One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => Richmond Rant => Topic started by: one-eyed on March 09, 2007, 02:12:40 AM
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Signs point south for Tigers
09 March 2007 Herald-Sun
Mike Sheahan
RICHMOND and Terry Wallace knew it was going to be a long haul, hence the five-year pledge to each other.
Two years into the union, the road ahead remains both uphill and rocky.
The Tigers have climbed from 16th and last in 2004 to 12th in Wallace's first year and ninth last year.
That's progress, but much work remains.
While they won 11 of 22 last year, only two wins came against eventual finalists – the game of keepings-off at Telstra Dome against Adelaide (three points) and Collingwood in Round 13.
Eight of the other nine wins were at the expense of the teams that ended up filling the bottom five spots on the ladder.
No, the class of 2006 isn't going to go on and win a premiership. It needs new blood, bigger bodies, more skill.
Wallace will try to fast-track his youngsters this year, with Deledio and Raines two obvious building blocks for the future.
Polo is another likely type, but the next significant step will be determined by the batch of early draft choices, the generally skinny and largely untried names such as Meyer, Pattison, Oakley-Nicholls, Hughes and Riewoldt. All top 25 selections from the past three national drafts.
Add them to Deledio, Raines, Polo, Thursfield, Foley, Tambling and one or two others, and there's the future.
Which means Richmond may take a step back before ultimately moving forward and into contention.
Supporters won't need a reminder, but the Tigers have finished ninth five times in the past 13 seasons. That says more about the list than luck.
They have played finals only twice in that period, for a best finish of third in 2001.
That's why Oakley-Nicholls and company become so important.
The hope this year is based upon the return of Brown and Newman, both victims of broken legs in the past two seasons.
When Brown was injured in Round 10 in 2005, Richmond had won seven of nine, he had kicked 34 goals and the team was third on the ladder.
Now he is right again. As is Newman, who is critically important to a rebounding defence.
Only Carlton and Essendon conceded more points last year, so Polak's arrival as the new centre half-back also is significant.
Even his strongest admirers admit he was a major disappointment for much of his five years at Fremantle.
Those who should know say his attitude is much better at Punt Rd.
He is yet to vindicate his selection at No. 4 in 2001, but he might be another player who will benefit considerably from a change of clubs and a move interstate.
Confidence cures many ills in sport.
If Polak can hold centre half-back, and he'll get every opportunity, Joel Bowden will be able to do his thing from full-back, where he is so creative.
It's a scenario that doesn't bode well for Gaspar, who had a horror season last year, unfortunate at 30.
Unless he can reproduce his best, the Tigers will settle on J. Bowden at full-back and the promising Thursfield alongside him.
The Tigers again will depend heavily on Richardson up forward. He has topped the goalkicking every year bar two since 1993, an incredible performance. He will play up the ground if his back/hamstring allows, leaving Jay Schulz in front of goal.
Schulz has been in the system a while, but is yet to turn 22. He will need to get a wriggle on, though, after just 37 games in five seasons.
Brown, Newman and Polak will generate optimism, but confidence has been shaky since the team's terrible first-up performance at Geelong in the opening round of the NAB Cup, when Johnson and Simmonds were the only notable absentees.
That was the last thing the Tigers needed after the loss of Coughlan and the serious injury to Simmonds.
But, when the real thing starts, Richmond will front Carlton at the MCG in the first of five games in a row on its home ground.
If it is to surprise most of us with a bold showing this year, it must get away to a good start.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21347482%255E19742,00.html
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What a indepth and thought provoking article filled with new insights about us ::).
Just typical Sheahan regurgitating what we already know :sleep.
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I reckon the article is spot on actually.
Wouldnt think that Mike would write anything thats untrue, considering he is great friends will Greg Miller. ;)
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Mike's cut and paste previous HS articles and ripped this up. Pretty crap.
What was his "range" for us finish?
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Why is it that Richmond cops such a bagging from the media and yet clubs like Hawthorn, Essendon and Collingwood get such huge wraps? :banghead
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Mike's cut and paste previous HS articles and ripped this up. Pretty crap.
What was his "range" for us finish?
11-13
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The only thing that did 'concern' me, was the Richmonds best 22 (newspaper only not on website). The best 22 looks ok, but there are a few guys in the section of 'not good enough for a game' section that have played 20+ games, Hall, Knobel, Hartigan and Jackson.
