Hardly all doom and gloom for Norwood

[Sojourner]

Rather than take the Draft topic off thread I wanted to make a comment on the fact that Norwood now face the loss of eight players and dont get a pick in the mini draft.

Clearly its an interesting comparison with Central who lost far fewer players effictivley retaining one and that has more to do one suspects with the way CDFC recruit in the first place, yet it has actually IMO little relevance to what Norwood are doing.

Bear in mind that Norwood had no option in 2010 to buy players and had no other option but to go the way of player development, which clearly Bassett did a better job of than expected and various AFL clubs have tapped into it accordingly.

I recall being at the Parade and seeing South beat Norwood by 3 pts at the start of the season and plenty of scorn being heaped on Bassett by a minority number of idiots that barrack for Norwood. Not long after Norwood began winning and the rest is history. My point being that its reconised that Bassett is a leading coach in player development and given again the right juniors he will no doubt do the same again.

This time around though there are no restrictions on Norwood to go buy whoever they want into the club, as the draft settles down I have no doubt several recruits will be named for the club, who wouldent want to play at one of the top SANFL clubs under someone who is recognised by many as one of the better junior development coaches going around.

Perhaps it will be that again Norwood drop some matches early in the season, yet going on what I saw of Norwood last season, i hardly think that will be for a very long space of time and I would not be giving up on Norwood just yet either!

[Sojourner]

Will be interesting to see if Norwood have a go at Jacob Templeton the 192cm Basketballer training with the Crows who has played for Golden Grove in the Ammo's - assuming GGFC is still in their area and not North Adelaide of course.

[JK]

Fair post Soj.,

Personally, my (rough) attitude has always been since the day Bass took over the reigns:

2010 - Build a platform around new systems and style - Average finish
2011 - Build on 2010 to play finals
2012 - Challenge for a flag

We certainly over-achieved on my initial thinking last season and we also had a few breaks along the way - let's face it, we had a decent run with injury which was imperative to a shallow squad and we had our share of luck to grab the double chance after the Eagles (who were sensational throughout the finals series) surprisingly got knocked over by North and Sturt to see out the minor round.

It's difficult to do after the hope that 2010 provided, but my focus will still be mostly toward 2012 (dont get me wrong, every fan wants a premiership in every season, so 2011 would be just fine lol).

The brainstrust were obviously aware our squad wasn't deep and have been fast tracking as many of the identified future league players as possible in the last 12+ months - Hopefully this can have the desired effect.

It's worth remembering that Bass headed up the Norwood underage Acadamy that opened in 2009, and many of those youngsters he worked with, he will already be working with again/still, so the point on his development abilities seem to be spot on.

The forward line in theory should have more key options in 2011 than it did in 2010, so personnel wise we should be OK there.

The midfield loses Lower (almost irreplaceable), Trotter and Weatherald - The latter two still being crucial role players despite injury and age, although you would hope they should be replaceable .. We were however short a ruckman and at least 1 key onballer last season, so there is recruiting work to be done in this area for sure.

The backline, which was both miserly and arguably Norwood's biggest offensive weapon in 2010 has taken quite a hit - Puopolo and Duigan will be very hard to replace.

The key's for Norwood this season will be:

- To recruit as close as we can to what we have lost (we'll take a hit to some degree though)
- Produce a few more unexpected kids like Jonas and Georgiou.
- Alter/amend the vastly improved game plan of 2010 to cater for personnel changes and opposition working us out

And when you look at that final snapshot, I would suggest 7 (if not 8.) other clubs have the same requirements.

I'd expect a much tougher year in 2011, but I do have a lot of faith in Bass and his crew calling the shots ... However there's far too much water to run under the bridge before any club could make any call on where they think they'[ll finish in 2011.

[Squawk]

Will Bass may get some of the credit, it isn't ALL down to his coaching and eye.

Bass was involved with the 'Academy' in 2009 - albeit in and around his trip to England for the Ashes series there.

Perhaps more pointedly, is the club has invested in full time development coaches at the u/16 and u/18 levels - David Oatey and Robbie Neill. Bassett himself is a full time coach (unlike his predecessor).

The recruiting ban definitely emphasised a need to develop from within but internal player development has also been driven by Keith Thomas who has consistently asked that we not rely on recruiting year to year, but rather, to look to recruiting to supplement gaps. This way, over time the club should be able to compete more evenly year in, year out - rather than go through peaks and troughs linked to recruiting gains and losses.

The club has also enhanced closer relationships within its zone and feeder clubs - which is more of a long term plan as well as good football sense. the 100TEN program has now been running for 2 years and in its first year, the club actually had zoned clubs asking to be involved when it has initially been a pilot year focussed on a selection of clubs. In 2010, it was expanded and has had excellent feedback and 'buy-in' from the zone, I'm told.

From what I understand, other clubs have watched Norwood's 2010 year and are now paying closer attention to their own coaching structures.

[Big Phil]

Will be interesting to see if Norwood have a go at Jacob Templeton the 192cm Basketballer training with the Crows who has played for Golden Grove in the Ammo's - assuming GGFC is still in their area and not North Adelaide of course.

Jacob trained with Central last finals campaign and his sister was going out with one of the league players who says he (Templeton) is a good chance to be wearing red, white and blue next season.

[jim5112]

This will be a big test for Nathan Bassett.

In 2003 Shaun Renn looked like a genius coach and West were runners up, but lost lots of their players to the AFL draft.

When I look at that GF video and see the players they had, it was amazing that they didn't actually win.

