Author Topic: End of season report: Richmond (afl.com.au)  (Read 1489 times)

Offline wayne

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End of season report: Richmond (afl.com.au)
« on: September 01, 2009, 02:20:18 PM »
End of season report: Richmond

What went right?

Amid plenty of media fanfare, Ben Cousins was the last player taken in the NAB AFL 2008 draft process. He promptly injured his hamstring in the round-one debacle against Carlton, but has been the club's most significant midfielder since his return.

Sacking a coach midseason is never a fun exercise for a club, but the club did well in the way it handled Terry Wallace's exit. Appointing Jade Rawlings worked nicely, and they handled the interview process well, refusing to be spooked by other clubs going early.

Graham Polak's return is a feelgood story that every footy fan can appreciate. Polak was almost killed when hit by a tram midway through last year, but playing at Coburg in the VFL, he rose from the seconds to the firsts before returning to the AFL in round 21.

What went wrong?

Many supporters and pundits had expected the Tigers to finish in the eight this year after they came home like a train in the second half of 2008. Finals hopes were dealt a kicking by Carlton in round one, then Melbourne finished them off in round four.

Matthew Richardson, the club's greatest player of the last couple of decades, finished second in the Brownlow last year, and was cranking out more of the same this year before his hamstring tendon surgery.

No matter how well you handle the departure of a senior coach, the situation still brings difficulties and pressures. Different game plans – however slight – take time to adjust to, different dynamics in the coaches' box, different ways of dealing with the front office . . . never ever a good thing.

Most valuable player

Ben Cousins has been invaluable on and off the field. He willed the Tigers across the line when they were clearly flagging at three-quarter time against the Dockers and is teaching the younger midfielders at Richmond how to train and play.

Coach's award for one-percenters

Daniel Jackson does his job week in, week out. He has moved from being a pure shutdown player to getting his own ball. It's been a tough year at the Tigers, but Jackson has stood out, despite his sometimes wayward disposal.  Should win the B&F in a canter.

Needs a big pre-season

Most of the list. After a very promising end to 2008, where they won eight games in the second half of the year to finish ninth and had most pundits predicting finals in 2009, they crashed and burned in 2009 to finish just off the bottom. With a new coach, the pressure will be on to impress.

Overall grade: D

http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=83774
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Offline wayne

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Re: End of season report: Richmond (afl.com.au)
« Reply #1 on: September 01, 2009, 02:21:50 PM »
Two things.

a) Overall grade should be an F.
b) Jacko won't win the B&F in a canter. I think most journo's stopped watching the Tigers after round 8.
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Re: End of season report: Richmond (afl.com.au)
« Reply #2 on: September 01, 2009, 02:32:59 PM »
Two things.

a) Overall grade should be an F.
b) Jacko won't win the B&F in a canter. I think most journo's stopped watching the Tigers after round 8.

All journos watched us to bag the crap out of us and the rest of the club to make them feel better about the size of their Weiners. Nevertheless it was justified and we were crap this year. D is obviously being generous just to give all kids a pass mark and I thought Melbourne were better than us this year so what were they a D+ a C?

We were an E at best or an F. After the hype and hope of last pre season and the extinguishing of that within 15 mins in the first game that is more an acceptable grade.

Offline wayne

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Re: End of season report: Richmond (afl.com.au)
« Reply #3 on: September 01, 2009, 02:34:56 PM »
Melbourne got a D as well.
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Offline Beren

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Re: End of season report: Richmond (afl.com.au)
« Reply #4 on: September 01, 2009, 02:41:45 PM »
Two things.

a) Overall grade should be an F.
b) Jacko won't win the B&F in a canter. I think most journo's stopped watching the Tigers after round 8.

Most journos never watch us.
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Re: End of season report: Richmond (afl.com.au)
« Reply #5 on: September 01, 2009, 02:42:45 PM »
Melbourne got a D as well.

The Melbourne D was a D on the up based on their list and priority picks coming up.

Our D was overrated and based on our list could be an E next year. Should be an E this year too.

Offline WilliamPowell

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Re: End of season report: Richmond (afl.com.au)
« Reply #6 on: September 01, 2009, 07:51:52 PM »
I thought a D was very generous
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Offline mightytiges

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Re: End of season report: Richmond (afl.com.au)
« Reply #7 on: September 01, 2009, 10:55:46 PM »
I guess you get a pass ("D") just for turning up  ???

I would think Lids passed Jacko in the last third of the season. Lids averaging more possies and kicked 20 goals for the year. If Cuz had played all 22 games he'd win the B&F in a canter.

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Offline one-eyed

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Richmond Report Card: F (Sportal)
« Reply #8 on: September 10, 2009, 08:27:01 PM »
Paul Gough (Sportal journo and Tiger supporter) gave us an "F"

Full article at:
http://sportal.com.au/afl-team-review-display/richmond-report-card-77243/

A snippet ......

Type of Players needed: 
Where do you start? The Tigers lack quality players just about everywhere and have a worst list than even wooden spooner Melbourne. The Tigers desperately need key forwards with Morton and Riewoldt lacking support this year as the club badly missed the injured Matthew Richardson, who is only likely to play on for one more year anyway. A quality ruckman would also help with Angus Graham looking the best of a mediocre bunch while the first recruiting priority should be to find players that can actually pass the ball to team-mates when under pressure as the Tigers' disposal by hand and foot was atrocious this season.

Likely departures: 
Kane Johnson (retired), Joel Bowden (retired), Nathan Brown (delisted), Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls (delisted), Mark Coughlan (delisted), Andrew Raines, Graham Polak, Kayne Pettifer, Troy Simmonds, Cleve Hughes, Adam Pattison.

The best Hardwick can hope for is to improve what he has got, aim for eight to 10 wins and then again cut the list heavily next year given the likes of Jordan McMahon, Jay Schulz, Adam Thomson, Tom Hislop and Jake King still have contracts for next season.

Offline tdy

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Re: End of season report: Richmond (afl.com.au)
« Reply #9 on: September 11, 2009, 10:35:53 PM »
Paul Gough (Sportal journo and Tiger supporter) gave us an "F"

Full article at:
http://sportal.com.au/afl-team-review-display/richmond-report-card-77243/

A snippet ......
players that can actually pass the ball to team-mates when under pressure as the Tigers' disposal by hand and foot was atrocious this season.

Likely departures: 
Kane Johnson (retired), Joel Bowden (retired), Nathan Brown (delisted), Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls (delisted), Mark Coughlan (delisted), Andrew Raines, Graham Polak, Kayne Pettifer, Troy Simmonds, Cleve Hughes, Adam Pattison.

The best Hardwick can hope for is to improve what he has got, aim for eight to 10 wins and then again cut the list heavily next year given the likes of Jordan McMahon, Jay Schulz, Adam Thomson, Tom Hislop and Jake King still have contracts for next season.

Gee no one seems to rate our list. :'(

But its not all bad, Cotchin, Vickery, Reiwoldt. I also like the new talk about more accountable football under Hardwick.  I'm looking forward to seeing the new team play.  I'm not expecting miracles but 10 wins next year is not out of our range, I also fully expect it to take 2 or 3 years to see real underlying improvement.