Oppo Camp Non-Essendon Thread X

[BrunoV]

I know we don't like Carlton however Andrew Walker has officially announced his retirement. Have to wish him all the best.
His body let him down over and over and to smash out 13 years was a fair effort. Probably never showed the full talent he had as a result.

Was a freakishly good athlete.

I still think that mark he took over Carlisle is the best I have seen.

 

[sameolds33]

I know we don't like Carlton however Andrew Walker has officially announced his retirement. Have to wish him all the best.
His body let him down over and over and to smash out 13 years was a fair effort. Probably never showed the full talent he had as a result.

i don't mind Carlton and always liked Walker. His best was electric. That mark!

 

[Runk]

Was a freakishly good athlete.

I still think that mark he took over Carlisle is the best I have seen.

Will never forget it. My wife is a Blues fan won't let me forget it either, as we were leaving as I cracked it hard that night (so angry) and on our way out I watched him soar over Jake and she was looking at the steps. The first and last time I go to the footy with my wife.

 

[BrunoV]

Would it not be more a bold move (not that Richmond are known for bold moves) to trade away on or two top end talents? I would mention letting go the coach too however I'm not sure if that's going to help, as who's out there right now that could steady them? Certainly his assistants need removal imo. They're really in a lose/lose situation right now wouldn't you think?

It would certainly be a bold move but it would signify to me that Richmond does not really understand what its problem is.

They are culturally and tactically soft and I don't see what getting rid of their best players does to change any of that.

 

[Beerfish]

They are culturally and tactically soft and I don't see what getting rid of their best players does to change any of that.

Maybe but at least it would give them a solid reason for being shit.

 

[Mercurial89]

It would certainly be a bold move but it would signify to me that Richmond does not really understand what its problem is.

They are culturally and tactically soft and I don't see what getting rid of their best players does to change any of that.

Making a bold decision to know where you are and to get rid of some of your best players in order to build something new could be perceived as a strong and culture defining move.

Not that I believe they will do that.

 

[BrunoV]

Making a bold decision to know where you are and to get rid of some of your best players in order to build something new could be perceived as a strong and culture defining move.

Not that I believe they will do that.

But what happens when the new players are absorbed into the same crap?

 

[Runk]

But what happens when the new players are absorbed into the same crap?

I can't see that occurring without the removal of the entire board, right down to the boot studders.

 

[Mercurial89]

But what happens when the new players are absorbed into the same crap?

I think if they did what I was suggesting, plus new coach, new staff, redesigned board and the trading of their stars they could change their culture into one where youth is given a chance to blossom (see Melbourne, The Carlton changes and hopefully us)

But you are right, just trading players and not changing the DNA of the club would result in more failure.

 

[GUMBLETRON]

The players aren't the problem, the system is, and you can't trade players for a new system.

 

[astrowizzle]

Will never forget it. My wife is a Blues fan won't let me forget it either, as we were leaving as I cracked it hard that night (so angry) and on our way out I watched him soar over Jake and she was looking at the steps. The first and last time I go to the footy with my wife.

She must have some good qualities. The first screening test of a potential partner should involve the questioning of football preferences

 

[Runk]

She must have some good qualities. The first screening test of a potential partner should involve the questioning of football preferences

I was blinded by a cat

 

[Eleven 38]

I think if they did what I was suggesting, plus new coach, new staff, redesigned board and the trading of their stars they could change their culture into one where youth is given a chance to blossom (see Melbourne, The Carlton changes and hopefully us)

But you are right, just trading players and not changing the DNA of the club would result in more failure.

You can't use Melbourne and Carlton as examples, they haven't done shit yet. In fact the tigers looked like Carlton and melbpurne 5 years ago.. The only teams you can look at for culture really are Sydney, Hawthorn and Geelong. Because besides those 3 only collingwood and west coast has won a flag in the last 10years and they've had a total culture overhauls since their flag.

 

[Harlequin]

I was blinded by a cat

I married a tiger supporter

I was drunk!

 

[RedmanWasHere]

I was blinded by a cat

I was Blinded by the Light.
Revved up like a deuce.
Another runner in the night.

 

[Yoda_]

Genuinely have to feel sorry for Damian Hardwick. It's like polishing a turd that is the Richmond FC.

When you have 'best 22' guys like Kane Lambert, Shaun Grigg, Taylor Hunt and even Shaun Hampson you know you're in a world of trouble.


