Who Do We Really Blame

[Redford]

Not so sure about Schulz, but agree, concerns about Polo and Pattison, something which you know I've always had. And to really get the debate going, you can throw McGuane into that mix as well.

Glass half full players. All 3 of them.

 

[lamb22]

Gee you lot are fickle - Polo got the sage nods last year and Schulz the brick bats and now the worm turns.

FWIW - I think Polo and Schulz will be OK - Patto is a worry - will need to improve a fair bit.

Mcguane - I'm just a bystander on this one, lets see what happens.

Danny's got the goods but needs to deliver (maybe a job as a courier beckons?)

 

[FightingFury]

Hard to blame anyone in paticular, as we began the slide into footballing oblivion back in the early to mid eighties.
Certainly we have been the worst performed side since the drafts inception, so we have to improve as a club in Australia wide talent spotting, as well as our player development.
Is our player development responsible?
We have had a high proportion of picks either not work out at all, and some that have become better players at other clubs. Why? Have we got it right?

FWIW I think Frawley, Casey and Beck are jointly responsible for the current plight.

Frawley needs no explanation.

Beck (although perhaps over ruled by the footy dept at times) made an abomination during his time at Richmond, with a litany of crucial mistakes in the drafts he was responsible for.

Casey took over a club that was winning, and comfortably in the black.
He proceeded to steer the club to bottom spot and a crippling multi million dollar debt that affects the recriutment and football depts to this day.
He then spun people into voting him back in calling his sabotage 'positive momentum' and he got voted back in!

So the members believed the spin....are we to blame too?!
The members voted him back in!

 

[Redford]

Polo never got the nod from me last year, and vice versa with Schulz.

Then again, I'm not a sage so that probably explains everything.

 

[U2Tigers]

The club and anybody else can blame me all it wants.

Hell I will gladly take it, If thats what is required to stop the Rot the team is dishing up - and turn our season - long term fortunes around.


But sorry, i don't think it actually will.


Its the Players willingness to bleed for this Jumper and Club that will start to change our Clubs fortune. There is only a couple on the list now who I reckon we could say is willing to bleed for this Jumper.

 

[Harry]

Gee you lot are fickle - Polo got the sage nods last year and Schulz the brick bats and now the worm turns.

FWIW - I think Polo and Schulz will be OK - Patto is a worry - will need to improve a fair bit.

Mcguane - I'm just a bystander on this one, lets see what happens.

Danny's got the goods but needs to deliver (maybe a job as a courier beckons?)

I think we get too excited when a kid comes along and plays a decent game, under everyones radar. We automatically assume he'll be a champion. We seem to neglect the vital ingredients which is required to become a genuine footballer. That is (a) football smarts, (b) good skills, (c) decent speed. You need all 3 qualities plus hunger and desire to be a genuine player. You can't hang your hat on just 1 or 2.

Polo could be an OK depth player at a club that has 5-6 genuine on-ballers. He could be your bits player like how Copeland and Notting were at the Lions. However if youre relying on a Polo type to form a team around, then you are in big trouble. You definately don't waste a pick 20 on such a player.

 

[Rockster]

well 2 prepared tp bleed for the jumper out of a list of 38 is pretty *smile* poor in anyone's language .

 

[lamb22]

Gee you lot are fickle - Polo got the sage nods last year and Schulz the brick bats and now the worm turns.

FWIW - I think Polo and Schulz will be OK - Patto is a worry - will need to improve a fair bit.

Mcguane - I'm just a bystander on this one, lets see what happens.

Danny's got the goods but needs to deliver (maybe a job as a courier beckons?)

I think we get too excited when a kid comes along and plays a decent game, under everyones radar. We automatically assume he'll be a champion. We seem to neglect the vital ingredients which is required to become a genuine footballer. That is (a) football smarts, (b) good skills, (c) decent speed. You need all 3 qualities plus hunger and desire to be a genuine player. You can't hang your hat on just 1 or 2.

Polo could be an OK depth player at a club that has 5-6 genuine on-ballers. He could be your bits player like how Copeland and Notting were at the Lions. However if youre relying on a Polo type to form a team around, then you are in big trouble. You definately don't waste a pick 20 on such a player.

Fair enough Harry - disagree though!

 

[Spirit of Jack]

Gee you lot are fickle - Polo got the sage nods last year and Schulz the brick bats and now the worm turns.

FWIW - I think Polo and Schulz will be OK - Patto is a worry - will need to improve a fair bit.

Mcguane - I'm just a bystander on this one, lets see what happens.

Danny's got the goods but needs to deliver (maybe a job as a courier beckons?)

