Sydney Stack | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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Sydney Stack

AngryAnt

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Nov 25, 2004
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So Morris would have to ask permission to send Stack back in the 2nd half?
If not then suggests to me that he has latitude to play them where and when he sees fit

Oh, I imagine he has some latitude during the game depending on circumstance.

I also imagine there are discussions between the coaches and trade-offs depending on VFL needs vs seniors/player development needs.

TBR could maybe confirm or deny.

EDIT spoke of the devil and he appeared
 

AngryAnt

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Nov 25, 2004
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I'm a Stack fan but I think his time at Richmond is done. For whatever reason they've gone from having too much faith in him to having zero faith in him and he's not doing anything to turn it around.

Agree on this assessment of Stack's prospects at Richmond as well. Doubt he'll be on the list next year.
 
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Dont Argue

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Agree on this assessment of Stack's prospects at Richmond as well. Doubt he'll be on the list next year.
Unfortunately agree.
Reckon he leaves. Whether Richmond wants him to or not.
And similar to Tyson Stengel, I expect him to make an impact wherever he goes. As a defender
 
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Coburgtiger

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I find it really odd that he has been concreted into the forward line.

This kid had one of the best debut seasons I've seen. As a backman.

Yes, he was played forward later in the season. Yes, he snagged a couple. But to me, even then, it never looked convincing.


For two years now, we've been trying to force him to recapture form that he never had. He was never a gun forward. He was a startlingly composed, strong and skillful defender who could instinctively read the play.

Whether it's against his own desire, his fitness, his confidence, or his consistency, he's fighting an uphill battle. But we have him pointed the wrong way.
 
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Tony Braxton-Hicks

There are no stupid ideas, just stupid people
Aug 10, 2004
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I’d like to write a report on Steve Morris’s coaching.
It was a game of 2 halves. First half he played Stack out of position.
Second half he had a brainwave and decided to move him back. He seemed stunned at the difference in his performance. It was a coaching masterstroke. Hope he tries it again some day.
It's the same with Balta being played forward. He's always done better as a backman. In fact, Gibcus has already shown more forward nous than Balta.
 
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momentai

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Jul 24, 2004
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Unfortunately agree.
Reckon he leaves. Whether Richmond wants him to or not.
And similar to Tyson Stengel, I expect him to make an impact wherever he goes. As a defender
You are probably right but I hope not.

With one retiree already and very probably 3 more plus 2 or 3 who unlike Syd, have had their chances but have not yet shown anything like the necessary, I can see 5 to 6 delists before the trade period.
He may be given a further year for that reason alone.
 
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caesar

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Unfortunately agree.
Reckon he leaves. Whether Richmond wants him to or not.
And similar to Tyson Stengel, I expect him to make an impact wherever he goes. As a defender
Tyson Stengle was moved on after several strikes with Richmond and then de-listed by Adelaide after three strikes so certainly had a negative impact on those clubs.
Went back to play with Woodfield-West Torrens before given a life-line by Geelong under the guidance of his new mentor and cousin in Eddie Betts and appears to have got his *smile* together?

Shows that even if a club does everything it it's power to mentor and guide players and throwing their substantial human resources to the cause some players need to move on in an endeavour to resurrect their career.

I would of thought Richmond would have been the perfect club for Tyson, Adelaide definitely not. Don't think Tyson would have found salvation with Richmond had he stayed so you can hardly bemoan the club's decision.

I reckon it would be long odds on players resurrecting their careers under similar circumstances.

**Anyone thinking that if Syd doesn't make it at Richmond and is successful at another club that it would be the club's fault would be delusional, I cannot think of a Richmond player that the club has put more time into.

**From a training perspective Syd seems in good enough spirits so it is perplexing that his footy appears to have gone backwards so something amiss.

It has been a long time since we have seen the best of Syd and I don't think it as simple as "play him at half- back" where Tigga & and now Daniel rule.
 
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tigersnake

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Sep 10, 2003
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Good insight Caesers Palace. I understand the frustration some have with the club. Not me. A lot of smart footy operators have put a lot of time in and shown a lot of faith, and I'm glad they have, he's worth it. We all know he has talent and want him to succeed. Not looking good ATM, which is a bummer, but sometimes things just don't work out. They may never work out for Stacky, or the timing may not be right.

I trust the clubs player development, but 2 cents worth, the reasons for not playing him HB are twofold IMO, first we have players ensconced in those posis as Caeser pointed out,, second, its easy street in relative footy terms, I would venture that letting Syd coast in any way shape or form would not be part of the plan.

Anyway lets hope he hits form and stars for the seniors in the finals.
 
