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Toast Alan Richardson - 2016

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I think the Geelong win caps off a great win to a solid improvement year so far. The biggest knock on the Saints this year had been that they hadn't beaten anyone in the top 8. With Geelong win, this argument is now gone.

So, it would be remiss not to toast the coaching win we've had so far!

Some brilliant stuff by Alan, which we should celebrate and acknowledge are:-

  • Riewoldt to the midfield - Has always been talked about throughout his career, but this year Alan pulled it off. An excellent win!
  • Ross's improvement - For me, this has been one of the biggest wins. I thought until last year that Ross was slow with his decisions and heading down the Jimmy Toumpas path. Alan's coaching instilled confidence, and it's showing with his improvement and impact. He's no Dangerfield, but you have to hand it to Richo for getting the best out of him!
  • Win against Melbourne - People might think that the Geelong win was more important, but I think it was the win against Melbourne, that Alan's coaching stood out. Roos tried to put 8 forwards in place to take out Montagna being the +1, but Alan countered with 9 defenders. Just meant that the game was played on Saints terms, not Melbourne's.
  • Hickey's elevation to no. 1 ruck - A really critical change. Hickey's always been the more talented and athletically gifted out of all the rucks we have. Last year, it was Longer who delivered out of a perseverance during pre season, and this time it's Hickey with his improved fitness. I think Alan's coaching belief to trust in Hickey's elevation to no. 1 ruck, played a part as well.
  • Membrey - Again, to trust the judgement and bringing in a player for performing well in the VFL, Membrey's been a win. It would have been so easy to go with Bruce and Paddy combination as default, and stick another mid/half forward in.
  • Belief in a number of other players - Too many to name, but believing in Wright to come back in as a forward, so soon after a switch in the VFL, Michington being given an extended run, even opportunities to Murdoch, showed a great belief in giving fringe players an opportunity.
  • Win vs Geelong - what impressed me the most in this win that I never thought the Saints would fall over during the game (even though some here did). Had this been a Ross Lyon team, it would have fallen over in a heap in a defensive overkill. Bye Bye Ross - saints have a better coach!

Obviously, I'll acknowledge some of the good work from previous years, e.g. Bruce's forward switch, member messages, more open communications, putting on videos of calls to draftees straight after being drafted, etc.
 
freebloke said:
I think the Geelong win caps off a great win to a solid improvement year so far. The biggest knock on the Saints this year had been that they hadn't beaten anyone in the top 8. With Geelong win, this argument is now gone.

So, it would be remiss not to toast the coaching win we've had so far!

Some brilliant stuff by Alan, which we should celebrate and acknowledge are:-

  • Riewoldt to the midfield - Has always been talked about throughout his career, but this year Alan pulled it off. An excellent win!
  • Ross's improvement - For me, this has been one of the biggest wins. I thought until last year that Ross was slow with his decisions and heading down the Jimmy Toumpas path. Alan's coaching instilled confidence, and it's showing with his improvement and impact. He's no Dangerfield, but you have to hand it to Richo for getting the best out of him!
  • Win against Melbourne - People might think that the Geelong win was more important, but I think it was the win against Melbourne, that Alan's coaching stood out. Roos tried to put 8 forwards in place to take out Montagna being the +1, but Alan countered with 9 defenders. Just meant that the game was played on Saints terms, not Melbourne's.
  • Hickey's elevation to no. 1 ruck - A really critical change. Hickey's always been the more talented and athletically gifted out of all the rucks we have. Last year, it was Longer who delivered out of a perseverance during pre season, and this time it's Hickey with his improved fitness. I think Alan's coaching belief to trust in Hickey's elevation to no. 1 ruck, played a part as well.
  • Membrey - Again, to trust the judgement and bringing in a player for performing well in the VFL, Membrey's been a win. It would have been so easy to go with Bruce and Paddy combination as default, and stick another mid/half forward in.
  • Belief in a number of other players - Too many to name, but believing in Wright to come back in as a forward, so soon after a switch in the VFL, Michington being given an extended run, even opportunities to Murdoch, showed a great belief in giving fringe players an opportunity.
  • Win vs Geelong - what impressed me the most in this win that I never thought the Saints would fall over during the game (even though some here did). Had this been a Ross Lyon team, it would have fallen over in a heap in a defensive overkill. Bye Bye Ross - saints have a better coach!

