Author Topic: Gloomy outlook on Punt Road horizon - The Age  (Read 16384 times)

richmondrules

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Gloomy outlook on Punt Road horizon - The Age
« on: February 24, 2008, 12:49:14 PM »
Posted here a bit late. There are already pages on PRE with posters in melt down over being perceived as negative. If the shoe fits I reckon ...

Gloomy outlook on Punt Road horizon

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/general/gloomy-outlook-on-punt-road/2008/02/23/1203467463190.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2

Karen Lyon | February 23, 2008

IT’S still February and already the claws are out for Richmond.

An awful performance against an undermanned St Kilda in the opening week of the pre-season competition has sent the passionate and volatile Tiger faithful into a tailspin.

Still weeks away from the opening bounce of the real stuff, the Richmond masses are already venting their collective spleen. The ever popular Punt Road End, the Tigers’ unofficial website, has been awash with disappointment since the half-strength Saints took an almost full-strength Richmond side to task last week and won by 40 points.

The word in football circles was that the Saints had no interest in winning the match and the betting followed suit, with Richmond backed from $2.30 into $1.50 favouritism. Before being beaten — badly.

After a strangely quiet pre-season at Punt Road, expectations rose quickly then were dashed in a half. Questions were quickly asked about the team’s lack of skill, lack of class, lack of leadership and lack of size in comparison to their opposition.

Four years into Terry Wallace’s reign, expectations that the young Tigers would stand up were immediately replaced by the belief that 2008 would mean more of the same for the fans.

Already, the Tigers share woodenspoon favouritism with Melbourne — the team it beat in a practice match on Friday — at $3.80 on TAB Sportsbet. It is, at $1.18, the most favoured team to miss the top eight — one wag on puntroadend.com suggesting that those odds are better than bank interest and arguably just as safe.

It’s the $71 outsider to win the flag. It’s a $21 chance to make the top four. It’s mid-February, and according to the bookmakers, the season’s as good as over for Richmond.

Of course, to suggest that preseason form is in any way an accurate guide to a team’s home-and-away performance is fraught with danger. Look at Carlton — in 2005 it won the NAB Cup from eventual grand finalist West Coast, then won the wooden spoon.

Last season, it beat Brisbane to win the NAB Cup, then finished second last, winning four games for the year and sacking its coach with six rounds to go.

Then there’s North Melbourne’s cautionary tale — smashed by Adelaide by 147 points in the first round of the 1993 pre-season competition, the Kangaroos sacked coach Wayne Schimmelbusch, appointed Denis Pagan and went on to make the finals.

Few inside the football world are willing to write off the Tigers — or any team — before the season even starts. Publicly, a group of former Richmond players contacted by The Sunday Age this week were not prepared to criticise or even comment on their old team.

But privately, several expressed their serious disappointment at the first-up performance and said the signs were not promising. "The fact that they were almost at full strength and St Kilda had half a side out and they didn’t give a yelp, that was the most disappointing aspect," said one.

"Perhaps it just does give the indication that people have overrated a lot of players at Richmond, and the list is obviously not that good, and the players that they have brought in haven’t been able to give them a lot."

Collingwood premiership captain Tony Shaw was another who wondered whether Wallace simply "doesn’t have the cattle".

"I didn’t like some of the early signs," he said. "Their kicking skills, turning the ball over under pressure . . . maybe he just doesn’t have the cattle. If they don’t have the ball in the hands of their quality players, players like Nathan Brown, Deledio and maybe Joel Bowden, a lot of the other blokes don’t kick the ball well enough.

"If you don’t hit targets by hand or foot, you are putting enormous pressure on yourself and you are going to be scored against," he said.

Shaw, like most observers, was keen to see what changes Richmond had made in the off-season but felt what was presented was more of the same. "I didn’t see a lot of style changes," he said.

"They were very indirect going into their forward line, a lot of wide passes instead of hitting the top of the square. I think they have got to start even thinking about playing a big body in the top of the square, whether its a Simmonds or somebody else, who can stand there and just straighten them up a bit, because they are indirect.

"You will really worry if it happens in the first round (of the premiership season)."

RICHMOND football director Greg Miller doesn’t hide from the fact that last week’s loss was disappointing, but thinks perspective is needed in examining a match that occurred before the weather has even turned cool.

