Cogs, Patto to be cut with more Tigers' careers in the balance (Australian)

[one-eyed]

Tigers' careers in the balance as new coach looms
Greg Denham | August 20, 2009

THE futures beyond this season of a number of Richmond players will depend on form over the final two home-and-away games, as well as the opinion of the Tigers' new coach, who will be announced next week.

Heading the list of players whose careers hang in the balance is ruckman Troy Simmonds, who could be back playing on Saturday night against Hawthorn.

Simmonds, 31, who is in the final season of a five-year contract, has not played at the elite level since round 11. But after several encouraging performances in the VFL after overcoming a hip injury, the Richmond match committee will today decide whether he will be recalled.

Simmonds' future will more than likely hinge on his performances against the Hawks and then West Coast in Perth in round 22, as well as input from either Ken Hinkley or Damien Hardwick, who are the leading candidates to replace Terry Wallace for the next three years.

In Simmonds' favour for retention on the Tigers' list for one more year is that both Tyrone Vickery and Angus Graham are developing ruckmen, and he has also been quite durable over his career at Richmond.

Following the retirements this season of Kane Johnson and Joel Bowden, the same criteria could also apply to Nathan Brown, 31, and Graham Polak, who both come out of contract next month.

Brown has been carrying a groin injury this year, while Polak will play his first senior game for the year this weekend. Polak, who almost lost his life last year when he was hit by a tram, has come on in leaps and bounds over the past month, despite missing last weekend's VFL game because of an ankle problem.

Even before the Tigers settle on their new coach, the fate of several players who have been in the Richmond system for at least five years have been all but settled.

Jay Schulz is contracted for another year, but is certain to again be offered to other clubs during the annual October player-exchange period, as will Adam Pattison, who is coming out of contract. Between them this season, they have managed just 12 senior games.

Neither Pattison nor Mark Coughlan will make the final cut at Richmond for next year.

As reported last week in The Australian, Jordan McMahon will be offered up for trade.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25953824-5013406,00.html

[tigersalive]

Interesting.

It's a sad but correct call on Cogs.  Pity he worked so hard to make it back, yet the game has past him by.

Patto is an interesting decision considering they told him all pre-season he would be playing at CHF only and that lasted 2 (decent performing) weeks until he was a ruckman again.  How is the man meant to settle? 

Schulz and McMahon should be on the trade table.

Simmonds and Brown should follow Bowden and Johnson.

They have a big decision to make with Polak.

[Stripes]

I think the club is doing the correct thing by attempting to trade Patto. We have an embarrassment of riches at the moment with young ruckmen and Patto seems to be slipping down the peaking order currently. If we can claim a 3rd or even 4th round pick for him I would be happy.

Conversely, if we can not gain a pick from a trade with the big fellow then I would much prefer he is kept on the list over Simmo considering his age and the ground he covers during a game. Until someone such as Browne develops Patto makes for an ideal backup and if Vickery is used more as a forward next year he would be a good, consistent 2nd ruck.

I don't think Cogs, Brown, Polak, Petts. JON or Simmonds should get another contract for various reasons and hopefully we can trade McMahon, Schulz and possibly Tuck and Patto for picks. This year is the last chance we have to claim a group of quality youth and if we hold on to players out of loyalty or hope we will be making the same mistakes we have done for decades.

Just my opinion

Stripes

[tiger_land08]

i think cogs should get 1 more year

[Francois Jackson]

i think cogs should get 1 more year

cogs and Patto are the cheech and chong of this football club.

we need to move forward without these 2 has beens. They really try but enough already. They can try all they like at another club

[DallasCrane]

i think cogs should get 1 more year

cogs and Patto are the cheech and chong of this football club.

we need to move forward without these 2 has beens. They really try but enough already. They can try all they like at another club

 

You are an A grade moron Daniel, but I'll pay that one.

[Muscles]

In EOTT this week, McCrea says that Patto is going under the knife for hip and ankle injuries.  Would they end his season early for ops if they were going to delist him?

[bojangles17]

I think the club is doing the correct thing by attempting to trade Patto. We have an embarrassment of riches at the moment with young ruckmen and Patto seems to be slipping down the peaking order currently. If we can claim a 3rd or even 4th round pick for him I would be happy.

Conversely, if we can not gain a pick from a trade with the big fellow then I would much prefer he is kept on the list over Simmo considering his age and the ground he covers during a game. Until someone such as Browne develops Patto makes for an ideal backup and if Vickery is used more as a forward next year he would be a good, consistent 2nd ruck.
Stripes

half agree stripes, Patto has gone backwards and I question whether he has any improvement left in him...just hold the bus on Polak lets remeber he is only 25...has shown himself to be a high performer at VFL, not yet exposed to afl..Id be leaving him to srvivve the first cut at very least...do pre season under new coach and make decision prior to PSD

[the_boy_jake]

Cogs maybe unlucky his career has ended now.
Patto lucky it lasted this long!

[Beren]

Patto has been injured for most of the year, hardly had a pre season due to an ankle injury which hasn't really come good. Some of you blokes really surprise me with your depth  of knowledge.

Be very surprised if Patto goes anywhere. Especially if Hughes is gone.

[the_boy_jake]

Patto has been injured for most of the year, hardly had a pre season due to an ankle injury which hasn't really come good. Some of you blokes really surprise me with your depth  of knowledge.

Be very surprised if Patto goes anywhere. Especially if Hughes is gone.

He's still got no idea what to do with the footy and his agility (even for a big fella) is too poor to be a genuine a ruck-forward.

[Beren]

Whatever.

[Jackstar is back]

Patto has been injured for most of the year, hardly had a pre season due to an ankle injury which hasn't really come good. Some of you blokes really surprise me with your depth  of knowledge.

Be very surprised if Patto goes anywhere. Especially if Hughes is gone.

Mate,Patterson is a wacko.,
Watched him at Northern Knights.
Am still stumped how he won the B & F there, and am still stumped that he got onto an AFL list.
Must have "'photos"" of people in power to get where he has got

[Hellenic Tiger]

Agree on all counts.

Sad for the players involved but the club is bigger than the individual and the club and its progree needs to move forward.

Cogs has been an exceptional waste with his injuries but alas those are the breaks.

[Stripes]

In my haste I forgot one definite name for the trade list - Raines, so that makes McMahon and Raines definite trades, Schulz a good possibility, Patto a chance and Tuck at a stretch. The club may even see if someone would take Brown or Simmonds off our hands before we delist them.

There will certainly be a big cull this year whatever way you look at it.

Stripes