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PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
I think it is fair to say the form and desire of these players is a real concern at the moment.
1. C Newman – One of the few bright spots. Has come back from his broken leg as good as could be expected so far this year. Maybe lacking a little touch still but very close to his pre-injury form.
2. D Gaspar – Very happy to see the back of him. He has looked disinterested for the last 3 years and has been carrying a chip around on his shoulder ever since Wallace first dropped him to Coburg. Mentally weak as a player and an ordinary effort to walk out on the club last week. Every week in local football leagues Senior players offer to stand aside so younger players can have a chance. Unfortunately for Darren it was too much about the money and not enough about the club.
5. T Simmonds – As big a loss to the team as Browny. Always a nightmare scenario if he went down and the nightmare has become reality. I think Greg Miller has done a fantastic job fixing our list over the last 3 years but the decision to go for Pattison instead of Wood in 2004 was a terrible mistake, especially given our rucks stocks then were as bad as they are now.
7. N Brown – A no show so far this year and his 2nd setback after only 3 or 4 practice matches. Unlikely to ever produce what we all hoped for when he first arrived.
11. J Bowden – Definitely down on his AA form last year. The Eagles game was really good and he is definitely a better, and happier player, when he is on a flank rather than in a key position. About the only thing that ran the ball out of defence on Sunday evening without stuffing it up was the boundary umpire. A leader off the field but not a good enough leader on it.
12. M Richardson – Still tries as hard as he ever did. For all his faults if we had 22 players with his desire to win and love for the club we’d be a champion team. Unfortunately no one improves after they hit 30 and Richo is no longer capable of dominating a game like could.
13. T Knobel – A basket case injury wise that is being carried due to our lack of Rucks.
15. K Pettifer – Gone back to his cheating and soft ways that we all saw prior to his break through year last year. Does not work hard enough to keep the ball in the forward line and his opponents have a field day running off him. He was on Chapman in Q1 on Sunday and it was Chapman and G Ablett that set the game up for them.
16. P Bowden – Preseason injury has meant he as started behind the eight ball. Struggling to catch up and lacking in confidence. A real loss on his form last year.
17. K Johnson – Wallace has tried to free him up in the midfield given our lack of genuine midfielders this year, but has failed to deliver anything. Down on form and confidence.
18 & 20. Kingsley and Hall – Bit part players who have been injured all year. If they don’t produce in the 2nd half are a big chance to be delisted.
21. S Tuck – Along with Johnson and Pettifer the biggest disappointment in our Senior group this year. Not getting as much ball as he did over the last 2 years and when he does get it is turning it over. Opposition don’t see him as a threat and hence play his opponent wide and they are cutting us up.
24. M Coughlan – Our best midfielder when fit. A big loss. After two knee ACL’s it will be as much luck as hard work as to whether he can get back to his best.
27. A Krakeour – Not going any better or worse than last year. Is handy when on but looks lost when things are not working in the forward line.
31. C Hyde – Looked like he was going to break the good ordinary player mode a few times over the last couple of years, but not looking capable so far this year.
32. G Tivendale – Along with Newman about the only Senior player to equal his form of last year and then gets dropped. Pettifer, Tuck and Johnson should all have gone before him. One of our few players that is a genuine threat when delivering into the forward 50.
In summary our young players apart from a few notable names have improved and are developing nicely this year which is great, however unfortunately our Senior group of players have gone backwards at a rapid rate which explains our current ladder position.
See below for Part A.
--------------------------------------------
Lets compare our players performance this year with last, and we will soon see if everything is as bad as the doomsayers are forecasting around here.
Young Players who have improved.
6. Polak - Considering we got him for a 3rd round pick looks like a big win. Will be solid CHB for the next 10 years. Playing his best footy at the Tigers.
8. Riewoldt - Can only compare VFL form and has produced on a more consistent basis already. Has improved on last year as expected.
25. Schulz - Looks like the first key forward apart from Richo we have had in the last 10 years. Definately improved.
29. JON - No preseason, followed by impressive VFL form and an early call up to Seniors. Still a way to go but the graph is going in the right direction.
30. Tambling - Developing nicely. Impacting on games this year which is a big step up from last year. Has definately improved.
34. Hughes - After an ordinary start to the year has looked ok in the last 2 games. Will play as a lead up forward and gives us another option. Definately showing more than last year on that form.
