Grahaml wrote:Mad Mat wrote:fish wrote:redandblack wrote:I hope for Norwood's sake that there is no parallel with West in 2004.
Like Norwood, they came from nowhere in 2003, with a new ex-AFL player coach, performed well above expectations to make the grand final, but then lost several key players. In 2004, they started the same way, but lack of depth and insufficient recruiting saw them drop away.
I'm not saying that will happen to Norwood, but the coach can only do so much, so it's worth noting.
I originally rated Bassett pretty highly but after his performances against Centrals in last years finals I'm no longer sure - I reckon he is a bit wooden and lacking in ideas - much like Neil Craig.
I had to laugh at Graham Cornes article in yesterdays paper, where he said that Bassetts coaching against Glenelg in the first final was the best display of coaching for the entire footy season! He mentioned nothing of the fact that Lairdy wiped the floor with him the following week and in the Grand Final!
Your comments are TIC aren't they?

Difference between West in 2004 and Norwood 2010 is that Norwood have a good coach. No doubt Graham Cornes was way over the top (perhaps trying to hide his disappointment) bu Bassett did pretty well. Rehn had a gun side that should have won the flag that year had they had a better bloke in charge. This year will tell us a lot about how good Bassett is though. Plenty of coaches have been able to get teams up there once lately, but few have returned. Especially with some of his core players gone now, he'll either have to change the structure or find new guys to fit into those key roles in that structure.
With respect, nobody tipped West to do particularly well in 2003. They hardly had a gun side and certainly weren't rated to win the flag; definitely not in front of a strong Centrals side, but Rehn has to be given credit for a new game plan, good recruiting and an exciting season.
To say West should have done better with a better coach that year is only an opinion, which you're entitled to, but it's an opinion that's extremely hard to back up. After 2004, Rehn certainly dropped away and it remains to be seen what Bassett will do.
I was only pointing out the similarities.
Anway, a happy new year to you, Gl
