What made Central the success that they currently are?

[Sojourner]

Just in relation to the current Bulldogs 50 year anniversary thread,

What do you feel it is that Central have done that have changed their side from being one that often finished towards the bottom of the ladder to a side that consistantly finishes top and has ammassed a whopping 10 premierships? What was it that they changed and did differently?

[HeartBeatsTrue]

Have I been abducted by aliens and brought back to earth 2 years later? 10 premierships??

Are you counting all grades?

[Mickyj]

South Adelaide saying no to the Gowans .
Might be a different story .

[smac]

South Adelaide saying no to the Gowans .
Might be a different story .

Stop this crap.

No one had a chance at them except Centrals.

[Big Phil]

South Adelaide saying no to the Gowans .
Might be a different story .

I think it was more a case of the Gowans saying no to South Adelaide...

They were told that Noarlunga was very much like the seaside settings of St. Kilda in Victoria and of course, we know that that aint the case (of course with all due respect to Noarlunga)

I think the 1 man that has been credited with giving the club the change of attitude and direction they needed that has been the stepping stone to their success was former coach Alan Stewart. Him and of course, the legendary man himself Kris Grant certainly are one of the main reasons the club are in the position they are now.

[Dogwatcher]

Copying a blueprint.
We just won't market it as a creed.

[GWW]

Copying a blueprint.
We just won't market it as a creed.

Maybe it was just a case of doing the opposite of everything they did from 1964 to 1999

[jaceace]

Alan Stewart

[RedMagpie]

What about the fact the population increased around the area, look at the sides in their junior comp, going from a two year gap to a 1 year gap, although the senior age groups are starting to struggle! the Importation of alot of Gawler and Barossa lads, Country Zone... to go with a sturdy executive and strong leaders in coaching and leadership roles within the club. Some wise heads putting resources into areas with alot of football teams and tallent, they started tapping into Trinity, a little of Xavier College. But to be honest, the profesionalism of the football club in general, the ability to bring money and funds into the corporation.

[am Bays]

ingenious salary cap rorts...

*runs and hides*

[Booney]

Copying a blueprint.
We just won't market it as a creed.

You dont have to market it so hard,you're not on the national stage.

Seriously, Alan Stewart pulled no punches when he said he was copying a famous and succesful model, but, if the people around the club at the time had not embraced his ideas things might be a little different.

[Dogwatcher]

Copying a blueprint.
We just won't market it as a creed.

Maybe it was just a case of doing the opposite of everything they did from 1964 to 1999

That's a very good point

[PatowalongaPirate]

I think Neil Kerley played his part by getting rid of those terrible white guernseys and school girl socks. They never looked intimidating, much like the power on the weekend.

[wycbloods]

South Adelaide saying no to the Gowans .
Might be a different story .

Stop this crap.

No one had a chance at them except Centrals.

West may have been a chance, of securing the Gowans services, if the general manager of the time hadn't left them waiting in the foyer for over an hour before they decided to leave and the rest is history.

[sjt]

What about the fact the population increased around the area, look at the sides in their junior comp, going from a two year gap to a 1 year gap, although the senior age groups are starting to struggle! the Importation of alot of Gawler and Barossa lads, Country Zone... to go with a sturdy executive and strong leaders in coaching and leadership roles within the club. Some wise heads putting resources into areas with alot of football teams and tallent, they started tapping into Trinity, a little of Xavier College. But to be honest, the profesionalism of the football club in general, the ability to bring money and funds into the corporation.

A bit of the above. Also recruiting quality people not just players. Guys that became 2 to 10 year club men, with a "club" focus.

[am Bays]

I think Neil Kerley played his part by getting rid of those terrible white guernseys and school girl socks. They never looked intimidating, much like the power on the weekend.

I think it was Kerley that got rid of teh socks, Stewart got rid of the guernsey after his first year there 1992 IIRC.

What I respect about Centrals is when copying a successful Blueprint and having moderate success (95-96) they then had a lean period 97-99 where I think they missed the finals each year (Spelly???). To keep the faith with a blueprint with an eye on the long-term goal when it wasn't successful initially, well you have to applaud them for that.

[Grahaml]

I think we adjusted to the post AFL era SANFL better than anyone else. We set up a revenue stream with Grand Central, we started recruiting selectively, pushed out serial underachievers and tried to keep the best people as closely involved with the club that we could.

I think winning in 2000 was the symptom of the changes we had begun to implement in the early 90s, not the sure. And Alan Stewart had a big part in that. As did Kris Grant. Not sure about Kerley. Perhaps we learnt a few things from him but I don't think it was such a big thing. Not sure the guernsey change had much to do with it either!

But if I think sorting ourselves out off the field by getting good clubrooms, a steady income and appointing good people to important roles was the catalyst. And have a look at how we manage to get people back to the club after AFL duties, how many ex CDFC players (even those mini drafted) take pride in our success, how many players stay to be coaches for a few seasons after retiring and how many more people are around the club from bygone eras. That all to me indicates we are a strong club before we are a strong team.

[JK]

I think Neil Kerley played his part by getting rid of those terrible white guernseys and school girl socks. They never looked intimidating, much like the power on the weekend.

I think it was Kerley that got rid of teh socks, Stewart got rid of the guernsey after his first year there 1992 IIRC.

What I respect about Centrals is when copying a successful Blueprint and having moderate success (95-96) they then had a lean period 97-99 where I think they missed the finals each year (Spelly???). To keep the faith with a blueprint with an eye on the long-term goal when it wasn't successful initially, well you have to applaud them for that.

Prelim in 97' mate, and it must be said they weren't far away from winning it either.

[Dogwatcher]

Certainly was. I have horrible memories of that day.

[sjt]

I think getting guys like Danny Hulm, Simon Arnott and obviously Chris and James was a major factor. These guys had no real ties to the history of the SANFL so never seemed to get intimidated by the "power" clubs. They came in with a fresh winning attitude not a defeatist one. I also wonder if we would have won any if it weren't for Chris and James.
After watching the GF from last year several times, James should have been the jack Oatey medalist "again", though Buckets was player of the finals, and had a great game.