Is Buckley coaching better than we think...?

[AN_Inkling]

For those saying that our draw makes it difficult to say how much we've improved. Sure. But we have definitely improved. Consistently beating the lower teams, even with a significant injury list is no small feat - just look at recent upsets.

On expectations, the season so far is a big tick. The task from here, as it was from the beginning, is to make finals. The challenge against the top teams will tell us whether we are a Premiership threat, but that was never the pass mark for this year. And honestly, if we are a Premiership threat with the injuries we've had then it's a truly remarkable season.

If we make finals then it's a successful year. To go further raises Bucks's esteem that much more. And it is Bucks that must receive the credit. Support staff changes are irrelevant just as they were when we were struggling or in 2010. It's the head coach who lives or dies on the results, he gets all blame and all credit, the rest are there to support him.

[RudeBoy]

[piedys]

Put it this way; I wouldn't be trying that no-interchanges-for-twenty-minutes bullshit again, against the Dopers next week...

[think positive]

All I know is, it�s been one hell of a ride and I�m glad I�m still on it!

God I love footy!

[MightyMagpie]

[Pie-For-Life]

Absolutely we have improved on last year, mostly have beaten all the teams we should have, lost a couple of tough close games. I'm happy, go pies

[Mugwump]

[Jezza]

[Mugwump]

its easy to be too literal about this kind of issue. We are top of the AFL injury list, and it is quite possible that Buckley will coach out of his skin next Sunday and we�ll get beaten. Equally, our playing list has matured massively compared to two years ago. The context matters.

[qldmagpie67]

Second on the ladder and with the most injuries who would have thought.
When I began this thread it was more to do with optimism of what we saw late 2017 and hope of continual improvement in 2018.
So is Buckley coaching better ?
Maybe but I'll offer a different view
I think Buckley has learned his lessons well. He's much more relaxed and that appears to have rubbed off on the group. He's also deligating more and is now happy to let an assistant take the reigns as he sees fit.
The additions to the coaching group seem to be very good fits. Boyd recently out of the game and a player who got everything out of his ability. Hocking a known tough nut and a guy who says it like it is but understands the balance. Sanderson a long time trusted confidant and a highly recognised footy mind. Longmuir a defensive specialist who has been long touted as a smart footy mind as well.
As important as all these pieces are and have clicked I think the defining factor lays elsewhere.
We parted ways with leading teams and the club said the relationship had run it's course. We may have learned some stuff form them only those on the inside know but I think the coach and group matured past needing a "outsider" setting the dialogue and guiding the culture.
Enter Nick Maxwell who's defined job seems to be anything the club needs. Now Maxy was never a star but I doubt any pies supporter would find a tougher competitor and more loyal pies man in the past 2 decades.
Now Maxy was originally brought in for "leadership" but that wasn't defined to just the playing group. We see Maxy with the headphones on on the sidelines. He is the voice of the coach to the players during the heat of battle and his respect earned as a premiership captain makes the message received by the players concise and respected.
Maxy has many admirable traits but the playing group seem to have developed a level of trust in him that appears to be vital.
Players like Pendles Sidey Adams will learn from his experiences as captain. The young and developing players especially the likes of Scharenberg Phillips Thomas will learn that hard work and getting the best from yourself is the only way to a successful long career.
The George Clooney movie the perfect storm seems to be the best analogy of our season.
We've had set backs but over come them. We've developed a style and plan that suits the players we have. We've backed the players and especially the leaders to express themselves free from the burden of fear of failure.
We should make finals and at the beginning of the season that was most people's pass mark. Had I told you we would have 14 injured players including Elliott Moore Varcoe Wells Reid Aish Dunn Trelaor Goldie Faz I doubt many would have thought we would be in contention. Yes Dunn Trelaor are recent injuries but the others have been more long term.
We've lost 1 player inserted another and gone on about the business. Players have been asked to perform different roles not normally in there wheelhouse. Selfless acts like those shown by the skipper and Sidey early on set a tone no one is bigger than the team.
Kudo's to all those involved whatever the review did it seems to have galvanised the club and at a minimum set a standard we must now consider a minimum expectation

[RudeBoy]

.....and Bucks is clearly a very good coach.

[watt price tully]

I'm one who wanted Bucks and ED gone and wanted renewal.

Renewal has occured and Bucks has been given an extension. Bucks has stopped mico-managing (god I wish my mangers would learn the same) and has learned to delegate and trust others.

Everyting looks rosy when you win and it's easier to win when you have a stable team. However with three injuries in successive matches to key players Buckleys coaching will be put to the test in the up & coming weeks.

Off the field, I think if they change the name of Human Resources to People and Culture (as they have done with my employers) then this will make a huge difference to how we play.

[stui magpie]

[tbaker]

I am new to this forum, but am surprised at how divisive this topic is. I think we are all on the one page in that we all want him to succeed. Hopefully we've turned the corner...

[K]

^ Golly, tb, this is actually Nicks in ultracalm mode.
You should see it when Nicksters are all in a bad mood...