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- Jun 21, 2010
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- Richmond
I found this post on PRE some interesting reading especially the parts about how heavily other clubs were into our draftees.
Thanks to Asta Solutions, a sponsor of the RFC, I attended the annual Draft Day Luncheon at the Aurora Riverside Hotel in Richmond today. It's the 2nd time this event has been held - awesome venue with the function held in an open marquee in the middle of the hotel complex. Food and drink provided - maybe 150 people in attendance, mostly staff, sponsors and players with their families. Very casual/relaxed atmosphere, with many staff members bringing their kids - ie, Benny Gales kids were there, Tony Free and his young son, Leppa with his daughter/s, etc.
Attendees from the RFC included: Benny Gale, Gary March, Hardwick, Leppitsch, Hartley, Francis Jackson, Newman, Cotch, Foley, Jackson, Grigg, plus a number of others including Taylor and Clark (recruiting officers) event staff, etc. Obviously all draftees were there - most of them with their parents, siblings, etc. Awesome day weather wise and a nice casual but informative day from a draft/recruitment perspective. Nathan Brown was the MC - very casual, cracked a few jokes and introduced a few speakers as they came up.
DH spoke, the usual stuff - ie, happy with the new kids, the club/players will work hard, etc. etc. He had to duck off early as it was his daughters b'day today.
Francis Jackson took the stage for an hour or so, bringing each draftee up for a chat with their families - approx. 10-15 mins per draftee. He spoke how he and the recruitment staff monitor the kids in their sights throughout the year with little annecdotes, etc. I must say it seems a lot of time and effort is involved, listening to him speak about being away from his family for nearly every weekend, travelling to Perth, SA, country Vic, etc. to watch the kids.
Very enternaining listening to the interviews. Conca and Batchelor spoke very well - you can see they're both academics and confident young blokes by listening to them speak. I was very impressed with Batchelor - seemed very switched on and serious about his footy. Conca was also impressive - spoke well after answering some tough ish questions.
Spoke to Conca personally. Seemed like a nice bloke - not your typical footy player in that he's very rounded, very academic, softly spoken but still confident. His body needs some developing IMO - not much definition, fairly skinny and doesn't look athletic although his hilights suggest he can do everything so no issues there I wouldn't think. He told me he had ankle surgery a few months ago and ran for the first time this morning, so I would assume he'll be on a modified pre-season programme. Not sure when to expect to see him in our 22 after hearing that but it didn't sound like anything too major.
Batchelor is a good height and looks like he has the body to fill out within a year or two. Again, very impressed with the way he spoke and gave me more confidence with his selection. Said he took his footy very seriously this year and the results showed, winning the Stingrays B&F. Collingwood were very keen on him also.
Helbig was on his lonesome - ie, no family members on stage with him. Was also quite impressed with him. He's young, has braces, spoke with a lisp, however spoke well, answering questions about the difficult time he's had of late with the passing of his best mate, plus the usual footy/draft talk. Quite a few clubs were interested in him (8 or 9 in total), particulary essendon who apparently were spewing we took - FJ saying he litterally heard them sigh and swear at the draft after we selected him, took their time with the next selection, etc. Even made a comment how disorganized essendon were in general, referring to their non-compliance with trading houli, then missing out on helbig as a result which would have been their pick (#47).
McDonald's interview was a p!ssa. He's your genuine country boy, as was evident by the flanny's worn by his entire family, earings, tatts and goaties in abundance amongst all members apart from his mum. Seems like a happy go lucky kid - quite entertaining! He too had quite a few clubs speak to him including scumwood - said their questions were very confusing and they had to repeat the q's 3 and 4 times for him to understand...had to be there but very funny and sums up his character/personality for mine.
Derickx spoke quite well also - again, no family at the function with him however FJ did say there's a "family induction day" at the club coming up for all new kids on the block - good to hear the clubs do this type of thing. Derickx was saying he had no idea Richmond were intersted in him until the Monday prior to the draft. We hadn't even spoken to him prior to that so he thought he was a roughy when asked to meet up with FJ on that day.
On the 2010 listed players - Cotch looked amazing fitness wise. Ripped to bits, was freaky looking at Cotch and them comparing him to the new draftees...spoke to Foley also - I love this bloke. Have spoken to him a few times - always has the time to have a chat and seems very genuine. Said he's doing all the running and will be joining in full training after Christmas. Newman looked fit and got high praises from DH, Grigg (who also spoke) and Nathan Brown.
Have had a few beers so excuse me if any of the above doesn't make sense.
P.S - I aslo spoke to a girl I used to work with who now works in Events for the RFC. She was telling me how different the place is with the arrival of Benny Gale (and DH to an extent) compared with the Wallace era. Said the feel is completely different, everyone a lot happier/friendlier, more united, etc.
We still don't have a major sponsor which is a worry but hopefully the club sorts this out ASAP.
