Keep this up,and we will get moved on .

[K3]

The Dogs and the Hawks are two different beasts, the Dogs began their rebuild several years earlier and spent 3 or 4 years in the cellar, it is only now that the tree is starting to bear fruit as players like Cooney are stepping up a notch.

Richmond will be in a similar position possibly as soon as next year, all deficiencies are slowly being addressed (with the exception of the ruck) and the all important midfield is beginning to look quite potent. Add to the mix, Rance, Connors, Collins and with any luck, Gourdis, and things take on a completely different shape. The backline looks settled, the midfield probably only requires one more gun and the forward line may well be bolstered as early as this year (come on down Jack Watts).

Whether Wallace is around or not is debatable, the list on the other hand isn't nearly as bad as people are suggesting.

Whilst I don't want to appear overly negative I found this post to be getting a tan under the beautiful sun on a Mauritius beach. To comment on Bullus_hit's thought I think a bit of an awakener is needed here, unfortunately.
* "all deficiencies are slowly being addressed (with the exception of the ruck) and the all important midfield is beginning to look quite potent" - When in the year has this been shown? I would suggest only the Freo Dorkers game. Apart from that game the opposition strategy has been simply and effective... stop Foley and you bring the Richmond midfield to a grinding halt. How is that a potent midfield???
* "Add to the mix, Rance, Connors, Collins and with any luck, Gourdis" - Alright now to players... Rance: Shows heaps of 'potential', and whilst I really like this pick, it is (naturally) too early to bet the house on him making the grade. Connors - Great skills and vision but waaay too unfit to have any real impact, what does this say about his attitude and work ethic? And we have seen many highly skilled players go by the wayside due to this. Collins - really like the kid but is he a player you would look to build a team around/ would he be one of the first 10...15...20... players to get jotted down for a game? Nope. As for Gourdis, he has shown less than all of the others; which is only to be expected as it was widely excepted that he was coming from further behind the others. So whilst there is a good amount of 'potential' there I recon all the players mentioned have a fair way to go to continually contribute to the success of the RFC.
* "The backline looks settled," - whilst it is good they are settled we are still way too small and thin, which is why we continue to leak goals to the opposition. We are also yet to find a player who can match up on the dangerous small forwards... heck, even that hack seagull dweeb Milne ripped us a new one.
* "come on down Jack Watts" - With Jaaack, Cleeve, Mitch and other options up forward I'd prefer to look at getting that hard at it mid or key backman but hey that, like the rest of this post, is just IMO

 

[Bill James]

Firstly, let me say Tigerbob, you're post is running high full of emotion - Our loss yesterday and the Polak incident last night. I can understand you're frustration and dissapointment.
Tomorrow morning, it's business as usual at the Richmond FC. Players, officials, admin staff and others must return to their normal duties. As selfish and as difficult the task will be, everyone needs to remain focussed.

Deep down I was worried yesterday, now I know why; its business as usual tomorrow.