Richmond list management disaster revealed by former coach Danny FrawleySimeon Thomas-Wilson
Herald-Sun
October 6, 2015IT’S fair to say “list management” wasn’t the buzz word in 2001 that it is today. But even by the standards of the day, Richmond’s effort was jaw-dropping.
Coach Danny Frawley led the Tigers to a preliminary final that season. But days after the 68-point defeat from the Brisbane Lions, “Spud” sat down for a list management meeting and received some stunning news.
“19 of the 22 who played in that game were out of contract,” he revealed today on Trade Radio.
“Darren Gaspar was being chased by Fremantle, Ben Holland was being chased by Adelaide, we had our captain and all our stars like Richo and Brad Ottens.”
The Tigers have been held up as an example of a team overrating its list after that season, when they topped up with Paul Hudson and Greg Stafford after getting close to a Grand Final.
But Frawley revealed that wasn’t the whole story.
“We did have salary cap issues.
“As a coach you want to be telling the players how to kick and handball, you don’t want to be pleading with them ... to stay for less.”
Richmond kept most of those big names but let go Nick Daffy (traded to Sydney) and David Bourke (traded to North Melbourne) while Brendon Gale and Paul Broderick retired.
After winning 15 games in 2001, Richmond won just seven the next year to finish 14th.
Frawley lost his job in 2004 and the Tigers didn’t play finals again until 2013.
The Tigers have learnt their lesson since then, with big names Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Jack Riewoldt and Alex Rance all tied up on long-term deals.
The next challenge is to match Spud’s effort of winning a final.
http://www.themercury.com.au/richmond-list-management-disaster-revealed-by-former-coach-danny-frawley/story-fnj3twbb-1227558498338