Full Credit goes to Newman of PRE.
Thanks to Asta Solutions, a sponsor of the RFC, I attended the annual Draft Day Luncheon at the Aurora Riverside Hotel in Richmond today. It's the 2nd time this event has been held - awesome venue with the function held in an open marquee in the middle of the hotel complex. Food and drink provided - maybe 150 people in attendance, mostly staff, sponsors and players with their families. Very casual/relaxed atmosphere, with many staff members bringing their kids - ie, Benny Gales kids were there, Tony Free and his young son, Leppa with his daughter/s, etc.
Attendees from the RFC included: Benny Gale, Gary March, Hardwick, Leppitsch, Hartley, Francis Jackson, Newman, Cotch, Foley, Jackson, Grigg, plus a number of others including Taylor and Clark (recruiting officers) event staff, etc. Obviously all draftees were there - most of them with their parents, siblings, etc. Awesome day weather wise and a nice casual but informative day from a draft/recruitment perspective. Nathan Brown was the MC - very casual, cracked a few jokes and introduced a few speakers as they came up.
DH spoke, the usual stuff - ie, happy with the new kids, the club/players will work hard, etc. etc. He had to duck off early as it was his daughters b'day today.
Francis Jackson took the stage for an hour or so, bringing each draftee up for a chat with their families - approx. 10-15 mins per draftee. He spoke how he and the recruitment staff monitor the kids in their sights throughout the year with little annecdotes, etc. I must say it seems a lot of time and effort is involved, listening to him speak about being away from his family for nearly every weekend, travelling to Perth, SA, country Vic, etc. to watch the kids.
Very enternaining listening to the interviews. Conca and Batchelor spoke very well - you can see they're both academics and confident young blokes by listening to them speak. I was very impressed with Batchelor - seemed very switched on and serious about his footy. Conca was also impressive - spoke well after answering some tough ish questions.
Spoke to Conca personally. Seemed like a nice bloke - not your typical footy player in that he's very rounded, very academic, softly spoken but still confident. His body needs some developing IMO - not much definition, fairly skinny and doesn't look athletic although his hilights suggest he can do everything so no issues there I wouldn't think. He told me he had ankle surgery a few months ago and ran for the first time this morning, so I would assume he'll be on a modified pre-season programme. Not sure when to expect to see him in our 22 after hearing that but it didn't sound like anything too major.
Batchelor is a good height and looks like he has the body to fill out within a year or two. Again, very impressed with the way he spoke and gave me more confidence with his selection. Said he took his footy very seriously this year and the results showed, winning the Stingrays B&F. Collingwood were very keen on him also.
Helbig was on his lonesome - ie, no family members on stage with him. Was also quite impressed with him. He's young, has braces, spoke with a lisp, however spoke well, answering questions about the difficult time he's had of late with the passing of his best mate, plus the usual footy/draft talk. Quite a few clubs were interested in him (8 or 9 in total), particulary essendon who apparently were spewing we took - FJ saying he litterally heard them sigh and swear at the draft after we selected him, took their time with the next selection, etc. Even made a comment how disorganized essendon were in general, referring to their non-compliance with trading houli, then missing out on helbig as a result which would have been their pick (#47).
McDonald's interview was a p!ssa. He's your genuine country boy, as was evident by the flanny's worn by his entire family, earings, tatts and goaties in abundance amongst all members apart from his mum. Seems like a happy go lucky kid - quite entertaining! He too had quite a few clubs speak to him including scumwood - said their questions were very confusing and they had to repeat the q's 3 and 4 times for him to understand...had to be there but very funny and sums up his character/personality for mine.
Derickx spoke quite well also - again, no family at the function with him however FJ did say there's a "family induction day" at the club coming up for all new kids on the block - good to hear the clubs do this type of thing. Derickx was saying he had no idea Richmond were intersted in him until the Monday prior to the draft. We hadn't even spoken to him prior to that so he thought he was a roughy when asked to meet up with FJ on that day.
On the 2010 listed players - Cotch looked amazing fitness wise. Ripped to bits, was freaky looking at Cotch and them comparing him to the new draftees...spoke to Foley also - I love this bloke. Have spoken to him a few times - always has the time to have a chat and seems very genuine. Said he's doing all the running and will be joining in full training after Christmas. Newman looked fit and got high praises from DH, Grigg (who also spoke) and Nathan Brown.
Have had a few beers so excuse me if any of the above doesn't make sense.
P.S - I aslo spoke to a girl I used to work with who now works in Events for the RFC. She was telling me how different the place is with the arrival of Benny Gale (and DH to an extent) compared with the Wallace era. Said the feel is completely different, everyone a lot happier/friendlier, more united, etc.
We still don't have a major sponsor which is a worry but hopefully the club sorts this out ASAP.
Full Credit goes to Newman of PRE.
