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IMPORTANT // Please look after your loved ones, yourself and be kind to others. If you are feeling that the world is too hard to handle there is always help - I implore you not to hesitate in contacting one of these wonderful organisations Lifeline and Beyond Blue ... and I'm sure reaching out to our PRE community we will find a way to help. T.
PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
We had an opportunity to take a peek at the future on the weekend but our coach chickened out and took the conservative option, yet again.
With almost a full list at his disposal, he chose to play all of his veterans Bowden, Johnson, Brown, Simmonds, Richardson and Tivendale. How many other clubs played their ten-year plus in their mid-February hit-out? Most clubs blooded some youngsters, gave game time to up-and-comers and stepped up the roles of bits-and-pieces players. Essendon, St Kilda and Carlton have created genuine optimism (which may or may not last) and even first up losers like Brisbane have some positives to take out of their game.
Wallace ended up with big-time bubkus. No risk, no reward. He got what he deserved. We rocked up and watched another insipid, healf-hearted effort from a group of senior players who played as if they had no real reason to be out on the field....and they probably didn't. It is a long enough season for older legs without having to start at full bore on Feb 15. These players will be needed in June and July, why play them now?
Why did he pass on the opportunity to sit down a couple of weeks ago with his newly-identified young leaders, Newman, Foley and Pettifer and give them the responsibility of leading an Under-25 team? Maybe Deledio and Jake King could have been co-opted into an expanded leadership group for this game only.
I'll bet he would be feeling much better about himself if he had. What was the risk anyway? Was he trying to sneak a cheap win to ease the pressure? The performance that he got with his "senior players" was pitiful and with their presence on the field there is now nothing to hang his hat on. Hence an equally insipid press conference after the game: "The boys are out of form." Spare me!
Why not give Cartledge and Pattison half a game each in the ruck, instead of the three-way split with Simmonds that prevented all of them ever getting into the game? Why not give Tambling, Jackson and Morton serious minutes in the middle, instead of five minute bursts? Why not play Jake as a run-with player (Montagna was a perfect match-up).
Surely at least Hughes, Rance, Polo, White and Collard could have had a run. Simmonds could have played in the Coburg practice match with Coughlan. Brown, Bowden and Richo could have started their season a week later. Tuck could have been rested, he'll get buffeted around soon enough. Polak could have been given some responsibility at CHB. Reivoldt and Hughes could have had played in tandem up forward. Plenty coulfd have been done differently.
Let's hope that being at the "last chance cafe" won't see an increase in these conservative decisions. If Wallace wants to survive, he won't do it by placing his trust in the likes of Johnson and Tivendale. Eventually, he will be forced to identify youngsters and go with them. The events of the last 18 months show that he can't do any worse when he does. Take some risks, Wallace.
Blown opportunity. Shameful effort at the selection table before the game even started.
With almost a full list at his disposal, he chose to play all of his veterans Bowden, Johnson, Brown, Simmonds, Richardson and Tivendale. How many other clubs played their ten-year plus in their mid-February hit-out? Most clubs blooded some youngsters, gave game time to up-and-comers and stepped up the roles of bits-and-pieces players. Essendon, St Kilda and Carlton have created genuine optimism (which may or may not last) and even first up losers like Brisbane have some positives to take out of their game.
Wallace ended up with big-time bubkus. No risk, no reward. He got what he deserved. We rocked up and watched another insipid, healf-hearted effort from a group of senior players who played as if they had no real reason to be out on the field....and they probably didn't. It is a long enough season for older legs without having to start at full bore on Feb 15. These players will be needed in June and July, why play them now?
Why did he pass on the opportunity to sit down a couple of weeks ago with his newly-identified young leaders, Newman, Foley and Pettifer and give them the responsibility of leading an Under-25 team? Maybe Deledio and Jake King could have been co-opted into an expanded leadership group for this game only.
I'll bet he would be feeling much better about himself if he had. What was the risk anyway? Was he trying to sneak a cheap win to ease the pressure? The performance that he got with his "senior players" was pitiful and with their presence on the field there is now nothing to hang his hat on. Hence an equally insipid press conference after the game: "The boys are out of form." Spare me!
Why not give Cartledge and Pattison half a game each in the ruck, instead of the three-way split with Simmonds that prevented all of them ever getting into the game? Why not give Tambling, Jackson and Morton serious minutes in the middle, instead of five minute bursts? Why not play Jake as a run-with player (Montagna was a perfect match-up).
Surely at least Hughes, Rance, Polo, White and Collard could have had a run. Simmonds could have played in the Coburg practice match with Coughlan. Brown, Bowden and Richo could have started their season a week later. Tuck could have been rested, he'll get buffeted around soon enough. Polak could have been given some responsibility at CHB. Reivoldt and Hughes could have had played in tandem up forward. Plenty coulfd have been done differently.
Let's hope that being at the "last chance cafe" won't see an increase in these conservative decisions. If Wallace wants to survive, he won't do it by placing his trust in the likes of Johnson and Tivendale. Eventually, he will be forced to identify youngsters and go with them. The events of the last 18 months show that he can't do any worse when he does. Take some risks, Wallace.
Blown opportunity. Shameful effort at the selection table before the game even started.