“THEY’VE GOT REAL CONCERNS”: WILL THESE PROBLEMS PLAGUE RICHMOND FOR YEARS TO COME?Seb Mottram
SEN
15 April 2023We’ve suspected it for four rounds, but it’s now an undeniable fact.
There are genuine concerns surrounding Richmond in 2023.
A mountain of injuries and some form issues for ageing players aren’t necessarily in the Tigers' control, but dreadful discipline perhaps underlines the belief the club isn’t once what it was.
Damien Hardwick labelled the free kicked and 50-metre penalties conceded by his troops as as “incredibly poor” and “ridiculous”, but Kane Cornes believes it’s more than that.
After the latest 44-point loss to Sydney that has Richmond with just one win five weeks into the season, the Port Adelaide legend suggested the Tigers are officially out of premiership contention, an era that has spanned half a dozen years.
“How many undisciplined acts have we seen from a side that would pride themselves on (not doing) that?” Cornes told AFL Nation late in Friday night’s clash.
“To me, it feels like the end of an era tonight. I know that’s a big statement for one game but I think it’s more than that, I was really perplexed by the moves that they made in the off-season, it was a significant risk and a risk I think is really going to damage the future of the football club.
“It’s not going to be Damien Hardwick’s problem, the likelihood of him being there for 20 years is unlikely when these Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto deals expire, but right now with Richmond’s ladder position, the pick for Jacob Hopper is well inside the top five or six, so that’s going to hurt.
“You’ve also given away three other first round draft picks, you’ve got some ageing players Cotchin subbed out tonight that’s significant.
“They’ve got real concerns.”
The seven-year deals for Taranto and Hopper in particular now look set to come into question given what Richmond gave up at this year’s trade period.
Three first round picks went out the door, including a future first round selection. With Richmond currently 13th and set to drop at low as 15th this round, that pick will prove a big loss for the Tigers.
Hardwick also wheeled out a team that was on average more experienced and older than Sydney on Friday night.
In terms of a potential response in the weeks to come, it’s a mixed bag.
Jayden Short could return next week, but Nathan Broad, Josh Gibcus, Ivan Soldo and Jack Graham all won’t return until at least Round 7.
Tom Lynch, Toby Nankervis and Robbie Tarrant are all further away, but the fixture presents another worry for Hardwick.
Richmond plays top eight contenders Melbourne, Essendon, Geelong and Port Adelaide across the next six weeks, but games against Gold Coast and West Coast in Melbourne shape as winnable.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/04/15/theyve-got-real-concerns-will-these-problems-plague-richmond-for-years-to/
