My take is we got rid of AOB at the right time, but got Issac Mose'd on his last deal signed in '23.
He was definitely trying to go about things the Melbourne way and have a game based on solid defence and mistake free football, the storm style for most of the 2010s. But two things happened, he was forever trying to bed in the basics and never added any layers to what we were doing like Melbourne did, and the game moved on from that style of footy. While Bellamy realised this, AOB was still trying to nail down the basics. Think competing for bombs. Not competing was a tactic a lot of coaches, Bellamy and Bennet included, used during the 2010s. However, as Newcastle were an outlier with that tactic last year, the Storm are recruiting wingers like Xavier Coates and Will Warbrick expressly to compete for bombs. The game had changed.
23 was a great ride. It shouldn't be underestimated how good we were at the basics and defensively through that run. Then Kp was getting to his sweet spots and we were too good for sides during that period. We weren't sacking the coach after that.
My biggest issue with 24 was as the season started those basics that had been so good at the end of 23 for us had gone out the window and it felt like we started from scratch again, instead of building on solid foundations. To AOB's credit, we found a way to win games at the end of 24 with a defensive mindset and a halves pairing of Cogger and Crossland, mainly because Ponga was getting to his sweet spots again. Another finals appearance. AOB's limitations were becoming obvious, would any club have sacked the coach at this point though?
For 25, I think AOB even realised that such a limited halves partnership wasn't going to cut it over a full year. To his credit, I believe the basics and defence that carried us through the 24 run were maintained alot better through preseason. He did have the foresight to realise Sharpe could be an extra string to our bow in attack, but then second guessed himself that Sharpe could play a traditional 5/8 role, so Ponga's hybrid half position became a thing. That took Ponga away from his sweet spots. We looked putrid in attack last year BEFORE injuries really cruelled us. The ugly team thing, the fans don't know what they are talking about thing, his position became untenable. Before this, the only time he could have been moved in my eyes was if the board was more ruthless in the month before that 23 run.
For mine, AOB's two biggest gifts to us were the four finals appearances and realising Sharpe could be a half. Not realising the game had moved on from 2010s tactics were his downfall. For guys like Mat Croker, now having a coach who allows him to play to his strengths must have been a godsend.
This take was prompted by the fox article on Holbrook earlier in the week to contrast the two as coaches, for some context.
He was definitely trying to go about things the Melbourne way and have a game based on solid defence and mistake free football, the storm style for most of the 2010s. But two things happened, he was forever trying to bed in the basics and never added any layers to what we were doing like Melbourne did, and the game moved on from that style of footy. While Bellamy realised this, AOB was still trying to nail down the basics. Think competing for bombs. Not competing was a tactic a lot of coaches, Bellamy and Bennet included, used during the 2010s. However, as Newcastle were an outlier with that tactic last year, the Storm are recruiting wingers like Xavier Coates and Will Warbrick expressly to compete for bombs. The game had changed.
23 was a great ride. It shouldn't be underestimated how good we were at the basics and defensively through that run. Then Kp was getting to his sweet spots and we were too good for sides during that period. We weren't sacking the coach after that.
My biggest issue with 24 was as the season started those basics that had been so good at the end of 23 for us had gone out the window and it felt like we started from scratch again, instead of building on solid foundations. To AOB's credit, we found a way to win games at the end of 24 with a defensive mindset and a halves pairing of Cogger and Crossland, mainly because Ponga was getting to his sweet spots again. Another finals appearance. AOB's limitations were becoming obvious, would any club have sacked the coach at this point though?
For 25, I think AOB even realised that such a limited halves partnership wasn't going to cut it over a full year. To his credit, I believe the basics and defence that carried us through the 24 run were maintained alot better through preseason. He did have the foresight to realise Sharpe could be an extra string to our bow in attack, but then second guessed himself that Sharpe could play a traditional 5/8 role, so Ponga's hybrid half position became a thing. That took Ponga away from his sweet spots. We looked putrid in attack last year BEFORE injuries really cruelled us. The ugly team thing, the fans don't know what they are talking about thing, his position became untenable. Before this, the only time he could have been moved in my eyes was if the board was more ruthless in the month before that 23 run.
For mine, AOB's two biggest gifts to us were the four finals appearances and realising Sharpe could be a half. Not realising the game had moved on from 2010s tactics were his downfall. For guys like Mat Croker, now having a coach who allows him to play to his strengths must have been a godsend.
This take was prompted by the fox article on Holbrook earlier in the week to contrast the two as coaches, for some context.
. I'm enjoying it