"As far as we are concerned, sure we are disappointed in the result — it is not something that we would have liked at this time of the year — but putting things into perspective, obviously we are very pleased with our training, we are very pleased with how the club is going and we expect that to carry over to the main season," Miller said.

"The main objective of every team over summer these days is to get a solid base into as many players as you can. So there is no complaints, we have got a solid base for the majority of our players. Trent Crotchin, he is about the only one (who hasn’t), there have been a few who have had slight interruptions but we have had a good summer.

"I couldn’t tell you the same thing this time last year, when we had the Browns and the Coughlans and the Simmonds, these guys out. We are pleased with our summer."

Cotchin, the club’s highly rated No. 2 draft pick, was this month added to the long-term injury list with stress fractures of the feet. Despite rumours the classy midfielder could miss a sizeable chunk of his first season, Miller said he would be available from round three.

Recruiting has been a major cause of Richmond angst in recent years. The poaching of the highly respected Craig Cameron from Melbourne over the summer provides some light at the end of the tunnel for supporters still angry with the selection of Richard Tambling ahead of Lance Franklin in the 2004 draft.

After claiming last year’s wooden spoon, the Tigers have hardly been spotted all summer. Usually one of the most high-profile coaches in the competition, Wallace has honoured a request from his players in spending much of the summer in the background, as other issues such as the expansion of the competition, the fate of the Kangaroos, Ben Cousins and drugs in sport have dominated the headlines.

Miller is adamant there will be no big headlines out of Punt Road before the real season starts. "We will let our onfield (performances) do the talking, it’s as simple as that. There won’t be any comments about anything and the Richmond faithful will have to wait for round one," said Miller.

"We didn’t do it in round one of the NAB Cup but we look forward to doing it in round one of the premiership season. When it counts."

Offline mjs

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Re: Gloomy outlook on Punt Road horizon - The Age
« Reply #1 on: February 24, 2008, 01:09:37 PM »
"supporters still angry with the selection of Richard Tambling ahead of Lance Franklin in the 2004 draft."


zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz   :banghead



Ox

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Re: Gloomy outlook on Punt Road horizon - The Age
« Reply #2 on: February 24, 2008, 01:10:02 PM »
imo the stkilda loss is unforgivable and for once i agree with Tony Shaw.

We're stuffen sh it - lol

IDGAF whos fault it is anymore,it's like flogging a dead horse.

stuff hope and loyalty - were stuffed!

Moi

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Re: Gloomy outlook on Punt Road horizon - The Age
« Reply #3 on: February 24, 2008, 01:31:17 PM »
I only joined this year because I know the year I don't is the year we'll make the finals and grand final.
I've had enough of footy, supporters, the way the game is going, the AFL, the negativity, the habitual bad mouthing of people about everyone and everything.
Another year like last year and that'll be the end of me.

And I don't care how that sounds to ppl.
 :help

Little Jackie

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Re: Gloomy outlook on Punt Road horizon - The Age
« Reply #4 on: February 24, 2008, 01:39:25 PM »
"supporters still angry with the selection of Richard Tambling ahead of Lance Franklin in the 2004 draft."


zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz   :banghead




The problem is this. I dont believe people should compare one to the other.
Would Tambling get a game at another club ?
Has Tambling delivered anything ?
Dont get me wrong, I watched Tambling play at Under18 level and was involved in the process to get him to Punt Road. He was a superstar when playing under 18 and it was an easy selection for the club to pick him up. Has he developed as a player ?, there is the question, I would think not.

Ox

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Re: Gloomy outlook on Punt Road horizon - The Age
« Reply #5 on: February 24, 2008, 02:11:29 PM »
 :rollin

Offline mightytiges

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Re: Gloomy outlook on Punt Road horizon - The Age
« Reply #6 on: February 24, 2008, 03:25:50 PM »
Hello last week Ms Lyon ::)

Quote
Of course, to suggest that preseason form is in any way an accurate guide to a team’s home-and-away performance is fraught with danger.