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The Big Richo

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**Anyone thinking that if Syd doesn't make it at Richmond and is successful at another club that it would be the club's fault would be delusional, I cannot think of a Richmond player that the club has put more time into.

Absolutely, and let's not forget sometime it is just a matter of age and experience as well. Someone like Stengle will be a very different cat at 23 than 18, especially after a taste of the real world playing second tier footy.
 
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tigertim

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Mar 6, 2004
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I imagine Syd will get delisted, go back to the WAFL and hopefully, for him, earn a second chance somewhere.
 

Dont Argue

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Tyson Stengle was moved on after several strikes with Richmond and then de-listed by Adelaide after three strikes so certainly had a negative impact on those clubs.
Went back to play with Woodfield-West Torrens before given a life-line by Geelong under the guidance of his new mentor and cousin in Eddie Betts and appears to have got his *smile* together?

Shows that even if a club does everything it it's power to mentor and guide players and throwing their substantial human resources to the cause some players need to move on in an endeavour to resurrect their career.

I would of thought Richmond would have been the perfect club for Tyson, Adelaide definitely not. Don't think Tyson would have found salvation with Richmond had he stayed so you can hardly bemoan the club's decision.

I reckon it would be long odds on players resurrecting their careers under similar circumstances.

**Anyone thinking that if Syd doesn't make it at Richmond and is successful at another club that it would be the club's fault would be delusional, I cannot think of a Richmond player that the club has put more time into.

**From a training perspective Syd seems in good enough spirits so it is perplexing that his footy appears to have gone backwards so something amiss.

It has been a long time since we have seen the best of Syd and I don't think it as simple as "play him at half- back" where Tigga & and now Daniel rule.
No one is blaming Richmond’s development system but Stack is being played out of position due to an oversupply of defenders who seem better suited to the coach’s requirements.
Everyone is comfortable blaming Stack though.
I’m simply highlighting that like Stengel, Stack will probably thrive in a new environment as long as that club isn’t a basket case.
A second chance, a reality check, some maturity and playing in defence.
 
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spook

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One bad game, peeps. With about 20 teammates for company. Are we delisting all of them?
 
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Lots of good recent posts here.
Stack's issue is he lost his position in defence back in 2019 to Baker. Baker is back in that role now & doing extremely well.
D Rioli has added to the list of those in front of him in defence. Shorty can play there too. All these guys are multiple Premiership players.
So even if Syd plays back in the VFL & dominates, he's got some work ahead to force others out of the best current defence in the AFL.
The other problem Syd has is I don't think he's fast enough or fit enough to play as a small forward but this is the position (given requirements in the senior team), he's most likely to fill.
If he can't make an impact up front or in the midfield at VFL level then that limits him as a player.
Playing back is easier than playing forward. That's been well established.
Couple that with question marks over his off season preparation, it's not really a farce as to why he's not playing senior footy atm.
It's unfortunate where Syd finds himself but it is what it is. 50/50 to remain on the list methinks. Maybe less than that.
 
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AngryAnt

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One bad game, peeps. With about 20 teammates for company. Are we delisting all of them?

I think most of us are looking at the totality of the last four years, the good and the bad, not just the last game spooker.
 
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5SKULL5

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It's rather intriguing how we get seduced by some players on potential.
Have we seen the best of Stacky already? Not sure, but I do think he gets a spot on the list ahead of Parker, Martyn, and maybe even Cumberland.
 
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spook

Kick the f*ckin' goal
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Lots of good recent posts here.
Stack's issue is he lost his position in defence back in 2019 to Baker. Baker is back in that role now & doing extremely well.
D Rioli has added to the list of those in front of him in defence. Shorty can play there too. All these guys are multiple Premiership players.
So even if Syd plays back in the VFL & dominates, he's got some work ahead to force others out of the best current defence in the AFL.
The other problem Syd has is I don't think he's fast enough or fit enough to play as a small forward but this is the position (given requirements in the senior team), he's most likely to fill.
If he can't make an impact up front or in the midfield at VFL level then that limits him as a player.
Playing back is easier than playing forward. That's been well established.
Couple that with question marks over his off season preparation, it's not really a farce as to why he's not playing senior footy atm.
It's unfortunate where Syd finds himself but it is what it is. 50/50 to remain on the list methinks. Maybe less than that.
Agree with all that, Oldie. Stack was moved forward post-bye in 2019 to accommodate the return of Short from his elbow injury. The game before the bye he had 22 disposals at half-back. In 11 games he'd been a shining beacon in a struggling, undermanned team. Everyone had him ahead of Short and Baker, he was that good.

