Clay Sampsons thoughts on the SAFC List

[Sojourner]

Taken from the SAFC forum from notes from members that attended the members communication.

"Clay did indicate that ideally there is a blend of youth and experience. It was accepted that the Club can face an uphill battle in recruiting mainly because of the 'losing history' - the better, more accomplished players go to the stronger Clubs. An example would be Chris Hall deciding to go the Bays - more chance of playing winning footy and finals there than at South. Until SAFC start to develop a winning culture then it will always be difficult to attract players, and then retain them.

Clay said he was reasonably happy with the new recruits so far but he did say that many of our younger players have dropped their confidence over the past month due to the side's poor performances. I already mentioned the issue of leadership and Neill Sharpe said the Club is looking at ways to address that.

Clay did say that the team is not fit enough nor strong enough to compete with some other SANFL sides. He said we have struggled in the mid field so far and this is an area where the Club needs to recruit the right type of hard, in and under players. We have been getting smashed every week in the mid field and this has resulted in too few entries into our 50 mtr zone, thereby making the jobs of the forwards very difficult. The whole fitness and strength regime needs re-working.

Clay said he will persist with playing young players who show form in the 2s. He said he has to be in a position to make judgements on players in terms of their ability long term to play at the standard needed.He did accept that the standard at the moment is no where near good enough and that there is no other option but to keep working hard."

[EAGLES]

i read that twice
Did you forget to include the bit where sambo accepts some of the blame for poor fitness and form
Or is that some one elses fault

[Sojourner]

Interesting that you should mention the Fitness of the side, this being something that Jack Cahill wanted improved and worked towards. It was something that a number of people commented on the early SAFC games under Cahill that they had improved their fitness vastly over the previous season under Pyman, so its a fair point to raise about how we are at the current situation from there?

[southee]

"The whole fitness and strength regime needs re-working."

I thought we got a whole NEW fitness department in this year???

He took on the job and has to deal with it. It's what he wanted.

I still can't work out with Cahill in we won the first 4 games with less cattle than this year and were more competitive. This year has been a disaster and questions should be asked. The games (game plan and skill errors) have been laughable at times.

Can we do a North Melbourne of 1977?? Buy, buy, buy......then players might come.


J. Reid...where are you???

[Pseudo]

J. Reid...where are you???

I think Robert Shirley was the last person to see him....