Few inside the football world are willing to write off the Tigers — or any team — before the season even starts. Publicly, a group of former Richmond players contacted by The Sunday Age this week were not prepared to criticise or even comment on their old team.
Yet Karen you based your whole article around us losing a practice match last weekend despite us winning a practice match this weekend  ::) and you took "former player comments" second hand ;). I guess when you can't get the reaction you want from the Club itself you write a flimsy article based on innuendo to generate a reaction  :sleep.
All you touch and all you see is all your life will ever be - Pink Floyd

Offline mightytiges

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Re: Gloomy outlook on Punt Road horizon - The Age
« Reply #7 on: February 24, 2008, 03:50:08 PM »
"supporters still angry with the selection of Richard Tambling ahead of Lance Franklin in the 2004 draft."

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz   :banghead

The problem is this. I dont believe people should compare one to the other.
Agree. You never hear any Griffen/Buddy comparisons. Oh that's right the doggies don't sell papers nor generate any en masse calling spree to radio stations  :whistle.

Quote
Would Tambling get a game at another club ?
Has Tambling delivered anything ?
Dont get me wrong, I watched Tambling play at Under18 level and was involved in the process to get him to Punt Road. He was a superstar when playing under 18 and it was an easy selection for the club to pick him up. Has he developed as a player ?, there is the question, I would think not.
Yet Foley, Thursty and Kingy (although he's older) can work their backsides off to come via the rookie list and become our best players.

Blingers was a star in U18 division 2 Jack; not division 1 as Lids was. Different standards of junior footy. I still think Richie has the talent but he needs to consistently attack the footy.

In any case one "wrong" decision at the draft table doesn't hurt a whole list. Geelong don't have a "Buddy" yet won the flag in a cakewalk.
All you touch and all you see is all your life will ever be - Pink Floyd

Offline Smokey

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Re: Gloomy outlook on Punt Road horizon - The Age
« Reply #8 on: February 24, 2008, 04:56:03 PM »
In any case one "wrong" decision at the draft table doesn't hurt a whole list. Geelong don't have a "Buddy" yet won the flag in a cakewalk.
Richmond has a "Buddy" - we call him Richo - and look where that's got us!

Little Jackie

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Re: Gloomy outlook on Punt Road horizon - The Age
« Reply #9 on: February 24, 2008, 05:23:25 PM »
"supporters still angry with the selection of Richard Tambling ahead of Lance Franklin in the 2004 draft."

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz   :banghead

The problem is this. I dont believe people should compare one to the other.
Agree. You never hear any Griffen/Buddy comparisons. Oh that's right the doggies don't sell papers nor generate any en masse calling spree to radio stations  :whistle.

Quote
Would Tambling get a game at another club ?
Has Tambling delivered anything ?
Dont get me wrong, I watched Tambling play at Under18 level and was involved in the process to get him to Punt Road. He was a superstar when playing under 18 and it was an easy selection for the club to pick him up. Has he developed as a player ?, there is the question, I would think not.
Yet Foley, Thursty and Kingy (although he's older) can work their backsides off to come via the rookie list and become our best players.

Blingers was a star in U18 division 2 Jack; not division 1 as Lids was. Different standards of junior footy. I still think Richie has the talent but he needs to consistently attack the footy.

In any case one "wrong" decision at the draft table doesn't hurt a whole list. Geelong don't have a "Buddy" yet won the flag in a cakewalk.

The decision to pick Richard Tambling was sealed after his efforts in a game NT/Queensland ? or Allies or whatever versus the rest.
game was played at Princess Park, he was easily the best player in that match.
Whether he played in Division 1, 2 or whatever is irrelevant to the decision that was made. ::)

Online Francois Jackson

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Re: Gloomy outlook on Punt Road horizon - The Age
« Reply #10 on: February 24, 2008, 05:30:48 PM »
"supporters still angry with the selection of Richard Tambling ahead of Lance Franklin in the 2004 draft."


zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz   :banghead




The problem is this. I dont believe people should compare one to the other.
Would Tambling get a game at another club ?
Has Tambling delivered anything ?
Dont get me wrong, I watched Tambling play at Under18 level and was involved in the process to get him to Punt Road. He was a superstar when playing under 18 and it was an easy selection for the club to pick him up. Has he developed as a player ?, there is the question, I would think not.

