Richmond hierarchy aimed for finals, not a premiership

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F_therest

Brownlow Medallist
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Oct 3, 2013
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Just read this on the AFL website..unbelievable read.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-05-...for-recruiting-strategy-says-football-manager

Richmonds football manager has basically admitted that the club leaders decided to implement a recruiting strategy of getting mature aged recruits so that the side would be more competitive, but knowing that it would not lead to a premiership.

He also claims that making finals 3 years in a row is a 'good achievement' despite the fact they didnt win any.

Part of his reasoning is that he didnt think Tiger members would accept an 8 year rebuild...so instead went for a 4 year rebuild basically aimed at making finals to keep the masses happy...it has now been 7 years since Hardwick took over and ultimately they have gone nowhere but had they gone for the full 8 year rebuild they could be challenging right now.

I actually feel sorry for Richmond fans and for Richmonds stars like Deledio, Riewoldt, Rance etc who now realise the last 7 years has basically been a waste of time thanks to the clubs leaders who arent even trying to get a premiership.
 
Was quite shocked to hear him on SEN this morning state this. He pretty much said the didn't think Richmond supporters would be in it for the long haul and they just wanted to improve their list to play finals. Talked about how Dimma had done a good job to turn the list around in 4 years. I'd be pretty angry if I was a Richmond supporter.
 
Farktherest said:
Just read this on the AFL website..unbelievable read.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-05-...for-recruiting-strategy-says-football-manager

Richmonds football manager has basically admitted that the club leaders decided to implement a recruiting strategy of getting mature aged recruits so that the side would be more competitive, but knowing that it would not lead to a premiership.

He also claims that making finals 3 years in a row is a 'good achievement' despite the fact they didnt win any.

Part of his reasoning is that he didnt think Tiger members would accept an 8 year rebuild...so instead went for a 4 year rebuild basically aimed at making finals to keep the masses happy...it has now been 7 years since Hardwick took over and ultimately they have gone nowhere but had they gone for the full 8 year rebuild they could be challenging right now.

I actually feel sorry for Richmond fans and for Richmonds stars like Deledio, Riewoldt, Rance etc who now realise the last 7 years has basically been a waste of time thanks to the clubs leaders who arent even trying to get a premiership.
Click to expand...

wow

We all understand clubs have competing interests being on-field performance vs the business side of attracting crowds, sponsors etc but what an admission

fingers crossed the fingers are pointed at the right people
 

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This is pretty big news! Tigers faithful and those inside the club should rightfully be utterly outraged by this attitude. Ultimately though, this might be a good thing for Richmond, a clean start. Maybe.
 
HBF said:
Was quite shocked to hear him on SEN this morning state this. He pretty much said the didn't think Richmond supporters would be in it for the long haul and they just wanted to improve their list to play finals. Talked about how Dimma had done a good job to turn the list around in 4 years. I'd be pretty angry if I was a Richmond supporter.
Click to expand...

Many Richmond supporters on here have expressed similar feelings about "the long haul" - I've seen it mentioned more than a few times by Richmond posters that if this current "rebuild" fails they're not sure whether they (or other supporters) will stick around for another one.

It's interesting - obviously just making finals is not an achievement especially in a comp where almost half the teams make it. But you have to put this in context, between 1983-2012 the Tigers made the finals TWICE! Twice in 30 seasons! Fair enough there were a few of those famous "9th" finishes which meant they were competitive and in the finals hunt til the end but still. To make the finals 3 years running compared to that does give some kind of platform to work from. However the key is to hold and not go backwards down the ladder again. They need to be competing for finals every year and build off that, if they slip back down to be a bottom 4 team for 3-5 years while rebuilding again things will get pretty ugly at Punt Road.
 
I'm sort of not surprised by this.

A lot of recruits we've had over the last couple of years have been anything but premiership quality, but good enough to make us competitive. Yes, to take kids and build a list over a longer period would have been ugly, but to pin your decision on the members is ******* rich. The club admin decided it needed to turn itself around and be competitive to remedy the corporate side of things, not the members.

