Opinion Consistency

[_RT_]

As Richmond fans we're all well aware that we lack consistency, from quarter to quarter and week to week and IMO a big reason for it is the lack of consistency in our line up and game plan. Not sure about everyone else but I watch 7-9 games of footy every week and the one thing I see from the better teams is their consistency in these areas.

Port, Hawthorn, Sydney, Geelong, Fremantle & Collingwood all follow the same game plan every week and always line up with the same structures regardless of the changes that are made to the side at selection. Unfortunately when it comes to our side the changes made to the side often dictate a change in where players line up and the way we go about playing the game.

I've posted in a few threads this week a structure that I would like to see us go with and I think if we were to go with it we would soon see the consistency in performances improve as players become more and more comfortable in what was expected of them in their roles every week and what their teammates were going to be doing each and every week.

For those that haven't seen it here is the structure I want to see:

B: Small/Medium Defender KPD KPD
HB: Small/Medium Defender KPD Small/Medium Defender
C: Outside Midfielder In/Out Midfielder Outside Midfielder
HF: Small/Medium FWD/Mid KPF Small/Medium FWD/Mid
F: Small/Medium FWD/Mid KPF Ruck/KPF
R: Ruck/KPF In/Out Midfielder In/Out Midfielder
INT: Small/Medium Defender Outside Midfielder In/Out Midfielder Small/Medium Mid/FWD

To go with that structure here is how I'd break down the list to fit into those categories:
Ruck/KPF Maric Hampson Vickery Stephenson
KPF Riewoldt Griffiths Elton McBean A.Edwards
KPD Rance Chaplin Astbury Grimes
Small/Medium Defender Houli Dea Petterd Batchelor Morris Newman
Small/Medium Forward/Midfielder Deledio Martin Lennon S.Edwards Lloyd McDonough Knights King
In/Out Midfielder Cotchin Vlastuin Jackson Miles Thomas Foley Arnot Helbig
Outside Midfielder Ellis Conca Grigg Gordon O'Hanlon McIntosh

So using that structure and the breakdown of the list I'd like to see our changes each week be based around players in those groups being picked to match the positions and when changes are needed use those from within the group to replace those going out. Granted in a situation where we have a big injury list in any one group you might need to take someone from one group to fill in another group but with the even breakdown of the list above that would rarely happen.

I believe that if we were to go down this path we would soon see as I said above an improvement in performances across the team as players would become accustomed to the roles they are being asked to play week after week rather than being shuffled around every week to try and fill holes/areas of need.

The other benefit with this is that at VFL level you can also structure up the side the same way so those players that you're developing are developing in set roles rather than being swung around all over the place as well. I've watched the VFL side on 4 occasions this year live and once on TV and there are certain players in that side that are thrown around from quarter to quarter as they look to fill holes that appear.

How anyone is supposed to develop confidence and consistency when that is happening is beyond me and it's no wonder that when we do call up a kid to the seniors they more often than not struggle to have an impact. When I look at the better sides I named above you'll often find that the player that comes in to replace someone going out will usually be played in the role of the guy they are replacing.

When it comes to game plans these sides have the one game plan that encompasses both offensive and defensive aspects of their games and regardless of the opposition or if they are winning/losing they will play the same way. Now some might suggest but if you're playing the same way every week the opposition will figure you out. Well if that's the case how come those sides I mentioned above more often than not win if everyone knows how they will play. It's because when push comes to shove these sides know that what they have put in place gets the job done. When you're chopping and changing game plans like we seem to do from quarter to quarter and week to week it's no surprise that our players often look confused and make mistakes that have us fans in the stands scratching our heads.

So maybe just maybe it's time for Hardwick and co to stop with the constant changing and just settle the side into a predictable structure/game plan, then we might start seeing the side get back to playing the consistent football we were playing last year.

 

[The Rusty Trombone]

I'd be happy for you to take over at seasons end RT. Would that consistency incorporate dropping players after they've played 2 or 3 bad games in a row and then they'd have to play 2 or 3 good ones in the VFL before coming back in? Disregarding injury needs of course .

 

[_RT_]

I'd be happy for you to take over at seasons end RT. Would that consistency incorporate dropping players after they've played 2 or 3 bad games in a row and then they'd have to play 2 or 3 good ones in the VFL before coming back in? Disregarding injury needs of course .

Of course it would, obviously the out and out stars get a free pass back into the side if they are coming back from a 1-2 week injury, but if they are coming back from a long term layoff they come back through the 2's and get some touch before being thrown back in.

I was listening to Bolton talk about the Hawks and he said that their structure and game plan allows younger players to come in, even if they are a late change and know exactly what is expected of them and what the role is they have to fill. On the contrary ours seems to be rather hap hazard in it's approach. We throw players around and hope that they will be able to do a role they don't normally do.

Imagine how much better it would be being able to go to the reserves and pick a small medium defender to replace one going out, rather than taking a kid drafted as a HF/Midfielder and asking them to suddenly become a HBF/BP when they have never played that role.

 

[nut]

I coach that wishes for the star.....

 

[Cevap_Roll]

Don't know what you're on about. We have heaps of consistency, we consistently loose.

 

[_RT_]

Don't know what you're on about. We have heaps of consistency, we consistently loose.

 

[Cevap_Roll]

No need for the sarcasm just trying to add some humor in here.

 

[_RT_]

No need for the sarcasm just trying to add some humor in here.

So was I.

 

[Bazzar]

I find it interesting we are ranked number 1 for final quarter margins, yet it appears to be our 2nd and 3rd quarters where we drop off and pace ourselves. On field leadership has a lot to answer for in this regard.