- Joined
- Dec 8, 2003
- Posts
- 3,866
- Likes
- 2,311
- AFL Club
- Richmond
- Other Teams
- Liverpool FC
Thread starter
#1
By Caroline Wilson
April 20, 2004
Richmond captain Wayne Campbell last night turned the spotlight from his embattled football club to what he described as a media obsession with losers.
Emerging from an intense verbal session with his leadership group and conceding that three consecutive insipid performances deserved heavy scrutiny, Campbell said he could not recall a time when losing had become such a focus within the football media.
"There is more focus on losers than ever before, I reckon," said Campbell, whose team has won two of its past 18 outings. "At the moment it's all about Hawthorn and Collingwood and us and perhaps a little bit about how well St Kilda's going and not a lot about Melbourne.
"Port Adelaide was virtually ignored last week after what they have achieved this season without their captain. I can understand why it happens; I like reading bad stuff, I just can't remember a time when it was this bad.
"We've played poorly, there's no doubt about that. But believe it or not, there have been some great stories, some great games."
advertisement
advertisement
Campbell said his senior group had searched for answers yesterday after the club's 49-point loss to the previously winless Geelong. "We don't feel pressure from the media or our supporters," he said.
"The only pressure on us is the ladder and the fact that winning is what we're here for, but in reality we're one win from the eight and if we have a win who knows what can happen then.
"Our kicking has been poor, so this week we work on our skills. Our intensity has wavered, so we need to bring that intensity to training. You've got to look at our confidence, that's the third thing, and I don't have the answer to that one."
Club president Clinton Casey and football operations boss Greg Miller placed responsibility for the club's on-field crisis on the leadership group but Campbell defended vice-captain Darren Gaspar, who was benched on Saturday after failing to stop Ben Graham's opening four-goal barrage.
"It's a very difficult position to play coming back from a knee reconstruction and it was difficult for him with what he was up against. He certainly didn't play well but the bloke's played four games after a knee reco and he's our best defender and once in a while he's beaten. But he's proven over a 10-year period that it doesn't happen often."
Campbell, 31, said the players had not been affected by the scrutiny placed upon coach Danny Frawley.
"I think he handles it as well as anyone could. He's going to be a very, very good person in a week, in a year, just like he was a year ago.
"He's a terrific father and a terrific husband. He'll be fine whatever happens."
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/04/19/1082357112054.html
April 20, 2004
Richmond captain Wayne Campbell last night turned the spotlight from his embattled football club to what he described as a media obsession with losers.
Emerging from an intense verbal session with his leadership group and conceding that three consecutive insipid performances deserved heavy scrutiny, Campbell said he could not recall a time when losing had become such a focus within the football media.
"There is more focus on losers than ever before, I reckon," said Campbell, whose team has won two of its past 18 outings. "At the moment it's all about Hawthorn and Collingwood and us and perhaps a little bit about how well St Kilda's going and not a lot about Melbourne.
"Port Adelaide was virtually ignored last week after what they have achieved this season without their captain. I can understand why it happens; I like reading bad stuff, I just can't remember a time when it was this bad.
"We've played poorly, there's no doubt about that. But believe it or not, there have been some great stories, some great games."
advertisement
advertisement
Campbell said his senior group had searched for answers yesterday after the club's 49-point loss to the previously winless Geelong. "We don't feel pressure from the media or our supporters," he said.
"The only pressure on us is the ladder and the fact that winning is what we're here for, but in reality we're one win from the eight and if we have a win who knows what can happen then.
"Our kicking has been poor, so this week we work on our skills. Our intensity has wavered, so we need to bring that intensity to training. You've got to look at our confidence, that's the third thing, and I don't have the answer to that one."
Club president Clinton Casey and football operations boss Greg Miller placed responsibility for the club's on-field crisis on the leadership group but Campbell defended vice-captain Darren Gaspar, who was benched on Saturday after failing to stop Ben Graham's opening four-goal barrage.
"It's a very difficult position to play coming back from a knee reconstruction and it was difficult for him with what he was up against. He certainly didn't play well but the bloke's played four games after a knee reco and he's our best defender and once in a while he's beaten. But he's proven over a 10-year period that it doesn't happen often."
Campbell, 31, said the players had not been affected by the scrutiny placed upon coach Danny Frawley.
"I think he handles it as well as anyone could. He's going to be a very, very good person in a week, in a year, just like he was a year ago.
"He's a terrific father and a terrific husband. He'll be fine whatever happens."
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/04/19/1082357112054.html
