What Essendon has not learned from RichmondBy Kane Cornes
SEN
1 Nov 2019It’s never been harder to win an AFL premiership.
The competition's salary cap, a cap on football department spending, the draft, draft concessions, and a revolving door of assistant coaches that bounce IP and ideas from club to club - all of which are measures that make it the most even competition in history.
However, despite these measures, when it comes to separating the best teams from the average ones, something intangible has become the difference.
To win premierships in this era, talent, great coaching and a stroke of luck just isn’t enough.
If we have learnt anything from Richmond over the last three years it’s this. To win in the AFL you need to be a happy team.
The playing group need to feel that they belong and will be embraced and celebrated for who they are and the strengths they bring.
A group that no longer care about how many goals or possessions they get. For instance in 2016 Richmond captain Trent Cotchin averaged 27 disposals yet the Tigers finished 13th. This year he averaged just 19 but they finished 1st.
He visibly takes more joy from laying a diving tackle or recklessly throwing his body head first into a pack than he does from getting a kick.
At the end of 2016, despite the controversy engulfing the club, the under-fire board backed in coach Damien Hardwick who has since built the strongest and most united culture in the AFL. He has an incredible connection to his players. They players love him, they play for him.
On the final siren of this year's Grand Final victory the image of all 44 listed players, dressed in their playing guernseys, celebrating like they had just played and won, speaks to that.
The vision of the inexperienced Jack Higgins addressing his side last year, and having each of them in stitches at the half-time break is another example of what others clubs have tried to replicate but have failed.
The team that wins in 2020 will be the happiest and most satisfied one.
It’s why Adelaide conducted a review into its culture which saw the axing of a coach, a senior assistant coach, a football manager and nine players. They are searching for what Richmond have. They even created a new position at the club titled “head of leadership and culture”.
It’s also why I’m extremely concerned about the future of Essendon.
Yesterday, AFL.com.au journalist Damian Barrett exposed significant, underlying issues that are crippling the Bombers. Most of which are central to the club's best player Joe Daniher, but also ripple down right throughout the entire playing group.
Daniher was unable to find a new football home during the Trade Period which left the 25-year-old shattered, a state in which he remains as he continues holidaying overseas.
"Next month he will return to Melbourne to begin an eighth pre-season with a club he was desperate to leave," Barrett wrote.
"Sydney – the city and the club – was his path to enlivening a once free but clearly shackled spirit.
"The monotony of two seasons of injury rehabilitation sessions at the Bombers had understandably further eroded his zest, leaving him feeling isolated from club pursuits and with little purpose," Barrett continued.
Barrett says Daniher still remains disillusioned with Essendon and says this year will most certainly be his last in the red and black.
But the problems at Tullamarine extend way beyond the club's marquee player and his happiness. It goes deeper than the disastrous win/loss records that have began the last two seasons.
As I questioned a fortnight ago, the Rutten/Worsfold coaching set has raised eyebrows amongst the key players at the club.
Unlike Richmond in 2016, Essendon refused to make the bold call of either backing in Worsfold of severing ties with him and moving on to a fresh start. The club is hedging its bets.
And who even knows if Ben Rutten can coach?
The changes to the player leadership group, in particular the omissions of Michael Hurley and Cale Hooker, were also questioned internally and seem bizarre.
No player or club will be under more pressure than Joe Daniher and the Bombers in season 2020.
Unfortunately for them, in today’s football, the happiest team with the best culture and strongest leadership will win.
Essendon have neither which spells disaster for a club that should be and has the talent to be challenging in September.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2019/11/01/what-essendon-has-not-learned-from-richmond/
