Like most players who have been at the club long enough, Joel Bowden has been Richmond-ified and is merely a product of the environment he’s been in all these years. To me, he seems comfortable with himself as a player, and seems to lack any motivation or ambition to become a better player than he is. The past has a lot to answer for, but from a perception point of view, the present system doesn’t appear to promote a proactive side to JB, or any other player, that is sustained long term.
Seeing him in the VFL a few weeks ago, I wondered what made TW select him the following week to play for Richmond? JB can play at that level standing on his ear, so what is the challenge for him there? And what did they see in him that wasn’t there prior to his VFL stint?
Judging by his AFL games since, there is no real difference, except that he’s playing further up the ground. So did they expect that playing him in the VFL would suddenly transform him or something? And why expect that competition to do what they could not do at AFL level?
It doesn’t come across that the RFC ‘system’ is based on working ‘with’ players, but instead relies on asking, demanding and telling players to do this and be that. Otherwise, where’s the evidence to suggest that they provide players with the tools to change anything and instill in them the traits that can help and motivate them to become better players?
It just seems that the current style of ‘coaching’ creates an ‘us’ (coaches) versus ‘them’ (players) environment and could be de-motivating and also place added pressure on some players to perform, as if there’s not enough on them already.
This sort of approach would seem unhealthy and not conducive to developing players and promoting in them initiative, ambition, self-motivation, confidence and pride.
My concern is a player like Trent Cotchin, who stands out so much, and seems to have more purpose, intensity and urgency in his game than any other of our players out there.
I just hope and pray that he is able to maintain that drive, and doesn’t allow himself to become an unfulfilled talent, like so many Richmond players before him.