ive seen enough of football to know tambling if he continues the way he is has been going then ill be convinced he is a dud by seasons end

something in me really thinks maybe its not the player, maybe its the development. If thats the case royal and the rest of his croons should go.
they are weak *****. im sorry if that word offends but thats the RFC. weak as anything.
You have guys like moore, thursfield and tambling to name 3 of 15 that are so skinny that they get easily bowled over by any number of AFL players.
I once spoke to greg miller and asked him about the size of our players and he fed me some bull poo line about sore backs, hence why they cant put on size, especially refferring to thursfield.
U know what ive heard it all before and maybe not just wallace should go, maybe the lot of them should go.
Do yourselves a favour and have a look at eagles players upper body development.
What is with us. seriously we have a deep problem in this year and what do we do. pick up Jordy(65kg;s)mcmahon.
Pathetic!!
we lack size in every department its not funny. apart from lids the rest of our senior players seem to have lost weight
Our recruiting requirements!!- If your under 70kg's. u have got the gig at Punt Road.
Laugh as u may it probably is true
We are weak and until this area changesd we will be seen as push overs by every team in the AFL
« Last Edit: February 24, 2008, 06:40:45 PM by one-eyed »
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Ramps

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Re: Gloomy outlook on Punt Road horizon - The Age
« Reply #11 on: February 24, 2008, 05:32:34 PM »
Irrespective of natural talent or how they play the game, I just wanna know Deledio and Foley have managed to jump on the weights and get themselves in proper shape to be AFL footballers and our other young players at our club are there for years and cant put on 1kg.

It seems to me that in the end we have to many players who just dont care enough to succeed. They just want the contract and thats it. Thats what it looks like to me. I know alot of our players dont have enough talent but you know as a supporters who chucks in cash like everyone else, I want to see them present themselves in proper AFL ready shape and see them have a fair dinkum go. Thats it.

I gotta say, most of our players are not in ready AFL 'shape' and mostly I have doubts about how they go about playing the game.


Ox

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Re: Gloomy outlook on Punt Road horizon - The Age
« Reply #12 on: February 24, 2008, 05:59:24 PM »

It seems to me that in the end we have to many players who just dont care enough to succeed.

bingo.

Little Jackie

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Re: Gloomy outlook on Punt Road horizon - The Age
« Reply #13 on: February 24, 2008, 06:17:23 PM »

It seems to me that in the end we have to many players who just dont care enough to succeed.

bingo.



noooooooooooo  Bingoooooooooooooooo lol  Ha hahahahaha

Little Jackie

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Re: Gloomy outlook on Punt Road horizon - The Age
« Reply #14 on: February 24, 2008, 06:18:13 PM »
"supporters still angry with the selection of Richard Tambling ahead of Lance Franklin in the 2004 draft."


zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz   :banghead




The problem is this. I dont believe people should compare one to the other.
Would Tambling get a game at another club ?
Has Tambling delivered anything ?
Dont get me wrong, I watched Tambling play at Under18 level and was involved in the process to get him to Punt Road. He was a superstar when playing under 18 and it was an easy selection for the club to pick him up. Has he developed as a player ?, there is the question, I would think not.

ive seen enough of football to know tambling if he continues the way he is has been going then ill be convinced he is a dud by seasons end

something in me really thinks maybe its not the player, maybe its the development. If thats the case royal and the rest of his croons should go.
they are weak cu.nts. im sorry if that word offends but thats the RFC. weak as anything.
You have guys like moore, thursfield and tambling to name 3 of 15 that are so skinny that they get easily bowled over by any number of AFL players.
I once spoke to greg miller and asked him about the size of our players and he fed me some bull poo line about sore backs, hence why they cant put on size, especially refferring to thursfield.
U know what ive heard it all before and maybe not just wallace should go, maybe the lot of them should go.
Do yourselves a favour and have a look at eagles players upper body development.
What is with us. seriously we have a deep problem in this year and what do we do. pick up Jordy(65kg;s)mcmahon.
Pathetic!!
we lack size in every department its not funny. apart from lids the rest of our senior players seem to have lost weight
Our recruiting requirements!!- If your under 70kg's. u have got the gig at Punt Road.
Laugh as u may it probably is true
We are weak and until this area changesd we will be seen as push overs by every team in the AFL

Once again, I totally agree with you :thumbsup