Toast I feel violated....

[Wally Matera]

... its been very difficult to sit down the past couple of days.

Congrats baggers... you sure know how to pull our pants down. Whilst l dont think its a true reflection of us, what is evident is the progress of some of your fringe players this year.

I didnt rate Rats as a coach, and it may not be directly down to him how advanced Garlett, Robinson, Walker and Co in comparison to last year, but he does deserve a .

Anyhoo... well played, sorta gives me hope that the players that my fellow supporters are tragically burning and abusing over on our board, will eventually come good so long as we keep faith in their constant development.

 

[Blue Dawn]

You should feel violated - rather stretched in a few places in fact - given what we did to your mob.

Well done on sharing your stretchiness with us my friend (and no doubt your young fellas will continue to develop).

 

[Poseidon]

Nice work Wally.

A lot of the comments on your board are warranted IMO. It was a day for the supporters and your boys forgot to bring their heart.

 

[Wally Matera]

Nice work Wally.

A lot of the comments on your board are warranted IMO. It was a day for the supporters and your boys forgot to bring their heart.

Possibly, l think the timing of the performance made it particularly hard for the supporters. And without using it as an excuse, its part and parcel of being a young side.

Without making this a Richmond thread - not my intention, trust me - Dimma has turned over 26 players in 18 months, so bound to get "turned over and subjected to some internal damage" early on during the re-build.

I keep telling myself... "its character-building".

 

[Keyza]

Certainly felt for Richmond supporters on Saturday.
It was a big day, with past players and financial supporters lining up when the side ran out. I was really concerned about this game.
To put up a performance like that was unbelievable. Hang in there, it will turn around.

 

[JTMTJ]

Always good to have a 103 point win, but is it a good thing having a soft win like this going into this week?

 

[Wally Matera]

Always good to have a 103 point win, but is it a good thing having a soft win like this going into this week?

Reckon its the best preparation... you virtually had the bye, whilst having the opportunity to blow out some cobwebs. By half-time, you were able to think about this week. Dont think you could ask for a better lead-up tbh.

 

[Poseidon]

Possibly, l think the timing of the performance made it particularly hard for the supporters. And without using it as an excuse, its part and parcel of being a young side.

Without making this a Richmond thread - not my intention, trust me - Dimma has turned over 26 players in 18 months, so bound to get "turned over and subjected to some internal damage" early on during the re-build.

I keep telling myself... "its character-building".

Too much young talent to be blasted away like that, you just gotta hang onto them. And get rid of that Grigg guy, he's no good.

I hope you smash the Bummers next week!

 

[Wally Matera]

Too much young talent to be blasted away like that, you just gotta hang onto them. And get rid of that Grigg guy, he's no good.

I hope you smash the Bummers next week!

**** me drunk... did we kick an own goal there! How can a bloke that has the ability to get it 30 times, be so filthy by foot??? It seems beyond comprehension that he hasnt been able to improve.

At least we didnt give too much away . Maybe we can catch up later in the year to have another discussion... maybe Hampson?

I wanted to beat both you guys and the scum. Actually them beating Geelong was the best thing that could have happened, guarenteed Ryder not to turn up two weeks in a row.

 

[Dramoth]

I think that we will be keeping hold of Collins... gave you guys a good shafting over the Grigg trade.

Should have been a cricket score back at the start of the year, so you got a bunch of flowers and a box of chocolates as a buildup for what we did to you guys on the weekend.

You cant say you werent warned that it was coming...

All being said and done with now. You have a few good players, if you recruit and trade well over the next couple of years, then there is a good chance you might be on the way back to the top in 3-4 years.

I will be damned good to have all 4 big Melbourne clubs back into the top 8 in a couple of years time... those ****ers from windy hill can go screw the pooch... I reckon Hird is going to do to them what Voss did to Brisbane and not even give them a reach around for their troubles.

 

[AlecDuncan]

It's character building Wally. We know it all too well. Good luck for the rest of the year, and give the Bombers hell.

 

[Poseidon]

I think that we will be keeping hold of Collins... gave you guys a good shafting over the Grigg trade.

I'd say the trade was even. Both clubs have gotten nothing out of their players as of yet IMO.

 

[Funkalicous]

I'd still rather Grigg. He would've lifted his output like the rest of our fringe midfielders this year. By leaving, he's denied himself a career defining preseason of development and the confidence gained from seeing hard work pay off.

It's harsh, but I've never witnessed a player become a better footballer as a result of moving to Punt Road.

 

[thylacine60]

But AC is likely to improve significantly.

 

[GordonBlue]

But AC is likely to improve significantly.

I am seriously excited to see Collins doing magic next year... I seem to be the only person who is truly excited about this kid... People are judging him too much by the Collingwood game... he is a shitloads better player than what he showed that game, and I am 100% sure we will see this next year, and will become a regular

 

[GordonBlue]

I'd still rather Grigg. He would've lifted his output like the rest of our fringe midfielders this year. By leaving, he's denied himself a career defining preseason of development and the confidence gained from seeing hard work pay off.

