Sorry about this one folks, but whilst I think Walls is on the bag the Tigers bandwagon (and I'm convinced he only ever coached us as part of a Carlton ploy to ruin Richmond) he does raise some poignant issues.
Richo, Tigers in need of a change
By Robert Walls
July 04 2003
The Age
Once again, Richmond and Matthew Richardson are on the brink. If team and player tail off further into mediocrity, it has to be time for some serious soul-searching. Two years ago, I was ridiculed for suggesting they part company. Today, I do it again.
For 10 seasons, Tony Lockett was the leading goalkicker at St Kilda, during which time his side reached the finals only twice. Two years after Lockett left, he played in his one and only grand final for the Swans.
A year after that, the Saints played in their first grand final in 26 years. Lockett's departure proved to be positive for both parties.
For 10 years, Paul Williams was one of Collingwood's best. But it let him go. Two-and-a-half seasons later, Williams has won two club best-and-fairest awards for the Swans. The Magpies, after a decade in the doldrums, profited, too. They nearly pinched a premiership last September, and are poised to have another crack at finals football in two months. Williams's departure was a win-win situation for player and club. And so it goes.
Recently, the Saints let big names in Barry Hall and Peter Everitt go. Both are playing really good football at their new clubs but, better still, Saints' supporters are experiencing a real air of excitement about their budding young team. Another win-win.
These examples should be noted by Richardson and the Richmond Football Club. Both, I suspect, would benefit from a parting of the ways.
The bottom line is that "Richo", in his 11th season, has played in only one final series for his beloved Tigers. Both player and club should be disappointed at the return the relationship has delivered.
I believe the reasons to go far outweigh the reasons to stay. And they are:
Limited team success
As stated - in Richo's time, the team has lost more games than it has won.
Comfort zone
Other than Wayne Campbell, none of the Richmond players would give him a "rocket" when deserved. A new group of team-mates to impress, led by a senior group who would chal-lenge the big fellow, could lift him to new heights.
Injuries
On average, six games a season have been missed because of injury.
Cost
He does not come cheap. Plenty of the folding stuff would be freed up if he left.
Trade bait
Although not the "hot" property he once was, the 28-year-old is still "warm". A couple of ordi-nary seasons would see other clubs go completely cold on him.
Coaching options
With Richo up forward, the Tigers are too one-dimensional with their forward strategies. The players feel compelled to kick it to him. With him gone, varied attacking ploys could be put into place.
Increased player responsibility
Some Tigers feel intimidated playing near the key forward. Without him, it would be a fresh start and a chance to take some ownership of an area that, for so long, has been dominated by one.
Increased team flexibility
Richo is limited in where he can play. He is a forward only, despite calls to play him in defence, in the ruck and midfield.
Media spotlight
The Richmond Football Club can do without the media scrutiny Richo brings upon himself. Will he or will he not chase, argue, lose concentration, show frustration, kick out of bounds, or give away free kicks?
To be his best
The main reason why Richo should leave Punt Road. If his career finished tomorrow, it would be a career that failed to deliver what it promised.
Richardson needs a new environment where his teammates have experienced more success than he has, where he is forced to toe the line to earn their respect. In this environment, he would be pressured to conform to the greater good of the team. This, in turn, would make him a better footballer.
And just where does Richo sit with the other key-marking forwards in the competition? A look at the results so far this year gives an insight.
Richo's career average is three goals a game. This season it is 1.8. His 46 per cent accuracy rating - the worst of the gun forwards - is hurting him badly. And Richo's strength, his ability to take a contested mark, is also his weakness.
Football is a changing game. Nowadays, players are instructed not to kick long to contest situations (Carlton excepted).
More and more, we see teams kicking short to maintain possession.
Richo under Tom Hafey in the '70s would have been a sensation.
Now, if Tiger coach Danny Frawley has his players kick long to Richo, as they did last Saturday night in Brisbane, the opposition will double-team the tall Tiger.
Mal Michael, Richo's opponent, was aided and abetted by Justin Leppitsch all night. It was too predictable and too easy for Brisbane to defend.
If Frawley wants Richo to time his leads, even dummy lead and block, gather ground ball and fire off handballs, then there are problems, too, as these skills do not come easily to the man who, while wearing yellow and black, would rather fly for "speccies".
Paul Salmon, in moving from Essendon to Hawthorn, was a win-win. And ditto for Mal Michael from Collingwood to Brisbane.
