Author Topic: Richmond season 2014 report card: Who can they trade, how can they improve (H-S)  (Read 1386 times)

Offline one-eyed

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Richmond Tigers season 2014 report card: Who can they trade, how can they improve

    Al Paton
    News Corp Australia Network
    September 25, 2014



WHAT did Richmond get right and wrong in 2014, and what — and who — do the Tigers need to climb the ladder. See our verdict and have your say.

SNAPSHOT

Wins: 12

Losses: 11

Draws: 0

Ladder position: 8th

%: 105.8

Last year: 7th (15-8)

WHAT WENT RIGHT

From Round 15-23, just about everything. The Tigers set records with a nine-match winning streak that landed them an unlikely finals berth, rescuing a season that looked headed for the scrapheap. On a personnel front Brandon Ellis had a breakout year to make the All-Australian squad in his third season, Alex Rance made the A-A team, Anthony Miles was a rookie revelation, Dustin Martin found a new level of consistent excellence, Ben Griffiths showed he could have a future and key defender David Astbury was a shining light in the first half of the year.

WHAT WENT WRONG

Rounds 1-14. In that time the Tigers lost games from unlosable positions, were hugely outclassed in others and the effort against Melbourne the week after the club farewelled legendary coach Tom Hafey was a new low for some supporters. Injuries to key players Brett Deledio, Ivan Maric and Alex Rance (who fell off his bike and broke his foot) gutted the team and exposed issues of depth and confidence. Jack Riewoldt started the year with a self-imposed media ban then lifted it only to put his foot in his mouth questioning Damien Hardwick’s game plan. On the recruiting front, the decision to give up a second-round draft pick for Shaun Hampson was looking decidedly questionable by the end of the season as the former Blue played second ruck in the VFL behind Orren Stephenson.

BEST-AND-FAIREST

Likely to be a race in two between skipper Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin for the Jack Dyer Medal. Brandon Ellis could be the bolter and don’t be surprised if Shane Edwards finishes top-five.

SUPERCOACH STUD

Cotchin and Martin provided high scores across the season, but Anthony Miles was one of the SuperCoach success stories of 2014. He was priced at $246,000 when he played his first game in Round 12 and by the final round had shot up to $487,000 on the back of six 100-plus scores and just one under 80. Put him on the radar for next year.

SUPERCOACH DUD

Reece Conca was right in the mid-price conversation at the start of the year and fitted the mould of a high draft pick ready to take the next step. But he managed to lose almost $100,000 in value as his average dropped from 81.2 last year to 77.8, breaking the ton only three times and topping it off with a suspension for whacking Giant Devon Smith.

THE LIST

Elite: Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Brett Deledio, Jack Riewoldt

Big improvers: Anthony Miles, David Astbury, Brandon Ellis, Ben Griffiths

Gone: Jake King (retired), Daniel Jackson (retired), Aaron Edwards, Brett O’Hanlon, Brad Helbig, Orren Stephenson, Ben Darrou, Cadeyn Williams, Todd Banfield

Going, going: -

Trade bait: Jake Batchelor, Matt Dea, Todd Elton

WHAT THEY NEED

There is a vacancy for a classy small forward — Jeff Garlett’s name has been mentioned — but that position could be filled by Matt McDonough or Chris Knights, if he ever gets over his knee problems. Like all clubs, Richmond would take some more depth in the midfield especially some classy outside run to compliment Deledio and Ellis. If they can find a way to prize Dylan Shiel out of GWS he would fit the bill perfectly, but it’s hard to see what the Tigers could offer that would satisfy the Giants in a trade.

