Schulz and Richo

[one-eyed]

Can Sarge and Richo function together in the same forward line?

[Fluffy Tiger]

Very good qeustion that.  and the answer IMHO is a big no.

The reason is that "Richo is just Richo" and doesn't really function with anybody. It is hard for others to know what you are going to do when you don't even know yourself. I do think Richo makes it hard for other around him in many ways but I will concede that our game plans over the years has not helped by being so Richocentric  (hey is that a new word).  His natural ability should have made is easier for others to shine around him if only we could kick it to them while Richo was getting the best (and sometimes multiple) backmen.

I will probably be howelled down for the above but we all have our players we love and those we aren't so keen on.

BTW I would never say he doesn't give 100%.

[mightytiges]

Sounds so simple to kick it to the best placed forward whoever it is and not just Richo all the time but our midfield never has been able to see options other than Richo's massive presence  .

It might be just perception and it's not Richo's fault but Sarge always seems to do better as the No. 1 forward when Richo isn't there.

[WilliamPowell]

Sounds so simple to kick it to the best placed forward whoever it is and not just Richo all the time but our midfield never has been able to see options other than Richo's massive presence  .

Agree with you here MT.

There were a number of times last season Richo would play decoy with 2 opponents, Schulz would then lead and our mid-field would kick to the wrong option - that's not Richo's fault it aint Jay's fault it's the people up the ground

and to take it further......

I reckon part of the problem has been even when our midfield has been told not kick it to Richo - when they panic and/or are under pressure they take the easiest option and that is to kick it to Richo. And the reason for that is in part because of the way Richo has over the years made some very ordinary disposal up the field look alot better than what it actually is because his strength in being able to take a contested mark.

But back to the question about Schulz - I still think it's part of the education process. Saw it last year at Coburg with Hughes and Limbach - just couldn't master the art of working together, who should lead, when to  lead etc. Same things happens at Richmond with Schulz & Richo but to a lesser extent.

Look at the forward line when both Richo and Simmo are there - it has worked. Perhaps part of that has to do with Simmo having a presence on the field

[tiga]

On the weekend Sarge presented very well and with Kingsley out I would like to see both in the forwards. We need the options so we don't become too Richo-centric.

[Hellenic Tiger]

I believe that they can. The question however is will the ball from up the ground be kicked in a forward friendly way and not at the bootlaces or on the defenders side of them as has happened over the years. Statistics in seasons where Richo plays more than 18 or so games indicate that he takes if not the most contested marks  in the comp or he will be in the top 3. Schulz also has abit of mongrel in him and he can complement him. As long we can kick the ball properly down there rather than kicking blindly or unskillfully we can have a potent fwd line. Add Kingsley and Brown down there and all of a sudden on paper we have a potent fwd line

[Mr Magic]

Can Sarge and Richo function together in the same forward line?

Hopefully they can but I too have my doubts and I agree in part with fluffy with Richo's single bloody mindedness re the footy. He loves it the big fella, can't help himself but it's not always been best for the surrounding KPPs.

Two options:

1) Rotate Richo of the bench with Jay as the key target at FF. It'll save Madcow's legs and leave the forward line less crowded. Browny is the perfect leading foil for both the big guys but they are less effective when they are getting into each others space.

2) Play Richo just outside the 50arc to roam the wings at CHF and leave Jay and Browny isolated in the square.
I'd rather have Jay closer to goal than Richo because he's a fantastic shot at goal but currently lacks Richo's athleticism. We get the most value from our forward thrusts. when Jays the guy lining up the big sticks.

I really think Brown is the key to these two players being able to work in tandem.
He and Richo have worked well before because he's the only player we've ever had who can second guess what Richo's going to do and then does the opposite. He might just get Richo & Sarge working together by offering them both some gentle advice on gameday as to how to function together too. Jade Rawlings being our KP coach has surely had a word to them as well.

[mightytiges]

Two options:

1) Rotate Richo of the bench with Jay as the key target at FF. It'll save Madcow's legs and leave the forward line less crowded. Browny is the perfect leading foil for both the big guys but they are less effective when they are getting into each others space.

That's not a bad idea Magic with an eye to the future as Richo nears retirement. The only query is will saving a spot on the bench to rotate FFs deprive us of midfield rotations and rests. I'd guess Browny, Lids and even Blingers could always spend time "resting" in a FP. Simmo and Patto can also rotate b/w ruck and forward duties.

