Mastering the Fundamentals

[tigerjoe]

For many years as Richmond supporters we have been subjected to some the worst skills the Afl has ever seen.

Why is it that full time professional sportsmen who are paid extraordinarily well, cannot master the basics of Australian Rules Football.
They have the time, the guidance from so many so called experts, the so called ability etc, etc...............

Yes it is a difficult game when the shape and behaviour of the ball is concerned, the speed at which the ball sometimes travels, being bumped and tackled, rain and wind factors and so on.

But why is it that some are better at receiving and disposing of the ball than others? (Namely non Richmond players)

It comes down to one reason.

PRACTICE

It's quite plain to see players like Ben Cousins and Chris Judd practice and have been doing so much more than others for years.
They are "true professionals" because they are closer to "Mastering the Fundamentals" than most other AFL players.
Yes they have "God given abilities", but they are not lazy (unlike some), and deserve the rewards they get because using them as examples, these guys can run out games better than others becuase they are fitter than others.

So on the eve of the start of pre season training, it would be nice for our players to begin to:
- run and run and run, and become fitter than they have ever been, and then run and run some more
- kick and handball practice everyday, rain, hail or shine, before, during and after training, before they go to bed each night and upon rising each day
- be shown where and how to lead, how to mark the ball at full tilt/stationary/running with the flight of the ball
- when tackling make the tacklee know he has been tackled
- shepherd, knock the ball on, punch from behind, get in front etc
- not give away 50m penalties by just shutting up
- fully understanding Terry's many and varied game plans

Yes these are the fundamentals of our game. Something that stangely we have not seen at many Richmond games over the years.

Maybe the new "Tiger Movement" can start the movement towards mastering the art of F O O T B A L L.

 

[mexican_radio]

In terms of skills, the one that drives me nuts is missing set shots at goal. I would really hope they spend plenty of time improving that area.

 

[hopper]

In terms of skills, the one that drives me nuts is missing set shots at goal.  I would really hope they spend plenty of time improving that area.

And young Mr.Deledio is our worst.

Was no bloody good in the Derby either.

 

[tannerztigers]

yeah solid last haha

 

[Tigerfan]

that's an excellent post there tigerJoe. Report to the RFC brains trust immediately

 

[SfB_AkA._DeLiCiOuS]

We have to improve on our skills, decision making & takling if we wanna havw any on-field success.

 

[Phar Ace]

that's an excellent post there tigerJoe. Report to the RFC brains trust immediately

Ya don't reckon it's a little condascending then DDT. Perhaps TigerFlo can take his list, sit down with Terry and enlighten him on AFL footy - sheesh. I'm sure it came with good intentions but it's an opinion - to which he's entitled - but frankly givem a little more credit eh!

 

[FlyingTiger]

that's an excellent post there tigerJoe. Report to the RFC brains trust immediately

Ya don't reckon it's a little condascending then DDT. Perhaps TigerFlo can take his list, sit down with Terry and enlighten him on AFL footy - sheesh. I'm sure it came with good intentions but it's an opinion - to which he's entitled - but frankly givem a little more credit eh!

Jeez you are in a bad mood.

How much did you lose today?

:rubhead

 

[tigerjoe]

that's an excellent post there tigerJoe. Report to the RFC brains trust immediately

Ya don't reckon it's a little condascending then DDT.  Perhaps TigerFlo can take his list, sit down with Terry and enlighten him on AFL footy - sheesh.  I'm sure it came with good intentions but it's an opinion - to which he's entitled - but frankly givem a little more credit eh!

Well Pharoah yes it is my opinion, but do guys like Tivendale and *smile* who are full time pro footballers, deserve credit when their "football" skills are sometimes just downright pathetic?
FFS Gas cannot kick more than 35 metres and Tivendale who can kick it a mile kicks worm burners and turnovers game after game!
Fortunately for them football is not the real world, because if they worked full time like we do, if their everyday work skills were like their football, they wouldn't have a job.

 

[Phar Ace]

that's an excellent post there tigerJoe. Report to the RFC brains trust immediately

Ya don't reckon it's a little condascending then DDT. Perhaps TigerFlo can take his list, sit down with Terry and enlighten him on AFL footy - sheesh. I'm sure it came with good intentions but it's an opinion - to which he's entitled - but frankly givem a little more credit eh!

Jeez you are in a bad mood.

How much did you lose today?

