Consistency is the key element
richmondfc.com.au
15 May, 2003
The most pleasing part of Richmond's season to date, from my perspective, has been the fact that all the players have really embraced our consistency of effort theme.
Regardless of the scoreline, we've just got to make certain that the consistency of effort is there. If it is, then that's bound to translate into good news on the scoreboard more often than not.
If the opposition is too strong on the day, but we've had a consistent effort right across the board, then so be it. We'll always be disappointed to lose, but as long as we have a fair dinkum crack at it each week, then we can at least walk away knowing that we've made Tiger supporters proud of our efforts.
The Port Adelaide game at AAMI Stadium in Round 6 this season was a prime example of that. Although we lost, we came away with some added belief, knowing that we're not too far away from being highly competitive against the top teams of the competition. We've still got a way to go in terms of the belief factor, but we are on the right path.
In the lead-up to the match against Essendon at the MCG last Saturday, a lot was made of the fact that the Bombers have had the wood over us in recent times. But we really didn't worry about that too much because we felt the consistency of effort over the first six games of the season had been there and, if we could continue in that vein against the Bombers, then we were in it with a real chance. Pleasingly, that was the way it panned out.
Interestingly, players such as Mark Coughlan, David Rodan, Andy Krakouer, Chris Newman, Ty Zantuck, Kayne Pettifer, Billy Nicholls, Tim Fleming, Greg Stafford and Kane Johnson hadn't really been part of those Richmond sides that had been on the receiving end of some Bomber thumpings. That history meant nothing to them, and they just went into the game in a very positive frame of mind.
And, of course, our senior players certainly stepped up to the plate, too. Although we had a number of our on-field leaders out, we didn't allow that to interfere with our focus for the game. While we'd obviously like to have our best players out there each week, we haven't been able to -- and there's been no point whatsoever in dwelling on that. It's a collision sport . . . we just worry about who's going to come into the side and help us. Billy Nicholls, Craig Biddiscombe and Royce Vardy have been good examples of that in the past week or two.
Consistency of effort is more crucial than ever in what is such an even competition. There are 16 sides out there all striving hard to win each week -- and all capable of winning on any given day. If you let your guard down for a moment, you're going to get smashed by the opposition.
Let me assure all our supporters, however, that nobody at Punt Road is getting carried away with a few early-season wins. Nor are we looking any further forward than our next contest. You're simply asking for trouble if you get ahead of yourself in this caper.
A lot of our boys have merely put their toes in the water in terms of what they have to do before they can justifiably claim they've made it as a league player. For that to happen requires reliability and consistency over a 5-7 year period.
I just hope Richmond supporters can understand what we're trying to achieve with the group and get right behind the Club (if they haven't already) by taking out a 2003 membership.
That will help provide us with the security and stability we need to build strongly for the future.
We've got a long way to go, but knowing that our supporters are proud of the small steps we've taken gives the team a real boost.
richmondfc.com.au
15 May, 2003
The most pleasing part of Richmond's season to date, from my perspective, has been the fact that all the players have really embraced our consistency of effort theme.
Regardless of the scoreline, we've just got to make certain that the consistency of effort is there. If it is, then that's bound to translate into good news on the scoreboard more often than not.
If the opposition is too strong on the day, but we've had a consistent effort right across the board, then so be it. We'll always be disappointed to lose, but as long as we have a fair dinkum crack at it each week, then we can at least walk away knowing that we've made Tiger supporters proud of our efforts.
The Port Adelaide game at AAMI Stadium in Round 6 this season was a prime example of that. Although we lost, we came away with some added belief, knowing that we're not too far away from being highly competitive against the top teams of the competition. We've still got a way to go in terms of the belief factor, but we are on the right path.
In the lead-up to the match against Essendon at the MCG last Saturday, a lot was made of the fact that the Bombers have had the wood over us in recent times. But we really didn't worry about that too much because we felt the consistency of effort over the first six games of the season had been there and, if we could continue in that vein against the Bombers, then we were in it with a real chance. Pleasingly, that was the way it panned out.
Interestingly, players such as Mark Coughlan, David Rodan, Andy Krakouer, Chris Newman, Ty Zantuck, Kayne Pettifer, Billy Nicholls, Tim Fleming, Greg Stafford and Kane Johnson hadn't really been part of those Richmond sides that had been on the receiving end of some Bomber thumpings. That history meant nothing to them, and they just went into the game in a very positive frame of mind.
And, of course, our senior players certainly stepped up to the plate, too. Although we had a number of our on-field leaders out, we didn't allow that to interfere with our focus for the game. While we'd obviously like to have our best players out there each week, we haven't been able to -- and there's been no point whatsoever in dwelling on that. It's a collision sport . . . we just worry about who's going to come into the side and help us. Billy Nicholls, Craig Biddiscombe and Royce Vardy have been good examples of that in the past week or two.
Consistency of effort is more crucial than ever in what is such an even competition. There are 16 sides out there all striving hard to win each week -- and all capable of winning on any given day. If you let your guard down for a moment, you're going to get smashed by the opposition.
Let me assure all our supporters, however, that nobody at Punt Road is getting carried away with a few early-season wins. Nor are we looking any further forward than our next contest. You're simply asking for trouble if you get ahead of yourself in this caper.
A lot of our boys have merely put their toes in the water in terms of what they have to do before they can justifiably claim they've made it as a league player. For that to happen requires reliability and consistency over a 5-7 year period.
I just hope Richmond supporters can understand what we're trying to achieve with the group and get right behind the Club (if they haven't already) by taking out a 2003 membership.
That will help provide us with the security and stability we need to build strongly for the future.
We've got a long way to go, but knowing that our supporters are proud of the small steps we've taken gives the team a real boost.
