Richmond put finals talk on hold (Ninemsn)

[one-eyed]

Richmond put finals talk on hold
Greg Buckle
Ninemsn
17:22 AEST Wed May 18 2011

Richmond midfielder Matthew White says the Tigers are putting thoughts of finals football on hold but remain confident of having an impact in September.

The Tigers, who haven't played a final since 2001, showed signs of improvement with a three-game winning streak in rounds five to seven.

However last week's 35-point loss to the Western Bulldogs leaves Richmond in 10th spot ahead of Saturday night's Dreamtime clash with third-placed Essendon at the MCG.

White, who is set to return after missing one game with a shoulder injury, says the Tigers are entering a new stuff phase and aren't looking beyond that.

Richmond face the two bottom sides Port Adelaide and Brisbane over the next month along with Essendon and sixth-placed Sydney at the SCG.

"There's nothing that says that we can't (play finals), but it's not in the front of our minds at the moment," White said on Wednesday.

"Of course if we get there we're going to be stoked and we're going to have a red-hot crack at it.

"But it's eight weeks in, we've won three games and had a draw. We're going in stuff blocks ... and we'll just keep going from there.

"We've got a lot of good young guys coming through and we're gelling together really well which has been a good change.

"The group is coming together a lot better and we've got a new lease on life. Everything is working really well for us."

Full article at:
http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8250730

[Penelope]

"We've got a lot of good young guys coming through and we're gelling together really well which has been a good change.

I don't think it's deliberate but there are a lot of comments from players that seem to be back handers at the previous coaching regime.

[FNM]

"We've got a lot of good young guys coming through and we're gelling together really well which has been a good change.

I don't think it's deliberate but there are a lot of comments from players that seem to be back handers at the previous coaching regime.

Could it also mean that winning makes a happier group?
Could it also mean that with younger players (around the same age) that they're getting on better?
Maybe that's a crack at the former players
But gee, maybe it's just an inane comment that wasn't meant to be anything other than what he said FFS 

[Penelope]

on it's own any of those those could be applicable FNM, but there have been plenty of such off the cuff statements hidden in player interviews over the last year and a bit that could be read as an inadvertent swipe at wallace and co.

Were they all  inane comments that weren't meant to mean anything? 

[FNM]

Were they all  inane comments that weren't meant to mean anything? 

More than likely they were - footballers aren't that deep!
And you can read anything you want into any comment and get the result you want!

[gerkin greg]

are you asking me out FNM?

[Stripes]

No that was me...

Interesting question for mine this week, is with White obviously coming back in for Edwards will Nason hold his place???

[Penelope]

Were they all  inane comments that weren't meant to mean anything? 

More than likely they were - footballers aren't that deep!
And you can read anything you want into any comment and get the result you want!

True, you can, but when you start to see a pattern you do wonder if it is just random gibberish.

But then again, on what basis could there be inadvertent backhanders about the wallace coaching regime?

[FNM]

are you asking me out FNM?

You read into my comments and that's what you thought I meant? lol

No, that's NOT what I was saying  

[FNM]

But then again, on what basis could there be inadvertent backhanders about the wallace coaching regime?

Exactly lol

I really couldn't see anything in his comments other than what he said, they're loving their footy at the moment.  Winning helps.

But if you wanted to bring Wallace into it, didn't he say 2011 was when it would all start for us?  Obviously, he wasn't the coach that was going to do that, but he did put us in the right direction player wise.

[TFL]

But then again, on what basis could there be inadvertent backhanders about the wallace coaching regime?

Exactly lol

I really couldn't see anything in his comments other than what he said, they're loving their footy at the moment.  Winning helps.

But if you wanted to bring Wallace into it, didn't he say 2011 was when it would all start for us?  Obviously, he wasn't the coach that was going to do that, but he did put us in the right direction player wise.

How did Wallace put us in the right direction player wise???

Most of the players drafted under him have gone, hardly say he set us in the right direction.

[FNM]

How did Wallace put us in the right direction player wise???

Most of the players drafted under him have gone, hardly say he set us in the right direction.

Would you have preferred he kept the list he inherited, Bully?
Doubt it.
Still a few left, Deledio, McGuane, Moore, White, Graham, Riewoldt, Edwards, Connors, King, Vickery, Post, Nahas, Browne. Tambling still playing, Polo, Meyer, can't be responsible for Polak or some might try  , Peterson moved on and probably a few others.
Hardly a great effort, but not total duds either.
The direction I was talking about was getting rid of the list he inherited and bringing young kids through. Whether they were the right ones or not, that's debatable, but the theory was a good one, and Hardwick's continuing on with it.


Edited to correct quote

[eliminator]

Apart from recruiting well in Hardwick's time Hardwick has developed players which has led to a great improvement in the team. Wallace lacked the skills to develop players. Nahas and King have only developed in Hardwick's time. White is playing better football under Hardwick than when he was playing under Wallace. The progress we have had cannot be attributed in any way to the Wallace regime.