Did Richmond make a mistake drafting Dion Prestia?

telsor

Hall of Famer
Joined
Aug 29, 2004
Posts
30,057
Likes
26,490
Location
Here
AFL Club
Richmond
Other Teams
Habs
If you want to compare him to O'Meara - who still hasn't set the world on fire himself - Prestia has been shit if you consider that Prestia is a year older, has played 4 more seasons than JOM, and doesn't have the excuse that's he has missed all of the last 2 seasons (although he has had his own issues). Gets slightly less of the ball compared to JOM (and that includes the game where JOM spent much of the game rested in a forward line that barely saw the ball after receiving his now infamous 'knee knock', and JOM hasn't played in a winning side yet). Prestia also gets more of his possessions from uncontested sources, and despite that, has lower disposal efficiency compared to JOM. Prestia is at least kicking it more than JOM, which is probably why he gets 1 more inside 50 than JOM per game. They've both been equally shit with their shots on goal with 1 goals 3 behinds each, although Prestia has played two more games to get his single goal. Of course Tigers paid less for him than we did for JOM, but based on what we've seen so far, I think it is fair to say JOM has much more upside.

Prestia's salary didn't force us to offload club champions though.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

hk89

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Jul 12, 2009
Posts
6,310
Likes
7,003
Location
Melbourne
AFL Club
Hawthorn
Prestia's salary didn't force us to offload club champions though.
Neither did we. Very clearly had plenty of cash to get JOM/TOM and keep both Mitchell and Lewis. Which means we now have a shit load of cash. Isn't Dusty coming up as a restricted free agent at the end of this year?
 

hk89

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Jul 12, 2009
Posts
6,310
Likes
7,003
Location
Melbourne
AFL Club
Hawthorn
So what, you got rid of them because they were no good any more?

or because you really needed those late picks?
Because they wanted to leave for longer contracts than we were willing to give, and we don't play hard ball with club legends who have help give the club 4 flags. We could have forced both to stay, but Mitchell really wanted to setup in Perth before his two youngest started school, and Lewis was offered 2 more years by Melbourne than we were willing to offer. They were both contracted and we could have kept them. Lewis probably wanted to stay, but not on a 1 year contract with no certainty of renewal afterwards. We could have been bastards and forced him to stay, and probably taken 2 full years of earnings off him by doing so, but why do that to him?

As a bonus we had to move them sooner rather than later anyway, and this let us stagger the movement of the old folks out over 2-3 years instead of 1-2. As a bonus, it also makes room to play some kids this year. It also lets us tell a believable story in the future to other players who we may ask to take unders, "take unders now and we will not **** you over at the end of your career". Lewis and Mitchell are both considerably better off financially than they would have been had we enforced their 1 year contracts.
 

master bate

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Aug 13, 2006
Posts
13,181
Likes
10,553
Location
Melbourne
AFL Club
Melbourne
Very good: 2nd rounder for Vickery
Very good: Late first rounder for Deledio
Good: Caddy for pick 26
Great: Nankervis for pick 46

I think they overpaid for Prestia, that much is clear. But it's definitely softened when you weigh up their trades as a group that saw them get a first rounder back next year, recoup a 2nd rounder this year and add 2 other best 22 players.

With pick 6 (which then became pick 7 after academy picks) you're giving up more of a shot of getting an elite player than say pick 10 or pick 15 which is probably Prestia's range. But the overall effect of Richmond's trade period was it gave them belief to turn things around quickly.

If I was in charge I would've traded more players out and headed to the draft with a strong hand last year and tried to rebuild. Instead the Tigers back in Martin, Rance, Riewoldt, Cotchin and added depth around them and are reaping the benefits.

I wouldn't call them a contender just yet but they are close enough now they can keep trying.
 

Jobe Watson

Brownlow Medalist
Joined
Jun 12, 2009
Posts
13,461
Likes
16,756
Location
Melbourne
AFL Club
Essendon
Other Teams
Arsenal
Good: Caddy for pick 26
When you consider that Geelong turned pick 26 into Brandan Parfitt, who looks like a fantastic prospect, I'm not sure if it's a win.

Caddy is a C-grade player at best and hasn't really added much to Richmond's team so far this season. Think I'd prefer an extra 6 years of Parfitt who could be anything.
 

