by Booney » Thu May 26, 2016 4:38 pm
Good question, impossible to answer, for if you say "someone else" then you need to quantify who and why they would get the job done.
I think you're correct about the people around him, Walsh and Richardson within a short time went from assistants to senior coaches in their own right.
After the '13 season, Richardson left the week before the draft that year, fairly important losing the coaching director when you're about to shuffle the list. No club stands in the way of someone moving up, so off he goes.
Then at the end of '14 we lost Walsh across Port Road. Again, even perhaps as the man himself was, we were blind sided by losing a very, very astute right hand man. May he rest in peace.
You're also right in saying it's impossible to judge the long term prospects of this list when it really hasn't been together at any stage. However, it's this list that is the one that Hinkley has to work with. With the Ryder and Dixon deals not providing any early picks for the last two years we have what we have. It's likely this year that we'll not give any picks up ( other than the second rounder we owe GC for Dixon ) and we'll not play much at trade time in my view. As such, I think Hinkley has '17 and '18 to prove his worth as by then we'll be at the point of several players that are currently in the prime of their careers closing in on 30 and we know your an exception, not the rule if you maintain a high level after you turn 30.
PAFC. Forever.
LOOK OUT, WE'RE COMING!