Is there something of a pattern emerging here?
Kayne has been given more than a fair go, in anybody's eyes. Why do we persist with players who look to show no glimpses of changing their attitude or what they bring to the team?
People say Joel Bowden should have been dropped throughout last season, but he wasn't. He continues to receive more than his fair share of criticism. It is not Kayne or Joel's fault that they are not dropped. Even though we've had a bad run with injuries and our depth has been tested the last two seasons, I don't understand the logic in not dropping players for bad form. Perhaps Danny's just showing faith in them. Just the same, I don't see the long-term benefit in playing them.
IMHO, Joel has gone backwards the last two seasons. Two years ago he was considered leadership material. Today, his influence on a game is non-existent. Playing Joel, come hell or high water, I believe is contributing to the stagnation in his career. He is employed by and paid by the Richmond Football Club, but he plays for Joel Bowden. I don't know what his problem is, if any, but he plays the game with so little passion and spirit that I question whether he actually enjoys being out there.
The only real emotion I can remember seeing on Joel's face, in recent times, was when he kicked that goal against St. Kilda. I don't know about others, but I just couldn't get excited about that goal, no matter how hard I have tried. I acknowledged the goal, because it was a Richmond goal and even though I know it displayed class, skill and talent, I just couldn't help but feel how selfish that goal was. And that just about sums up how I think Joel has been playing his football. He has all the talent, skill, ability in the world and a football brain, but he might as well have none of those things, because he rarely uses them.
The stage was set, on Saturday night, for Joel to be a leader. Instead, we saw more leadership shown by the young brigade than he has possibly shown in his career. That is a sad reflection not only on Joel, but Richmond. There is no incentive for Joel to want to change. He gets a game regardless of his efforts. And the frustrating part is that the Club is helping him to be the way he is. We seem to have been able to change the mindset of some players, but not Joel.
Will someone please open Joel's eyes to reality and get him out of the cocoon he seems to be living in. He doesn't deserve what he has been copping the past two years, because he can't take the blame for all of what continues to happen.
Are we doing the same with other players?
