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Patrick Smith on Richo.............
Out-of-sorts Richo costly for Tigers
9:48:55 AM Sat 6 July, 2002
Patrick Smith
afl.com.au
Here’s a simple hint for Matthew Richardson. Stop playing football until your new contract is signed.
The big forward remains in negotiations with Richmond for next year and beyond, but every time he takes the field – that’s infrequently – he slices dollars off his likely price.
The match against Carlton was a stinging example of the more the big bloke runs around, the less appealing he must become to the deal makers at Richmond. Or anywhere else for that matter.
He was an embarrassment against Carlton at the MCG. He failed to compete with devil or consistency, was overtly critical of his teammates, and gave away undisciplined free kicks. He was the difference between the Tigers winning or losing.
Out of touch and out of sorts, Richardson could have delivered the Tigers a victory because they got the ball into their forward zone often enough. But he made nothing of his opportunities, shaking his head when he should have been shaking the life out of the game. If he was as critical of his own performance as he was of his teammates, then Richardson would be hoarse for a week.
Richmond lost by only one point. From the number of times Richardson had the chance to influence the game he could and should have rustled up the couple of points to push the Tigers over the line.
Richardson has been on good money – maybe as much as $700,000 a season – but he is not worth half of that at the moment. Teams as fragile as Richmond need leadership from their stars, yet Richo gave nothing. Sighs, head shaking, looks of disbelief, distraught stares, hands on hips are not statistics that count.
It would be hard to see how Richardson’s agent, Ricky Nixon, could argue a case for Richardson earning anything more than $200,000 a year – that’s a pay cut of around half a million. The Tigers probably had something like $400,000 to $450,000 set aside for Richo’s new contract. It is unlikely that money remains on the table now.
The Tigers have swung their sights 360 degrees from the start of the season. Then they had hopes of playing off for the premiership, a hope based on their preliminary final appearance last season. Now, they are rebuilding with coach Danny Frawley saying that four points are not of consequence, rather the manner in which the team goes about its business is the new criterion.
With this new mission statement, the Richmond board will look at Richardson in a different light. As a team on the cusp of a premiership, Richardson was irreplaceable. So brilliant could the big man be, he was seen as influential enough to be the difference between a top-four side and premiership winner.
The club recruited accordingly. Paul Hudson was picked up to snaffle on the ground what Richo couldn’t snare in the air and Greg Stafford was brought down from Sydney to release Brad Ottens to play alongside Richardson up forward. On paper, it was a potent mix.
But it has come to nothing and now the club must consider whether Richardson and all his shortcomings are worth the trouble and the money. He needs to play a different role now that the environment at Punt Road has changed so dramatically.
In a club that is planning on moulding a future through youth, Richo, the head shaker, may appear an indulgence to the Richmond deal makers.
A young team needs guidance and encouragement. It is not the job of the kids at the club to make Richo look good. The reverse applies.
Worse for Richardson, other clubs will be thinking along the same lines. Early in the season it had been suggested that Carlton was interested in Richardson. Collingwood, too. But there would be some serious rethinking going on at those two clubs now.
If Richo can’t agree on a new contract with the Tigers, he will find himself in a marketplace that will be crowded and competitive. There is another large forward looking for a club and his record in the big time is far more imposing than that of Richardson.
Wayne Carey needs a new home.
Patrick Smith writes daily in The Australian. He is also a senior writer for the AFL-Telstra Network. His views do not necessarily reflect the views of the AFL and the 16 AFL clubs.
Out-of-sorts Richo costly for Tigers
9:48:55 AM Sat 6 July, 2002
Patrick Smith
afl.com.au
Here’s a simple hint for Matthew Richardson. Stop playing football until your new contract is signed.
The big forward remains in negotiations with Richmond for next year and beyond, but every time he takes the field – that’s infrequently – he slices dollars off his likely price.
The match against Carlton was a stinging example of the more the big bloke runs around, the less appealing he must become to the deal makers at Richmond. Or anywhere else for that matter.
He was an embarrassment against Carlton at the MCG. He failed to compete with devil or consistency, was overtly critical of his teammates, and gave away undisciplined free kicks. He was the difference between the Tigers winning or losing.
Out of touch and out of sorts, Richardson could have delivered the Tigers a victory because they got the ball into their forward zone often enough. But he made nothing of his opportunities, shaking his head when he should have been shaking the life out of the game. If he was as critical of his own performance as he was of his teammates, then Richardson would be hoarse for a week.
Richmond lost by only one point. From the number of times Richardson had the chance to influence the game he could and should have rustled up the couple of points to push the Tigers over the line.
Richardson has been on good money – maybe as much as $700,000 a season – but he is not worth half of that at the moment. Teams as fragile as Richmond need leadership from their stars, yet Richo gave nothing. Sighs, head shaking, looks of disbelief, distraught stares, hands on hips are not statistics that count.
It would be hard to see how Richardson’s agent, Ricky Nixon, could argue a case for Richardson earning anything more than $200,000 a year – that’s a pay cut of around half a million. The Tigers probably had something like $400,000 to $450,000 set aside for Richo’s new contract. It is unlikely that money remains on the table now.
The Tigers have swung their sights 360 degrees from the start of the season. Then they had hopes of playing off for the premiership, a hope based on their preliminary final appearance last season. Now, they are rebuilding with coach Danny Frawley saying that four points are not of consequence, rather the manner in which the team goes about its business is the new criterion.
With this new mission statement, the Richmond board will look at Richardson in a different light. As a team on the cusp of a premiership, Richardson was irreplaceable. So brilliant could the big man be, he was seen as influential enough to be the difference between a top-four side and premiership winner.
The club recruited accordingly. Paul Hudson was picked up to snaffle on the ground what Richo couldn’t snare in the air and Greg Stafford was brought down from Sydney to release Brad Ottens to play alongside Richardson up forward. On paper, it was a potent mix.
But it has come to nothing and now the club must consider whether Richardson and all his shortcomings are worth the trouble and the money. He needs to play a different role now that the environment at Punt Road has changed so dramatically.
In a club that is planning on moulding a future through youth, Richo, the head shaker, may appear an indulgence to the Richmond deal makers.
A young team needs guidance and encouragement. It is not the job of the kids at the club to make Richo look good. The reverse applies.
Worse for Richardson, other clubs will be thinking along the same lines. Early in the season it had been suggested that Carlton was interested in Richardson. Collingwood, too. But there would be some serious rethinking going on at those two clubs now.
If Richo can’t agree on a new contract with the Tigers, he will find himself in a marketplace that will be crowded and competitive. There is another large forward looking for a club and his record in the big time is far more imposing than that of Richardson.
Wayne Carey needs a new home.
Patrick Smith writes daily in The Australian. He is also a senior writer for the AFL-Telstra Network. His views do not necessarily reflect the views of the AFL and the 16 AFL clubs.
In fact, it is probably right on the money.