Brown Bottle

Seasoned Campaigner
Joined
Jul 26, 2006
Posts
12,372
Likes
8,069
Location
Browntown
AFL Club
Richmond
Other Teams
East Side Hawks
His ball skills are poor but it was the right decision to get inside players
Cotchin and Martin are shining because of it

Wonder if they should have kept their powder dry and maybe snagged a cheap GWS inside player.
You mean like the bargain basement inside mids we've picked up since Tuck and Jackson retired? Thomas (Port Adelaide) and Townsend (GWS) are two that spring to mind. Unfortunately with inside mids you seem to get what you pay for
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

master bate

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Aug 13, 2006
Posts
13,181
Likes
10,553
Location
Melbourne
AFL Club
Melbourne
When you consider that Geelong turned pick 26 into Brandan Parfitt, who looks like a fantastic prospect, I'm not sure if it's a win.

Caddy is a C-grade player at best and hasn't really added much to Richmond's team so far this season. Think I'd prefer an extra 6 years of Parfitt who could be anything.
I'd definitely prefer Parfitt but he's now out for 8-10 weeks with a hammy, there's a lot of unknowns with his future. Caddy's not without injury issues - along with the fact he's a mediocre player - but for the last few years he's good for 18 games a year and can mix between midfield and forward line. Given how many youngsters look promising and amount to nothing I don't think it's a bad deal. Maybe acceptable would be more accurate than good.
 

citizen-erased

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Posts
14,942
Likes
10,712
Location
Victoria
AFL Club
Essendon
Because they wanted to leave for longer contracts than we were willing to give, and we don't play hard ball with club legends who have help give the club 4 flags. We could have forced both to stay, but Mitchell really wanted to setup in Perth before his two youngest started school, and Lewis was offered 2 more years by Melbourne than we were willing to offer. They were both contracted and we could have kept them. Lewis probably wanted to stay, but not on a 1 year contract with no certainty of renewal afterwards. We could have been bastards and forced him to stay, and probably taken 2 full years of earnings off him by doing so, but why do that to him?

As a bonus we had to move them sooner rather than later anyway, and this let us stagger the movement of the old folks out over 2-3 years instead of 1-2. As a bonus, it also makes room to play some kids this year. It also lets us tell a believable story in the future to other players who we may ask to take unders, "take unders now and we will not **** you over at the end of your career". Lewis and Mitchell are both considerably better off financially than they would have been had we enforced their 1 year contracts.
it doesn't sound like Lewis wanted to leave
Mitchell appears to be a move for a future position as a coach. Get out of the system you've known for 15 odd years and broaden the knowledge.
Lewis has been pretty magnanimous about the whole thing, but you get the feeling he left on principle for being asked to potentially look elsewhere.

Losing both has hurt the hawks. Undermined your midfield setup and essentially robbed you of your main weapon. Clean clearances and effective kicking from stoppages. Not so bad when you still hold your 1st and 2nd rd picks and a slide down the ladder can fast track a rebuild.

As for the Tiges and Prestia. I would say no. Pick 6 likely nets them Brodie, who is the closest you get to Prestia from the draft. Prestia came ready made and the Tigers have a solid enough list now.
They really only lack another quality tall defender & forward before they can push for a flag.
 

BigFrizz36

Club Legend
Joined
Mar 20, 2017
Posts
1,262
Likes
2,920
AFL Club
Carlton
it doesn't sound like Lewis wanted to leave
Mitchell appears to be a move for a future position as a coach. Get out of the system you've known for 15 odd years and broaden the knowledge.
Lewis has been pretty magnanimous about the whole thing, but you get the feeling he left on principle for being asked to potentially look elsewhere.

Losing both has hurt the hawks. Undermined your midfield setup and essentially robbed you of your main weapon. Clean clearances and effective kicking from stoppages. Not so bad when you still hold your 1st and 2nd rd picks and a slide down the ladder can fast track a rebuild.

As for the Tiges and Prestia. I would say no. Pick 6 likely nets them Brodie, who is the closest you get to Prestia from the draft. Prestia came ready made and the Tigers have a solid enough list now.
They really only lack another quality tall defender & forward before they can push for a flag.
on what planet can the tigers compete with giants, digs or crows and push for a flag? even with another good tall forward and defender (if drafted at least 3 years wait) they are miles away and have holes everywhere. gws first rounder is pick 18 - 20. rucks are average (nank has been beaten by kreuze, grundy and sauce) no run from defence and only really jack up forward (to be fair rioli looks good). got on a roll at the outset (blues were terrible against them) had a bit of luck (west coast should have nailed them but kicked badly and then the dees had no rucks and tigers got out of jail) now that there bubble has been pricked i suspect that they will come back to the field and finish 9th.
 