We need to get rid of these guys.
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I reckon the article is spot on actually.
Wouldnt think that Mike would write anything thats untrue, considering he is great friends will Greg Miller. ;)
that explains why g.miller is a tosser and full of himself ;)
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I think Jackstar might be an aquaintance as well, X :rollin
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I reckon the article is spot on actually.
Wouldnt think that Mike would write anything thats untrue, considering he is great friends will Greg Miller. ;)
that explains why g.miller is a tosser and full of himself ;)
I would agree with you there X
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I think Jackstar might be an aquaintance as well, X :rollin
maybe he is , maybe he isnt. does not matter, miller is a tosser, regardless who his aquaintances are.
btw, i respect jackstar, his -ve posts get under my skin only because i love the tigers so much, so as you have read his negativity has got under my skin.
does not mean i disrespect jackstar and in reality his info and knowledge is 1st class.
miller = tosser
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I reckon the article is spot on actually.
Wouldnt think that Mike would write anything thats untrue, considering he is great friends will Greg Miller. ;)
that explains why g.miller is a tosser and full of himself ;)
I would agree with you there X
i know deep down we are on the same page jack :thumbsup
im still getting ya that drink i promised
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Jack negative? :yep
Oh what makes you think that :rollin
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I reckon the article is spot on actually.
True but there's nothing new or indepth in his article. It would've taken him 10 minutes tops to write. It basically says Richmond 2006 wasn't good enough and it'll be up to the kids we drafted over the past 3 years plus Polak, Browny and Newy to make us contenders. Wow what a revelation :sleep.
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Mike's 22:
B: Raines J.Bowden Thursfield
HB: P.Bowden Polak Newman
C: Deledio Foley Polo
HF: Hyde Richardson Pettifer
F: Brown Schulz Krakouer
R: Simmonds, Tuck, Johnson
Int: Pattison, Tivendale, Howat, Moore
Emg: Tambling, Gaspar, Kingsley
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Mike's 22:
B: Raines J.Bowden Thursfield
HB: P.Bowden Polak Newman
C: Deledio Foley Polo
HF: Hyde Richardson Pettifer
F: Brown Schulz Krakouer
R: Simmonds, Tuck, Johnson
Int: Pattison, Tivendale, Howat, Moore
Emg: Tambling, Gaspar, Kingsley
THAT(bolded) says everything I need to completely disregard Sheahan's opinion.
He's done no research. Not to mention Hyde on the park and Howat on the bench.
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Tambling will be in the 22 but aside from that it was pretty much spot on .
Sure it was obvious but I wouldn't expect much less.
Joel at fullback is firming I would suggest.
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Thursty? I'd prefer him at Full back while Joel has a flank or pocket to wander a bit more like he tends to.
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I reckon the article is spot on actually.
Wouldnt think that Mike would write anything thats untrue, considering he is great friends will Greg Miller. ;)
that explains why g.miller is a tosser and full of himself ;)
I would agree with you there X
;)
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At Mikes 60th birthday party last sat nite, they were best of friends.
Would tend to think the article would be to the approval of Mr Miller, wouldnt you think ?
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At Mikes 60th birthday party last sat nite, they were best of friends.
Was Greg the only one who turned up ;D
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There was plenty there. Caro as well, Sam Newman, cast of thousands
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I'd say we're more likely to head east or west than heading south.
Maybe even a few degrees north, with a little luck.
Considering Sheahan's put both Moore and Thursfield in the line-up, I'd say he's spoken to someone at Tigerland.
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Given the way the draft works you want to either move up to the finals or down to a top 3 pick. We don't want to linger in no man's land again like the late 90's.
Walls and Voss don't have us in their top 8 predictions either.
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I'd say we're more likely to head east or west than heading south.
Maybe even a few degrees north, with a little luck.
Considering Sheahan's put both Moore and Thursfield in the line-up, I'd say he's spoken to someone at Tigerland.
Your on the mark there Gordon.
He would speak to Miller on a regular basis ;)
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i do agree with Mike ...
i think we aren't finals material this year ... i hope i eat my words come September ...
i would rather finish 10-12 and get a top draft pick then finish 9th ...
we are young ... but so are brisbane ... and look at there young players this year so far ...
it has taking them 2 years ... and with us it seems forever ...
we need to be physical, tough and have more skill ... but thats always the case each f***ing year !
Mike's best 22 i don't agree with ...