I couldn't find this on the net so I scanned it in....
Will Tigers risk all on Rawlings?
By Mark Robinson
Sunday Herald-Sun 09 AUG 2009, Page S05
As Richmond closes in on their most important decision in years -- when isn't it with the Tigers? -- one thought hangs in the air: Has "Jade the Blade" done enough?
The rookie coach is fighting for the job against Damien Hardwick, Alan Richardson, Brad Scott, perhaps Dean Laidley, Ken Hinkley and anyone else who may jump out of the box, remembering Ross Lyon made a Kiwi-like run at the furlong and the rest is history or, indeed, history in the making.
Rawlings, at 31, is talking like a coach. But that's not to say he should be Richmond's next coach.
And there is a difference. Does he desperately want to coach Richmond, or desperately want to coach?
The urgency of the Tigers role is on him, and it makes him feel very much alive. But even he would concede he can't tick all the magical boxes that pop up around these times.
And it makes him a risk.
Others also are a risk, but who is less so?
If anything, Rawlings has shown to outsiders anyhow he has the passion, intelligence, confidence and honesty, a hardish hand, and his public utterances have not deterred anyone.
Malcolm Blight may be zany, but his opinion carries weight. Less so Shane Crawford -- not the zany bit -- but these two have been overwhelming in their belief Rawlings should get the Tigers job.
The players, too, have been supportive.
Rawlings made tough calls on Joel Bowden and Troy Simmonds, though some say he made them scapegoats, particularly Bowden, and he has told his brother-in-law, Matthew Richardson, face-to-face that to play next year he would need to pull his head in regarding on-field behaviour.
In the six weeks since he replaced Terry Wallace, the Tigers have played better football. Unquestionably. A form ladder in that time puts Richmond eighth, with three wins and a draw from seven games. It defeated West Coast, was smacked by St Kilda, pushed Adelaide up north, saved face against Carlton, gave up 40-odd points to draw with North, beat a sluggish Essendon and fell in against an ``experimenting'' Melbourne.
Like a show bag, there's good and bad in that lot.
Like it or not, Jade Rawlings the footballer will be scrutinised -- how he played and what he achieved personally, and in a team environment.
He is up against former players with better CVs.
Hardwick played in two premierships, is assistant coach at Hawthorn during a revolutionary period of the game, has a footy brain, was a hard bastard as a player and will hit Richmond between the eyes with what he thinks of it's list. Scott also has premiership connections and glowing references, while Hinkley has built a fine reputation.
AND then there's Laidley.
If the Tigers want a first-timer, Laidley is out of the picture. He will learn that this week.
If not, he shapes as the smoky and the jungle drums tell us he is keen to coach the Tigers.
In six seasons at North, he had four winning seasons in an under-resourced environment.
He has experience, and his ability to read the game and its nuances have been widely acknowledged.
The marketing thing has been overplayed. Really, does Mick Malthouse promote Collingwood or does he coach the team?
To be fair, no one really knows who is the right man for the job.
In the end, it's a gut-instinct decision, though having combed through every available bit of information.
Jade has done nothing wrong, but, on the flip side, has he done enough right to convince the Tigers?
The gut says no, but certainly not no way.
