4x Theories about the Dogs in 2024.

#1: It's not about the spine.
I've been a long believer that you go the way your best players go...but not with this team. We need to have strong, consistent and TRUSTWORTHY efforts from our wingers, flankers and pockets (the fact they aren't positions in 2024 is another issue). We have battled for what seems like forever to have players the coaches can TRUST to provide strong efforts in those roles has really hurt us...the MC needs to SOLVE THIS PROBLEM and the players they choose just have to reward the faith. We can't have Artie Jones getting 3 possessions or Lachie McNeil missing simple goals. The players on the edge just must play with TRUE GRIT and deliver for their team-mates.

#2: It's not about the spine - but it IS about help for Jones.
SOMEONE - anyone really - needs to stand up and take that second key defender position and make it their own. From the outside, we have some who don't appear ready (Buzz, JOD), some who it has past by (Keath) and some who never will be (Gardy, Buku)...but between them ONE player needs to step up and own it. Do I care who it is? Not a care! Do I know who it might be? Not a clue! But someone needs to do it or this season will drift...

#3: Who will sacrifice? It simply MUST be everyone!!
Talent can only be shown from the playing field...and right now we need a group of players who is prepared to do what they haven't over the last couple of seasons. Make an unfamiliar role their own (eg. Liber to half-forward). Make the coaches job easy by contributing CONSISTENTLY and with effort no matter where their magnet is. And maintain positive body language/attitude whilst doing it. And yep, this means the biggest 'names' in the club - Bont, Treloar, Macrae, Liber, English, Naughton, Jamarra...they need to show the way with actions and not just talk a good game in meetings.

#4: Recognise the moment(s)
There are times when a tackle simply must stick and a goal just MUST go through. It feels like on so many occasions in the post COVID era we have been unable to recognise these moments and treat them with the respect and attention they deserve. The 2021 GF was example #1, #2 and #3 but there have been more than a few others since. Until the group can just get that '6th sense' that what is happening 'right now' is more important that anything that has come before it, well...Anyway, this is leadership, it is togetherness and it is (ultimately) coaching. And it has been lacking...it needs to be sorted out and quick.