There is a specific smell in the air at the club lately—a mix of damp turf and that lingering, nervous energy that comes when a team is trying to find its feet. Welsh sat down for a chat on Monday, and it wasn’t just him; Tim Roberts was there, and Scott himself, which is a bit different from how others are handling their media rounds these days. You know, Carlton sent their CEO and president out solo, but the Bombers wanted the whole room to feel the unity, I guess.
It’s been a long road, hasn’t it? That win over Melbourne on Saturday actually happened, finally snapping that brutal 17-match losing streak that felt like it was never going to end. Everyone was a bit more buoyant, the mood shift was tangible—or maybe not totally fixed, but at least the air felt thinner, easier to breathe.
The official word from the top is that the plan isn’t changing. They’re sticking to the youth path, which basically means they are hunting for elite talent and watching the clock on the Tasmania entry. It’s a lot to juggle, trying to build a future while everyone is screaming for results right now, but they seem to think Scott is the one to pull it off. He’s the guy. That’s the word from the president, at least.
“The first two weeks performances weren’t as expected, quite disappointing,” Welsh admitted during the talk. He paused, maybe thinking about those early games. “I think from the North Melbourne game, we had a poor quarter and a half. And then played quite well after that.”
It’s interesting, because they could have easily gone into a shell after those opening rounds. Instead, they’re doubling down on this ‘absolute belief’ thing. It feels like a bit of a gamble, but in this league, what isn’t? They’re aiming for a flag, and the board seems convinced that Scott is going to deliver it eventually, even if the road looks a bit messy right now.
Are they right? Only time tells, but for now, the message is clear enough. Keep the kids, keep the coach, and hope the momentum from Saturday carries them through the rest of the year. Maybe they’ll get there, maybe it’s a pipe dream—but they aren’t deviating from the map they laid out.