Daily Player reviews #10 Greg Stafford | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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Daily Player reviews #10 Greg Stafford

OMH

Tiger Cub
Jan 4, 2003
110
0
Part 10 in the series….


10 - Greg Stafford

Position: Ruckman / Tall Forward
Age: 28 - Turns 29 a couple of days before Round 22
Height: 203cm
Weight: 100kg
Career Games: 146 ( 16 at Richmond)
Career Goals: 84 ( 26 at Richmond)
Draft History: Taken as a Zone Selection by Sydney (91?) then traded to
Richmond at National Draft 2001 in exchange for Nick Daffy, Draft Pick No 17
(so how is James Kelly going?) and some magic beans.

2002 Averages: 16 Games, 6.9 Kicks, 4.5 Marks, 4.4 Handballs, 1.6 Goals, 10.6
Hitouts, 1.8 Tackles, 0.8 Rebounds, 1.3 Inside 50s, 2.1 Clearance, 1.9 Clangers

2002 Summary: Came with a reputation of being big, mobile, injury-prone and a
confidence player who could kick the occasional goal. And pretty much played
the script out to a T. I didn't think he made much of an impact as a Ruckman
where I thought he struggled and was a bit too one-dimensional but did
eventually make a bit more of an impact as a forward where he showed he
could be handy. Started really well against Collingwood then began to struggle
eventually missing 4 games with a hip injury. Had the opportunity to grab the
number 1 Ruck position when Ottens missed a couple of games but fumbled it
badly, being exposed by Burton and Primus and worse - struggled against the
second stringers Porter & French which only confirmed my worst fears. Then
managed to get himself suspended and returned to finish the year predominately
up forward where he kicked a couple of bags of four. Finished the year as our
third highest goal-kicker with 26.

Previously: Debut with Sydney in 93 and looked a real up and coming prospect
in 96 when he first really hit the scene averaging nearly 14 possessions a game
with 5 marks and 10 hit-outs, but career never really hit the expected heights
when he was constantly being referred to a "Capable of being one of the
leagues best if he can get his body right". I remember him playing some very
good football in 2000 for the Swans but he did have a very poor 2001 and really
looked like he'd lost it. Always was highly regarded but just never seemed to
get over the line.

Ability: 5.5 - Possibly a bit hard, as he certainly always looks like he's got loads
of ability, but to be honest hasn't really shown himself to be much more than
middle of the road.
Offence: 5.5 - A bit of a surprise, he'd spent a bit of time up forward previously
where his size enabled him to be dangerous around goals but never looked like
kicking more than a couple here and there. Is a reasonable mark, led pretty well
at times, although primarily was a big target right in front. Helped to some extent
to straighten Richmond up at times by staying in the corridor and finished pretty
well for a man of his size. Excellent conversion rate.
Defence: 3 - Primarily spent his time either forward or in a role where he was
on his own. Disappointed me in that instead of pushing back to help the
defence he made himself too often into an option as a link man rather than plug a
hole.
Hardness: 6 - Above average in this department, certainly I wouldn't question
his courage and he would push his way through a pack but could learn to keep
the elbows down. Not overly tough, but hard enough.
Speed: 1.5 - I said mobile - I didn't say quick. I might be harsh here, but often
looked to me that he laboured to get the first few steps off at all. Really didn't
see him bar a few games each year before he came to Richmond and to be fair
had a Hip injury that may have made him look worse.
Stamina: 3 - Looked below average to me in this regard, also probably
something to do with injury and really rarely had the opportunity to Ruck all day
to prove it. The two games he did most of the work didn't look good to me.
Delivery: 7 - Well above average, his delivery was for me the biggest surprise.
Very fluent kicking style, if you kinda squinted he almost looked like a well
polished midfielder.
Air: 7 - Again well above average, although I think he could be better. Does at
times look like a bumbling Giant when the ball is in the Air, but good once he got
his big paws to it.
Ground: 4 - Respectable for a big man, at times quite good, but still gets the big
man fumbles down low at times.
Injury: 4 - Hasn't had the best of runs, although has managed to usually keep
himself on the park a lot, in fact not really a hell of a lot of games missed, but
always seems to be playing under a cloud.
 
