A simple Tigers strategy (Geelong Addy)

[one-eyed]

Gerard Whateley: A simple Tigers strategy
June 15th, 2009

 IT'S difficult to fathom what took place in the final weeks of the Terry Wallace tenure at Punt Road.

The pre-match theme in his farewell match a week ago - do it for me, do it for my family - suggested all perspective had been lost.

The first task, it seemed, for Jade Rawlings was to recalibrate. Half a season had been squandered. To waste another 11 weeks would be negligent to the point of criminal.

In his first week as caretaker coach, Rawlings has shown himself to be a plain speaker. Some will say it's nave. You'd prefer to think it's refreshing.

This Richmond team is poor. It needn't, though, be hopeless.

Rawlings demanded from his players two things: a team-first attitude and a focus on the defensive mechanisms.

On Thursday, the match committee made the calls Wallace could never bring himself to make. He entrusted the future of the team to the youth.

There is nothing further for Joel Bowden, Troy Simmonds, Jordan McMahon and Kayne Pettifer to give. That direction has proven the road to nowhere.

They might be required to fill in through the last days of winter as young legs tire but they are behind the glass marked "break only in case of emergency".

Tyrone Vickery was given his first match. Others who'd been riding the selection round-a- bout were probably guaranteed their place beyond this weekend.

Jack Riewoldt was evidently challenged to back his claims that he wants to be a key forward. By the looks of what transpired he wasn't the only one to be challenged.

Ben Cousins addressed the midfielders in the lead-up to Saturday night's clash with West Coast.

His special subject was: "What is footy about?" Cousins told the group he sees footy as a team game. He goes out on the field determined to block for others and if someone blocks for him then that's a debt he's determined to repay. That's what it takes to be successful.

Everyone in footy knows that's a measure Richmond has failed at.

The Tigers won on Saturday night. Everyone beats the Eagles away from Subiaco. So the form is as dubious as yesterday's maiden at Warrnambool.

But there was cohesion. No tricks or gimmicks. Just the demand of some honesty in attitude and effort. The run and carry was reasonable. The pressure was consistent throughout.

It was a small step. Every journey starts with one. Richmond looked like a team. Rawlings looked like a coach.

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2009/06/15/78155_geelong_sports.html

[Stripes]

Many of us on here have been calling for more team play for years. I like TW run and carry game plan but he neglected the defensive pressure and support for the ball carrier. We all know we were a terrible team for tackling, shepherding, blocking, goal assists, dummy leads and basically every stat you can find that indicates whether we played as a team and put ourselves last on the field.

Cousins leadership should not go unnoticed or undervalued. We need positive coaching on and off the field, work ethics to aspire to and respect.

Richo is a great players with amazing natural talent and athleticism. He is a hard trainer but everything Richo does on the field is for Richo. He wants to win the game off his own efforts every match. Cousins on the other hand will do everything in his power to make those around him play better. That is the type of leadership we need at the club and the type of onfield rolemodels we have desperately lacked for decades.

Rawlings has impressed me already with pinpointing and attempting to address the exact problems we have at our club. He has brought in the youth, he has told them to play for each other and he has told them to focus on the 1%.

Finally some good leadership on and off the field

Stripes

[TigerTime]

another slap in the face to terry 

terry better run and hide now. he must be reading all these articles and seeing what is happening.

he must now realise he is one stupid fuckup

[WilliamPowell]

The Tigers won on Saturday night. Everyone beats the Eagles away from Subiaco. So the form is as dubious as yesterday's maiden at Warrnambool.

But there was cohesion. No tricks or gimmicks. Just the demand of some honesty in attitude and effort. The run and carry was reasonable. The pressure was consistent throughout.

It was a small step. Every journey starts with one. Richmond looked like a team. Rawlings looked like a coach.

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2009/06/15/78155_geelong_sports.html

 

They do say the simple things in life are often the best 

[Mr Magic]

It's a bloody joke that it takes a guy like Cousins to tell this club the basics of 'team' football.
Rawlings too has been very vocal about this over the past week or so.

Makes you wonder what Wallet and his core of pretender senior footballers have been doing for the past 5 years!!

[TigerTime]

It's a bloody joke that it takes a guy like Cousins to tell this club the basics of 'team' football.
Rawlings too has been very vocal about this over the past week or so.

Makes you wonder what Wallet and his core of pretender senior footballers have been doing for the past 5 years!!

wallett was all for HIMSELF, so its obvious thats the message he was preaching

monkey see, monkey do