Richo and kids refuse to lose

[one-eyed]

Richo and kids refuse to lose
11 April 2005   
Herald Sun
Bruce Matthews

WITH Terry Wallace still assessing his men under the fiercest heat, the view through the coach's box window yesterday was heartening, to say the least.

For a team recently force-fed on losses, Richmond players defiantly decreed they couldn't stomach the bitter taste of letting this one slip.

The Tigers twice looked gone and, sure, both times Bulldog misfortunes intervened to keep the contest alive. And yet it would be far too simplistic to declare the Dogs threw another one away at Telstra Dome.

The Bulldogs had stretched the lead to 19 points – the biggest margin of the game – when key defender Brian Harris severely damaged a knee in a marking contest 18 minutes into the third quarter. And, while the sight of Matthew Richardson's direct opponent being carted off was disruptive to the Dogs defence, they were still eight points clear heading into extra time in that frantic final term.

But the Tigers' team structure was hard hit much earlier in the afternoon, a fact largely forgotten amid the Dogs' untimely player losses and scoring stuff-ups.

New skipper Kane Johnson was a late withdrawal with a foot injury. Immediately wipe off 20-plus possessions. Then rebounding backman Brent Hartigan ripped his left hamstring just three minutes into the second quarter.

Hartigan had seven kicks and five handpasses in the opening term before opponent Nathan Eagleton had touched leather. And Eagleton eventually racked up 21 disposals as one of the Dogs' better contributors.

So, to keep persisting when twice the game seemed to have slid out of reach, provided Wallace with more tangible evidence that can help rebuild self-esteem at Punt Rd.

"With the self-belief factor, our side was struggling to be competitive in games last season," Wallace said.

"The key aspect for us is that we've had two games where it has been an arm wrestle and it could've gone either way and our blokes have really gutsed it out.

"When you've come off a really low base, it's easy to get into those winning situations and lose. Our blokes worked hard at the contests and didn't want to give it away.

"We're not suggesting it's going to change in a hurry, but at least they've shown they want to try to be part of something."

In Johnson's absence, the Tigers had Shane Tuck (five games) and Daniel Jackson (eight) at the opening bounce against the likes of Luke Darcy and Scott West.

Both reflected the team's admirable work ethic with Tuck, in particular, a telling contributor through the midfield with 24 possessions.

The lead swapped nine times, five in that gripping last term, and a mix of persistence, luck and a man called "Richo" propelled Richmond over the line.

Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade later acknowledged Matthew Richardson was the difference, with the unpredictable Tiger forward serving up his usual fare of the foolish and fabulous in the match-turning performance.

Wallace must ask himself how such a fine athlete with nearly 200 games experience could not clear the man on the mark with a set shot from 30m directly in front midway through the third quarter . . . and yet he could thread a goal from a tight angle near the boundary line from outside 50m late in the last term.

With Richardson working out of the true centre-half forward position, the Tigers tried to exploit their big-man riches by alternating Greg Stafford, Troy Simmonds and, occasionally, Trent Knobel near the goalsquare.

While the score sheet didn't indicate much support from the trio, Wallace believed similar set-ups could be productive this season.

"We're probably not getting enough out of them from a forward line aspect as in hitting the scoreboard," he said.

"But I thought even the ability to be able to roll them through the ruck is a bonus for us."

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,12814536%255E19771,00.html

[one-eyed]

Richo back to bullying Dogs
11 April 2005   
Herald Sun
Mark Stevens

WITH his best mate Ben Harrison and brother-in-law Jade Rawlings in opposition colours, you'd think the nice guy inside Matthew Richardson would blossom against the Bulldogs.

But the big fella is about as friendly as Freddie Krueger when he gets up close and personal with red, white and blue. Yesterday, it was Nightmare No. 3.

In Round 17, 2003, Richardson hauled in 17 marks and kicked two to inspire a Richmond victory.

He was at it again last year, kicking 10.3 against the pups in Round 8, propelling the Tigers past 100 points in a game for the only time in the season.

And with so much riding on the result yesterday, Richardson helped himself to 15 marks and booted 4.4.

As if the horrors of the past weren't bad enough for Dogs fans, Richo kicked two in the tense final term, one from a pack mark he conceded was a fluke and another from 50m on the boundary.

Ten minutes into the final quarter, Richardson appeared to cop his buddy Rawlings high 15m out, but somehow regained his composure to latch on to a miracle mark.

"I was well out of position. It was one of those ones where I stuck my hand out and it fell in. It was a total fluke, no doubt about that," Richardson said.

There were the usual silly misses – including an embarrassing mis-kick into the man on the mark in the third term – but the long shot from the boundary 21 minutes into the last made up for it.