:rubhead

LOL - Thanks FT, but didn't even had a sheckle on anything - used to be a big little gambler, but let's say that family responsibilities have put that little pastime in perspective.

that's an excellent post there tigerJoe. Report to the RFC brains trust immediately

Ya don't reckon it's a little condascending then DDT.  Perhaps TigerFlo can take his list, sit down with Terry and enlighten him on AFL footy - sheesh.  I'm sure it came with good intentions but it's an opinion - to which he's entitled - but frankly givem a little more credit eh!

FFS Gas cannot kick more than 35 metres and Tivendale who can kick it a mile kicks worm burners and turnovers game after game!
Fortunately for them football is not the real world, because if they worked full time like we do, if their everyday work skills were like their football, they wouldn't have a job.

Yeah Gas is not the most skilled in the RFC team but I let know he can kick further than 35 - but hey let's not let facts get in the way of good discussion.  As for Tivvs (I'm not a fan of his either), but you pick a game this season and if I've put it to DVD, I'll count how many of these mythical wormburners you seem convinces he kicks - and the turnovers too.  Then we'll compare that to a game I pick from this season (game after game) and we'll see how factual another thoughtless opinion can be - yours or mine ;D.  Remember, I'm not a Tivvs fan either, but hey you made the comment not me. Hope you're not going to pick on Lids next, his turnover count this season wasn't much better I suspect.

I for one happen to think that TW is doing a pretty fair job (opinion), and he still has his job so others who matter must reckon that's a case too. 

I guess my simple point is this - these guys are living it - doing it and we are just watching it - geez it's easy from from seats! ;D

 

[tigerjoe]

that's an excellent post there tigerJoe. Report to the RFC brains trust immediately

Ya don't reckon it's a little condascending then DDT. Perhaps TigerFlo can take his list, sit down with Terry and enlighten him on AFL footy - sheesh. I'm sure it came with good intentions but it's an opinion - to which he's entitled - but frankly givem a little more credit eh!

Jeez you are in a bad mood.

How much did you lose today?

:rubhead

LOL - Thanks FT, but didn't even had a sheckle on anything - used to be a big little gambler, but let's say that family responsibilities have put that little pastime in perspective.

that's an excellent post there tigerJoe. Report to the RFC brains trust immediately

Ya don't reckon it's a little condascending then DDT.  Perhaps TigerFlo can take his list, sit down with Terry and enlighten him on AFL footy - sheesh.  I'm sure it came with good intentions but it's an opinion - to which he's entitled - but frankly givem a little more credit eh!

FFS Gas cannot kick more than 35 metres and Tivendale who can kick it a mile kicks worm burners and turnovers game after game!
Fortunately for them football is not the real world, because if they worked full time like we do, if their everyday work skills were like their football, they wouldn't have a job.

Yeah Gas is not the most skilled in the RFC team but I let know he can kick further than 35 - but hey let's not let facts get in the way of good discussion.  As for Tivvs (I'm not a fan of his either), but you pick a game this season and if I've put it to DVD, I'll count how many of these mythical wormburners you seem convinces he kicks - and the turnovers too.  Then we'll compare that to a game I pick from this season (game after game) and we'll see how factual another thoughtless opinion can be - yours or mine ;D.  Remember, I'm not a Tivvs fan either, but hey you made the comment not me.  Hope you're not going to pick on Lids next, his turnover count this season wasn't much better I suspect.

I for one happen to think that TW is doing a pretty fair job (opinion), and he still has his job so others who matter must reckon that's a case too. 

I guess my simple point is this - these guys are living it - doing it and we are just watching it - geez it's easy from from seats!  ;D

No I guess your right Pharace, they are doing it and we are watching.

What we are watching when I watch Richmond I often confuse with what was once Aussie Rules Footy.

Yes TW is doing a great job, it's not his fault marks are dropped, kicks don't go to their intended recipients, tackles aren't made etc, etc.

The whole point of this thread is to highlight the difference between us and them (the cousins and the judds, or the elite of the comp)

In the end the difference is a lot of hard work, and yes some God given talent.
But God given talent gets you nowhere unless you are prepared to put in the hard yards, and then some.
Most AFL footballers have some talent. But are they prepared to put in the hard yards?

All I ask is that our guys watch players like Ben Cousins, and to the same extent Matty Richardson.
They are the epitome of what hard work is all about.

 

[Phar Ace]

What we are watching when I watch Richmond I often confuse with what was once Aussie Rules Footy.

