Tigers' picks no match for Dogs
Mike Sheahan | April 14, 2009 09:25pm
SURELY it is time for all of us to move on from the 2004 national draft and the decisions then that continue to haunt Richmond.
The Tigers have paid dearly for choosing Brett Deledio, Richard Tambling, Danny Meyer, Adam Pattison and Dean Polo with their once-in-a-generation hand of five picks in the top 20.
Terry Wallace was installed as coach several months before that draft and untried youngsters generally are the province of the recruiting staff.
What has happened since under the heading of "list management" is more instructive of the Wallace reign.
The Western Bulldogs would seem the fairest comparison, given these clubs have just played each other, given they finished in the bottom three in 2004 (separated by Hawthorn).
The Doggies have fared much better in the field (untried talent) and in trading.
From Monday's teams: Addison, Akermanis, Higgins, Hill, Hudson, Picken and Ward versus Edwards, Foley, Graham, Morton, Rance, Riewoldt and White.
Richmond's most exciting youngster, Trent Cotchin, an emerging star of the competition, was not playing because of injury, but nor was likely Bulldog Andrejs Everitt.
Foley is Richmond's big recruiting winner, an elevation from the rookie list in 2005.
Yet the Bulldogs can counter with Dale Morris, also a rookie elevation that year.
The problem for the Tigers is the period 2005-07 when the Bulldogs were far more astute.
Shaun Higgins, best afield on Monday, was taken at No. 11; Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls (No.
remains missing in action.
The Tigers gave up a top-10 choice for Graham Polak in 2006. Polak's career has been disrupted by off-field events, yet he wasn't a front-liner.
The Bulldogs secured Jason Akermanis for a second-round pick that year, and Aker's still a matchwinner.
Perhaps the most damning of the lot is the 2007 exchange, when Richmond gave away pick 19 for Jordan McMahon.
The Bulldogs used that pick on Callan Ward; seven years younger than McMahon, and bigger, stronger and harder at the ball.
He will be in and out of the team this year, yet he is an outstanding prospect.
Richmond has not chosen wisely, nor has it polished its young talent.
None of its youngsters has grown like Higgins. Like Hill, a massive bargain at No. 61.
The Tigers collectively suffer a mixture of poor decision-making and sloppy execution of basic skills.
The modern game penalises teams severely for kicking errors in defence, yet Chris Newman is the only reliable kick in the Richmond backline.
Wallace said on Monday night that he had to try to find a cohesive mix of blue-collar workers and superior users of the ball.
Teams capable of challenging for a premiership have plenty of both.
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