As usual, Richardson played down his heroics and heaped praise on the team. "I never go into a game thinking I'm going to kick 10 goals. Everyone else talks about that. I was just happy to present and be part of a winning forward line," he said.

But Richardson was clearly the difference in the contest.

He took five contested marks and was the only player to bring one down of the contested variety inside 50.

Tigers coach Terry Wallace, for so long forced to go short up forward at the Bulldogs, had the luxury of finally creating his own Land of the Giants.

At times, Richardson was joined by Troy Simmonds and Greg Stafford. It was the same theory rivals used to go with against him – stretching the Doggies' defence.

The Dogs looked in control three goals up in the third term when Brian Harris went down with a knee injury. The Dogs were forced to reshuffle, moving Grant and Rawlings deep in defence.

Grant was super-competitive in the one-on-ones against Richardson and was not towelled up, but with Harrison also off the ground with a crook knee the Dogs were clearly light on for options.

It was a completely different story down the other end as the Dogs again relied on the mid-sized Brad Johnson as their main go-to man.

Johnson, still carrying a banged-up ankle, kicked 2.4, including two posters. He worked tirelessly again, but how long does the little guy have to shoulder such a load?

While Richardson at times made it look easy, just about every goal was sheer hard work from the Dogs. The fact it took the bang-and-crash heroics of Mitch Hahn to provide a forward spark in the last term summed it up.

As Bulldogs veteran Scott West said after the game: "We've got to hit him (Johnson) on the lead for us to score.

"You lose by only four points and yet they've got goals at times so much easier than us."

The injury to Harris compounds the Bulldogs' problems up forward as well. With the full-back sidelined for a while, Grant and Rawlings now have to virtually stay put in the back end.

If Richardson had been playing the same roaming role 30m-60m out from goal for the Doggies, they would've won the game by at least four goals.

Any long-suffering Dogs fan still living in hope of finding the next Kelvin Templeton or Simon Beasley would take Richo now, even with the brain-explosions as part of the package.

Even he could see the lighter side of another mixed afternoon.

"Just another day at the office, isn't it?" Richardson said with a grin.

No one in red, white and blue could see the funny side.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,12814816%255E19771,00.html

[julzqld]

That's my boy

[Ox]

Well done Richmond.

Something to hang your hat on.

"With the self-belief factor, our side was struggling to be competitive in games last season," Wallace said

Any way we can sue Danny ?

[WilliamPowell]

I thought Richo's effort of going backwards with the flight of the ball without any regard for his own safety in the last quarter on the wing with a couple of minutes to go was not only courageous but bloody inspirational. Copped it right inthe middle of the back but got up and took his kick

That's the reason why he is in the leadership group - sensational big fella

[mightytiges]

Any way we can sue Danny ?

Would be a class action if we could with 30,000 witnessess .

[mightytiges]

Just on Richo - his body language has really improved over the past 12 months. Even when he stuffed up he didn't stop trying or get frustrated. Still can learn to stop getting so close to the man on the mark when he kicks especially when only 20-30 metres out from goal . You can kick well over 50 big fella, 33 instead 30 metres isn't going to make a difference!

[JohnF]

I thought Richo's effort of going backwards with the flight of the ball without any regard for his own safety in the last quarter on the wing with a couple of minutes to go was not only courageous but bloody inspirational. Copped it right inthe middle of the back but got up and took his kick

That's the reason why he is in the leadership group - sensational big fella

Was great when he kicked the goal from the boundary line and went Norman Bates as well.

[mightytiges]

Was great when he kicked the goal from the boundary line and went Norman Bates as well.

Richo never misses those 50m on the boundary goals as they force him to take a decent run-up to make the distance and kick through the ball properly. He needs to do the same even when he's only 15m out directly in front but at 30 years of age I can't see him changing his enigmatic and random goalkicking technique.

[Harry]

Yeah, Richo's body language has improved alot and it's a direct result of Wallace not putting up with it.  Also noticed Richo, for a 30 year old, is fitter than he's been.  Looked a bit overweight in the Wiz Cup game but has slimmed down quite a bit since.  Big year for him if he stays injury free.

[WilliamPowell]

This is a very interesting article that was written by one of the posters on "Yellow & Black Info" site (well done Chris ). It's been published on the RFC site this morning - I thought I'd post it here. It is a good read

============================

Richo confirms superstar status
9:20:30 AM Thu 14 April, 2005
Chris Riches
richmondfc.com.au

‘Richo’ kicked another four goals last Sunday. In fact, just a “lazy” 4.4 from 15 marks and 19 possessions – an effort which went a long way towards winning Richmond the match against the Western Bulldogs at Telstra Dome.

Matthew Richardson must seem like a recurring nightmare for Bulldogs’ fans, who, over the 13 seasons, have watched him jump, run and gallop all over various backmen wearing the red, white and blue.