Obviously, I'll acknowledge some of the good work from previous years, e.g. Bruce's forward switch, member messages, more open communications, putting on videos of calls to draftees straight after being drafted, etc.
Click to expand...

After the two interstate floggings I had doubted and critcised Richo - but credit to him
he has really turned things around. I think he was forced to reassess his setups and rotations particularly through the middle. With more players carrying the midfield load its allowing Steven and Ross the blossom and really bringing the fringe players into the game. In another strange twist Fisher & Dempster being injured has also been a blessing - Delaney has stood up and looked a better option on monster forwards, plus other defenders have grown legs.

I am now back on the Richo love train and have regained the faith that
he can take us all the way!
 
Impatient Saint said:
After the two interstate floggings I had doubted and critcised Richo - but credit to him
he has really turned things around. I think he was forced to reassess his setups and rotations particularly through the middle. With more players carrying the midfield load its allowing Steven and Ross the blossom and really bringing the fringe players into the game. In another strange twist Fisher & Dempster being injured has also been a blessing - Delaney has stood up and looked a better option on monster forwards, plus other defenders have grown legs.

I am now back on the Richo love train and have regained the faith that
he can take us all the way!
Click to expand...


I still have no idea if Richo will be a great coach or not but he has hardly changed anything since the bad losses to Adelaide and WCE apart from forced changes. It was always going to happen when we win. People who knocked Richo after those losses try to find changes to justify the knocking of Rich previously.
 

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After the Adelaide game was looking at the Geelong game as damage control and a potential danger game for Richo.
To get the win shows how capable we are especially at the Etihad.
Luckily we have no tough away trips until next year so that's the next big challenge
 
tom1197 said:
After the Adelaide game was looking at the Geelong game as damage control and a potential danger game for Richo.
To get the win shows how capable we are especially at the Etihad.
Luckily we have no tough away trips until next year so that's the next big challenge
Click to expand...

I think the big challenge is to amend the game plan for Subi and Adelaide oval.

Basically, the centre setup does not work that well when other teams win good hi touts to advantage and have an easy clearance. On rebound, particularly for Subi a more kicking rather than handballing game is required.
 
plugger66 said:
I still have no idea if Richo will be a great coach or not but he has hardly changed anything since the bad losses to Adelaide and WCE apart from forced changes. It was always going to happen when we win. People who knocked Richo after those losses try to find changes to justify the knocking of Rich previously.
Click to expand...

Given what we've shown in most games this season losing by 100 & 80 points is an issue & shouldn't be overlooked. Do you think Richo overlooked them & thought "ah well we are a young team & shit happens?" Do you think he didn't learn lessons regarding his personal development & areas of improvement or put the blame squarely on the players? My opinion on this matter has been publicly quantified by Richo & the players btw.

It's naive & too simple to have your mindset on this subject IMO. The big issue for mine was why weren't the players 'up' at the beginning of those games & why did they look to give up when it wasn't going right for them? Getting players up for the contest is a coaching responsibility as much as a players.

Anyhow, apologies but I just wanted to add this to a mostly positive topic because it shits me when people act all high & mighty & feel justified after a good win. We should all be celebrating the win instead of the I told you so bull shit.

On topic, Richo appears to have player buy in & from a coaching perspective that's 80% of the job. The rest is structures, game plan, player talent & ability, etc.

Well done Richo. Big thumbs up but I don't want to get too ahead of myself. Must back it up against the GC away next week.
 