I think we get too excited when a kid comes along and plays a decent game, under everyones radar. We automatically assume he'll be a champion. We seem to neglect the vital ingredients which is required to become a genuine footballer. That is (a) football smarts, (b) good skills, (c) decent speed. You need all 3 qualities plus hunger and desire to be a genuine player. You can't hang your hat on just 1 or 2.

Polo could be an OK depth player at a club that has 5-6 genuine on-ballers. He could be your bits player like how Copeland and Notting were at the Lions. However if youre relying on a Polo type to form a team around, then you are in big trouble. You definately don't waste a pick 20 on such a player.

Beautifully summed up. A Copeland type. Should be a rookie that has come good and plays a bit role in a good side.

 

[firebird]

At some point (soon please) we need QUANTUM level of improvement in our recruitment.

We need a vital ingredient for that: MONEY. Limited funds - poor resources. We are miles behind other teams in this area and will be playing catch-ups for at least another 5-10 years. As each year goes on the opposition gets further ahead of us. Ruthlessness is the only answer, something has to give sooner or later and sacrifices have to be made.
I'd sell home games at this point just to get the ball rolling. The whole "let's play home games at the G" mantra is flawed as no-one wants to turn up to see a losing side anymore. The Sydney game's crowd is a clear indication of where we are at. As a club the supporters need to let go of certain traditions and realise this is a national comp. A comp in which our club has never adapted to - our history cant help us to move forward anymore. If you want good players, we have no choice but to give up something for it with the current situation.

 

[yandb]

rather than blaming beck/frawley the spotlight needs to be placed squarely on miller/wallace. they have been involved in three drafts now and where are we heading now? (miller in four drafts)

hawthorn have been involved similar drafts and where are there are their picks at?

terry and co if you have made mistakes come clean about them and learn from them don't repeat them

 

[Skills]

In 1996, Richmond selected Patty Steinfort with a first round selection. From memory, Steinfort was touted as a possble ruckman/ key position backman. Eleven years on, he is now 29. He has played over 200 games for the Tigers. He is a leader. He has lead the Tigers to consecutive finals appearances. Won a B&F and had some great battles with the likes of Kernahan, Carey and recently Jonathan Brown. In 2007, he provides valuable support to another experienced Tiger in Joel Bowden and growing confidence to up and coming youngsters Brett Deledio & Andrew Raines.

But you all know that this story is fairytale. What really happens is that Steinfort is on the Richmond list for seven years. The people running the football dept. want him to mature, grow a stronger body & overcome his ongoing groin, knee & back problems.

The Tigers also recruit Brad Smith after a successful 95 season. Smith fails to break into the seniors and plays alot of reserves footy. So much is Brad regarded at the reserve grade level, the Tigers decide to leave him out of the 97 2nd's GF!

The Tigers decide it's time to get a real ruckman/ forward and at their third attempt, recruit Brad Ottens. This time the Tigers know they have a winner. Six foot seven seems like the perfect choice to compliment Richardson from the square - "The Twin Towers". But this strategy needs small crumbing forwards. "Front and square...front and square", thats where I need you to be Krak, Hollands, Sampson, Hudson, Pettifer & Rodan.

Who do we really blame? You can guess it. For as long as we are important stakeholders investing our time & money into this great club, we will continue to blame the people that execute these ridculous strategies.

 

[Tygrys]

It's simple, Wallace and Miller. They have been there long enough to shoulder responsibility. They have been both involved in the last three drafts (four for Miller), selecting recruits on the basis of the game plan that they wish to implement. They were both there when we only had three draft picks in 2005 and they were also responsible for picking up seasoned match winners such as Mark Graham, Patrick Bowden and Kent Kingsley (and boy aren't the cats rueing that they let him go now they have Nathan Ablett and the Tommahawk). They have both implemented a strategy of rebuilding from the mid-table as opposed to bottoming out (again for the laughable goal of playing finals football asap to reward our senior player ie hacks). And of course the so-called 'winning culture' that we have heard so much about is their baby too. They have made the calls, whether we show some promise this year or fall completely in a heap, they are the ones that will get the credit or the blame.

 

[geoffryprettyboy]

Agree Tygrys, but I solely lay the blame on TW who has failed to restructure our team, has kept the same old 'usual suspects' who have continued to make the same mistakes and let the team down on many occasions.

TW needs to grow some big balls and make some executive decisions and drop senior players who have failed to deliver, not only during TW's time at Punt Road, but also during his time in the media where he had MORE than enough time to separate the 'poofters' from the boys.

 

[GEDS1]

Unfortunately Darren Gaspar, Matthew Richardson and Kane Johnson who provide limited leadership and or quality disposal.

The fish always rots from the head.