Some of Richo’s best ever games have been against the boys from Whitten Oval – witness his 25-possession, 17-mark, two-goal extravaganza in a win over the Bulldogs in 2003, or his 11 marks and 6.5 in early 1997.

My personal favorite was his 8.1 in a loss in Round 1, 1994, where every one of his 10 marks seemed to involve him standing on someone’s shoulders. That remained his best ever goalkicking effort – until last year’s 10.3 virtually single-handedly delivered the Tigers what would be their last win in a dismal 2004 season.

In 15 games against the Bulldogs, Richo has kicked 52 goals at an average of almost three-and-a-half a game. He has averaged 14.6 possessions and just over 9.5 marks. In his last three games against them, Richo has averaged 5.3 goals, 15 marks and 20 touches.

Compare these to his career per-game averages of three goals, 13.4 possessions and 7.63 marks per game, and you can see why Bulldog fans must reckon Richo saves his best for them.

Matthew Richardson has now kicked 590 goals, and will reach 600 in the coming month if all goes well. In the entire history of VFL/AFL football, only 23 players have kicked 600 or more goals. And, only two of them are currently playing – Sav Rocca and Matthew Lloyd.

Richo’s marks per game average of 7.63 is higher than any other player in the top 20 marks in the AFL since 1993, which was his debut season. From ‘93 until the end of last season, he averaged more than half-a-mark per game better than Kangaroos star Wayne Carey averaged during the same period.

In fact, from when Richo started his career in 1993, until the end of the 2004 season, only Carey and Bulldog Chris Grant took more marks than him. Richo, however, played significantly fewer games in that period due to missing large chunks of two seasons with injury.

All this has been done in a side which has made the finals only twice in his career – in 1995 (when he was out injured) and 2001 – and while umpires watch dispassionately as defenders hold, hit, push, scratch and claw him in various desperate efforts to stop him dominating.

Add to this the fact that for most of his career teammates further afield have never been able to supply the football to him with any consistent skill or accuracy via foot, and that he has often been left one-out against two or three opponents, and it’s a wonder sometimes that he ever gets the ball.

Yet, despite these compelling statistics compiled in efforts for a mostly sub-par side, Richo still doesn’t get the plaudits from many football fans, or the football media. He is still an easy target – the dummy spits, the berating of teammates, dodgy kicking, dropping his lip – all get played up and highlighted by the media, opposition fans and even some Richmond supporters.

The term “flawed genius” is used when people talk about Richo, but more and more I wonder why he is damned with faint praise through the use of this phrase.

I mean, aren’t the vast majority of geniuses – like the majority of people in general – flawed in some way? Haven’t there been times where the great goalkicking geniuses of the AFL have made on-field errors?

Gary Ablett played in four Grand Finals, but showed his genius in only one. I’m pretty sure Daicos didn’t kick all those skidding, dribbling, impossible goals he attempted, nor I’m sure did any of the high-marking forwards of decades past take every grab they laid hands on. Even the seemingly infallible – guys like Lockett, Carey and Dunstall – missed easy goals and dropped chest marks during their time.

Is it that we edit our memories of these past greats, conveniently forgetting they were human on the field and not everything they touched turned to gold? Or is it that everyone highlights Richo’s negatives, simply because it’s easier to tear someone down rather than build them up? Maybe it’s a bit of both.

Richo has, for 13 years, played through continuous serious injuries in a largely sub-par side, weathering all those factors I’ve mentioned previously, to take more marks than anyone else in his era, and to be among the greatest of goalkickers in not only this era, but AFL history. In addition, he is a genuinely great bloke off the field – humble to the point of self-effacing, articulate and funny.

As Richo enters his 30s and nears his 200th game in his 13th season at Punt Road, the thought that he will one day, in the not-too-distant-future retire, starts playing on a Richmond supporter’s mind.

Unfortunately, Richo is going to get “old”, lose that leap, and that explosive first step. He may even lose that streak of “mad” genius and – shock horror - start playing the percentages to stay in the game.

Some day, Richmond will run out on the field without that reassuring figure of Richo in the forward line. And, that will be a sad day.

I wonder how we will replace him, this genius, who we’ve been blessed enough to watch since 1993?

The answer is that we may never replace him – or at least not see his like again for a long time.

So, maybe it’s time for a bit of revisionist history when it comes to Richo. Time for people to take a step back and appreciate this genius who wears number 12, who does the unbelievable every week – against the odds – and who bleeds Yellow and Black.

Maybe it’s time we dropped the idea of “Richo: Flawed Genius” and instead gave him the label he so richly deserves – “Richo: Tiger Superstar”.

The statistics quoted in this article were sourced from http://stats.rleague.com/afl/afl_index.html.

Chris Riches
www.yellowandblack.info

http://richmondfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=196007