Main problem at richmond

[richmond1227]

I have only missed a handful of games in the last 15 years and since the 3rd year of Danny Frawley`s tenor till now there is one common denominator of what is wrong at the RFC. We do not shepherd or block, we play as individuals. The only person this year i have seen shepherd is the push up king but even he has stopped now. I have seen us train and our skills are incredible, the ball doesn`t touch the ground and it is fantastic to watch. You watch us in a match and we are bordering on ******ed and it`s because we don`t look out for each other. If you watch the Pies or Cats it`s inbuilt in them, they play as a TEAM! Our 3 tall forwards flew against each other today. No teamwork. We are not far away from becoming a good team with the list we have but there will never ever be any success at the RFC unless we BLOCK and SHEPHERD

 

[TigerTank]

I think some of that is a symptom of a lack of on-field leadership.
I don't get the impression there is a "general" in the midfield group that has the confidence or experience or character to make sure those things happen regularly.
I'd love to think there was a way that kind of behaviour could be learnt or developed. Some clubs seem to have a much better record at it than ours.

 

[couchy555]

I like your theory, it fits quite well. Everyones worried about their own spot in the team so they wanna be the hero with the ball, not enough of the "grunt" work being done, team results suffer as a consequence.

Last time i remember Richmond being an exceptional team was 95 under Northey and he might not have been tactically astute his teams did tend have energy and enthusiasim for each other.

 

[Woodstock]

We need a midfield skipper

 

[Madtiger2006]

we don't lead at kicks in either

 

[Del65166]

fully agree with the op about the chronic lack of shepards and blocks by rfc for years. love to see a change

 

[ata33cro]

I think some of that is a symptom of a lack of on-field leadership.
I don't get the impression there is a "general" in the midfield group that has the confidence or experience or character to make sure those things happen regularly.
I'd love to think there was a way that kind of behaviour could be learnt or developed. Some clubs seem to have a much better record at it than ours.

I agree, our lack of leadership on field is a major problem. We need a Judd-like captain - this time we cannot blame the coach and ask for him to be sacked.

Maybe it's time to let Cotchin to take over, he is the only one I think can do the job.

 

[Cleishy]

I agree. Cotchin demands and commands respect. He is the man for the job. Just have Newman step down in the off season.

 

[Madison]

I agree, our lack of leadership on field is a major problem. We need a Judd-like captain - this time we cannot blame the coach and ask for him to be sacked.

Maybe it's time to let Cotchin to take over, he is the only one I think can do the job.

Captain is just a title. If Cotch can't lead the midfield without that title he shouldn't be given it.

Newman is a great captain IMO.

I remember specifically a contest this arvo when Cotch backpedalled away to get a cheap handball, when he should have taken two big steps and laid a bump on the Geelong player attempting the tackle.

I love him but he isn't the magic answer. He is clearly the next captain, but the whole team isn't going to start blocking for each other because you give him the title tomorrow.

 

[Bojangles17]

is a very good point and I would think most footy observers would draw that conclusion, was hoping it would be first area dimma would address, despite some promising signs early, we have stalled defensively for sure

 

[YellowandBlackBlood]

Completely agree with the OP.

Defence leads to Offence. Defending your teammate allows him to execute his skills. Not doing so leads to poor disposal and turnovers. Blocking opponents allows you to mark without as much pressure too. I saw Griffiths blocked out of two or three marking contests. Seems like it is ok from the umpires to do so (and other times it isn't!).
Richmond hasn't done this consistently since 1995 and then it was only for one year!
I cannot believe that we are the same team that played with such verve earlier in the year. We were one of the most efficient teams at one point. Talent surely don't disintegrate does it? I know confidence does, but this team has also lost desire and spirit. Hardwick and the players have a lot of work to do between now and round 1 2012. And that is an understatement.

 

[Strawbs]

I agree. Cotchin demands and commands respect. He is the man for the job. Just have Newman step down in the off season.

Why on earth would you want Newman to stand down?

 

[the ranger]

The painful thing is that I thought Hardwick would change this and it looks like he either can't or has decided it's not that important.

 

[gaelictiogar]

I think some of that is a symptom of a lack of on-field leadership.
I don't get the impression there is a "general" in the midfield group that has the confidence or experience or character to make sure those things happen regularly.
I'd love to think there was a way that kind of behaviour could be learnt or developed. Some clubs seem to have a much better record at it than ours.

Agreed.

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

Apparently been spoken about regularly within team meetings , in particular leading up to the Freo game, and around contests . The problem is those empowered with leadership are demanding it of fellow players, yet the SC don't back them up !
Shepherding and use of the body wasn't Nick Stevens strongest facet !

