Are we actually interested in having the Club move forward here or just happy to continue to live in the mediocrity that has been our existence for 20 years? If so, then we shouldn't look at the Clubs who have achieved success to see the team spirit that exists within their Clubs, compared to ours. Because we're never going to have that, if we're happy with what we've got.
Yes, ideally, we'd like each and every one of them to act like moral citizens, thinking about nothing else but winning games for the Richmond Football Club 24 hours a day 7 days a week. But unfortunately, they are not computed to do that. They do make mistakes and when you have different personalities involved who can predict what they're going to get up to.
That is what I am saying. The Club needs to instill that into them. They don't know everything there is to know about being AFL player as soon as they walk in the door, they do need to be taught.
You had the situation a couple of years ago when the club stood a player down for being drunk, and everybody started bagging the club saying it was too harsh a penalty. The club DID try in that situation to instill some discipline but supporters didn't like it. So damned if they do and damned if they don't.
Some supporters may not have liked the discipline handed out at that time, I, for one, did. It seems that some people just aren't prepared for short-term sacrifice for long-term gains.
If the Club has a direction and is working to that, then regardless of what others think, they will make the decisions that help them achieve their aims. Does it matter what anybody else thinks?
You just have to accept that they are young boys and they will stuff up from time to time. If they continue to be perpetual offenders, just cut them off the list.
I don't accept anything. Making excuses for people keeps them where they are. Expecting more and better from them is what has them become great players, instead of just being average footballers. If they don't have the discipline in their social life, how can we expect them to have the discipline to be good footballers and good team players?
We have had no perpetual offenders, they are always one time offenders, so how does anything ever change if we have to wait for someone to be a repeat offender? Doesn't the Club have a responsibility to the players to help them become better people and players? There will always be exceptions to the rule, but hasn't the Club failed if they have to de-list a player for a repeat offence?
And why do we seem to be the only Club that has this going on? It's hardly the sort of thing that goes on at the top Clubs.