One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => Richmond Rant => Topic started by: one-eyed on May 06, 2016, 02:44:24 PM
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Why the spotlight at Richmond should be on Brandon Ellis, not Trent Cotchin
Jake Niall
Foxsports
May 6, 2016
WHENEVER Richmond is picked apart in the media — in much the same way that this larger-than-life club has been dismembered by the opposition — certain usual suspects are rounded up.
We cite the holes in a Swiss cheese playing list that have turned into craters by the losses of key players in defence and particularly Brett Deledio. The decline of Ivan Maric — dropped for Friday night’s game — and Troy Chaplin, too, are highlighted, along with alleged deficits in leadership, game plan, running capacity and grunt.
For mystifying reasons, Trent Cotchin, who rivals Jack Riewoldt as the club’s best performed player of 2016, is frequently fingered, when in reality the skipper is more like the boy with his finger in the dyke. The same Cotchin played an entire game with a fractured cheekbone last weekend; if only Damien Hardwick had more “problems’’ like Cotchin.
If you’re looking for a poster boy for Richmond’s decline thus far — a bellwether of the recession — Brandon Ellis is more deserving of scrutiny than Cotchin, Alex Rance, Dustin Martin or any of Richmond’s overworked top half dozen.
The fault lies not in the stars at Tigerland.
Ellis has regressed in the first six rounds of 2015, and his reduced output has been symptomatic of the Richmond malaise. Ellis, the club’s best endurance runner, ought to have benefited from the new interchange restrictions — as Tom Scully has at Greater Western Sydney. Yet the opposite has occurred.
Ellis was shut down by North Melbourne’s Sam Gibson in the elimination final last year and has yet to rediscover the productivity of 2014 and 2015 since that fateful afternoon. It’s arguable that, as the game has shifted this year — and ball movement hastened — he and/or the Tigers haven’t made the necessary adjustments.
Ellis is an outside player, who can hurt the opposition by finding space — especially out on the wings, where he’s had a knack for providing the “outlet’’ for defenders.
In 2016, Ellis has spent more time behind the ball — 62 per cent of his disposals have been in Richmond’s defensive half, compared to 57 per cent in 2015. Clearly, the Tigers have encouraged him to get back to assist an undermanned defence that often has been without Dylan Grimes, Reece Conca, Nick Vlastuin and now Rance.
Alas, “going backwards’’ has also been the metaphor for Ellis this year. As an outside running machine, whose role doesn’t demand that he crash bodies like Michael Voss, he isn’t be expected to win huge clearance or contested ball numbers.
Ellis’ contested possession rate of 22.5 is down on last year’s already modest 26 per cent. Cotchin, unsurprisingly, is the clubhouse leader for contested footy at Tigerland with 49 per cent
More worrisome is the lack of impact of the disposals (average 25.7 per game) that Ellis has garnered. In 2014, he had 5.9 score involvements per game and 4.9 per game last year. This year’s less than beautiful figure is 3.7.
He isn’t penetrating the opposition’s defences, despite gaining a respectable 372 metres per game. But that additional time in the backline isn’t reflected in interceptions (2.7 pg).
One theory for Ellis losing ground is that Richmond’s quicker ball movement has hurt him. Last year, he was often used, in coach-speak, as “the outlet’’ on “the fat side’’ where he’d be left alone — a virtual “Ellis Island’’ when the Tigers switched play.
Richmond’s coaches should consider revising Ellis’s role, reprogramming him to spend less time in defence, forcing him to fight for possessions in more challenging places and to run to positions where his elite running and skill can inflict damage. He won’t improve if he isn’t challenged.
Right now, his possessions are like cover drives that trickle straight to fieldsmen.
The stagnation of Ellis and, to a lesser extent, Vlastuin, haven’t received the attention of Cotchin, Deledio or the recruiting department at Tigerland. Vlastuin’s hamstring injury — from which he’s just recovered — affords him a partial alibi.
Unlike Ellis, Vlastuin is a combative player. Rather than vainly seeking to plug a midfield hole with the less skilful Jacob Townsend, it would be fascinating to see how Vlastuin would fare in the centre square. Hardwick, at this stage, has little to lose from experimenting with Ellis and Vlastuin.
