Richmond’s youth development questionable: Rohan ConnollyJustin Talent
SEN
01 May 2016, 05:04PMThe slow development of Richmond’s draftees in the last five seasons may lead to questions being asked of the Tigers’ youth development staff, says Rohan Connolly.
The Age senior football writer says that Reece Conca, Brandon Ellis and Nick Vlastuin, all taken with Richmond’s first pick in three consecutive drafts, have all fallen short of their expectations to join Richmond’s elite players Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Brett Deledio and Alex Rance and are well behind their counterparts at fellow clubs.
“I wonder whether questions are going to be asked about their development now,” he said on SEN radio.
“Ellis had one really good season, he’s sort of plateaued. Vlastuin doesn’t appear to have improved a heap. Conca I feel like we still don’t know because he is perpetually either injured or suspended.
“It’s sort of symptomatic of their problems because if you look at their equivalents at other clubs there is a fair argument that other guys on that sort of level have improved a lot quicker than they have.”
Wayne Brittain agreed, comparing Richmond now to where Carlton were when they recruited Mick Malthouse to head coach in 2013.
He also stressed that having leading youth development staff is crucial to any successful football club.
“I wonder whether Richmond is going to be shocked into a sudden dose of reality as to where the list is given that a lot of their first round picks are yet to bear significant fruit,” the former Carlton coach said.
“If you get a good person involved in that development area that cares and is doing it for the right reasons, I think they’re invaluable to your club.
“The young kids that come into your footy club are under enormous pressure. They need the support structure around them and the advice they get has to be good. It has to be spot on for them to keep developing well. If they get carried away with themselves and their confidence drops away, it’s those people in the development areas that really can make a difference for you.”
David Schwarz however believes that Richmond have been a victim of the compromised drafts and three consecutive mid-table finishes, and have a major problem in luring big-name players to the club.
“They haven’t been down the bottom either Richmond. They’re a victim of the (the middle group) and the expansion sides coming through. They have been caught in the middle a little bit and then what they have tried to do is plug holes and their plugging hasn’t been as effective as other sides.
“Richmond is a desirable club to go to and getting players to come to the club isn’t as difficult as other clubs but they missed out on (Adam) Treloar, they looked at Jack Trengove from Melbourne and found out he was injured.
“They put a lot of effort into getting a couple of players and they ended up getting (Chris) Yarran. They’ve had a few issues in luring those big names to Punt Road.”
http://www.sen.com.au/news/afl/05-16/richmond-s-youth-development-questionable-rohan-connolly#5qM1Qgld2dEm6Q5c.97