Be a man, Dan. You and the club admin made this choice and have been bullshitting the members for years.
Now when the axe is looming you finally have the balls to set the right expectations.

Seriously...you're a campaigner.
 
Last edited:
smasha said:
The AFL did not help us when they conveniantly brought the two new teams in when Richmond were crying out for draft picks.
We just haven't got the depth atm.
Click to expand...

In hindsight Richmond should have stuck with the long haul. Like all clubs though, they have had their good and bad moments at the draft an trade tables.
 
The sport is about the dollar.
Who cares about Richmond when they bring in the fans.
Also has Richmond got rid of that bloody Tigerskin?
I don't think it's real but to have a representation of a skinned Tiger that represents the mascot and animal we love has put a curse on the club.
Like the goat curse at Chicago.
 

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Power Raid said:
wow

We all understand clubs have competing interests being on-field performance vs the business side of attracting crowds, sponsors etc but what an admission

fingers crossed the fingers are pointed at the right people
Click to expand...

IMO Dan Richardson has to be sacked after his comments...how can he stay in charge when he is actively leading the club to mediocrity?
Problem is it wouldnt just be him...id imagine all the other major people at the club signed off on the strategy...at least Hardwick and the head recruiter for sure...probably even Brendan Gale.
 
It's no surprise to behonest, Richmond these days is run more like a business, stability and profits over greater success. People quickly forget how broke as a club we were only 10 years ago, and even now we are nowhere near being a powerhouse in the league financially(even with high membership).
 
Demonic Ascent said:
Many Richmond supporters on here have expressed similar feelings about "the long haul" - I've seen it mentioned more than a few times by Richmond posters that if this current "rebuild" fails they're not sure whether they (or other supporters) will stick around for another one.

It's interesting - obviously just making finals is not an achievement especially in a comp where almost half the teams make it. But you have to put this in context, between 1983-2012 the Tigers made the finals TWICE! Twice in 30 seasons! Fair enough there were a few of those famous "9th" finishes which meant they were competitive and in the finals hunt til the end but still. To make the finals 3 years running compared to that does give some kind of platform to work from. However the key is to hold and not go backwards down the ladder again. They need to be competing for finals every year and build off that, if they slip back down to be a bottom 4 team for 3-5 years while rebuilding again things will get pretty ugly at Punt Road.
Click to expand...

'See what youre saying but you cant solely look at it comparing to the past of Richmond itself...they need to compare themselves to the best teams in the competition. 3 finals losses in a row is better than they have done in the last 30 years true, but its still mediocre in the grand scheme of things.

They need to start looking and thinking bigger and higher
 
If this is season 2013 for Richmond, ie. hitting the absolute bottom, like the Saints did.

The good news is, it can turn around pretty quickly if you draft and trade well.

The Saints wheel has started to turn after the lean 2013 and 2014.

Light at the end of the tunnel and all that.
 
Farktherest said:
The Carlton administration has been a joke for the last 15 years until this year with Bolton...but at least they AIMED for a premiership, even if they werent any good at it.
Click to expand...
Exactly. Have some ambition when failing. FMD.

The most astonishing this is this campaigner still has his job lol
 
SpudsLoveChild said:
I'm sort of not surprised by this.

A lot of recruits we've had over the last couple of years have been anything but premiership quality, but good enough to make us competitive. Yes, to take kids and build a list over a longer period would have been ugly, but to pin your decision on the fans is ******* rich. The club decided it needed to turn itself around and be competitive to remedy the corporate side of things, not the members.

Be a man, Dan. You and the club made this choice and have been bullshitting the fans for years.
Now when the axe is looming you finally have the balls to set the right expectations.

Seriously...you're a campaigner.
Click to expand...

The whole situation reeks of a group of people at Richmond just trying to save their own jobs...

Richardson probably knew the 8 year rebuild the club needed would cost him his job along the way, so decided to go for some cheap wins to keep the supporters happy for a while
 
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