 

[discofan]

Thread plus

we don't lead at kicks in either

and we 'Ball Watch' too much instead of reading the play (very annoying)

 

[jaytiger]

Agree 1%'s should be a non negotaible at the club, and it should have been stated from day 1. you dont do them 99% of the time then you dont play. who ever you are.

Having said that unfortunately i think its a bit of chicken and the egg scenario. If the team is doing the 1%'s it leads to playing better football and ultimately being more competitive on the scoreboard. If the team is getting belted the 1%'s inevitably drop off. which is what i think supports get angry about, and not so much the scoreboard.

 

[Tassie27]

Would have been great if we offered Ben Cousins an appointment to be midfield coach.

 

[Bruce Monteath]

You read my mind Tassie.

I got a shock a couple of years ago when I noticed one of our players was finally blocking and shepherding. Needless to say it was number 32.

I haven't seen it much since he left.

I often wonder if I am missing something as it seems like a logical and relatively simple tactic to drill into our players, and it doesn't require much skill or complexity. In my view, when we are so far behind in most of the more complex parts of the game - tackling and shepherding should be the one thing we drill until we're the league leaders. Again, I wonder if I am missing something here..

 

[rammbo]

I have only missed a handful of games in the last 15 years and since the 3rd year of Danny Frawley`s tenor till now there is one common denominator of what is wrong at the RFC. We do not shepherd or block, we play as individuals. The only person this year i have seen shepherd is the push up king but even he has stopped now. I have seen us train and our skills are incredible, the ball doesn`t touch the ground and it is fantastic to watch. You watch us in a match and we are bordering on ******ed and it`s because we don`t look out for each other. If you watch the Pies or Cats it`s inbuilt in them, they play as a TEAM! Our 3 tall forwards flew against each other today. No teamwork. We are not far away from becoming a good team with the list we have but there will never ever be any success at the RFC unless we BLOCK and SHEPHERD

This is a perenial problem at richmond and i thought dimmer would address it first but no he has skipped the basics and has tryed to implement his polish and flair game plan first. I thought there was to b no f..king shortcuts .

 

[Neen]

Absolutely true. Now didn't Ben Cousins say that the first thing he noticed was a lack of shepherding and blocking ? Now he was the "master" - when he didn't have the ball, he was running beside the player with the ball, shepherding and barking instructions. I've seen Cotchin do it many times. What I don't understand is that this HAS to be a skill taught during the junior years, so why is so poor at senior level ?

 

[RoaringTiger]

I have only missed a handful of games in the last 15 years and since the 3rd year of Danny Frawley`s tenor till now there is one common denominator of what is wrong at the RFC. We do not shepherd or block, we play as individuals. The only person this year i have seen shepherd is the push up king but even he has stopped now. I have seen us train and our skills are incredible, the ball doesn`t touch the ground and it is fantastic to watch. You watch us in a match and we are bordering on ******ed and it`s because we don`t look out for each other. If you watch the Pies or Cats it`s inbuilt in them, they play as a TEAM! Our 3 tall forwards flew against each other today. No teamwork. We are not far away from becoming a good team with the list we have but there will never ever be any success at the RFC unless we BLOCK and SHEPHERD

I totally agree with this post. Spot on. Teams like Collingwood are ALWAYS blocking for each other. We might do it one or twice a quarter max. Excellent post.

 

[Wally Matera]

I have only missed a handful of games in the last 15 years and since the 3rd year of Danny Frawley`s tenor till now there is one common denominator of what is wrong at the RFC. We do not shepherd or block, we play as individuals. The only person this year i have seen shepherd is the push up king but even he has stopped now. I have seen us train and our skills are incredible, the ball doesn`t touch the ground and it is fantastic to watch. You watch us in a match and we are bordering on ******ed and it`s because we don`t look out for each other. If you watch the Pies or Cats it`s inbuilt in them, they play as a TEAM! Our 3 tall forwards flew against each other today. No teamwork. We are not far away from becoming a good team with the list we have but there will never ever be any success at the RFC unless we BLOCK and SHEPHERD

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Q) Of the 15 years you mention, what is the one common denominator in all of this?

A) Wayne ****ing Campbell

The most selfish indivudal footballer the club has ever seen. I'm so pleased to have him coaching our players, its brilliant.

 

[WillowSF]

Like someone mentioned earlier in the thread, you guys need to somehow snare a Judd like leader from outside the club to lift the entire playing group. Carlton were pathetic prior to Judd's arrival. Blues gave up Kennedy and draft picks to get him. Who at Richmond are you willing to give up to get an established leader from another club? (That's assuming one is available and open to the move.)

You've gone through coaches with little success so it's worth a try.

 

[sante]

And we're reactive, not pro-active.