...cont

Ruck: 5 - Had two games when Ottens was out and got flogged in the middle,
first by Burton (and Porter) then pretty well embarrassed by Primus & French.
Admittedly got double-teamed on both occasions without a lot of help from Hall,
but showed my worst Nightmare post-Gale. No Ottens means very little Big-
Man centre square presence. Can survive as a second stringer to Ottens and
by no means is a complete Mug in the Ruck, but really can't compete adequately
with the best. Is very one-dimensional when he Rucks in the centre square
(pretty much forward and left - I have no stat to back that, but that was my
impression) but better around the ground, particularly at Boundary throw-ins
where he can use his size (he is a big unit) to better advantage. Of biggest
worry is when he's beat there appears a real ease to the opposition midfield
and maybe needs to look more to a negating role at times.
Temperament: 5 - Looks like he doesn't mind the odd dose of angry pills and
there's a bit of lack of control there methinks.
Ball: 5 - Is a reasonable ball winner for a big man, but too often it's his mobility
and desire to play as an "option" that wins possessions.

Strengths: Has good skills and is quite mobile. A reasonable mark who will
deliver the ball with good precision. Looks a good athlete and seems to read the
ball fairly well, which should be expected from a 10-Year player.

Weaknesses: Ruckwork is relatively ordinary and will get flogged by the top-
liners. Often appears to be labouring under injury.

Overall: Stafford is a natural Richmond footballer:
a) The whole package looks just about right and on the surface we think we
could be on a real winner
b) Injuries just seem to occur at the wrong time
c) Confidence really makes a big difference
d) Promises to be spectacularly good but really ends up delivering constant
middle of the road performances with every now and again surprising with a
top level performance which indicates that potentially it could happen all the
time - but unlikely it will.
I think he's no more than an average Ruckman although there seems to be a lot
around who disagree, maybe they saw more of him at the Swans when he
was better. Does look like he has loads of talent and you'd say "naturally
gifted". I would say he did surprise me a bit by his effectiveness up forward.
There was a thought he could fill that role, but I had my doubts personally.
Despite my "average" assessment is actually very important to Richmond as he
allows us to do two things - Firstly it allows Ottens to rest instead of
permanently shouldering the load and secondly it buys us some time to start to
address a fundamental list problem with our big guys which leaves us
vulnerable to injury/loss of form/threats to leave. We really need Staff to kick
around 35+ goals from 20+ matches this year which would be a credible pass
mark from him. I have a bit concern that he will be found out a bit more in 2003
with teams more ready for him as a more regular forward and if his impact there
is diminished we may be in a bit of trouble.

What he needs to do?
1) Should be aiming at 35 goals as a forward, which would be a good return
for a non-permanent.
2) Keep the elbows down - structurally we're in a bit of trouble without him.
3) Be more prepared to take a negating role in the Ruck as when he's beat an
armchair ride is often on the cards.
 
IMO a touch harsh in places on Stafford although it could be right on the money. I say "could" as I personally want to see how he goes this year with a injury-free pre-season (his first in a while) under his belt before judging him completely. He was carrying that undiagnosed hip complaint for a while (even at the swans) before it was finally picked up.

Agree with the overall assessment especially that he's an important component to our side in tandem with Ottens and Hall in the rucking duties all over the ground.
That rotation is a significant strength in our side which we missed for most of last season.
 
If Campbo is worth 3 in the ruck stats I'd have Staff more than an average 5.
I don't know the technicalities of Staff rucking. I think we're a better team for having him though, and look forward to seeing what he can do when he's fit.
I actually think he does well at getting in and getting the ball in packs etc. Plays more like a smaller man in that dept.
I like his hardness. It's about time we had a player who makes his presence felt, I think the young guys benefit from that.
Either he can bump people out of their way, or he can even up if they are being pushed around.
It's a long time since we've had that kind of player, especially to give the defenders on our smaller forwards something to think about.
I think a fit Stafford is extremely important to our teams chances this season.
Both for what he does himself, but also for the fact he makes Otto's workload easier.
Some days Greg seems to be on the angry pills and he might need to control his agression a bit at times.
At least he's got some agression to control though .
Go Tiges.
 
Generally agree here, but like some felt a little harsh on Staff in some areas as I believe with a full pre season under his belt he can go to another level, especially in endurance, which should make him more effective in a couple of areas.

I think he adds another dimension up forward and believe he should create more opportunities for our crumbers this year.

Looking for a big year from Staff this year
 
For me, Staff was a great pick up but after coming over with Osteitis Pubis ??? and then suffering a hip injury which required surgery, I think he did pretty well.

For a bloke his size he has fantastic mobility and below his knees he is very slick and generally a one grab at the tumbling ball.

Sloid in the air when confident, and even better when Richo is in the area as the opposition defenders don't know who to focus on.

His ruck work isn't too bad, but most likely suffered from a lack of fitness.

A full preseason under his belt will tell the true tale.

A vital cog in the tiger machine.