Demetriou worries about Tigers (Age)

[one-eyed]

Demetriou worries about Tigers
CAROLINE WILSON
May 4, 2010
 

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou has no issue with St Kilda's much-maligned game style but admits to harbouring grave concerns for lowly Richmond and its failure to play competitive football.

Demetriou said the Tigers' past mistakes had left the club in a dismal position with no prospect of top-three draft picks until the end of 2012, and added that he had a lot of sympathy for coach Damien Hardwick.

However, there seems little hope of AFL intervention over the next two years, with Demetriou firm in his belief that to grant the club discretionary priority picks ''sets a very poor precedent for teams who've made mistakes in the past.

Advertisement: Story continues below''That would be up to the commission, but I have to say it's unlikely to happen and I must add that Richmond haven't asked for any favours,'' he said.

''They are going to have to be very aggressive and very innovative in their trading and drafting over the next two years. They are going to have to look to second-tier competitions like the VFL. They can build but it's going to take time. I must admit it's not going to be easy.''

Richmond is bottom after six rounds with an average losing margin of 64.1 points. Fitzroy, in its final season, averaged losses of 65 points at the same time.

The Tigers suffered their worst loss of the season last Sunday when they were beaten by 108 points by reigning premier Geelong. Even the determined and super-positive Hardwick took little out of the humiliation.

''You couldn't point the finger at Damien Hardwick,'' said Demetriou. ''When you look at what he's dealing with in terms of what he's inherited, well … you just have to wonder.

''There's nobody involved in football who cares about football who is watching Richmond who is taking any pleasure from this. There is nobody who doesn't want to see them win a game.''

Richmond won too many games last season to gain a priority pick this year and the best it could hope for at the end of 2011 would be picks No. 4 and No. 6.

While the AFL will not guarantee a repeat next season of the opening game of the year that Richmond and Carlton have played for the past three years, Demetriou said the Tigers' lack of competitiveness would not be harshly punished in 2011's draw.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/demetriou-excuses-saints-but-worries-about-tigers-20100503-u3s8.html

[Mr Magic]

Nothing article.

[wayne]

So we will get a priority pick this year before the second round?

[Infamy]

So we will get a priority pick this year before the second round?

Yes, but it will only be picks 4 & 6 as GWS gets the same picks as GC17 does this year

[WA Tiger]

"Richmond won too many games last season to gain a priority pick this year and the best it could hope for at the end of 2011 would be picks No. 4 and No. 6."


Gee Demetriou and you really believe that tanking doesn't happen!!

[Francois Jackson]

So we will get a priority pick this year before the second round?

that Melbourne victory last year really screwed us over. What a garbage win that was. Morale boosting win my arse

[wayne]

So we will get a priority pick this year before the second round?

Yes, but it will only be picks 4 & 6 as GWS gets the same picks as GC17 does this year

But this year we'll get pick 26 and 28?

[Ramps]

It would be good if the commission issues us with an extra early pick, but that isnt the problem- we need 3 or 4 quality players at around the 22 to 25 year old age bracket to get us moving, preferably with abit of leadership ability. The only way we can get them is via free agency. Until that time we must wait, in the meantime we should stick to the draft and keep getting kids, and if the AFL feels sorry for us and gives us an extra pick then that should be considered a bonus?

[Infamy]

So we will get a priority pick this year before the second round?

that Melbourne victory last year really screwed us over. What a garbage win that was. Morale boosting win my behind

The win over Melbourne handed them Pick 1 & 2, we had already lost our PP with the 5 point win over Essendon

[TigerLand]

So we will get a priority pick this year before the second round?

that Melbourne victory last year really screwed us over. What a garbage win that was. Morale boosting win my behind

The win over Melbourne handed them Pick 1 & 2, we had already lost our PP with the 5 point win over Essendon

Correct.

[HD]

It would be good if the commission issues us with an extra early pick, but that isnt the problem- we need 3 or 4 quality players at around the 22 to 25 year old age bracket to get us moving, preferably with abit of leadership ability. The only way we can get them is via free agency. Until that time we must wait, in the meantime we should stick to the draft and keep getting kids, and if the AFL feels sorry for us and gives us an extra pick then that should be considered a bonus?

Free Agency? But the club is still in debt is it not? Free agency doesn't help if you have no money to buy players!

[Ramps]

It would be good if the commission issues us with an extra early pick, but that isnt the problem- we need 3 or 4 quality players at around the 22 to 25 year old age bracket to get us moving, preferably with abit of leadership ability. The only way we can get them is via free agency. Until that time we must wait, in the meantime we should stick to the draft and keep getting kids, and if the AFL feels sorry for us and gives us an extra pick then that should be considered a bonus?

Free Agency? But the club is still in debt is it not? Free agency doesn't help if you have no money to buy players!

I put up a list of about 10 blokes who should be cut at the end of the year. I estimated the cost of salaries to this group of 10 to be atleast $1.5 million. If the club puts on 10 youngsters and pays the minimum It will save about $1 million in wages. This money should be put away for when free agency comes in. From what we know the club is trading profitably still anyway.

So what we need is

- dispensation from the AFL  to pay less than 92.5%
- put the money away for when free agency comes in then go hell for leather to try and get the 3 or 4 players Im talking about.

[Infamy]

It would be good if the commission issues us with an extra early pick, but that isnt the problem- we need 3 or 4 quality players at around the 22 to 25 year old age bracket to get us moving, preferably with abit of leadership ability. The only way we can get them is via free agency. Until that time we must wait, in the meantime we should stick to the draft and keep getting kids, and if the AFL feels sorry for us and gives us an extra pick then that should be considered a bonus?

Free Agency? But the club is still in debt is it not? Free agency doesn't help if you have no money to buy players!

You still have to pay 92.5% of the TPP, the difference between 92.5% and 100% is only about $650k

[Ramps]

It would be good if the commission issues us with an extra early pick, but that isnt the problem- we need 3 or 4 quality players at around the 22 to 25 year old age bracket to get us moving, preferably with abit of leadership ability. The only way we can get them is via free agency. Until that time we must wait, in the meantime we should stick to the draft and keep getting kids, and if the AFL feels sorry for us and gives us an extra pick then that should be considered a bonus?

Free Agency? But the club is still in debt is it not? Free agency doesn't help if you have no money to buy players!

You still have to pay 92.5% of the TPP, the difference between 92.5% and 100% is only about $650k

in my previous post I said the club should ask for dispensation from the 92.5 rule - we probably only need dispensation for 2 years. The AFL may agree!

[Infamy]

It would be good if the commission issues us with an extra early pick, but that isnt the problem- we need 3 or 4 quality players at around the 22 to 25 year old age bracket to get us moving, preferably with abit of leadership ability. The only way we can get them is via free agency. Until that time we must wait, in the meantime we should stick to the draft and keep getting kids, and if the AFL feels sorry for us and gives us an extra pick then that should be considered a bonus?

Free Agency? But the club is still in debt is it not? Free agency doesn't help if you have no money to buy players!

You still have to pay 92.5% of the TPP, the difference between 92.5% and 100% is only about $650k

in my previous post I said the club should ask for dispensation from the 92.5 rule - we probably only need dispensation for 2 years. The AFL may agree!

Doubt it
Melbourne have the same problem and are using the opportunity to front load contracts, I'm sure we are doing the same