Since the Herald sun decided to review our club, I thought I'd give my spin on it, mainly because I know so much more than they do ;D
Richmond end-of-season report according to the Ghost of Punt Road.
LADDER POSITION: 12th (10 wins, 12 losses)
COACH
Best thing he did was just bring some intelligence. Drag stupid players. Make some team rules, don't trade early draft picks. On field, had some but overall little impact. 6/10
DEFENCE
Gas and Kellaway excellent. Newman stepped up. Hall stepped up. End of season tiredness of our midfield led to the defence looking worse than it was. 122 rebounds from Bowden certianly helped the gameplan. 7/10
MIDFIELD
Two great contributors, Tuck and cogs, but little else other than promise from Deledio. Future looks better with Polo, Foley, Tambling and Meyer all a chance to step up. Raines, Roach and Jackson may be smokies, and the return of Rodan will help. 3/10
RUCK STRENGTH
Early Knobel was excellent though gave not enough arnound the ground. Simmonds a late season revelation. 4/10
FORWARDS
Richo and Brown were amazing as a combination. Once brown went down, not enough stepped up. Krakouer and pettifer do not a Brown maketh. Not enough crumbing strategy, too much Richo focus. 3/10
LEADERSHIP
Wrong person made captain. Bowden excellent and vocal in defence, Cambell tried to cover for Johnson, but 'making a huddle' is not captaincy. 2/10
LIST MANAGEMENT
Much improved. A real plan is in place, half of which was begun in 2003 by Frawley. After two years of youth recruiting, some foundations look built, but Wallace has admitted to three glaring gaps, 24-28 year olds, defence and replacments for Richo and Gaspar in three years or so. All being worked on. 9/10
Off-field performance
Huge turnaround, good staff, good teamwork 10/10
WHAT RICHMOND NEEDS
two more years of young recruits and not too many short term fixes. A good blend of big bodies, key PP and wingmen to be developed and brought in.
SHINING LIGHT
SHANE TUCK and Richo. Both played hard and well all year. Very selfess, very effective.
THE GOOD
Took more risks, played rookies on tough opponents and did well, put pressure on kids to really earn their place in the firsts.
THE BAD
Poor forward line strategy, poor marking of opponents at times, not enough midfield options to cover the load.
YOU'RE EXCUSED
Brown....was perhaps going for a Brownlow, did everything expected except perhaps in the midfield.
Bowden. Best year yet, led and kicked well.
Richo...finally showed maturity. Bleeds black and Gold
Tuck...never cared what point the score was at, just kept hammering away.
Deledio...did as well as any first year could
MOST IMPROVED
KAYNE PETTIFER ...whilst he has more work to do, his improvment was massive. Did some good midfield work, which is where his scope for improvment is, and his extra goal contribution was important.
Shane Tuck...not much to say really. Number 1 in contested possessions.
Chris Hyde's early form before injury was excellent. Went from Solid to attacking player.
Ray Hall...I think we finally know what he is, A KP backman who can run and kick deep into midfield, and play an occasional role forward. Very very useful player.
YEAR TO FORGET
Daniel Jackson...after great promise last year just didn't quite click. Shows so much but hasn't yet put the puzzle together.
Brent Hartigan...much like Jackson, except injury cruelled his year that was to be his big step up.
Richard Tambling...shows such promise, but really won't have his proper first year until 2006 due to injuries.
Greg Stafford....did a lot of resting in the forward pocket...he must be very refreshed by now.
WILL THEY BE BACK?
Hilton: May be kept simply because we have so little depth and so few people in his age bracket. Depends on list space. If we are really aiming for lots of recruiting in next years super draft, he may last until then.
Morrison: If the coach hasn't seen something he likes in him by now, why keep him? He has fought hard all year, and done his best.
Archibald: Has he shown enough in his one injury free year? Will they keep him for one more to see his development?
Knobel: What is his role if Simmonds is being kept as No1 ruckman now? Is it worth having him in the 22 just to give Simmo a rest? Stafford could fulfill that role and contribute down forward as well.
Krakouer: Sublime skills, not much intensity or commitment. Should be working for local government perhaps. Could be fantastic, could be traded.
