Gale warns against writing Tigers offHerald-Sun
May 3, 2016RICHMOND has boldly declared it can still play finals after a disastrous 1-5 start to the season.
“There’s still a lot of life left in the season,” Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale told the Herald Sun Monday night.
“I haven’t given up on the year and I know the coach certainly hasn’t.
“I know a lot of people have, but we’ve been in this situation before. It’s very disappointing to be here again and we need to find out why we aren’t playing well and start addressing that.
“The way we are playing, people would be entitled to question that — but absolutely we can (play finals).
“But we’ve got a hell of a lot of work to do.”
Gale denied an internal review of the club’s list management, recruiting and player development programs had already begun.
He said: “Rebuilding is bulls---. There is no start or end, it’s a continuum.”
Asked whether it was the right decision to extend coach Damien Hardwick’s contract for two years on the eve of the season, Gale said: “Yes.
Absolutely, I believe it is. People would say ‘you would say that anyway’ ... but I believe the coach is a good coach and we believe he has all the attributes to become a better coach.
“The way the players are playing doesn’t reflect the way they are coached.
“This is a very, very testing set of circumstances and great opportunity to grow.”
The Tigers boss said talk of a total rebuild was premature.
“It’s a hypothetical proposition that you put forward, but if the time arrived ... everyone at this club is held to account and we expect to be held to account.
“I’m not going to speculate on where we finish ... but if we don’t continue to evolve and improve our team, we will want to understand why.
“When our list is available, and playing well, I think the list we have has proven and will continue to prove it is more than capable.
“Would we like to have more quality players? Of course we would ... but in terms of drafting and trade strategy, there will be a time and a place for that.”
Asked whether the club’s big five — Brett Deledio, Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt, Alex Rance and Dustin Martin — were off limits at the trade table, Gale said: “They are wonderful servants of our footy club and all playing good footy.”
He said the club had faith in recruiting boss Francis Jackson and list manager Blair Hartley.
“A lot of people are keen to say you’ve done this wrong or you’ve done that wrong ... but our draft picks in recent years have made a contribution and there are some yet we don’t know,” he said.
“I understand why they come under scrutiny when we fall short of expectations and our fans have every right to be disappointed.
“Every one of us are held to account in some way, shape or form.”
The Tigers have signed a record 70,784 members this season and surged past Collingwood in the AFL membership race.
A paltry 27,077 turned out for Richmond’s 35-point loss to Port Adelaide at the MCG.
“I understand their frustration and their anger — I know where that frustration comes from ... but we are working very, very hard in trying to search for answers and holding people accountable.
“I didn’t expect it (the 1-5 season start). Given the profile of the list ... I thought there would be a lot of natural, organic improvement.
“And whilst our better players, when they are available are playing well, it’s that middle group that have stagnated a bit.
“We just need to get back to playing good footy and there will be a time and a place for all the other stuff.”
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