Tigerland, it's a jungle out there for the unworthy
July 15 2003
Robert Walls
Richmond is sinking fast - seven losses in a row, and a captain and vice-captain who won't play again this season. The Tigers can't kick a decent score, have plenty of irate supporters, and to top it off, they meet the fired-up Magpies on Friday night.
In years gone by, all of the above would have led to some serious bloodletting as frustrated, pressured, inept and unknowing administrators and officials would have fallen for the "someone has to pay" trick. After all, 13 changes of coach in a 26-year period is the Tigers' recent history.
Thankfully, that won't happen. And the reason why it won't is because Greg Miller is Richmond's director of football. In the job for less than a year, Miller isn't like so many of his predecessors. Miller is a realist.
In the '90s, on a tight budget, he shaped the Kangaroos to be the most competitive team of the decade. He doesn't play games. He tells it as it is. Just recently, he addressed the Tigers' board on where the current playing list is at. It would have been the most honest assessment given at Punt Road in years.
I suggest it would have gone something like this:
Top eight players
Wayne Campbell, Matthew Richardson, Brad Ottens, Darren Gaspar, Mark Coughlan, Andrew Kellaway, Joel Bowden, Kane Johnson.
Collectively, not as talented, smart, reliable and inspirational as most other teams.
Campbell is the best leader by a mile. Gaspar is intent on doing his job, but could be a greater presence and give more others. Richardson has good intentions, but lets himself down in the heat of the battle, so is therefore unreliable. Gaspar and Richo limit team flexibility as they are limited to the positions they can play.
Ottens is fighting the effects of surgery and, with his limited preparation, will struggle. Coughlan is on track to be a talented and tough leader for years to come. Andrew Kellaway is a solid citizen who gives his all, while Bowden is a rare but unfulfilled talent. Bowden could be one of the game's elite, if he was driven by a Voss or Buckley-type commitment. But, at 25, you doubt he can change his ways.
Johnson, a dual premiership player, is the best addition to the list in recent years. His no-nonsense, aggressive attack on the ball is sorely needed.
To compound matters, the injuries to Campbell and Gaspar mean both will have less time to help others, and both will probably struggle to reach great heights in 2004.
Of the top eight, only three could be satisfied with their seasons.They are Coughlan, Kellaway and Johnson. And that is a sad state of affairs.
Not up to it
At season's end, Craig Biddiscombe, Tim Fleming, Rory Hilton, Clinton King, Kayne Pettifer and Adam Houlihan should depart as they lack the qualities to make the Tigers a better side.
On notice
Justin Blumfield has got seven weeks to prove that he can help the Tigers. If he lacks the drive required, he should go. Ben Holland is another player at the crossroads. Never quick, a knee reconstruction hasn't helped.
Holland can play centre half-back, but only on the big, slow-type key forwards, and there's not many of them around. And with Richo and Ottens up forward, three giants would be one too many. The next seven weeks could well determine his future.
Time's up
Duncan Kellaway is 30. He missed much of last year and has played only 10 minutes of senior football this year. Despite being a magnificent servant of the club, Duncan's time is most likely up. The same applies to Matthew Rogers and Leon Cameron. Both give their all, but are now spare parts players. At 30-plus, their days are numbered. Best to build with youth.
Must be played
Now is a golden opportunity to give David Rodan, Andrew Krakouer, Aaron Fiora and Marc Dragicevic maximum game time.
Rodan and Krakouer will blossom, while Fiora and Dragicevic have above-average attributes and should be given the opportunity to gain confidence to finish the season on a high.
Payments
I would think Miller would be of the opinion that too many Tigers are grossly overpaid. From his Kangaroos' days, he would know how much premiership players such as Adam Simpson, Shannon Grant, Brent Harvey and David King get paid. Richmond's profile players would have received more and given less than their Kangaroo counterparts.
That will stop. Besides, who out of Punt Road would pay Campbell, Richo, Gaspar, Ottens and Holland what they currently get?
Over the next couple of seasons, it would be a brave and stupid Tiger who puts his hand up for more money.
Over the past 20 years, Richmond has risen a few of times, only to crash because of faulty foundations.
Now, with Miller in charge, you can guarantee there'll be a solid base.