It's harsh, but I've never witnessed a player become a better footballer as a result of moving to Punt Road.

I agree that Grigg would've got better had he stayed with us... but I have a feeling we have his kind by the bucket loads now... we need a Collins type more, where we can play him midfield on the wing or forward to suit the situation of the game... Grigg is only ok in the midfield and it ends there...

 

[Wickzki]

I am seriously excited to see Collins doing magic next year... I seem to be the only person who is truly excited about this kid... People are judging him too much by the Collingwood game... he is a shitloads better player than what he showed that game, and I am 100% sure we will see this next year, and will become a regular

I was rapt when we got him. However, had the opportunity to watch most of his Richmond games back as well as his Carlton games. Save for the Sydney game in which he excelled, he seems like a guy who gives his all each and every time he steps out on the park but at absolute most he's a good fringe player who is handy for depth purposes. In saying that, that's pretty much what Grigg was for us save for the few times he played brilliant football. So we traded one fringe player for another but the real gain came in the attitude.

Every premiership team needs those depth players with tremendous attitudes to come into the squad and do the job when it's asked of them. The 1995 team, for example, had Brent Heaver, Luke O'Sullivan, Ronny DeIulio, etc. who weren't a part of the best 21 but gave the club a lift when they were selected.

 

[NAUGHT5]

Grigg is a decent player and will be good for them IMO. Has had a few good games this year. Being a consistent player in such an inconsistent side is very hard. He struggled with us for a few years before coming good late. I was amazed he asked to leave considering how long it took him to find form. Now it's like he's starting all over again. He'll come good.

Wally - at Carlton he was thought to lack work rate at training and had a poor attitude. Do you know if that's the case still?

 

[Tazwegian]

I'd say the trade was even. Both clubs have gotten nothing out of their players as of yet IMO.

To be fair, Grigg has played some pretty good games for Richmond.

 

[laminex]

... its been very difficult to sit down the past couple of days.

Congrats baggers... you sure know how to pull our pants down. Whilst l dont think its a true reflection of us, what is evident is the progress of some of your fringe players this year.

I didnt rate Rats as a coach, and it may not be directly down to him how advanced Garlett, Robinson, Walker and Co in comparison to last year, but he does deserve a .

Anyhoo... well played, sorta gives me hope that the players that my fellow supporters are tragically burning and abusing over on our board, will eventually come good so long as we keep faith in their constant development.

Been done to us over the last 10 years, you guys have a good crop of players that will do it other in the next couple of years.

 

[Monkey King]

I agree that Grigg would've got better had he stayed with us...

Grigg is in his first year with a new club and just turned 23. Let's see what we're saying in 5 years from now. I suspect the mutton head will turn out all right for them in the end.

Anyway Wally, nice to see you pay some praise to Ratten. He's had his faults, but from the minute he took over as senior coach, the playing group stopped the rot and started to rise up the ladder. He's gotta get some some kudos for that.

 

[HBF]

The first thing Richmond need to do is get a decent ruckman. It's great having some guns in the midfield like Martin, Cotchin, Deledio and Foley, but they'll continue to get little to no service if they don't have a quality big man getting the ball to them. Getting Bellchambers could be a possibility given he's not considered their number one man at Windy Hill. I also mentioned that Maric from the Crows might be worth looking at, given that Jacobs has the #1 mantle over there.

Second thing Richmond need to sort out is their kicking skills. You apply enough pressure to them, and they all but give you the ball back. I wonder how many goals we got as a direct result of a Richmond turnover on Saturday.

Get these 2 things right, and Richmond will be a much better side in 2012.

 

[Juddernaut08]

Grigg is in his first year with a new club and just turned 23. Let's see what we're saying in 5 years from now. I suspect the mutton head will turn out all right for them in the end.

Anyway Wally, nice to see you pay some praise to Ratten. He's had his faults, but from the minute he took over as senior coach, the playing group stopped the rot and started to rise up the ladder. He's gotta get some some kudos for that.

Glad to see fair appraisals of each other's teams.

Grigg is far more talented than Collins; but you take the good with the bad.

Out of the Big 4, Richmond are my least-hated, and I'd rather see them up and about before Essendon (and in Collingwood's stead).

 

[Wally Matera]

How to answer all that:

- l dont think anyone has won out of the trade, but what annoys me is the fact that we would engage in a trade when it contradicts everything that Hardwick stood for. He has stated on numerous occasions that he only drafts people that are good by foot. Bewildered.

- I am, and always will be a Collo fan. He was building cult status down at Punt Road. Anyone that tells you that we were happy to see him go, is a filthy liar. Has skills, knows how to position himself... and is young.

- Rats deserves the credit. He still needs to deliver in September, but for the amount of pressure he was placed under prior to round one, gee whiz, you cant fault the bloke (other than he looks like a half-eaten pastie)

- Yes, we need a ruckman. But l shit myself at the thought of trading our first round draft pick on a ruckman. Whilst we have drafted well of late, past ****-ups still make me wet the bed.

 

[blue gunslinger]

focus is on the dogs