35. White - Only 1 game, but busting the door down at Coburg. The graph is heading in the right direction.
37. Casserly - Gone from VFL reserves level this time last year to playing excellent VFL senior footy. An AFL debut beckons. Another on the rise.
38. McGuane - Surprised many including me. Gives us some toughness that we need in the backline. Took the performance last night harder than any of the Senior players. Has to improved his disposal and composure, but has definately improved.
41. Foley - The biggest improver in the club. No more needs to be said.
That is 10 young players on the rise in my mind. Which is progress in the right direction.
Young Players marking time.
3. Deledio - No obvious improvement from last year but no doubt more expected of him by supporters and the club this year. Marking time and needs to take the next step. Is the classiest player we have apart from N Brown.
4. Raines - No improvement, and is lacking a little confidence. Heath Shaw was at the same level last year and has left Rainesy in his wake. Is a quality kid though and should bounce back.
14. Polo - Still looks the same player as last year. Run with role looks the only option at Senior level at this stage. Needs to develop his game to become a regular and valued player.
22. Meyer - An expensive draft pick that lacks a little intensity. Another with a lot of class but needs to bring a burning desire with it. Still have confidence he will make it given its a lot easier to fix attitude than it is to add class and skills to a player. Had his best Coburg game ever against Box Hill on Anzac Day.
23. Daniel Jackson - Looks at the same level. A candidate for delisting.
26. Adam Pattison - The biggest worry of all our young players on this list. Not athletic enough for key position and not tall enough for the ruck. Another Pat Steinfort I dare say.
33. Brent Hartigan - See D Jackson with the added worry of a bad injury history.
40. Kelvin Moore - Playing more Senior games now and the coaches like him, but is he any better than P Bowden as a back pocket option?
A concern that arguably 3 of our top 5 young guns are on this list (Deledio, Raines and Meyer) but at the same time they have more potential to become Stars than almost all the rest. Add these 3 to the top list + Thursfield which is a good chance before the end of the year and we have 14 young guys + 2007 draftees who are all developing very nicely. A very promising sign. Miller and co are actually doing ok.
Not considered due to injury or too early.
10. S Edwards
28. C Peterson
36. W Thursfield
39. D Connors
42. A Collins
Rookies
1. C Newman – One of the few bright spots. Has come back from his broken leg as good as could be expected so far this year. Maybe lacking a little touch still but very close to his pre-injury form.
2. D Gaspar – Very happy to see the back of him. He has looked disinterested for the last 3 years and has been carrying a chip around on his shoulder ever since Wallace first dropped him to Coburg. Mentally weak as a player and an ordinary effort to walk out on the club last week. Every week in local football leagues Senior players offer to stand aside so younger players can have a chance. Unfortunately for Darren it was too much about the money and not enough about the club.
5. T Simmonds – As big a loss to the team as Browny. Always a nightmare scenario if he went down and the nightmare has become reality. I think Greg Miller has done a fantastic job fixing our list over the last 3 years but the decision to go for Pattison instead of Wood in 2004 was a terrible mistake, especially given our rucks stocks then were as bad as they are now.
7. N Brown – A no show so far this year and his 2nd setback after only 3 or 4 practice matches. Unlikely to ever produce what we all hoped for when he first arrived.
11. J Bowden – Definitely down on his AA form last year. The Eagles game was really good and he is definitely a better, and happier player, when he is on a flank rather than in a key position. About the only thing that ran the ball out of defence on Sunday evening without stuffing it up was the boundary umpire. A leader off the field but not a good enough leader on it.
12. M Richardson – Still tries as hard as he ever did. For all his faults if we had 22 players with his desire to win and love for the club we’d be a champion team. Unfortunately no one improves after they hit 30 and Richo is no longer capable of dominating a game like could.
13. T Knobel – A basket case injury wise that is being carried due to our lack of Rucks.
15. K Pettifer – Gone back to his cheating and soft ways that we all saw prior to his break through year last year. Does not work hard enough to keep the ball in the forward line and his opponents have a field day running off him. He was on Chapman in Q1 on Sunday and it was Chapman and G Ablett that set the game up for them.
16. P Bowden – Preseason injury has meant he as started behind the eight ball. Struggling to catch up and lacking in confidence. A real loss on his form last year.
17. K Johnson – Wallace has tried to free him up in the midfield given our lack of genuine midfielders this year, but has failed to deliver anything. Down on form and confidence.