Glen Buterol said:
Given what we've shown in most games this season losing by 100 & 80 points is an issue & shouldn't be overlooked. Do you think Richo overlooked them & thought "ah well we are a young team & shit happens?" Do you think he didn't learn lessons regarding his personal development & areas of improvement or put the blame squarely on the players? My opinion on this matter has been publicly quantified by Richo & the players btw.

It's naive & too simple to have your mindset on this subject IMO. The big issue for mine was why weren't the players 'up' at the beginning of those games & why did they look to give up when it wasn't going right for them? Getting players up for the contest is a coaching responsibility as much as a players.

Anyhow, I'll just wanted to add this to a positive topic because it shits me when people act all high & mighty & feel justified after a good win. We should all be celebrating the win instead of the I told you so bull shit.

On topic, Richo appears to have player buy in & from a coaching perspective that's 80% of the job. The rest is structures, game plan, player talent & ability, etc.

Well done Richo. Big thumbs up but I don't want to get too ahead of myself. Must back it up against the GC away next week.
Click to expand...


Everyone learns lessons from any game but the main complaints on Richo after the Adelaide game were the small defence and the midfield rotations. Neither of those things have really altered in the last 2 wins. And I wasn't pointing out I was right at all. I was commenting on the one poster who after every bad loss is the most negative poster of all time and always has a go at the coach and now that we are winning says Richo has all of a sudden become a better coach.

Again I still say its to early to know if Richo is going to be a good coach. I certainly hope so but to suggest he is only good after wins and bad after losses is way to simple approach. There is a lot more to it than that.
 
plugger66 said:
Everyone learns lessons from any game but the main complaints on Richo after the Adelaide game were the small defence and the midfield rotations. Neither of those things have really altered in the last 2 wins. And I wasn't pointing out I was right at all. I was commenting on the one poster who after every bad loss is the most negative poster of all time and always has a go at the coach and now that we are winning says Richo has all of a sudden become a better coach.

Again I still say its to early to know if Richo is going to be a good coach. I certainly hope so but to suggest he is only good after wins and bad after losses is way to simple approach. There is a lot more to it than that.
Click to expand...

Well from what I saw we structured up far better with Delaney in the team. I'm basing that only off the one on one contests I saw him in. I also believe if Fisher was on Hawkins instead of Delaney & faced with the same contests he wouldn't have faired as well. Perhaps the forced change of Del into the team is a blessing in disguise? We'll never know the answer but that's my opinion.
 
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It's a sign of a good coach when we can bounce back after heavy defeats against West Coast and Adelaide with great wins against Carlton and Geelong.

Love the intensity, workrate and pressure we've shown in our last two games and that comes down to the standards Richo is setting, he's not afraid to drop guys like Lonie and Billings who weren't providing enough in that department and now have to earn their way back in.

Tactically he's been pretty good to, shifting guys into different roles where they can be more effective, having Wright up forward and around the ball rather than defence was a good move that paid off with a couple of goals.
 
freebloke said:
I think the big challenge is to amend the game plan for Subi and Adelaide oval.

Basically, the centre setup does not work that well when other teams win good hi touts to advantage and have an easy clearance. On rebound, particularly for Subi a more kicking rather than handballing game is required.
Click to expand...
Is it though? I don't think those losses has anything to do with the ground size personally, we weren't up for it from the first bounce in either of those games. That was more of an effort, pressure and application issue rather than a ground size gameplan issue to me.
 
freebloke said:
  • Win against Melbourne - People might think that the Geelong win was more important, but I think it was the win against Melbourne, that Alan's coaching stood out. Roos tried to put 8 forwards in place to take out Montagna being the +1, but Alan countered with 9 defenders. Just meant that the game was played on Saints terms, not Melbourne's.
Click to expand...

This one was a big one for me too. AR genuinely outcoached Roos in that game. Will be interested to see what happens in the reverse fixture.
 