Hardwick did well to get that rabble of a football club to the finals the last two years but as it always happens, other teams advance, some stagnate. Richmond has stagnated if not fallen away since 2015.


The one guy who has not gotten one scathing criticism in all of this is Francis Jackson. The last star quality player they drafted was Dustin Martin at pick 3 in 2009. In between we have seen a plethora of B - grade/vanilla foot soldiers come into that club. Brandon Ellis, Nick Vlastuin, Jake Bachelor, Reece Conca, Sam Lloyd, Anthony Miles.

Nothing there screams winner. You look at our recruiting, and even last year, Aaron Francis screams winner. Zac Merrett two years prior, Joe Daniher (despite being always likely a Bombers) is a winner.


The sooner they accept the mediocrity that lies within the sooner they can move onwards and upwards. The idea of trading away some established stars for high picks is not a bad idea at all. When the Hawks traded away John Hay (for pick 18) and Nathan Lonie (pick 14 somehow), they reaped Grant Birchall and Max Bailey. In 2004 the Hawks ended up with picks 2 (Jarryd Roughead), 5 (Lance Franklin) and 7 (Jordan Lewis) on the back of trading away established players like Nathan Thompson and picks.

tl;dr?

Richmond need to tidy the joint up. Get rid of the people not performing and bring in a winning culture and the club can move out of it's mediocrity.

 

[Runk]

I married a tiger supporter

I was drunk!

Ouch. He must be a miserable bastard

 

[Runk]

I was Blinded by the Light.
Revved up like a deuce.
Another runner in the night.

Not sure if that's how that song goes but well done nonetheless

 

[Old Campaigner]

Richmond - the problem is simple. The recruiting has been under funded and under maned for years. Have been saying for ages there skill level is simply below average. They can play with spirit at their best but they just give the ball back too often.

Agreed. They went the safe options with their first round picks of late and got exactly that: solid but uninspiring foot soldiers. But it really shows in their performance in the later rounds of the draft. I can't think of any players who came from deep in the draft and forced their way into the seniors the way guys like Gleeson, Walla, Hartley and Fantasia have done.

Would it not be more a bold move (not that Richmond are known for bold moves) to trade away on or two top end talents? I would mention letting go the coach too however I'm not sure if that's going to help, as who's out there right now that could steady them? Certainly his assistants need removal imo. They're really in a lose/lose situation right now wouldn't you think?

They seem to be in a bit of a bind. They could trade away a couple of stars but they still seem to be in the grips of a kind of paralysis bought on by 30 years of delivering shithouse performances to the most demanding fans in the AFL. I don't know that in their current mindset/culture that they can pull off a decisive move like trading away a couple of gun players. After all this is the same club that a few years ago opted to avoid a full rebuild because it would take too long for the fans.

I actually think they might be on the right track by getting Ernst and Young in. I doubt the advice they get will be terrible and it might give them the impetus to make some big changes in the football department this year as a prelude to starting the rebuild with a fresh coach, assistants, recruiters and support staff nicely settled in by the end of next year.

 

[Old Campaigner]

Looks like some shit might be about to go down at Tigerland, that was interesting timing

A prominent group of disgruntled Richmond supporters are planning a bloodless coup, targeting at least five long-serving Tiger board members, including president Peggy O'Neal, in their bid to reshape the club's board and future football direction.

(Caro warning) http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-ne...prominent-tigers-backers-20160802-gqjixd.html

 

[JDavey]

Looks like some shit might be about to go down at Tigerland, that was interesting timing

(Caro warning) http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-ne...prominent-tigers-backers-20160802-gqjixd.html

Triggered - not clicking.

 

[DapperDon]

I seem to remember a far more scathing article when Essendon people felt the club was not heading in the right direction under Knights and Horsbourgh

 

[Beerfish]

What's with the bloodless coup? I want Punt Road to run red. Surely she does as well for all the juicy articles?

 

[Runk]

Oh the deliciousness of her paying out on her own club.

 

[pepsi]

What the asada saga has done for me is make me lose all interest in off field drama in the afl and making sure I don't read or watch anything when it appears in the media.

I don't care if a coach is under the pump, a club is going through money difficulties, a player is caught in a compromising position or any other inuendo. I don't want to see clubs in positions which feed the horrible afl media scrum that exists now.

I still love watching games and listening to analysis of it, but that's it. If we all gave no sign of interest in off field matters, maybe there would be less afl 'journalists' and media than actual players.