Richmond end-of-season report according to the Ghost of Punt Road.
LADDER POSITION: 12th (10 wins, 12 losses)
COACH
Best thing he did was just bring some intelligence. Drag stupid players. Make some team rules, don't trade early draft picks. On field, had some but overall little impact. 6/10
DEFENCE
Gas and Kellaway excellent. Newman stepped up. Hall stepped up. End of season tiredness of our midfield led to the defence looking worse than it was. 122 rebounds from Bowden certianly helped the gameplan. 7/10
MIDFIELD
Two great contributors, Tuck and cogs, but little else other than promise from Deledio. Future looks better with Polo, Foley, Tambling and Meyer all a chance to step up. Raines, Roach and Jackson may be smokies, and the return of Rodan will help. 3/10
RUCK STRENGTH
Early Knobel was excellent though gave not enough arnound the ground. Simmonds a late season revelation. 4/10
FORWARDS
Richo and Brown were amazing as a combination. Once brown went down, not enough stepped up. Krakouer and pettifer do not a Brown maketh. Not enough crumbing strategy, too much Richo focus. 3/10
LEADERSHIP
Wrong person made captain. Bowden excellent and vocal in defence, Cambell tried to cover for Johnson, but 'making a huddle' is not captaincy. 2/10
LIST MANAGEMENT
Much improved. A real plan is in place, half of which was begun in 2003 by Frawley. After two years of youth recruiting, some foundations look built, but Wallace has admitted to three glaring gaps, 24-28 year olds, defence and replacments for Richo and Gaspar in three years or so. All being worked on. 9/10
Off-field performance
Huge turnaround, good staff, good teamwork 10/10
WHAT RICHMOND NEEDS
two more years of young recruits and not too many short term fixes. A good blend of big bodies, key PP and wingmen to be developed and brought in.
SHINING LIGHT
SHANE TUCK and Richo. Both played hard and well all year. Very selfess, very effective.
THE GOOD
Took more risks, played rookies on tough opponents and did well, put pressure on kids to really earn their place in the firsts.
THE BAD
Poor forward line strategy, poor marking of opponents at times, not enough midfield options to cover the load.
YOU'RE EXCUSED
Brown....was perhaps going for a Brownlow, did everything expected except perhaps in the midfield.
Bowden. Best year yet, led and kicked well.
Richo...finally showed maturity. Bleeds black and Gold
Tuck...never cared what point the score was at, just kept hammering away.
Deledio...did as well as any first year could
MOST IMPROVED
KAYNE PETTIFER ...whilst he has more work to do, his improvment was massive. Did some good midfield work, which is where his scope for improvment is, and his extra goal contribution was important.
Shane Tuck...not much to say really. Number 1 in contested possessions.
Chris Hyde's early form before injury was excellent. Went from Solid to attacking player.
Ray Hall...I think we finally know what he is, A KP backman who can run and kick deep into midfield, and play an occasional role forward. Very very useful player.
YEAR TO FORGET
Daniel Jackson...after great promise last year just didn't quite click. Shows so much but hasn't yet put the puzzle together.
Brent Hartigan...much like Jackson, except injury cruelled his year that was to be his big step up.
Richard Tambling...shows such promise, but really won't have his proper first year until 2006 due to injuries.
Greg Stafford....did a lot of resting in the forward pocket...he must be very refreshed by now.
WILL THEY BE BACK?
Hilton: May be kept simply because we have so little depth and so few people in his age bracket. Depends on list space. If we are really aiming for lots of recruiting in next years super draft, he may last until then.
Morrison: If the coach hasn't seen something he likes in him by now, why keep him? He has fought hard all year, and done his best.
Archibald: Has he shown enough in his one injury free year? Will they keep him for one more to see his development?
Knobel: What is his role if Simmonds is being kept as No1 ruckman now? Is it worth having him in the 22 just to give Simmo a rest? Stafford could fulfill that role and contribute down forward as well.
Krakouer: Sublime skills, not much intensity or commitment. Should be working for local government perhaps. Could be fantastic, could be traded.
, Rosy!