Whether Ellis isn’t extracting enough from himself or the coaches aren’t extracting from his talent, he isn’t making budget.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/why-the-spotlight-at-richmond-should-be-on-brandon-ellis-not-trent-cotchin--jake-niall/news-story/904e8cf7322f39b36df732ed55736867
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Proper squib
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The media are slowly coming around to the general consensus that B Ellis has let us down badly….
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Another FJ first round special. :clapping :shh
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Another FJ first round special. :clapping :shh
Maybe a knighthood is awaiting him...
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The gutless gut runner..... Ben Cousins without the ability......
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He does make an interesting point re Vlastuin which has been mentioned quite regularly here. Why doesnt Hardwick give Vlastuin a run in the middle when he clearly has the body grunt and talent that we need there?
Is this going to be another "Miles" delayed decision from Hardwick and Co.which turns our fortunes but way too late. I really cant see in our current predicament how we have anything to lose.
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He does make an interesting point re Vlastuin which has been mentioned quite regularly here. Why doesnt Hardwick give Vlastuin a run in the middle when he clearly has the body grunt and talent that we need there?
Is this going to be another "Miles" delayed decision from Hardwick and Co.which turns our fortunes but way too late. I really cant see in our current predicament how we have anything to lose.
Needs to learn how to defend....
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He does make an interesting point re Vlastuin which has been mentioned quite regularly here. Why doesnt Hardwick give Vlastuin a run in the middle when he clearly has the body grunt and talent that we need there?
Is this going to be another "Miles" delayed decision from Hardwick and Co.which turns our fortunes but way too late. I really cant see in our current predicament how we have anything to lose.
He will tonight until he makes a mistake and it will be back to the back pocket or the VFL.
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The media are slowly coming around to the general consensus that B Ellis has let us down badly….
Finally!
Terrific, just terrificTM
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Brando deserves this criticism.
Trade now while he has value.
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For mystifying reasons, Trent Cotchin is frequently fingered, when in reality the skipper is more like the boy with his finger in the dyke.
Quality journalism. If I said that I'd probably get a strike on this forum, let alone get published :lol
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Another cameo by Brandon tonight. Still no real influence with the ball, rushed kicks and handballs in most cases leading to lost possession. Has no real speed and no finesse with the ball, again it seems we have the wrong sort of player for the fast outside game which seems to be the trend now.
Richo wrapped it up in a nutshell at three quarter time. If the last quarter was a slow contested game we are in with a chance. If its an outside running game then we lose. No prizes for working out what happened. We simply cant go with teams on the outside and thats a massive problem moving forward.
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Another shocking performance tonight. Play some lad who wants to be out there & have a real go. This lad has lost me
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Bellis would probably welcome the light.
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Thought he played a different role tonight. Was definitely more in and under winning his own footy. I think sometimes we might just look at history of a player which I'm guilty of too but I think he played a much more rounded game and went in for the ball and nailed some tackles too.
I liked this much better than his normal style game.
Big improvement but I need to see it more consistently.
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Thought he played a different role tonight. Was definitely more in and under winning his own footy. I think sometimes we might just look at history of a player which I'm guilty of too but I think he played a much more rounded game and went in for the ball and nailed some tackles too.
I liked this much better than his normal style game.
Big improvement but I need to see it more consistently.
He was putrid.
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Thought he played a different role tonight. Was definitely more in and under winning his own footy. I think sometimes we might just look at history of a player which I'm guilty of too but I think he played a much more rounded game and went in for the ball and nailed some tackles too.
I liked this much better than his normal style game.
Big improvement but I need to see it more consistently.
He was putrid.
I'm saying he was better than usual. Not his normal putrid but better bad than normal. :rollin
Seriously, I really thought he played a better game than his normally soft game. It was definitely more contested than his usual easy kick game. His tackling was good too.
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Some people are just happy to wallow in mediocrity
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His trade value is decreasing every week.
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Cant say i liked his game.
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Another week
Another meaningless 25+ possessions
Thanks to the said possessions media names him the best
As mentioned by others he was putrid
He should be dropped but wont be
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He's as queer as a nine pound note.
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One of the only younger players I don't hold hope for improving
Stop as butter since fritto cleaned him up
Hopefully has trade value
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He was disgraceful.
One of the biggest squibs I have seen in years.
Pathetic possessions, just panic/chaos kicking and totally ineffectual.
TRADE