The time has come for Richmond and Richo to look at a win-win move - before it's too late.
Richo, Tigers in need of a change
By Robert Walls
July 04 2003
The Age
Once again, Richmond and Matthew Richardson are on the brink. If team and player tail off further into mediocrity, it has to be time for some serious soul-searching. Two years ago, I was ridiculed for suggesting they part company. Today, I do it again.
For 10 seasons, Tony Lockett was the leading goalkicker at St Kilda, during which time his side reached the finals only twice. Two years after Lockett left, he played in his one and only grand final for the Swans.
A year after that, the Saints played in their first grand final in 26 years. Lockett's departure proved to be positive for both parties.
For 10 years, Paul Williams was one of Collingwood's best. But it let him go. Two-and-a-half seasons later, Williams has won two club best-and-fairest awards for the Swans. The Magpies, after a decade in the doldrums, profited, too. They nearly pinched a premiership last September, and are poised to have another crack at finals football in two months. Williams's departure was a win-win situation for player and club. And so it goes.
Recently, the Saints let big names in Barry Hall and Peter Everitt go. Both are playing really good football at their new clubs but, better still, Saints' supporters are experiencing a real air of excitement about their budding young team. Another win-win.
These examples should be noted by Richardson and the Richmond Football Club. Both, I suspect, would benefit from a parting of the ways.
The bottom line is that "Richo", in his 11th season, has played in only one final series for his beloved Tigers. Both player and club should be disappointed at the return the relationship has delivered.
I believe the reasons to go far outweigh the reasons to stay. And they are:
Limited team success
As stated - in Richo's time, the team has lost more games than it has won.
Comfort zone
Other than Wayne Campbell, none of the Richmond players would give him a "rocket" when deserved. A new group of team-mates to impress, led by a senior group who would chal-lenge the big fellow, could lift him to new heights.
Injuries
On average, six games a season have been missed because of injury.
Cost
He does not come cheap. Plenty of the folding stuff would be freed up if he left.
Trade bait
Although not the "hot" property he once was, the 28-year-old is still "warm". A couple of ordi-nary seasons would see other clubs go completely cold on him.
Coaching options
With Richo up forward, the Tigers are too one-dimensional with their forward strategies. The players feel compelled to kick it to him. With him gone, varied attacking ploys could be put into place.
Increased player responsibility
Some Tigers feel intimidated playing near the key forward. Without him, it would be a fresh start and a chance to take some ownership of an area that, for so long, has been dominated by one.
Increased team flexibility
Richo is limited in where he can play. He is a forward only, despite calls to play him in defence, in the ruck and midfield.
Media spotlight
The Richmond Football Club can do without the media scrutiny Richo brings upon himself. Will he or will he not chase, argue, lose concentration, show frustration, kick out of bounds, or give away free kicks?
To be his best
The main reason why Richo should leave Punt Road. If his career finished tomorrow, it would be a career that failed to deliver what it promised.
Richardson needs a new environment where his teammates have experienced more success than he has, where he is forced to toe the line to earn their respect. In this environment, he would be pressured to conform to the greater good of the team. This, in turn, would make him a better footballer.
And just where does Richo sit with the other key-marking forwards in the competition? A look at the results so far this year gives an insight.
Richo's career average is three goals a game. This season it is 1.8. His 46 per cent accuracy rating - the worst of the gun forwards - is hurting him badly. And Richo's strength, his ability to take a contested mark, is also his weakness.
Football is a changing game. Nowadays, players are instructed not to kick long to contest situations (Carlton excepted).
More and more, we see teams kicking short to maintain possession.
Richo under Tom Hafey in the '70s would have been a sensation.
Now, if Tiger coach Danny Frawley has his players kick long to Richo, as they did last Saturday night in Brisbane, the opposition will double-team the tall Tiger.
Mal Michael, Richo's opponent, was aided and abetted by Justin Leppitsch all night. It was too predictable and too easy for Brisbane to defend.
If Frawley wants Richo to time his leads, even dummy lead and block, gather ground ball and fire off handballs, then there are problems, too, as these skills do not come easily to the man who, while wearing yellow and black, would rather fly for "speccies".
Paul Salmon, in moving from Essendon to Hawthorn, was a win-win. And ditto for Mal Michael from Collingwood to Brisbane.
The time has come for Richmond and Richo to look at a win-win move - before it's too late.
