Has the mature-age experiment stunted Richmond's growth?
Nathan Schmook April 24, 2016 10:00 AM
Match preview: Melbourne v Richmond
WHEN Richmond coach Damien Hardwick went on radio two weeks ago to explain his "half-step back" strategy, Ben Lennon and Corey Ellis were two players he said the club needed to stick with at selection.
"We'll continue to invest in those two boys … they're probably the little half-step back that we take," he said.
They were three little words that were analysed to their core, but the coach's reasoning made sense. He had invested in a lot of mature-age talent and the time had come to back in youth.
The question now being asked is why, two weeks on, is Lennon out of the team? And has an aggressive mature-age strategy stunted the growth of the Tigers' draftees?
Questioning draft selections in hindsight can be like shooting fish in a barrel, but the Tigers' strategy to use free agency and mature-age recruiting the way they have deserves scrutiny after their 1-3 start to the season.
Dating back to the end of 2012, the club's last exchange period before their first finals series under Hardwick, Richmond has recruited the following:
• Eight players via trade and free agency (aged 22-29)
• Three mature-age draftees (aged 22-24)
• Eight mature-age rookies (aged 23-30)
That's a total of 19 mature-age players – eight of whom have since retired or been delisted – who have collectively played 288 games for the club since round one, 2013.
In the same period they have gone to the NAB AFL Draft and recruited 12 players (excluding mature-age selections).
That dozen, which includes prized picks Lennon and Ellis, has combined for 145 games – half the output of the ready-made players the club has brought in.
It's a strategy that has helped get Richmond to three straight finals series, but recycled talent hasn't helped the club take the next step.
Recycled players who have come and gone in the past three seasons include Aaron Edwards, Nathan Gordon, Ricky Petterd, Matt Thomas, Sam Lonergan and Todd Banfield.
ormer Adelaide half-forward Chris Knights stands aside as a player Richmond brought in who could have been a success if not for repeated knee, quad and hamstring injuries.
The only recycled players from 2013-2015 selected in Richmond's round five squad to face Melbourne are Troy Chaplin and Sam Lloyd.
There has clearly been a shift in the Tigers' selection in recent weeks and – Lennon's omission aside – fast-tracking talented young players seems to be a priority.
"Ellis played his best game for the club last week and in (Connor) Menadue we've found a player," Hardwick said this week.
"Kamdyn McIntosh down back has been a revelation and Daniel Rioli is an excitement machine.
"We've got some really exciting talent in the side."
All would stay in the team, Hardwick said, as long as their "form continues to press their credibility".
Hardwick can't pick players who aren't ready, and injury has played a big role in keeping draftees like Nathan Drummond out of the team.
Likewise, if tall forward Liam McBean hasn't done enough to knock down the door at selection then there is no requirement on the match committee to select him.
But the numbers don't lie and the Tigers have clearly invested more game time in their mature-age picks than their talented teenagers.
Had it been the other way around they might not have three consecutive elimination finals to their name, but they may find themselves in a better position four rounds into this season.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-04-24/tigers-old-problem-has-the-matureage-experiment-stunted-richmonds-growth
