Tigers eye next goal
12:25:24 PM Thu 29 September, 2005
Richmond coach Terry Wallace
richmondfc.com.au
Last Saturday, we witnessed a historical Grand Final victory to the Sydney Swans, but the reality is that by the time the sun came up on the Sunday morning, the 16 league teams were headed towards the 2006 season all even once again.
It is quite amazing how close our AFL competition has become, when you consider that during the ’05 season Richmond defeated the new premiers by one point at the MCG (Round 14) and lost by only two points to the runners-up, the West Coast Eagles (Round 11 at the ‘G’).
Mind you, Tiger supporters should not kid themselves that this means we currently are in the same class as the Swans or Eagles, as the art of a champion football team is being able to perform at that level week in and week out.
Throughout season 2005 the Tigers showed that, on our day, we can match it with some of the better teams in the competition. We were, however, far too inconsistent and, at times, inexperienced to be able to maintain the high standards set by the competition’s best teams, such as the Grand Finalists, along with Adelaide and St Kilda.
I have been asked regularly since Saturday whether the Sydney style of play will become a trend within the competition. Personally, I think that is too simplistic, because other teams will then be playing into the Swans’ hands, as the style of play suits their team structure. When you look at the Western Bulldogs’ barnstorming finish to the season, they were playing exactly the opposite brand of football, with an overlap, free-attacking style. And, the reality is that the Swans only fell over the line in the last second of their cut-throat, semi-final against Geelong . . .
Each coach must honor the style of play that he believes works best for his club, and work towards his own premiership style. It does not mean that ignoring trends in the game, but you simply mould and manipulate your structures to suit.
The 2005 season saw the first step in the resurrection of the Richmond Football Club. The players set themselves the task of being more competitive, so all Tiger supporters could turn up to our games believing we were a chance to win each week. We felt such hope was eroded in the latter part of 2004 . . .
Having achieved our first goal, the team will now set new aims and ambitions during the upcoming pre-season. The most difficult aspect of AFL football, is to keep the improvement graph steadily heading upwards. Many sides show improvement one year, only to fall away the next. Continued improvement needs to be one of the major objectives we set ourselves for the 2006 season.
With the trade period coming up next week, it’s essential to get the right balance between trading and drafting. Last year we were able to achieve both, by adding players such as Troy Simmonds, Trent Knobel and Mark Graham to the list, while picking up five selections inside the top 20 at the National Draft. This year, however, the whole process will be far more difficult, as we are not in the drivers’ seat with the first selection in both drafts. Our objective is to be competitive in 2006 and the next few seasons, while at the same time bringing quality youth to the Club to build for a sustained, successful future.
Currently, our squad is very young and inexperienced at the bottom end. We have picked up 14 young players in the draft over the past two years, which certainly is a significant number. While all members and supporters are keen to see quality senior players picked up from other league clubs, they also do not want to see early draft selections given away. At times, it is impossible to achieve both these targets . . .
I, along with the Club’s Director of Football, Greg Miller, and the football department, have set up a future list-management strategy. As opportunities present themselves over the next week, we will work through all the options, according to the strategies we have in place. Whether that secures senior players to step straight into our line-up for the opening round next year, or whether it delivers more draft selections for the future, remains to be seen.
Last year our playing group came back to pre-season training excited about a new future, with a new coaching group and administration in place. With nothing really achieved in 2005, other than a more competitive effort and the development of some young players, our group should return to pre-season training in a few weeks’ time, hungry and full of expectation.
The return of David Rodan from a knee reconstruction, and Nathan Brown from a broken leg, should instill some genuine excitement into the group. If the 2005 season taught us anything about Australian Rules Football, it is that hunger and a competitive nature are still certainly the driving forces for team success.
http://richmondfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=232397
