Even before a new coach is anointed at Richmond, it appears Richo has a tick to go around again next year. Ordinarily, an 800-goal AFL player with fourteen or fifteen seasons under his belt would be a huge plus for a young list. Young players need role models, on AND off the field — it’s easy to mount an argument that Melbourne’s current woes are a direct result of a lack of leadership — but is Richo the guy you want your young players modelling themselves on?
I’ve acknowledged in previous posts that Richo bleeds yellow and black, but, sadly, that doesn’t outweigh the substantial negatives he brings to the table: unreliable goal kicking; unreliable decision-making; and protected status that means he doesn’t receive appropriate sanction for the other negatives.
Of these negatives, it’s the last that is most potentially damaging. A new coach will want to make changes to begin overcoming some of the poor habits accrued by the Tigers during the Frawley and Wallace (and Gieschen and Walls?) reigns. One of the prime sanctions to apply to players flouting team rules or not measuring up to team skill requirements is a trip to the VFL.
How many times has Richo suffered the indignity of being dropped? How many times have his clangers, or body language, torn the spirit out of his teammates? How many times should he have been dropped?
It appears as though the Tigers are going to have a cleanout. Bowden, it seems, is gone — how I will miss wondering why any player would fall for one of his appallingly theatrical baulks around an opponent. Johnson is gone, Simmonds and Brown look at least shaky. Admittedly, none have kicked 800 goals or, Bowden aside, been at Richmond for their whole career, yet none of them have the level of obvious downside that Richo carries with him
The only saving grace is that Cousins has been demonstrating, on the track and in games, exactly what standard the young Tigers need to attain to achieve success. Is it totally unrelated that a string of improved performances under Rawlings occurred with Richo in rehab?
I feel for the new coach. It must be hard starting an important new role with a millstone tied about your neck!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Will Richo playing on nobble the new coach?
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Coaches
Even before a new coach is anointed at Richmond, it appears Richo has a tick to go around again next year. Ordinarily, an 800-goal AFL player with fourteen or fifteen seasons under his belt would be a huge plus for a young list. Young players need role models, on AND off the field — it’s easy to mount an argument that Melbourne’s current woes are a direct result of a lack of leadership — but is Richo the guy you want your young players modelling themselves on?I’ve acknowledged in previous posts that Richo bleeds yellow and black, but, sadly, that doesn’t outweigh the substantial negatives he brings to the table: unreliable goal kicking; unreliable decision-making; and protected status that means he doesn’t receive appropriate sanction for the other negatives.
Of these negatives, it’s the last that is most potentially damaging. A new coach will want to make changes to begin overcoming some of the poor habits accrued by the Tigers during the Frawley and Wallace (and Gieschen and Walls?) reigns. One of the prime sanctions to apply to players flouting team rules or not measuring up to team skill requirements is a trip to the VFL.
How many times has Richo suffered the indignity of being dropped? How many times have his clangers, or body language, torn the spirit out of his teammates? How many times should he have been dropped?
It appears as though the Tigers are going to have a cleanout. Bowden, it seems, is gone — how I will miss wondering why any player would fall for one of his appallingly theatrical baulks around an opponent. Johnson is gone, Simmonds and Brown look at least shaky. Admittedly, none have kicked 800 goals or, Bowden aside, been at Richmond for their whole career, yet none of them have the level of obvious downside that Richo carries with him
The only saving grace is that Cousins has been demonstrating, on the track and in games, exactly what standard the young Tigers need to attain to achieve success. Is it totally unrelated that a string of improved performances under Rawlings occurred with Richo in rehab?
I feel for the new coach. It must be hard starting an important new role with a millstone tied about your neck!
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1 comment:
Will Damien Hardwick have the character and political capital to rein in the wayward Richardson and gain immediate control and respect of the playing group? Or will he follow the well-trodden path to acclaim Richardson a champion?
A big decision that will say a lot about his chances of turning the Tigers' fortunes around.
As a Bombers fan and an unashamed Hardwick fan, I can only offer my best wishes for his endeavours. He will add some spice to Bombers-Tigers encounters!
Go get ’em, Dimmer!
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