Sheahan's articles - Saturday's Hun

Joined
Aug 21, 2002
Posts
2,213
Likes
425
Location
oneeyed-richmond.com
AFL Club
Richmond
Thread starter #1


http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,9297536%255E20123,00.html

Haven't we been here before, Richmond?
17 April 2004 Herald Sun

TAKE a trip to Richmond's official website and you will find an intriguing article from coach Danny Frawley.

OK, we will save you the trouble.

"There's been a lot of talk about the Richmond game plan since last Saturday night's shocker against St Kilda at Telstra Dome.

"I would like to take this opportunity to assure all Tiger fans that what they saw was not the game plan.

"We were far too stagnant and moved the ball far too slowly. To go inside our forward 50 area only 42 times in that arena, and have as many possessions as St Kilda, yet get beaten by 80 points strongly suggests that we were over-using the ball.

"Rest assured, we've gone right through what our style of play should be in the past few days, and how we can get back to what makes us a good team.

"Basically, our game plan revolves around moving the ball quickly and directly to our taller players inside the forward 50. By doing that, we're making the most of our assets, which are the number of big strong forwards we have and the ability of smaller players . . . to crumb to them."


Those with an eye for detail will have detected a few inconsistencies.

It was published on August 14, 2003.

Yet, the message from two games against St Kilda eight months apart was eerily similar.

Richmond's style of play against the Saints on Monday simply was more of the same for long-suffering supporters.

More specifically, it was a case of gross overuse of the ball, an indefensible number of unforced errors, a defensive mindset from the second quarter, and incompetence in front of goal.

The Tigers have kicked 36 goals in three games; with the miserable scores of 12.4 and 10.9 in the past two games.

Either they're better than that, or the player group is as limited as any in the competition.

We shall learn more tonight, when the Tigers face up to Geelong, which is in a similar plight.

Like most trends in football, Richmond's problem starts in the centre-square.

Brad Ottens was credited with 36 hit-outs on Monday, five more than St Kilda's aggregate, yet the Saints had 30 clearances to 23.

Didn't anyone at Richmond watch last year's Grand Final? Clark Keating didn't try to finesse the ball from the ruck contests, he thumped it forward for anyone of a half dozen smaller Brisbane players steaming towards goal.

Ottens continually dropped the ball at his feet or into the player mass, allowing St Kilda's superior midfielders to swoop and get the ball.

There has to be a message in the comparison of statistics for St Kilda and Richmond on Monday.

The Saints managed 55 inside 50s from 281 possessions; the Tigers managed 32 inside 50s from 256 possessions.

You won't need Terry Wallace or Garry Lyon to analyse those figures for you.

While it's a long time ago, it's still worth reflecting on Richmond's most recent premiership: 1980.

As premiership teams go, it was solid rather than brilliant, but what it did as a matter of course was play fierce, direct footy, banging the ball forward in the general direction of Michael Roach and David Cloke.

Roach and Cloke booted eight goals between them in the Grand Final, while Kevin Bartlett mopped up anything that hit the ground, kicking seven of his own.

While Brisbane has a magnificent team, it has a magnificently simple game plan, too.

As have most premiership teams throughout history.

One of the recurring criticisms of Frawley is his lack of faith in his game plan on match days.

It points to a mindset referred to by former football director Tony Jewell on the eve of the season, when he said most people at Punt Road lived in fear of supporter anger.

Decisions, therefore, are based on immediacy, not on long-term welfare. That's been evident both in recruiting and coaching on match days.

Of the 12 additions to the player list this year, five came from other AFL clubs, and that was a change for the better.

The previous year, four of the six newcomers were from other clubs: Kane Johnson, Justin Blumfield, Tim Fleming and Bill Nicholls.

Back to the present, the Tigers have two wins from their past 17 starts. They have nothing to lose by picking players in their best positions, telling them they will be given time to settle, and encouraging them to take risks.

The group badly needs confidence, which can only come from a win or a steady improvement in performance. Make that "wins". If it were as simple as one win, what went wrong after the 40-point win over Collingwood in the opening round?

The skill errors from Joel Bowden, Greg Tivendale, Aaron Fiora and others seem to be born of a fear of messing up rather than any lack of talent.

The on-going worry is the inability of team's talented players to cope with pressure, real and perceived.

It was a problem exposed by Melbourne in Round 2, and reinforced by St Kilda.

Tigers break hearts again

A LIFELONG Richmond supporter of 40, flush with the pride associated with the arrival of a first born, turned serious on my arrival at the head-wetting session.