The game after the bye he kicked 4 goals as a first time forward. Everyone got even more excited than we already were about what we had on our hands. Some think he was dropped after six games forward (17 disposals, 1.2 goals per game, better than The Prince, George, Higgins or Butler ever managed), but I think he went back as part of our retooling process a la Caddy and KMac. He had 15 disposals in less than a half playing midfield at Windy Hill before he did his ankle. He was going to cap one of the most remarkable debut seasons we've ever seen as a premiership midfielder. That was the plan. The fact they played him in the VFL grand final shows they were still hoping up to the last minute.

Syd lost his position in defence because of his potential everywhere else. He's suffered from our expectation - demand - that he become what we needed rather than be allowed to continue in the role he excelled at in his first half a season of AFL footy.

Bakes got to go back to defence when he didn't quite measure up in other roles (initially - but he grew from the experience and now maybe he can). Shorty played half-back for five straight years until he grew into a mid. Sydney got 11 games in his first year and half a dozen last year. But we demanded he be a forward. Because he could kick goals and we needed that. I was in that camp. But it's hard yards when you're not quick. He is working his arse off in the twos but it's tough. Not helped by his lack of fitness. He catches up somewhat during the season but in reality he is running around with weights on his ankles.

Bakes and Shorty are dedicated. Professionals. Do everything right in their preparation. We know this is where Sydney struggles.

Unprecedented times haven't helped. Whether Syd stays on the list will be decided by whether he and club see a way forward together. No doubt he has to be more professional in his off-season approach. No doubt he'll have offers from other clubs despite everything.


I think most of us are looking at the totality of the last four years, the good and the bad, not just the last game spooker.
Yeah but if you said "special case, long way back, needs time and understanding", but now want to turf him, you didn't mean it, or don't understand what those things meant in Sydney's circumstances - or you have inside info from the club that they see him as incorrigible and irredeemable. Because his football this year, while not at the level we'd hope, is far from delistable. Not unless we plan to cut 10. The club will only cut him if it has given up on him. He might choose to leave for a fresh start, or because someone else promises him a game at half-back.

Sydney's maturity. His relationship with the coaches and the players. Whether we trust he will come back in better shape if we give him another year. Whether he wants a fresh start. We're only speculating. I doubt the club has reached a final decision on him yet. Let's see how he goes over the next three months.
 
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Dont Argue

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Agree with all that, Oldie. Stack was moved forward post-bye in 2019 to accommodate the return of Short from his elbow injury. The game before the bye he had 22 disposals at half-back. In 11 games he'd been a shining beacon in a struggling, undermanned team. Everyone had him ahead of Short and Baker, he was that good.

The game after the bye he kicked 4 goals as a first time forward. Everyone got even more excited than we already were about what we had on our hands. Some think he was dropped after six games forward (17 disposals, 1.2 goals per game, better than The Prince, George, Higgins or Butler ever managed), but I think he went back as part of our retooling process a la Caddy and KMac. He had 15 disposals in less than a half playing midfield at Windy Hill before he did his ankle. He was going to cap one of the most remarkable debut seasons we've ever seen as a premiership midfielder. That was the plan. The fact they played him in the VFL grand final shows they were still hoping up to the last minute.

Syd lost his position in defence because of his potential everywhere else. He's suffered from our expectation - demand - that he become what we needed rather than be allowed to continue in the role he excelled at in his first half a season of AFL footy.

Bakes got to go back to defence when he didn't quite measure up in other roles (initially - but he grew from the experience and now maybe he can). Shorty played half-back for five straight years until he grew into a mid. Sydney got 11 games in his first year and half a dozen last year. But we demanded he be a forward. Because he could kick goals and we needed that. I was in that camp. But it's hard yards when you're not quick. He is working his arse off in the twos but it's tough. Not helped by his lack of fitness. He catches up somewhat during the season but in reality he is running around with weights on his ankles.

Bakes and Shorty are dedicated. Professionals. Do everything right in their preparation. We know this is where Sydney struggles.

Unprecedented times haven't helped. Whether Syd stays on the list will be decided by whether he and club see a way forward together. No doubt he has to be more professional in his off-season approach. No doubt he'll have offers from other clubs despite everything.



Yeah but if you said "special case, long way back, needs time and understanding", but now want to turf him, you didn't mean it, or don't understand what those things meant in Sydney's circumstances - or you have inside info from the club that they see him as incorrigible and irredeemable. Because his football this year, while not at the level we'd hope, is far from delistable. Not unless we plan to cut 10. The club will only cut him if it has given up on him. He might choose to leave for a fresh start, or because someone else promises him a game at half-back.

Sydney's maturity. His relationship with the coaches and the players. Whether we trust he will come back in better shape if we give him another year. Whether he wants a fresh start. We're only speculating. I doubt the club has reached a final decision on him yet. Let's see how he goes over the next three months.
Outstanding post.
Articulate and well researched.
 
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