July 15 2003
Robert Walls
Richmond is sinking fast - seven losses in a row, and a captain and vice-captain who won't play again this season. The Tigers can't kick a decent score, have plenty of irate supporters, and to top it off, they meet the fired-up Magpies on Friday night.
In years gone by, all of the above would have led to some serious bloodletting as frustrated, pressured, inept and unknowing administrators and officials would have fallen for the "someone has to pay" trick. After all, 13 changes of coach in a 26-year period is the Tigers' recent history.
Thankfully, that won't happen. And the reason why it won't is because Greg Miller is Richmond's director of football. In the job for less than a year, Miller isn't like so many of his predecessors. Miller is a realist.
In the '90s, on a tight budget, he shaped the Kangaroos to be the most competitive team of the decade. He doesn't play games. He tells it as it is. Just recently, he addressed the Tigers' board on where the current playing list is at. It would have been the most honest assessment given at Punt Road in years.
I suggest it would have gone something like this:
Top eight players
Wayne Campbell, Matthew Richardson, Brad Ottens, Darren Gaspar, Mark Coughlan, Andrew Kellaway, Joel Bowden, Kane Johnson.
Collectively, not as talented, smart, reliable and inspirational as most other teams.
Campbell is the best leader by a mile. Gaspar is intent on doing his job, but could be a greater presence and give more others. Richardson has good intentions, but lets himself down in the heat of the battle, so is therefore unreliable. Gaspar and Richo limit team flexibility as they are limited to the positions they can play.
Ottens is fighting the effects of surgery and, with his limited preparation, will struggle. Coughlan is on track to be a talented and tough leader for years to come. Andrew Kellaway is a solid citizen who gives his all, while Bowden is a rare but unfulfilled talent. Bowden could be one of the game's elite, if he was driven by a Voss or Buckley-type commitment. But, at 25, you doubt he can change his ways.
Johnson, a dual premiership player, is the best addition to the list in recent years. His no-nonsense, aggressive attack on the ball is sorely needed.
To compound matters, the injuries to Campbell and Gaspar mean both will have less time to help others, and both will probably struggle to reach great heights in 2004.
Of the top eight, only three could be satisfied with their seasons.They are Coughlan, Kellaway and Johnson. And that is a sad state of affairs.
Not up to it
At season's end, Craig Biddiscombe, Tim Fleming, Rory Hilton, Clinton King, Kayne Pettifer and Adam Houlihan should depart as they lack the qualities to make the Tigers a better side.
On notice
Justin Blumfield has got seven weeks to prove that he can help the Tigers. If he lacks the drive required, he should go. Ben Holland is another player at the crossroads. Never quick, a knee reconstruction hasn't helped.
Holland can play centre half-back, but only on the big, slow-type key forwards, and there's not many of them around. And with Richo and Ottens up forward, three giants would be one too many. The next seven weeks could well determine his future.
Time's up
Duncan Kellaway is 30. He missed much of last year and has played only 10 minutes of senior football this year. Despite being a magnificent servant of the club, Duncan's time is most likely up. The same applies to Matthew Rogers and Leon Cameron. Both give their all, but are now spare parts players. At 30-plus, their days are numbered. Best to build with youth.
Must be played
Now is a golden opportunity to give David Rodan, Andrew Krakouer, Aaron Fiora and Marc Dragicevic maximum game time.
Rodan and Krakouer will blossom, while Fiora and Dragicevic have above-average attributes and should be given the opportunity to gain confidence to finish the season on a high.
Payments
I would think Miller would be of the opinion that too many Tigers are grossly overpaid. From his Kangaroos' days, he would know how much premiership players such as Adam Simpson, Shannon Grant, Brent Harvey and David King get paid. Richmond's profile players would have received more and given less than their Kangaroo counterparts.
That will stop. Besides, who out of Punt Road would pay Campbell, Richo, Gaspar, Ottens and Holland what they currently get?
Over the next couple of seasons, it would be a brave and stupid Tiger who puts his hand up for more money.
Over the past 20 years, Richmond has risen a few of times, only to crash because of faulty foundations.
Now, with Miller in charge, you can guarantee there'll be a solid base.