PREMIERSHIP CLOCK

If the Tigers were at 7pm this time last year aiming for a 10pm premiership window, they are about 7.30pm now. In terms of wins they went backwards but they found some players, played in another final and injected another year of experience into what is still a young list. If Ivan Maric is right, the disaster that was the first half of the season could be the lesson they needed on what is required to be a serious contender. The problem for Richmond is Port Adelaide will be at the top for a while, North Melbourne has gone past the Tigers and Sydney and Hawthorn aren’t likely to drop off any time soon. And Gold Coast and GWS are looming in the rear-view mirror. In short, the Tigers can’t afford another year of minimal progression — if they are going to break a 32-year flag drought, it’s time to make their move.

CHAMPION DATA SAYS

Tick: After managing only three wins and 10 losses from its opening 13 games, Richmond went on a nine-match unbeaten run to make the top eight. They ranked No. 1 on the form ladder from Round 15 and led the competition for clearance differential (+6.7).

Cross: The Tigers recorded a shot at goal accuracy of 58.1 per cent in winning quarters compared to 36.4 per cent in losing quarters — a differential of +21.7% which was the biggest of any side in the competition.

STATS

http://e.infogr.am/report-card-richmond?src=embed

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-tigers-season-2014-report-card-who-can-they-trade-how-can-they-improve/story-fni5f9jb-1227068978419

Offline YellowandBlackBlood

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Pretty reasonable summary IMHO.
OER. Calling it as it is since 2004.

Offline eliminator

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Agree

Rampstar

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Have to try and pinch a flag in the next 2 years otherwise it could be a long way down the track.

tony_montana

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In other words, we have built the foundations - we arent going any further with what we've got so time to be bold and have a serious crack at some serious list upgrades to take the next step.

IE stop going for the Higgins type top ups and go for the elite talent.

Online WilliamPowell

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Don't think the 3 listed as "trade bait" are going to get you much TBH.

Surprised that's all the HUN could come up with, playing it safe
"Oh yes I am a dreamer, I still see us flying high!"

from the song "Don't Walk Away" by Pat Benatar 1988 (Wide Awake In Dreamland)

Offline Mr Magic

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I like Al Paton's stuff. Unlike Ralph he's a Richmond journo who actually has a clue.

Offline lamington

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Richmond Tigers season 2014 report card: Who can they trade, how can they improve

    Al Paton
    News Corp Australia Network
    September 25, 2014



THE LIST

Elite: Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Brett Deledio, Jack Riewoldt


http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-tigers-season-2014-report-card-who-can-they-trade-how-can-they-improve/story-fni5f9jb-1227068978419

He forgot Alex Rance

tony_montana

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Richmond Tigers season 2014 report card: Who can they trade, how can they improve

    Al Paton
    News Corp Australia Network
    September 25, 2014



THE LIST

Elite: Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Brett Deledio, Jack Riewoldt


http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-tigers-season-2014-report-card-who-can-they-trade-how-can-they-improve/story-fni5f9jb-1227068978419

He forgot Alex Rance

glass half full type

Offline Smokey

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THE LIST

Elite: Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Brett Deledio, Jack Riewoldt


http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-tigers-season-2014-report-card-who-can-they-trade-how-can-they-improve/story-fni5f9jb-1227068978419

He forgot Alex Rance

 :lol   :thumbsup  Bit harsh when the guy is our only AA rep and can't crack it on this list! 

Offline Stripes

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Richmond Tigers season 2014 report card: Who can they trade, how can they improve

    Al Paton
    News Corp Australia Network
    September 25, 2014



THE LIST

Elite: Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Brett Deledio, Jack Riewoldt


http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-tigers-season-2014-report-card-who-can-they-trade-how-can-they-improve/story-fni5f9jb-1227068978419

He forgot Alex Rance

glass half full type

Like him  :thumbsup

the claw

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players already at their ceiling or close to it.

chaplin, cotchin, deledio, edwards, foley, grigg, houli, knights, maric, morris, newman, petterd, rance, riewoldt, thomas, would throw gordon  hampson and lloyd in there and i dont think vickery has much upside left.

if correct where is the upside improvement  going to come from. everysingle one of them turns 25 plus  next yr and there isnt a lot more improvement to be had based on certain factors.

