Inside Shane's Brain!!

[Bayside Dragon]

Hi everyone, this is a thread for those of us who enjoy trying to second guess our coach's mind.

As a preface for my own thoughts on what might be going on in Shane's brain -I'm openly a huge fan of his appointment and what he has done in his time with us. Definitely on the Shane Train.

I know I haven't posted for a few years now, but I can assure you all that in that time, I study this forum at least 8 times a day. Devour every media piece that I can from multiple sauces..... as I'm sure others are doing, too.

In that time, it's only now that I see enough in this club & football squad to have my adrenaline move me to start posting again.

And I put that down to two words ........"Shane Flanagan". Let's face it folks....he is the face of the Dragons!

This guy is way more than just the head coach of a football team. The more I study him the more I appreciate and (hopefully) understand him. And that gives me curiosity enough to start this thread.

In the absence of others truly understanding their roles, Flano is resolutely going about whatever needs doing to make the Dragons a powerhouse club for the modern era. I think that's his vision. He dreams of way more than a winning footie side......

And I think he just might have the smarts to pull it off.

 

[blue bags]

A I

 

[Dragon David]

Hi everyone, this is a thread for those of us who enjoy trying to second guess our coach's mind.

As a preface for my own thoughts on what might be going on in Shane's brain -I'm openly a huge fan of his appointment and what he has done in his time with us. Definitely on the Shane Train.

I know I haven't posted for a few years now, but I can assure you all that in that time, I study this forum at least 8 times a day. Devour every media piece that I can from multiple sauces..... as I'm sure others are doing, too.

In that time, it's only now that I see enough in this club & football squad to have my adrenaline move me to start posting again.

And I put that down to two words ........"Shane Flanagan". Let's face it folks....he is the face of the Dragons!

This guy is way more than just the head coach of a football team. The more I study him the more I appreciate and (hopefully) understand him. And that gives me curiosity enough to start this thread.

In the absence of others truly understanding their roles, Flano is resolutely going about whatever needs doing to make the Dragons a powerhouse club for the modern era. I think that's his vision. He dreams of way more than a winning footie side......

And I think he just might have the smarts to pull it off.

A good thread to start Bayside Dragon and your thoughts are well put. There should be plenty of posts for this thread as time rolls on into 2025 and beyond.

I think that Flano has put a lot of thought into how he wants the Dragons to be resurrected and become an ongoing successful club well into the future.

If 2025 is a good year, he will be able to get his players playing the way that will keep us winning in 2026 and so on and attract a couple of external players to augment our squad which will in my opinion consist of plenty of local boys who have been given the opportunity to learn and experience the winning systems that will be in place for them.

Flano's brain is filled with the dreams we all share and that is to win a comp.

 

[SnowDragon]

I have a few questions re Shane’s brain
1) with Atkinson coming in 26, and LKT having made a decent start last year, there will be heaps of pressure on the 25 halves of Illias and Kyle. 4 doesn’t go into 2. Does he have A master plan? Or just seeing what happens and having options?
2) I wonder what he has planned for Finau? Heard nothing so wondering if he is on the outer? Feels to me like we will end up with Sloan and Lawson this year, but SF seems to be a big fan of CT, and he performed well last year, so the whole winger thing feels lie an unknown both in 25 and beyond?
3) there is no top quality props on the market. I assume SF is keeping the spot and cap just in case, bit I don’t expect to get anyone worthwhile, and this we will end up promoting a train and trial or something along those lines. Anyone feel different?
4) SF talked about the younger steers coming along and that they will get blooded this year. I owner who they will be, and if any get more than a token game? Who will star?

 

[Divine]

Questions Questions Questions flooding into the mind of the concerned young person today…

 

[Slippery Morris]

Shane is making all players fight for their spots especially the outside backs. Next season it will be the halves. He has created some better depth in the squad which is great.

Shane will also bring in something new in how they play. It simply is not good enough and with Hunt gone that will make life easier as I feel he ran the show and overruled a lot of the players and possibly the coach.

Dragons last won a comp with Hornby and Soward. Not the flashiest of halves but very effective with the game plan at hand. Shane I feel will do the same with the current halves.

 

[Jubilee]

I have a few questions re Shane’s brain
1) with Atkinson coming in 26, and LKT having made a decent start last year, there will be heaps of pressure on the 25 halves of Illias and Kyle. 4 doesn’t go into 2. Does he have A master plan? Or just seeing what happens and having options?
2) I wonder what he has planned for Finau? Heard nothing so wondering if he is on the outer? Feels to me like we will end up with Sloan and Lawson this year, but SF seems to be a big fan of CT, and he performed well last year, so the whole winger thing feels lie an unknown both in 25 and beyond?
3) there is no top quality props on the market. I assume SF is keeping the spot and cap just in case, bit I don’t expect to get anyone worthwhile, and this we will end up promoting a train and trial or something along those lines. Anyone feel different?
4) SF talked about the younger steers coming along and that they will get blooded this year. I owner who they will be, and if any get more than a token game? Who will star?

wrt #1 - LKT also plays lock while JDB and Eisenhuth may now be in their last year. So there is probably a slot for him in 2026, maybe off the bench. He is only 19 and has more growing to do but he could be bigger and a regular in 2027. The problem is young guys wanting to advance too quickly so he could get snatched away by another club. But it would be good to keep him.

 

[matPORTS]

I'm impressed just reading about the whole club training session that took place last night.

We are a big club - and the mission should be constant right throughout.

I recall saying this five years back when he got him onboard as an assistant to a failing Mary. He needed to come in and start wielding some influence right through the joint then. While, for various reasons, his hands might have been tied, I'm sure a lot of brainstorming was going on back then. Now we are starting to see some of the ideas coming to light.

In reality - I still think all of this is going to take a good number of years, maybe as much as another 5-7 years. We need to get that junior system firing again (like it was 20 years ago). Only then can we reap the rewards.

The leadership structure we've created for the next couple of years will have us in good stead.

All in all, we are on the way to returning to the team that everyone can be proud to be part of !

 

[Wolfgang90]

1. Competitiveness: Everyone to compete for everything
2. Professionalism: All the 1% efforts on & off the field
3. Leadership: Seniors teach the youngsters
4. Culture: Everyone support & help each other
5. Character: Be good people
6. Pride: Respect & love the jersey

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Team
Individual