors i still think south have been playing reasonably well just need to focus on every quarter and play 4 quarters

[doggies4eva]

blueandwhite

first north supporters last week now south supporters this week....

north showed last week, if you play with som heart and desire anything is achievable, South supporters, get behind your club and the players and maybe it's your turn this week to do a north adelaide, it's a close season, if you can get on a roll and win two or three straight your in with a chance, now is not the time to start pulling punches, now is the time to get your butts to Norlunga this week and support your club......

Sydney-dog what are you thinking?

They play us this week!! Unless you mean they follow Norf's example but getting kicked off the park by us and then whipping the Eagles in their next game. That works for me

[sydney-dog]

mate, all I am saying, it's round 8, south are one win out of the 5, regardless of the result this week get behind your side, the comp is that tight even if they lose this week all is not lost, all it takes is stringing a few games together

I am just amazed at some responses I read, few weeks ago, people were writing off the dogs, last week north supporters were writing off their own team, now south supporters this week.......

I am confident the dogs will get up this week, if that is the case it is not the end of the season for south, it's only round 8, it's a tight comp, string a few wins together soon and their in the mix.......

Time to support no panic buttons just yet regardless of this weeks result