Ah love this comment - if the Tiges are so off the mark in modern footy, then you shouldn't be confused with what WAS Aussie Rules Footy.  But I don't think the team is that bad.

Yes TW is doing a great job, it's not his fault marks are dropped, kicks don't go to their intended recipients, tackles aren't made etc, etc.

Ah the RFC ain't alone on this one, that's why we were 9th and not last.  Usually the errors of which you speak are greatest to the loser of a game - yet the Tiges won more than they lost - so maybe not as bad as first thought? 

The whole point of this thread is to highlight the difference between us and them (the cousins and the judds, or the elite of the comp)  In the end the difference is a lot of hard work, and yes some God given talent.  But God given talent gets you nowhere unless you are prepared to put in the hard yards, and then some.

I thought the thread was about Fundamentals, which virtually all 22 players stepping out each week have mastered.   The difference is what you can do with the Fundamentals under pressure, stress and fatigue and to a plan.  The Judds and the Cousins don't come under 'fundamental', that's why they are considered elite.  They don't come into a discussion of fundamentals IMO. 

Most AFL footballers have some talent.  But are they prepared to put in the hard yards?

YES!  here we are in absolute agreement.  However this is Attitude not Fundamentals.  But we need Transendency and Aspiration more.  Have enough players with this approach and you win games.  You see I think we have fundamentals in abundance.  What is lacking is the next level for most of our players.  But to be fair - some are still kids who are yet to understand even part of this.  Getting a game is enough.  RFC is just so inexperienced at the moment in terms of QUALITY game experience. Sadly, experience teaches slowly - at the cost of mistakes!

All I ask is that our guys watch players like Ben Cousins, and to the same extent Matty Richardson. 
They are the epitome of what hard work is all about.

Geez - you want make a call on Fundamentals - then do it on Richo from about 25m or closer   Countless players miss easy set shots - but as many as Richo from close quarters?  Still he has other immeasurable values.

A man must serve his time to every trade, save for censure, as critics are already made

It's been good debating the Fundamentals :clap

 

[tigerjoe]

I thought the thread was about Fundamentals, which virtually all 22 players stepping out each week have mastered.   The difference is what you can do with the Fundamentals under pressure, stress and fatigue and to a plan.  The Judds and the Cousins don't come under 'fundamental', that's why they are considered elite.  They don't come into a discussion of fundamentals IMO. 

I think you sum up your complete misunderstanding of the topic right here.

the meaning of "Fundamental" -  pertaining to, or affecting the foundation or basis

In other words being able to:

kick, handball, read the play, mark, run fast for extended periods, tackle, etc, etc......... the foundations of Aussie Rules.


So you say "virtually all 22 tiger players have mastered these skills..............................?????????????????"  You are not serious?

And the "Judds etc don't come under "fundamental", that's why they are considered elite"!

Please refer back to the meaning of the word.

If anything the "elite" are the ones who are closer to mastering these fundamentals than others, that is what I want our young blokes to become.
I just don't want a repeat of the last 2 decades where any talent we did have was wasted through poor "mastering of the fundamentals"!

It's good debating yes , just debate the "fundamentals" of the debate.

 

[Tigers of Old]

Our fundamental skills will improve when we do the fundamental team based things and take the pressure off the ball carrier.

 

[Phar Ace]

Hey Joey, if you wanna get past what Fundamental means colloquially to AFL and focus on the Oxford, that's clearly were we will differ - your list of what isn't fundamental is probably shorter than your list of what is. I for one don't think that TW and co (and even the lame-brains before them) select players without the Fundamentals. If you think they do then you must reckon RFC is dumber than than I do.

You see, all the "verbs" you've listed as Fundamentals, the players do now - but all to varying degrees of expertise and accuracy. They are not devoid of those "Fundamentals" or "things which are essential, being the basis or the root", else they wouldn't be able to take the field in the highest competition of our land.

I think we may both agree however that the degree to which each Fundamental is consistently applied (in training and a game) and the ability to vary a Fundamental (kick left and right) is accelerating, and with good reason.

The Elite (those who are choice or select, the best) of our competition which you willingly focus will always emanate, be able to take Fundamentals and extract things way beyond the root or the basis, with or without countless hours of practice.

This is why I think the original post was outa line in my view. Perhaps not condescending, as that has to come from a higher level (though you could be Leigh Matthews or Mick Malthouse for all I know ;D), but certainly underestimating the foundations that have already been laid. You want more, and I do to - I just happen to think you catch more flies with honey than vineger