citizen-erased

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Posts
14,942
Likes
10,712
Location
Victoria
AFL Club
Essendon
on what planet can the tigers compete with giants, digs or crows and push for a flag? even with another good tall forward and defender (if drafted at least 3 years wait) they are miles away and have holes everywhere. gws first rounder is pick 18 - 20. rucks are average (nank has been beaten by kreuze, grundy and sauce) no run from defence and only really jack up forward (to be fair rioli looks good). got on a roll at the outset (blues were terrible against them) had a bit of luck (west coast should have nailed them but kicked badly and then the dees had no rucks and tigers got out of jail) now that there bubble has been pricked i suspect that they will come back to the field and finish 9th.
GWS are an unknown for me. Form at home is very good. Exposed form at the G, under finals pressure - ?
I won't subscribe to them being walk up favourites just yet. Swans were the last non-Vic team to win a flag. And they were a finals hardened squad.
Before that, West Coast & Swans against each other.
I reckon GWS have another finals campaign to learn from before they win one.

Nank gives them physical presence in the middle. May not be the best ruckman, but sometimes all you need is someone to compete, then be there to block/tackle the mids and put them off their game.

I haven't rated the Tigers at all over their last few seasons. Even when making finals they were still error prone and erratic with their game plan. This season Hardwick has them playing a better brand. Quick football with intensity around the ball.
They're a better team than the one we've seen for the last decade.
 

UnitedWarrior93

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Sep 18, 2014
Posts
13,080
Likes
10,081
AFL Club
Geelong
Other Teams
Man United, San Antonio Spurs
I'd definitely prefer Parfitt but he's now out for 8-10 weeks with a hammy, there's a lot of unknowns with his future. Caddy's not without injury issues - along with the fact he's a mediocre player - but for the last few years he's good for 18 games a year and can mix between midfield and forward line. Given how many youngsters look promising and amount to nothing I don't think it's a bad deal. Maybe acceptable would be more accurate than good.
Parfitt adds more to our side than Caddy did, compusure, awareness and skill, so I'm happy with the swap. His 8-10 week hammy injury is shit though.

Geelong fans always waited for Caddy to explode to that A-grade mid, but he's just always going to be that C/B-grade mid/forward, get his 20 touches and 1 goal a game but that's it.
 

telsor

Hall of Famer
Joined
Aug 29, 2004
Posts
30,057
Likes
26,490
Location
Here
AFL Club
Richmond
Other Teams
Habs
Parfitt adds more to our side than Caddy did, compusure, awareness and skill, so I'm happy with the swap. His 8-10 week hammy injury is shit though.

Geelong fans always waited for Caddy to explode to that A-grade mid, but he's just always going to be that C/B-grade mid/forward, get his 20 touches and 1 goal a game but that's it.
I love this crap.

The knock on Richmond for years is that we lack depth.

We get some decent depth player(s) and people bitch about how they're not stars...

:huh:
 

Grrr

Premiership Player
Joined
Aug 16, 2009
Posts
3,208
Likes
6,184
Location
mildura
AFL Club
Richmond
The thing about Prestia is that he knows what to do, is just not doing it at the moment. He knows where to run, is at the drop of the ball and gets hands on it, i.e. an inside mid that we have been desperately missing, it's just that he is out of form and low on confidence, and perhaps carrying his knee a bit. His first game against Carlton was top class, got it and used it well. Since then his form has tapered, that happens. Hopefully he'll run into form soon, class players can do it quickly, but one thing is certain he adds to the midfield mix.
 

Royce Hafey

Club Legend
Joined
Mar 6, 2013
Posts
2,797
Likes
8,401
Location
St Albans
AFL Club
Richmond
Addresses not just a structural problem but the key structural problem holding back Richmond in recent years - our lack of inside depth. The comparison with O'Meara is actually instructive in this regard. If you look at their stats, O'Meara is performing better and is therefore more value, but to get him Hawthorn had to trade out two club legends and, as a consequence, his good stats include heaps of handballs in a team getting flogged. Richmond meanwhile is now a low possession team with a high kick to handball ratio. You might argue that Prestia isn't the player who is responsible for our efficient direct kicking and lots of meters gained and you'd be right at a superficial level. That's being done by Cotchin and Martin. But Cotchin and Martin needed inside depth to free them up and it's worked a treat.
 
Top Bottom