So I’m sick to death with the poor excuses , the poor execution,
The poor selections, the poor
Game plans. It’s clear AOB can not take us further , as every year we fall hard. My thoughts bring in the Walker brothers (yes untested ).
Their atk focused style with entertaining footy would suit our squad so well. Better than anything AOB pulls out of his hat. Ran this through Chat GPT . Thinks worst outcome new culture would be in the club.
Thanks for the full squad list—that’s a solid mix of experience, youth, and explosive talent. Looking at that group, yes, the Walker brothers could actually be a very strategic appointment to get the best out of this particular roster. Here’s how their coaching style would mesh with the squad:
Key Strengths of This Squad (That Suit the Walkers):
1. Dynamic Spine & Halves Options:
• Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Brown in the same spine under the Walkers? That’s pure attacking danger. Both can play eyes-up, off instinct, and punish tired defenders.
• Fletcher Sharpe and Phoenix Crossland offer flexibility—Walkers love interchanging roles mid-set, so those two could be huge weapons.
• Tyson Gamble brings mongrel and unpredictability, ideal for an ad-lib style.
2. Strike Out Wide:
• Bradman Best, Greg Marzhew, Dane Gagai, James Schiller—you’ve got strike centres and power wingers who love early ball. Under O’Brien, they sometimes get it too late. Under the Walkers, they’ll be getting it fast and often.
3. Mobile Back Rowers:
• Frizell, Kai Pearce-Paul, Dylan Lucas, and Brodie Jones are all hard workers, but also mobile enough to suit a fast-paced, lateral game.
• Jermaine McEwen and Matt Croker could be used as ball-playing middles—something the Walkers emphasized heavily at Ipswich.
4. Youth with Upside:
• Matt Arthur, Mason Teague, Connor Votano, Tyrone Thompson—those are all young talents who’d benefit massively from a developmental environment that gives them freedom and trust early.
What Would Need to Happen for It to Work:
1. Strong Defensive Assistant Hired:
• This team can score points, but without structure and discipline defensively, they’ll leak them too. Someone like Dean Young, Jason Demetriou, or even bringing Frizell into a leadership player-coach role long term could help. I’d pair them with Brian McDermott (read further down) why Brian could possibly make a good team with the walkers
2. Conditioning Ramped Up:
• Walker-ball is high tempo. The squad would need a preseason focused on mobility, agility, and endurance more than size and bash.
3. Club Buy-In & Patience:
• Year 1 might be a bit up-and-down as the system beds in, especially with young players learning a less-structured game. The board and fans would need to back the long-term vision.
Bottom Line:
With this squad?
The Walker brothers could absolutely work. They’re not the “safe” choice—but they’d bring a fresh identity, unlock attacking weapons, and build a culture of footy IQ over just systems and structure.
If the Knights are serious about breaking out of the “7th to 12th” trap, this kind of move could either elevate them dramatically—or at worst, be a stepping stone to reshaping the club’s style with young guns who’ll carry the team for years.
The poor selections, the poor
Game plans. It’s clear AOB can not take us further , as every year we fall hard. My thoughts bring in the Walker brothers (yes untested ).
Their atk focused style with entertaining footy would suit our squad so well. Better than anything AOB pulls out of his hat. Ran this through Chat GPT . Thinks worst outcome new culture would be in the club.
Thanks for the full squad list—that’s a solid mix of experience, youth, and explosive talent. Looking at that group, yes, the Walker brothers could actually be a very strategic appointment to get the best out of this particular roster. Here’s how their coaching style would mesh with the squad:
Key Strengths of This Squad (That Suit the Walkers):
1. Dynamic Spine & Halves Options:
• Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Brown in the same spine under the Walkers? That’s pure attacking danger. Both can play eyes-up, off instinct, and punish tired defenders.
• Fletcher Sharpe and Phoenix Crossland offer flexibility—Walkers love interchanging roles mid-set, so those two could be huge weapons.
• Tyson Gamble brings mongrel and unpredictability, ideal for an ad-lib style.
2. Strike Out Wide:
• Bradman Best, Greg Marzhew, Dane Gagai, James Schiller—you’ve got strike centres and power wingers who love early ball. Under O’Brien, they sometimes get it too late. Under the Walkers, they’ll be getting it fast and often.
3. Mobile Back Rowers:
• Frizell, Kai Pearce-Paul, Dylan Lucas, and Brodie Jones are all hard workers, but also mobile enough to suit a fast-paced, lateral game.
• Jermaine McEwen and Matt Croker could be used as ball-playing middles—something the Walkers emphasized heavily at Ipswich.
4. Youth with Upside:
• Matt Arthur, Mason Teague, Connor Votano, Tyrone Thompson—those are all young talents who’d benefit massively from a developmental environment that gives them freedom and trust early.
What Would Need to Happen for It to Work:
1. Strong Defensive Assistant Hired:
• This team can score points, but without structure and discipline defensively, they’ll leak them too. Someone like Dean Young, Jason Demetriou, or even bringing Frizell into a leadership player-coach role long term could help. I’d pair them with Brian McDermott (read further down) why Brian could possibly make a good team with the walkers
2. Conditioning Ramped Up:
• Walker-ball is high tempo. The squad would need a preseason focused on mobility, agility, and endurance more than size and bash.
3. Club Buy-In & Patience:
• Year 1 might be a bit up-and-down as the system beds in, especially with young players learning a less-structured game. The board and fans would need to back the long-term vision.
Bottom Line:
With this squad?
The Walker brothers could absolutely work. They’re not the “safe” choice—but they’d bring a fresh identity, unlock attacking weapons, and build a culture of footy IQ over just systems and structure.
If the Knights are serious about breaking out of the “7th to 12th” trap, this kind of move could either elevate them dramatically—or at worst, be a stepping stone to reshaping the club’s style with young guns who’ll carry the team for years.
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