Get Matthew Richardson away from goals
Mike Sheehan
30 June 2003 Herald Sun
MATTHEW Richardson's 500th career goal in Brisbane on Saturday night
elevated him to rare company.
It is a feat previously achieved by only 38 players in more than 100 years,
and Wayne Carey, Sav Rocca, Alastair Lynch and Matthew Lloyd are the only
other current players on the list.
Yet, there is a strong, even compelling, case to say Richmond must abandon
a forward structure built upon Richo's flighty, if exhilarating, talents.
The 500th goal on Saturday night, his only goal in the game, took his 2003
return to 18.21 from 10 games.
Not nearly good enough for a full-forward in a team aspiring to play
finals. From a player still the most capable in his club.
Only Collingwood's Chris Tarrant averages more marks, yet Richo doesn't
figure among the leading 30 goalkickers in the competition.
Even when he is kicking goals, personal success doesn't necessarily
translate to team success.
In his two most productive seasons -- 1996 (91 goals) and '99 (67 goals) --
the Tigers finished ninth and 12th, respectively.
The returns don't justify the uncertainty, the anguish, the negative impact
on his and the team's psyche.
Makes you wonder why so many coaches have been so reluctant to set him free
to play up the field.
He is 28. Will we be saying the same things about him when he retires in
three or four years?
His notorious inconsistency was costly yet again Saturday night.
He won an early test of strength against the formidable Mal Michael, then
promptly hit the post with a set shot from inside 30m.
In a game in which the Tigers just had to start well, it was a critical
miss.
He missed again with a set shot early in the final term, Richmond's last
roll of the dice. His only goal came from a left-foot snap from 40-odd
metres.
As talented as he is, he is a poor kick for goal. It's not personal; it's
fact.
As it happens, only Geelong has kicked fewer goals than Richmond this year,
even with Richardson forward.
The Tigers kicked nine on Saturday night, the seventh time in 13 rounds
they have failed to kick more than 12.
Danny Frawley and his lieutenants simply have to go back to the drawing
board, and set up again.
Get Richo out of there, play Brad Ottens out of the goalsquare, use him as
a relief ruckman for Greg Stafford (l6 goals), and increase the number of
crumbers.
As for Richo, he doesn't need a specific position. Midfield will do.
He is an extraordinary athlete: 198cm, 100-plus kg and exceptionally quick
and nimble.
His kicking is more reliable up the ground, too. Distance never has been
his problem, it's a dodgy technique coupled with a negative attitude.
He is capable of taking 12-15 marks a week in an upfield role, and, like
Sydney's Adam Goodes, would be a terribly difficult match-up. He would
cause massive headaches for opposing coaches, bounding forward from the
middle of the ground and roosting the ball deep inside 50. Maybe even
through the big sticks on occasions.
These are desperate times for the Tigers.
They were third with six wins after eight rounds; they are now 10th with
six wins after 13 rounds.
The extended absence of skipper Wayne Campbell has cut deeply. He played in
six of the first eight games and just one since.
Darren Gaspar, the team's best defender, is out for the rest of the season,
and injuries generally have exposed Richmond's lack of depth.
Half a dozen players were exposed for talent, strength or pace, or all
three, on Saturday night.
Richmond faces Adelaide in Adelaide on Saturday night. Another top-eight
team, another interstate trip.
The plusses are the continued good form and leadership provided by Stafford
and Andrew Kellaway, the exciting form of Greg Tivendale and youngsters
Mark Coughlan and Ty Zantuck, and the fact Ben Holland got through. There
is, though, still much work to be done at Punt Rd.
Mike Sheehan
30 June 2003 Herald Sun
MATTHEW Richardson's 500th career goal in Brisbane on Saturday night
elevated him to rare company.
It is a feat previously achieved by only 38 players in more than 100 years,
and Wayne Carey, Sav Rocca, Alastair Lynch and Matthew Lloyd are the only
other current players on the list.
Yet, there is a strong, even compelling, case to say Richmond must abandon
a forward structure built upon Richo's flighty, if exhilarating, talents.
The 500th goal on Saturday night, his only goal in the game, took his 2003
return to 18.21 from 10 games.
Not nearly good enough for a full-forward in a team aspiring to play
finals. From a player still the most capable in his club.
Only Collingwood's Chris Tarrant averages more marks, yet Richo doesn't
figure among the leading 30 goalkickers in the competition.
Even when he is kicking goals, personal success doesn't necessarily
translate to team success.
In his two most productive seasons -- 1996 (91 goals) and '99 (67 goals) --
the Tigers finished ninth and 12th, respectively.
The returns don't justify the uncertainty, the anguish, the negative impact
on his and the team's psyche.
Makes you wonder why so many coaches have been so reluctant to set him free
to play up the field.
He is 28. Will we be saying the same things about him when he retires in
three or four years?
His notorious inconsistency was costly yet again Saturday night.
He won an early test of strength against the formidable Mal Michael, then
promptly hit the post with a set shot from inside 30m.
In a game in which the Tigers just had to start well, it was a critical
miss.
He missed again with a set shot early in the final term, Richmond's last
roll of the dice. His only goal came from a left-foot snap from 40-odd
metres.
As talented as he is, he is a poor kick for goal. It's not personal; it's
fact.
As it happens, only Geelong has kicked fewer goals than Richmond this year,
even with Richardson forward.
The Tigers kicked nine on Saturday night, the seventh time in 13 rounds
they have failed to kick more than 12.
Danny Frawley and his lieutenants simply have to go back to the drawing
board, and set up again.
Get Richo out of there, play Brad Ottens out of the goalsquare, use him as
a relief ruckman for Greg Stafford (l6 goals), and increase the number of
crumbers.
As for Richo, he doesn't need a specific position. Midfield will do.
He is an extraordinary athlete: 198cm, 100-plus kg and exceptionally quick
and nimble.
His kicking is more reliable up the ground, too. Distance never has been
his problem, it's a dodgy technique coupled with a negative attitude.
He is capable of taking 12-15 marks a week in an upfield role, and, like
Sydney's Adam Goodes, would be a terribly difficult match-up. He would
cause massive headaches for opposing coaches, bounding forward from the
middle of the ground and roosting the ball deep inside 50. Maybe even
through the big sticks on occasions.
These are desperate times for the Tigers.
They were third with six wins after eight rounds; they are now 10th with
six wins after 13 rounds.
The extended absence of skipper Wayne Campbell has cut deeply. He played in
six of the first eight games and just one since.
Darren Gaspar, the team's best defender, is out for the rest of the season,
and injuries generally have exposed Richmond's lack of depth.
Half a dozen players were exposed for talent, strength or pace, or all
three, on Saturday night.
Richmond faces Adelaide in Adelaide on Saturday night. Another top-eight
team, another interstate trip.
The plusses are the continued good form and leadership provided by Stafford
and Andrew Kellaway, the exciting form of Greg Tivendale and youngsters
Mark Coughlan and Ty Zantuck, and the fact Ben Holland got through. There
is, though, still much work to be done at Punt Rd.
o that has to be a first! 