Without those players Westies went nowhere in the years following. Interesting to see if Norwood do the same or not.

[Bunton]

... and I hear that the Redlegs gun Panther-recruit Jack Kennedy-Hunt has now quit the Club without gracing the field for the league team once!

[JK]

... and I hear that the Redlegs gun Panther-recruit Jack Kennedy-Hunt has now quit the Club without gracing the field for the league team once!

Gun recruit? lmao .. hmmmokay

[heater31]

... and I hear that the Redlegs gun Panther-recruit Jack Kennedy-Hunt has now quit the Club without gracing the field for the league team once!

is this because he wasn't drafted???? I bet South Adelaide are laughing now.......

[JK]

My point being that its reconised that Bassett is a leading coach in player development and given again the right juniors he will no doubt do the same again.

This is perhaps the hurdle that could be insurmountable .. 7 of the 8 Norwood players drafted came through our underage, and obviously this years draft losses (in one hit) for us are likely to occur as often as Haileys Comet.

Thats not a bleat btw, all clubs are vulnerable in this business, and we're not the first nor last club that will cop a heavy year of departures.

However it would I suggest, contribute to the gloom that many supporters are (rightly or wrongly) feeling.

[Sojourner]

... and I hear that the Redlegs gun Panther-recruit Jack Kennedy-Hunt has now quit the Club without gracing the field for the league team once!

is this because he wasn't drafted???? I bet South Adelaide are laughing now.......

I doubt we could really care less! - he had his time at South and the club freely released him to have a go at Norwood as an imported player it freed up a spot on our list for 2010 and in his situation, Norwood were looking to recruit players to develop and train so it would have likely been his best opportunity to spend the year under Bass and have a go at making the NFC league list, clearly he did'nt and will no doubt end up trying his luck elsewhere. I hardly think Norwood lost anything in giving him a go, South and West both have recruited several players and seem to have a strike rate of 50 odd % at identifying players that will make the grade of an SANFL league list, Norwood are no different and perhaps developed theirs a little to well!

[whufc]

Norwood have been smashed

Imagine if Central had lost

Lower-Thomas
Duigan-Spurr
Pupolo-Hayes
Phillips-Callinan
Gorringe-Sutherland
Trotter-Sansbury
Weatherald-Boyd

That would kill any state side in Aus. Hard to see Norwood making the top 3 with that many changes to personnel.

[X Runna]

Still think he was pretty well one of the most over-rated AFL players EVER, and having listened to some of his 1/4 time & 3/4 time addresses which were about as inspiring as Russell Ebert's (GOD love him), Bassett has proven the real deal with the way he turned the Legs around after round 4.

Losing 8 players MAY not be attributed directly to his coaching, but I ask......if Bassett had nothing to do with it, why weren't at least SOME of them drafted 12 months ago?

Still don't like him as a player.................

[fester69]

Not all gloom and doom. We had 3 players very unlucky not to play in the GF, and have developed a winning culture.
I expect to win the next 3 premierships, and also be State League Champions of Australia.

[HeartBeatsTrue]

Norwood have been smashed

Imagine if Central had lost

Lower-Thomas
Duigan-Spurr
Pupolo-Hayes
Phillips-Callinan
Gorringe-Sutherland
Trotter-Sansbury
Weatherald-Boyd

That would kill any state side in Aus. Hard to see Norwood making the top 3 with that many changes to personnel.

When you put it that way it is actually worse than that.
If those Centrals players are as good as those Norwood players you are comparing them to, then they would also have been drafted.

[Dogwatcher]

With Nick Lower going, it seems the draft was cruel and unkind for Norwood.

[Dutchy]

Phillips-Callinan

Interesting comparison, if you count Norwood as losing Phillips you have to count Central as losing Callinan surely?

Dogs fans dont seem too concerned that they have potentially lost the best player in the comp for 2011?

[whufc]

Phillips-Callinan

Interesting comparison, if you count Norwood as losing Phillips you have to count Central as losing Callinan surely?

Dogs fans dont seem too concerned that they have potentially lost the best player in the comp for 2011?

We may have lost Callinan and he will be extremley hard to replace if we dont see him at all in 2011

BUT

luckily for us he is one of only two players from LAST SEASON that made a major impact that are now gone, the other being MacKenzie

Schell-was definatly at the end of his career, at times i thought was lucky to hold his spot, Alan Obst fits the bill nicely

Switala-started off well but got injured and didnt play the second half of the season, have plenty of players who can play his role. no real loss from the 2010 side.

Cochrane-great player but didnt get on the field anywhere near enough. no loss at all from the 2010 side considering he barely played.

Throw in Jay Nash full time and possibly a fit Chad O'Sullivan and we are almost back to even before any other recruits.

[SpionKopster]

Norwood have been smashed

Imagine if Central had lost

Lower-Thomas
Duigan-Spurr
Pupolo-Hayes
Phillips-Callinan
Gorringe-Sutherland
Trotter-Sansbury
Weatherald-Boyd

That would kill any state side in Aus. Hard to see Norwood making the top 3 with that many changes to personnel.

When you put it that way it is actually worse than that.
If those Centrals players are as good as those Norwood players you are comparing them to, then they would also have been drafted.

Norwood will make the top 3 next year.

[mal]

Sack BASSETT
No point having a coach that gets the very very best out of his players, and they get drafted

Sorry for feeling sulky, but the SANFL used to be a great competition
Now its simply a feeder system for the AFL

Happened to WA under REHN , and now NW under BASSETT

Very frustrating