He was most unsettled by my pre-season optimism about the Tigers, published in the Herald Sun in March, adamant it would turn into yet another false dawn.

His point was that we of the outside world merely monitor Richmond. We neither bleed for, nor understand, that rare beast, the tiger of the football jungle.

I acknowledged his point. He had grown up in a Richmond family, hearing of the glory of Richmond's great era from 1967-80 (five premierships from six Grand Finals).

He has had to content himself with faded teenage memories of the '80 triumph.

Since the club's most recent Grand Final year of 1982, Richmond has played finals in just two years – 1995 and 2001 – winning two and losing four.

In that period, the Tigers have presented themselves on 469 occasions, winning just 186 games, a success rate of a paltry 39 per cent.

That's why my friend is so gloomy about his footy team, even if his heart will never stray.

It is a bleak picture on and off the field.

The team continues to struggle, the balance sheet continues to bleed.

Only the inclusion of donations to the Jack Dyer Foundation kept the 2003 deficit to less than $1 million, and no one can understand how JDF money can be listed as football club income.

There has been much talk of redirection orders from the AFL and growing interest in the league's competitive balance fund, both tell-tale signs of heavy financial bleeding.

Clinton Casey and Greg Miller are running the football club; Casey because he is president and has been a heavy financial guarantor, Miller because he was brought on board to right the ship.

They have formed a strong alliance, and both are determined to achieve change in an orderly fashion. In the football department, anyway.

Casey's message on the board is plain and simple: We do it my way and, if you want to be on the board, you will be available as required, compliant and faithful.

The pair faces a mammoth task, one that will take longer than either hoped or believed.

They are prepared to stick around as long as it takes. The question is, will the most rabid supporter group in the competition give them the time they want?

Sacking Spud is not the answer

ACCORDING to Clinton Casey and Greg Miller, there is as much chance of Danny Frawley being dumped as coach during the season as there is of him playing full-back.

Casey and Miller, now in total control of Richmond FC, are adamant the club needs stability and vision more than it needs instant gratification.

Richmond, remember, had nine coaches from 1982, its most recent Grand Final year, to 1999, when Frawley replaced Jeff Gieschen.

Never mind the quality and commitment of the players, the strength or otherwise of the administration, it's always been the coach's fault. Until now.

Miller, who oversaw a remarkable period of stability and success at North Melbourne, wants to dismantle that culture.

He sees Frawley as a man of good values, a man of spirit who is committed to the job and popular with players.

What happens post-2004, of course, is another matter, given Frawley is in the last year of his contract.

He is in his fifth season, with a win rate of a modest 44 per cent from 94 games.

So, should he complete the season regardless of the team's performance? Even if, as Casey said pre-season, the Tigers are 1-10 mid-year?

Pros

HE coaches the team, he doesn't play. It's not him he continually misses targets with hand or foot, who goes sideways rather than forward almost by nature.

It's not him who freezes under the pressure; he doesn't miss goals with set shots from inside 30m.

Frawley is a healthy advertisement for the football club. He is a warm soul, animated, passionate and loyal. He cares; he celebrates, he bleeds.

He was good enough in the role to win 27 of his first 47 games, taking the club from 12th when he started, to ninth and then third.

Given Terry Wallace has declared unequivocally he won't take a job mid-season, who takes his place, anyway? Frawley's assistants can't be blameless, surely, in this era of group management.

Cons

THOSE 27 wins in in his first 47 games have been followed by 15 wins from the next 47.

The graph is going in the wrong direction.

Richmond's game plan is a shambles. If it's not the coach's game plan, why aren't the offenders taken from the ground at the time or dropped for the next game?

Richmond has kicked a total of 242 points from three games this year. Why is Danny so defensive?

On Monday, when St Kilda turned up the heat in the second quarter, he flooded his defence. He said the early injury to Richardson had thrown plans into disarray. What was wrong with sending Ottens to full-forward and Stafford into the ruck?

Apart from a brief flirtation with Richardson up the ground last year, when have we been surprised by Richmond's set-up?

Why is he so quick to abandon a plan that is a week in the making?

Verdict

AT this point, Frawley should complete his task. We are just three rounds into the season and the Tigers are 1-2. Perhaps 2-2 and in the eight before the day is out. Then again, if they lose tonight . . .

Brown, Ottens ... then they are struggling

DANGEROUS tradition at struggling clubs is the tendency of insiders to overrate the capabilities of the player group.

