Consistency across the park - will we ever find this holy grail?

[Brettstigers]

Has anyone noticed that Richmond perennially gets hammered by the opposition's lesser lights and often not by the opposing sides big guns where you would expect to see the damage come from. I find it amazing how often players I had earmarked as average provide close to best on ground performances or certainly their best performance for like six + games while the known stars are often blanketed or held to fairly average performances.

Dixon, Maetera (was previously out of form), Roughhead (first year player for goodness sake), that rookie from WC who hasn't been heard of since. I think if you looked you would find an abnormal amout of average players starring against the tigers before sinking back into obscurity in following weeks.

I think that says two things. That our star players are as good as anyone in the league (a particular rap has to go to Gaspar - good to see him back) but across the park it is the third or fourth midfielder and/or forward that cuts us up week in, week out. (I am ignoring our yawning abyss at CHF and the opposition rebounding from that area for the purposes of this discussion - that is a given and happens to most teams anyway).

What is the cure? Obviously a better standard of player across the park, perhaps more of even a different type of player someone a bit tougher, more accountable, fitter, stronger, better concentration, I don't know. Beginning to sound like an ad for the $6M man. Would welcome opinions from more learned football pundits.

 

[BalmyArmy]

Well worded post BT's.

I agree with your sentiments and believe that only time will cure this matter. From where I stand, I can only assume that having the right mix of youth across the park will rectify this situation.

For too long we have recruited players who have been used all over the park, and I believe having finally started recruiting youth over the last couple of years, that eveness we so badly require will hopefully start to come together in the next few seasons. If you dont have the cattle, it's hard to share the workload evenly, and this is obviously evident by our need to rely so much on our top tier players.

With the likes of Jackson, Archibald, Meyer, Pattison and Shultz coming through together, hopefully they will establish themselves in set positions (although i do realise Shultz and Patto may be alternated between two positions), thus causing us a bit of stability throughout the team. That eveness that I speak of wont happen whilst we have players who aren't up to AFL standards, but with the elimination of the weak links, hopefully consistency will follow.

Having said all that, I am well aware of having versatility, but I believe until the players are up to AFL pace/standard, they should given time in a set position. Once Meyer, Raines, Tambling, Patto, Shultz, Polo, and hopefully Gilmour start playing regular footy, that will take the pressure off Richo, Tuck, Cogs, Lids and the like who we rely upon so much.

Look at brisbane for prime example. Over the past 4 or 5 years they had players like Black, Lappin, Acker, Voss, Brown, leppitch, Michael and Lynch being the big name players at the club, but with the likes of the Scott brothers, McCrae, White, and Bradshaw they had and 2nd tier of players who were consistent over the park. Basically, all teams will have their top level players, then the main core under them. That core is the difference between being top four side, or just another team making up the numbers. At the moment we are far from having a second tier such as Brisbane's in the past, and until such time, we wil not have the consistency you talk about.

I hope our next generation will come through together, and improve together and gel together, learning each others style and ability, but until that time we wont have that consistency. We have to remember that we have turned over 20+ players in the last two years, and while we keep doing that, it'll be hard to get consistency across the park.

Geez, I dont think any of that makes sense. :hihi I've just crapped on.

 

[Berwick boy]

Spot on BT......I can just see every hack and first gamer at the release of the draw put a big red circle around the game they play against us...
Never have i known a side to play so many out of form players into form...comes with the territory of being a richmond supporter i guess

 

[geoffryprettyboy]

Even Rome never took this long to build. :hihi :hihi :hihi :hihi