Calling Mark Ricciuto...

[Slippery Pete]

Is there any way we can get him back at the football club in some capacity? It seems that we could really use his hardness, grunt, direction and uncomplicated leadership style at the moment. All the things Roo is, are all the things the club seems to be missing.

 

[Alecks]

call modra too?

 

[Go You Crows]

I wonder whether our obvious lack of on field leadership at the moment is partly due to the fact that we have had the senior players in the team for so long. For younger players they may well have deferred to the seniority that was there. Now that they are not everyone will have to learn to step up and play a different role than what they have been used to. This may well take time.

 

[relapse]

This is exactly why I have been quite vocal in my disappointment with Goodwin continually being made captain year after year. As a club we have been caught out once again for being reactive rather than proactive.

After Roo retired we had good opportunity to mentor our next captain while Edwards, Goody etc were still playing good football, but the club decided to ingore that chance and we are now in a situation where our so called "future leaders" are now being exposed due to their lack of leadership experience.

 

[Butts_JZZ30]

I thought it was a clear choice that Goodwin be captain. The problem is this time there is no real clear choice or natural leader. Goody gets some stick for being an average captain, but take him out of the side and see how much we have struggled.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

I thought it was a clear choice that Goodwin be captain. The problem is this time there is no real clear choice or natural leader. Goody gets some stick for being an average captain, but take him out of the side and see how much we have struggled.

Agree here. I'm one who probably didn't quite appreciate just how big an influence he has on our group, as a player as much as a captain.

He might not be that spectacular but he rarely if ever fumbles the ball. The times he goes in to the centre square he will always pick up a few clearances. He puts himself in good spots in the D50 and always picks up a few timely intercepts per game. His kicking off half back is reliable and he almost never is the one who chips sideways - he keeps us moving in the right direction.

Added to that he almost never gets <20 possessions in a game even against the best opposition and we have taken a fair slice of quality out of our team.

 

[Butts_JZZ30]

Spot on and he always goes hard at the contest no matter if the team is up or down.

 

[Allbetsroff]

Knows how to belt blokes.

 

[StonesThrow]

Dont know how fit he would be these days though......

 

[yodellinhank]

Was thinking today of what Essendon need in a coach, should our current one be replaced. I got to thinking that Mark Ricciuto possesses many of the qualities I was thinking about.

Has Ricciuto ever been approached to be an assistant anywhere? Would he aspire to be a coach in the future?

 

[craig crowing]

How many more ex players we want at club as ass coach etc .
Come on guys . How does the way he plays relate to how he can have team playing .
What we want is a experienced coach that can give ideas match day to Craigy and not afraid to question him

 

[KUNG FU]

Agree here. I'm one who probably didn't quite appreciate just how big an influence he has on our group, as a player as much as a captain.

He might not be that spectacular but he rarely if ever fumbles the ball. The times he goes in to the centre square he will always pick up a few clearances. He puts himself in good spots in the D50 and always picks up a few timely intercepts per game. His kicking off half back is reliable and he almost never is the one who chips sideways - he keeps us moving in the right direction.

Added to that he almost never gets <20 possessions in a game even against the best opposition and we have taken a fair slice of quality out of our team.

+ 1

I don't think many will look back at Goody as a great captain, but his absence has really hurt the side.

 

[TDRP]

If the team can replicate Saturdays effort without any of Goodwin, McLeod, Edwards, Burton, Hentschel and company that will be a good start.

Just got to re-sign Thommo, Knights and Bock...

As for captain... we don't have standouts for the job... but any of VB, Rutten, Thommo would be serviceable with Sloane and Danger to lead the next gen.

 

[dplggr47]

feel sorry for Roo, if we are so desperate that we need to call him out of enjoying a well deserved retirement, to save the club, but would be nice if he was still at the club.

 

[Schulzycrow]

Mentioned in thread about assistant coaches. Would have him on board before Goody - no disrespect to him, but Roo is to the AFC like Bucks is to Collingwood - universally respected by all in and out of the club. Tells it like it is and is a natural leader. Something that has been missing this year.

 

[jenny61_99]

I wonder if you can put him in as an off-field leader? Attends all team meetings, joins them in at the huddle and gees them up... that sort of thing.

 

[Schulzycrow]

Selling him short- we don't need another Charlie Walsh. Sound him out, does he want an assistant job? More to offer than Bicks or Harty Imo.

 

[Mr Crow!]

Bring back Wayne Weidemann and John Klug.

They were men.

They will transform the club.

 

[StillCrowing]

While Roo would be awesome to have as a coach, I think as a club we're still suffering a hangover from the premiership golden era. Until these old faces are out the door it's hard to imagine any of the younger players commanding anywhere near as much respect. The team is going to look very different with no Goodwin, McLeod, and Edwards on a full time basis.

 

[Godallblighty]

How many more ex players we want at club as ass coach etc .
Come on guys . How does the way he plays relate to how he can have team playing .
What we want is a experienced coach that can give ideas match day to Craigy and not afraid to question him

You'd think that Roo would have the respect and status around the club to do just that...and be listened to.

However, there are too many ex-players around at the mo. I'd have Rehn and Roo and move the rest on for some experienced coaches from elsewhere. Hinkley would be good.