18 & 20. Kingsley and Hall – Bit part players who have been injured all year. If they don’t produce in the 2nd half are a big chance to be delisted.
21. S Tuck – Along with Johnson and Pettifer the biggest disappointment in our Senior group this year. Not getting as much ball as he did over the last 2 years and when he does get it is turning it over. Opposition don’t see him as a threat and hence play his opponent wide and they are cutting us up.
24. M Coughlan – Our best midfielder when fit. A big loss. After two knee ACL’s it will be as much luck as hard work as to whether he can get back to his best.
27. A Krakeour – Not going any better or worse than last year. Is handy when on but looks lost when things are not working in the forward line.
31. C Hyde – Looked like he was going to break the good ordinary player mode a few times over the last couple of years, but not looking capable so far this year.
32. G Tivendale – Along with Newman about the only Senior player to equal his form of last year and then gets dropped. Pettifer, Tuck and Johnson should all have gone before him. One of our few players that is a genuine threat when delivering into the forward 50.
In summary our young players apart from a few notable names have improved and are developing nicely this year which is great, however unfortunately our Senior group of players have gone backwards at a rapid rate which explains our current ladder position.
See below for Part A.
--------------------------------------------
Lets compare our players performance this year with last, and we will soon see if everything is as bad as the doomsayers are forecasting around here.
Young Players who have improved.
6. Polak - Considering we got him for a 3rd round pick looks like a big win. Will be solid CHB for the next 10 years. Playing his best footy at the Tigers.
8. Riewoldt - Can only compare VFL form and has produced on a more consistent basis already. Has improved on last year as expected.
25. Schulz - Looks like the first key forward apart from Richo we have had in the last 10 years. Definately improved.
29. JON - No preseason, followed by impressive VFL form and an early call up to Seniors. Still a way to go but the graph is going in the right direction.
30. Tambling - Developing nicely. Impacting on games this year which is a big step up from last year. Has definately improved.
34. Hughes - After an ordinary start to the year has looked ok in the last 2 games. Will play as a lead up forward and gives us another option. Definately showing more than last year on that form.
35. White - Only 1 game, but busting the door down at Coburg. The graph is heading in the right direction.
37. Casserly - Gone from VFL reserves level this time last year to playing excellent VFL senior footy. An AFL debut beckons. Another on the rise.
38. McGuane - Surprised many including me. Gives us some toughness that we need in the backline. Took the performance last night harder than any of the Senior players. Has to improved his disposal and composure, but has definately improved.
41. Foley - The biggest improver in the club. No more needs to be said.
That is 10 young players on the rise in my mind. Which is progress in the right direction.
Young Players marking time.
3. Deledio - No obvious improvement from last year but no doubt more expected of him by supporters and the club this year. Marking time and needs to take the next step. Is the classiest player we have apart from N Brown.
4. Raines - No improvement, and is lacking a little confidence. Heath Shaw was at the same level last year and has left Rainesy in his wake. Is a quality kid though and should bounce back.
14. Polo - Still looks the same player as last year. Run with role looks the only option at Senior level at this stage. Needs to develop his game to become a regular and valued player.
22. Meyer - An expensive draft pick that lacks a little intensity. Another with a lot of class but needs to bring a burning desire with it. Still have confidence he will make it given its a lot easier to fix attitude than it is to add class and skills to a player. Had his best Coburg game ever against Box Hill on Anzac Day.
23. Daniel Jackson - Looks at the same level. A candidate for delisting.
26. Adam Pattison - The biggest worry of all our young players on this list. Not athletic enough for key position and not tall enough for the ruck. Another Pat Steinfort I dare say.
33. Brent Hartigan - See D Jackson with the added worry of a bad injury history.
40. Kelvin Moore - Playing more Senior games now and the coaches like him, but is he any better than P Bowden as a back pocket option?
A concern that arguably 3 of our top 5 young guns are on this list (Deledio, Raines and Meyer) but at the same time they have more potential to become Stars than almost all the rest. Add these 3 to the top list + Thursfield which is a good chance before the end of the year and we have 14 young guys + 2007 draftees who are all developing very nicely. A very promising sign. Miller and co are actually doing ok.
Not considered due to injury or too early.
10. S Edwards
28. C Peterson
36. W Thursfield
39. D Connors
42. A Collins
Rookies