It is born of a mix of familiarity and hope. Players are compared with each other rather than with their counterparts at the stronger clubs.

Watch Richmond train and it seems the club has 15-20 players of the required quality.

Rate Richmond players with their like at the Brisbane Lions and see how many would score a spot in the line-up.

That, of course, is unfair, given we are using the best team in 50 years for comparative purposes.

Port Adelaide and St Kilda provide more appropriate comparisons. It's an interesting exercise.

By my reckoning, Richmond has one elite player: Nathan Brown.

While I had him down at No. 35 in my pre-season Top 50, he was No. 10 in the same list 12 months earlier. He probably sits somewhere in between.

Brown aside, who is "elite" at Richmond?

Brad Ottens should be, but there seems to be something missing in the big bloke. Perhaps it's urgency; maybe it's a touch of "mongrel".

While he ranked with Brown and Matthew Richardson as Richmond's best in the opening round against Collingwood, he has struggled in the past two games.

He is yet to rise to the level where he simply takes control of a game in dispute, and he has the equipment to do just that.

Brown and Ottens aside, who else could be a genuine star?

Kane Johnson is solid, smart and reliable, Mark Coughlan is a fine young player, and Andrew Krakouer might be something special, but, generally speaking, we're talking fair average quality, not prime stuff.

Here is my list of Richmond's best six. Compare it with the best six at your club: N. Brown, B. Ottens, K. Johnson, M. Coughlan, M. Richardson, W. Campbell.

Just a belly ache

RICHMOND's director of football Greg Miller says it's simplistic to say 2003 best-and-fairest winner Mark Coughlan is afflicted by the dreaded osteitis pubis.

He prefers to say Coughlan has "lower stomach restrictions".

He did admit the condition forced the young centreman to miss the team's final training session each week.

"The doctors say he'll work through and get better, so it can't be osteitis pubis. It's certainly not classical OP. He's had lower stomach restrictions."

Miller said Coughlan was paying the price of an interrupted preparation.

"He's not making excuses; he knows he can play better."

Coughlan had just five kicks against St Kilda on Monday, all in the second half. He finished with 14 disposals and spent time on the bench.

He had 18 possessions against Melbourne the previous week after starting the season with 22 against Collingwood, all before three-quarter-time, when he was rested.

Miller denied the Tigers were taking a risk with their best young player, who turns 22 next Tuesday.

"The doctors tell us every week he's getting better."

Coughlan's lack of impact cost Richmond on Monday when Brad Ottens won the bulk of ruck contests, yet St Kilda's midfielders won most of the contested ball at ground level.

Coughlan seems to be struggling most when he has to bend for the ball, a major limitation for a player whose game is based on his strength and skill at ground level.


1 gun, 12 blanks and everyone in between at Tigerland
17 April 2004 AFL

Mike Sheahan analyses the Richmond players.

Elite level: Nathan Brown.

Should be elite level: Brad Ottens.

Consistent at AFL level: Kane Johnson, Mark Coughlan, Wayne Campbell, Matthew Richardson, Mark Chaffey, Andrew Kellaway, Darren Gaspar.

Capable at the level: Joel Bowden, Greg Tivendale, Chris Newman, Aaron Fiora, Greg Stafford, Ty Zantuck, Justin Blumfield, Shane Morrison.

Struggle at the level: David Rodan, Ray Hall, Tim Fleming, Adam Houlihan, Chris Hyde, Simon Fletcher, Rory Hilton, Kayne Pettifer, Matthew Rogers, Duncan Kellaway, Ben Marsh, Bill Nicholls.

Rays of sunshine: Andrew Krakouer, Dean Hartigan, Tom Roach.

Unknown quantities: Kyle Archibald, Alex Gilmour, Daniel Jackson, Andrew Raines, Jay Schulz, Shane Tuck, Luke Weller.

Players in my 2003 end-of-season Top 50: M. Coughlan (39), K. Johnson (42).

Players in 2004 pre-season top 50: B. Ottens (15), N. Brown (35), M. Coughlan (47), M. Richardson (49).
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Joined
Aug 21, 2002
Posts
2,213
Likes
425
Location
oneeyed-richmond.com
AFL Club
Richmond
Thread starter #2
Although there's nothing there we already didn't know, I'll give Mike his dues on some points.

