A Losing Obsession

wrennyboy

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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."



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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
 

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#2
Originally posted by wrennyboy


"We've played poorly, there's no doubt about that. But believe it or not, there have been some great stories, some great games."

A few mates of mine decided to have a bit of a lunch on Friday, two of whom are passionate Tiges supporters like myself. They were quite humoured to see a handful of our less senior players enjoying a bit of a lunch too, and even more humoured to notice the waitress make quite a few trips back with the tray far from empty. The players in question are fairly inexperienced, and may have been taking advantage of the free time situation, but laughter was brought to my lunching mates faces when the junior players were joined by a couple of the leadership group.

I'm not trying start a rumour, and who am I to comment about a lager or 10 on a Friday lunch, but if I was an AFL footballer, my approach to my career may be a bit different. This would especially be the case if I was part of a laughing stock amongst Richmond, and other clubs supporters. This may go on at other clubs, and it may not.

Is this the current culture at Punt Rd.? Just what stories and games are you referring to Cambo? Not starting rumours here, just shaking my head at the current set-up at Punt Rd. Call me a w##ker if you don't think I deserve a bit more for my membership dollars. Jeez, even if you're not a member, just follow the Tiges, surely you are shaking your head at the lack of commitment they provide on the field and the frustration that keeps coming back to supporters.
 

JohnF

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#3
If you just look at the appearance of some of our players, it definitely speaks of there being a problem down there. I don't think our players have the discipline to train as hard as some other clubs do. Rather than do some extra work to improve themselves it looks like they would prefer to laze about and sink a few beers and whatever else.

Name one player at our club with any size or muscle definition that is capable of putting some hurt on the opposition?

Cogs is pretty solid, but nothing special.
Zantuck has potential but obviously hasn't harnessed it.
Richo is fat and by virtue of that he can steam roll a few blokes.
Stafford can use his knees and elbows.

That's about it.

We are a team of weaklings and its a direct result of a culture which fosters the easy way to doing things and trying to reap rewards from minimum effort.

We need to bring down Tommy Hafey if for nothing else, just in the capacity of a motivator. The players should try looking him in the eye and telling him they have given their all. We need to breed a culture which prides itself on discipline, dedication and hard work, not fancy haircuts, boots that stand out and extra-curricular activities like **** sinking.

We will continue to be the bitch boys of the afl until we do so.
 

cairo tiger

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#5
we have a culture of deafeatism that is hard to shake. it is called being medicore. when i was a kid the tigers were feared now we are a laughing stock. we need a shot of Tomys disicipline and gream richmonds ruthlessness but we need to move with the times. Nothing is wrong with getting rid of duds and getting a clean out.

it will take time but i am sick of time. i might die 2 morrow and all i have is my old rouce hart gurnesy. Other clubs have gone past us. i really think if we do not make the tough calls at teh end of this year i am out.

it is not good for my ticker anymore.
 

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#6
Originally posted by cairo tiger
we have a culture of deafeatism that is hard to shake. it is called being medicore. when i was a kid the tigers were feared now we are a laughing stock. we need a shot of Tomys disicipline and gream richmonds ruthlessness but we need to move with the times. Nothing is wrong with getting rid of duds and getting a clean out.

it will take time but i am sick of time. i might die 2 morrow and all i have is my old rouce hart gurnesy. Other clubs have gone past us. i really think if we do not make the tough calls at teh end of this year i am out.

it is not good for my ticker anymore.
Wow. This is pretty good stuff from you Cairo. I couldn't have said it better myself. As supporters, we deserve better.

But roasting the current bunch is not going to achieve anything. I'll leave that to the post season. What Richmond is crying out for is leadership, something or someone to show the way things will be handled in the future. Damned if I can find what that is or where it will come from, but you can rule out any personalities that have been so savagely negative in the past.
 

mcgarnacle

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#10
the great richmond grog squad - its existed forever, but the club has had talent in the past to overcome any of its negative effects. we are in the age of professionalism and talent is not enough this days, its persistence and this club and its players don't have it. i hear stories of matthew lloyd staying out on the track long after training is over, just potting shots from everywhere, continually developing his kicking. essendon has a culture of continuous improvement - something we seriously lack.
 
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#11

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corporal

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#12
Originally posted by JohnF
If you just look at the appearance of some of our players, it definitely speaks of there being a problem down there.
Exactly my thoughts, I look at young players at other clubs and they are massive already. Luke Ball for instance is 18 yet he has huge arms and can already back himself in contests. Then I think of Fiora who has been in the system for years but is a skinny runt in comparison.

Same goes for Campbell, Tivendale, Chaffey, GASPAR, Pettifer to name a few.

If Richo wanted to be a true full forward he should have taken a leaf out of Gehrig's book and traded the tv remote for a dumbell.

You hear of the "gym" culture at powerhouse clubs like West Coast & Brisbane with many of the young players in competition with each other and undergoing extra weight sessions.
It appears that our boys would rather play AFL 04 on the playstation.

Complete shakeup indeed.
 

oxx

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#13
Some of the guys should be figure skating with frames like that.
We are a pack of whippets.

No more Pillates sessions for Puny Road.

Give Tommy a job.
 
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