2) Play Richo just outside the 50arc to roam the wings at CHF and leave Jay and Browny isolated in the square.
I'd rather have Jay closer to goal than Richo because he's a fantastic shot at goal but currently lacks Richo's athleticism. We get the most value from our forward thrusts. when Jays the guy lining up the big sticks.

This has been Richo's more natural position over the years as he can burn off opponents and they can't triple team him but as sides now flood back to congest the forward line is his foot passing precise enough and brain smart enough when trying to find a target inside a congested 50. 

I really think Brown is the key to these two players being able to work in tandem.
He and Richo have worked well before because he's the only player we've ever had who can second guess what Richo's going to do and then does the opposite.

 

[Fluffy Tiger]

Some real good posts on the subject here, nice to see.

A few years ago I thought the answer was to have Richo run around from the 50 to the wing but the problem is that you don't know what going to happen after he gets it there. My solution to the problem was to have a small go wherever Richo goes so when Richo got it he could give it to somebody who could run on or deliver a good pass into the 50. The problem was that we didn't have a player that could run with him everywhere and deliver well. Either they were too slow, lacked the endurance or didn't have the skills (Think Roden,Krak,Tivs etc etc)

But now we do have some players that might be able to do it.  I think that Tambo might be good for it but there may be others.

Let me know what you think of the idea and what players could do it.

[mightytiges]

Some real good posts on the subject here, nice to see.

A few years ago I thought the answer was to have Richo run around from the 50 to the wing but the problem is that you don't know what going to happen after he gets it there. My solution to the problem was to have a small go wherever Richo goes so when Richo got it he could give it to somebody who could run on or deliver a good pass into the 50. The problem was that we didn't have a player that could run with him everywhere and deliver well. Either they were too slow, lacked the endurance or didn't have the skills (Think Roden,Krak,Tivs etc etc)

But now we do have some players that might be able to do it.  I think that Tambo might be good for it but there may be others.

Let me know what you think of the idea and what players could do it.

We would need about half a dozen who can at random run past Richo so it doesn't become predictable to the oppostion who the player receiving the offload is. You really want it just a instinctive part of our gameplan. Someone nearest to Richo's lead automatically runs past as an option to use. The same should happen around the ground with every mark of a lead so the ball keeps moving forward quickly. Outside 50 we would want a combo of speed and best  and long kicks. Lids, Tambo and JON are the obvious ones for speed. 

[DallasCrane]

A few years ago I thought the answer was to have Richo run around from the 50 to the wing but the problem is that you don't know what going to happen after he gets it there.

I used to think that too, and still do.
If we can get it out of the backline quick enough, to Richo on the wing, there's no reason why he can't kick it himself. I am sure most people would agree that the longer that Richo has got to think about what he is doing the more comical his actions are*. In this case, he should just be told to mark it, turn around and kick it as far as you can. Get it into the f50 before the flood happens, it may not be an accurate kick, but that doesn't matter if you have got the ground level skills in the f50 and we have the best there is in that department with Nathan Brown. Treat it as a bonus if it goes to Schulz or Kingsley. It's funny, nearly every coach Richo has had has said that they will move him up the ground, and although most have tried, they inevitably put him back at full forward again.

* I love Richo and consider myself one of his biggest fans

[julzqld]

* I love Richo and consider myself one of his biggest fans

Get in line.

[WilliamPowell]

It's funny, nearly every coach Richo has had has said that they will move him up the ground, and although most have tried, they inevitably put him back at full forward again.

I reckon the only one who did it successfully was Jeff Geischen

[Mr Magic]

I really think Brown is the key to these two players being able to work in tandem.
He and Richo have worked well before because he's the only player we've ever had who can second guess what Richo's going to do and then does the opposite.

 

LOL. 
What was I thinking? Certainly could have worded that better.

Meant to suggest that Browny is smart enough to recognise what Richardson is doing and then provides an intelligent alternative option so as not to get in the big guys way.
He's the only forward I've ever really witnessed who's been truly able to function well with Richo and I attribute that to his footy smarts.

[mightytiges]

I really think Brown is the key to these two players being able to work in tandem.
He and Richo have worked well before because he's the only player we've ever had who can second guess what Richo's going to do and then does the opposite.

 

LOL. 
What was I thinking? Certainly could have worded that better.

Meant to suggest that Browny is smart enough to recognise what Richardson is doing and then provides an intelligent alternative option so as not to get in the big guys way.
He's the only forward I've ever really witnessed who's been truly able to function well with Richo and I attribute that to his footy smarts.

Browny = Richo whisperer 

Yep, Batman and Robin were on fire before Robin got his leg broken