Offline Stripes

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players already at their ceiling or close to it.

chaplin, cotchin, deledio, edwards, foley, grigg, houli, knights, maric, morris, newman, petterd, rance, riewoldt, thomas, would throw gordon  hampson and lloyd in there and i dont think vickery has much upside left.

if correct where is the upside improvement  going to come from. everysingle one of them turns 25 plus  next yr and there isnt a lot more improvement to be had based on certain factors.

I would agree with you with most of those players but you can still get improvement from the team just by positional/structural changes, responsibility domino's and the confidence of consistency.  When Miles was included into the center and gained respect from his peers and coaches it had immediate positive improvement on the team as a whole. Winning the contested ball out of the middle suddenly took the pressure off Cotch and made us more unpredictable clearing the ball, Lids was able to move to CHF which made our forward line more damaging and Dusty/Cotch/Edwards could spend more time deep forward to create mismatches. All players that may not improve individually but a few positional changes made the team better and those players strengths are better utilized away from the coalface.

So we don't necessarily need all of those more experienced players you listed to improve but we just need to keep adding quality to the side and get the improvement from the younger players beneath them.  :cheers

the claw

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players already at their ceiling or close to it.

chaplin, cotchin, deledio, edwards, foley, grigg, houli, knights, maric, morris, newman, petterd, rance, riewoldt, thomas, would throw gordon  hampson and lloyd in there and i dont think vickery has much upside left.

if correct where is the upside improvement  going to come from. everysingle one of them turns 25 plus  next yr and there isnt a lot more improvement to be had based on certain factors.

I would agree with you with most of those players but you can still get improvement from the team just by positional/structural changes, responsibility domino's and the confidence of consistency.  When Miles was included into the center and gained respect from his peers and coaches it had immediate positive improvement on the team as a whole. Winning the contested ball out of the middle suddenly took the pressure off Cotch and made us more unpredictable clearing the ball, Lids was able to move to CHF which made our forward line more damaging and Dusty/Cotch/Edwards could spend more time deep forward to create mismatches. All players that may not improve individually but a few positional changes made the team better and those players strengths are better utilized away from the coalface.

So we don't necessarily need all of those more experienced players you listed to improve but we just need to keep adding quality to the side and get the improvement from the younger players beneath them.  :cheers
lets get this straight here. nope i wont go there its not my place anymore to argue the strengths and weaknesse of the list or atgue exactly where our players are at.

your right though we need to add  not just some quality but a shedload of quality. and while our mature players have little upside left that is about 17 regulars, id say our younger players in the main have shown little and most look nothing more than good ordinary atm.
wheres the improvement coming from.our juniors dont inspire confidence. and im not saying delist kids im just stating that far too many so far have struggled.

oh just one thing. its an actual indictment on the list when miles can come in and become so crucial. needless to say lose miles to a injury and we are back up the creek with out a paddle.

if we sit on our hands and say we dont need any more inside mids then you can bet your bottom dollar we will hit the wall when injury hits someone like miles. our depth is pitiful in most areas if not all areas. our list contains far far too many borderline players. and most of em get games.

Offline Stripes

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if we sit on our hands and say we dont need any more inside mids then you can bet your bottom dollar we will hit the wall when injury hits someone like miles. our depth is pitiful in most areas if not all areas. our list contains far far too many borderline players. and most of em get games.

I see Vlaustin stepping up and becoming part of our inside midfield rotations but I do agree that this is where our need focus needs to be. Trust in our tall stocks depth and keep investing early draft picks over the next 2 to 3 years on midfielders/small forwards and defenders (one and the same now days).

I don't see the impact Miles is making as an indictment on the club. I see it as an indication of success for development and in particular  - our recruiters. Miles would now step into almost every midfield in the league so his impact doesn't suggest weakness in our midfield but rather suggests the improvement in his individual ability imo.