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Speck said:
Is it though? I don't think those losses has anything to do with the ground size personally, we weren't up for it from the first bounce in either of those games. That was more of an effort, pressure and application issue rather than a ground size gameplan issue to me.
Click to expand...

I think Richo mucked up the defense for that team, but regardless we would have been spanked as we didn't turn up to play.
 
Glen Buterol said:
Well from what I saw we structured up far better with Delaney in the team. I'm basing that only off the one on one contests I saw him in. I also believe if Fisher was on Hawkins instead of Delaney & faced with the same contests he wouldn't have faired as well. Perhaps the forced change of Del into the team is a blessing in disguise? We'll never know the answer but that's my opinion.
Click to expand...

It's off topic, but I think it's a match up issue, where Delaney works well on less mobile contested marks, eg hawkins, Casbloult, etc. He doesn't fare so well on athletic/running types, eg Gunston, Franklin. So, the timing has suited him well. Big challenge for him would be against Gold Coast, where Lynch and Wright would be able to work him over.
 
Glen Buterol said:
Well from what I saw we structured up far better with Delaney in the team. I'm basing that only off the one on one contests I saw him in. I also believe if Fisher was on Hawkins instead of Delaney & faced with the same contests he wouldn't have faired as well. Perhaps the forced change of Del into the team is a blessing in disguise? We'll never know the answer but that's my opinion.
Click to expand...
That's for gratuitous. Delaney plays only because of injuries.

Otherwise we wouldn't be having this conversation.
 
Glen Buterol said:
Well from what I saw we structured up far better with Delaney in the team. I'm basing that only off the one on one contests I saw him in. I also believe if Fisher was on Hawkins instead of Delaney & faced with the same contests he wouldn't have faired as well. Perhaps the forced change of Del into the team is a blessing in disguise? We'll never know the answer but that's my opinion.
Click to expand...
They used a team defence on Hawkins and Geelong it was Roberton and Gilbert running with him at different stages what was pleasing about Del was that he played a team role and wasn't glacial unlike in the preseason. A team defence needs cohesion and .... coaching
 

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Loved his press conference. Seems to really know where we're at, and what's more the players seem to be in the same place. Three things he mentioned seemed to stick out the me. He asked for more consistency from the players, he turned our attention to the GC, suggesting that it was as important if not more important than the Geelong game, and he talked about how unacceptable the Adelaide game was. If you watch the post match interviews with the players, they all seem to mention these things as well, which means they're either really good at parroting (which is possible, given the way in which modern players have media messages drilled into them) or they too are buying in to the message. There seems to be some real pain about the Adelaide loss, could have been a real wake up call for the team and is hopefully a turning point. At any rate, I think Richo is doing a good job and I think we are moving in the right direction. A win or a loss doesn't necessarily change this direction, it can slow or expedite the process, but it's a slow one and as long as we as supporters know this, and Richo, the players, and the club know this, then we can enjoy the ride and the 5 premierships that will follow
 
Richo is traveling just fine.

Game plan is obvious and players have bought in. It won't always come of because we lack some experience, but that will come.
 
It was great win, and it was as much about the playing group really wanting to take a big scalp, as it was anything to do with Richo. I think the team balance has improved now Fisher and Dempster are out I'm afraid, and that is one big key to winning- team balance across the lines. Delaney has that extra bit of body strength that we have been lacking down deep in the backline, and Lee did some good things until he got injured against Carlton, reads the ball well, is a good mark and has good footskills and I would really like him in the backline. Hickey is having a great season, Ross is gradual improver, Gresham is adding a lot of smarts around the packs, and Steven is impacting games. Acres is another gradual improver who must be given lots of game time- he doesn't panic and usually finds the right option with the ball. Probably just need a bit more output from Bruce in the forward line- needs to get a bit more mobile and not try and take on the pack. Membrey is a smart, skilful player and Paddy will be an asset if he can stay on the ground!
 

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