The on-going worry is the inability of team's talented players to cope with pressure, real and perceived.
Another Tiger fan and friend who went to training last Friday before the Saints game made mention to me that we trained well and there was no criss-crossing or static play in our drills. The way we then played ticked them off no end. It seems we basically become a static, negative and skill-less rabble on matchday once the pressure in a game goes up a notch and is placed back onto us. In these instances our "direct game plan" disappears entirely or makes an appearance as often as Haley's comet! - a la the Collingwood game. I'm curious whether we try to simulate match pressure at training when we are performing our drills? If something is familar to you then you are more likely to be confident doing it. Belief within the whole side each and every week is something we've lacked since probably 1995 although the 95 side lacked in other areas.

IMO Mike's classification of our list is fairly spot on although I wouldn't class Richo as consistent. We lack depth - no news there. It's interesting that he recogizes at least 17 players as capable at AFL level. Add Krakouer and that's our best 18. I think he confuses himself here and in the pros/cons parts of the article. In "Pros" he praises Danny for being honest, good for the Club etc and not responsible for on-field player errors yet in "Cons" criticises him for poor and lacking-in-faith coaching moves on matchday as well as saying our best 18 is capable ???

I agree with him on Otto although it is a bit unfair to single him out. Otto needs to add a bit of mongruel into his on-field demeanour now he's back to full fitness and in form as well as not trying to perform the perfect tap all the time. Keep it simple and bash the ball forward in the ruck contests at least 50% of the time. Put the opposition under pressure by making them run back (and us run forward) as well as denying them opportunity to run forward of the contest and pick up cheap atacking possessions. It's so bloody annoying each week seeing us get the tap easily only for the opposition at ground level to sweep the ball away...Grrrrrr!

I wouldn't be reading the RFC website to get a totally honest view of where we are at Mike. The members only articles are quite good and informative but IMHO many of the articles on the mainpage especially by Greenberg are fairy-floss stuff and at times are an insult to us Tiger supporters' intelligence. I agree with Mike that we continually get told the short, static and over-possession cr@p is not the game plan yet the vast majority of our games and the stats from them beg to differ. We've put up with the inept style for the last few years not just the last few games. You would think by now we would see us play more directly and with more certainity more often than not.

As usual Mike chucks in again our record over the past two decades...Yawn! Yeah we know Mike we've been cr@p! That's part of the problem when the Club needs to make tough decisions. Long term planning takes time but after 24 years of no success do we as a Club have the patience to wait any longer even though impatience and quick-fixes would mean more of the same.

Cogs is a bit of a worry :( . Don't like the sound of "lower stomach problems" :confused: . I hope like hell we know what we're doing with him!
 

nineteen eighty

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Sep 18, 2003
Posts
5,777
Likes
5,357
Location
Sydney
AFL Club
Richmond
Other Teams
TIGERS
#4
This really pains me to say this but I think Mike summed up our list pretty much spot on. Unlike mighty, I think Rodan is a little hard done by....IMO he is capable but just not consistent.

From a playing list viewpoint, I think there are a couple (only you say) of things we are lacking:

- mongrel (seems like we all agree on this one)

- depth (we fall away way too quickly)

Essendon have always (at least until recently) been able to find the right balance between skillfull players in their team and real hard nuts who would scare the beejesus out of opposition players (eg Hardwick). Invariably these hard nuts would be scaring Tiger players off the ball. I can't remember one Tiger over the last 15-20 years who was a hard nut AND could play at the required level. The list (not just Ottens) needs to toughen up.

As for depth, I think we have done this to death and I wont go on about it again (at least not until next week when I pull my soap box out again). Oh geez, I can't help myself....players such as x and x and x and x and x.... have to go. I think most of us are thinking along the same lines in terms of who has to go.

As for the coach, I agree with the administration that we should not be sacking Frawley. This sends a VERY poor message to all future coaches to the point where a lot would not want to come due to the way we treat them. Note how recently we have only been able to get inexperienced coaches to the club....the guys who have been there done that don't want to come to a club that constantly sacks its coaches. I have stated many a time that I do not believe Frawley has what it takes at senior level and should not be coach for 2005. However, he is coach for this year and we need to stick it out for better or for worse. He is at least putting the young guys through which should bode well for whoever takes on the job next year. If we sack him now, there is no way we will get an established coach for next year (and I don't mean Wallace or Eade). That's the gamble we need to take...we've gone down the coach sacking route too many times to think that it is going to work. If he goes of his own accord, well that's totally different.

Yes we are going through some pain. Yes we have gone through some pain through the years. Yes we will continue to go through some pain. Yes I will swear, curse, cry (well not anymore but....) as we continue to lose games by sheer incompetence or lack of trying or lack of game plan etc....

BUT what does one do. I have to continue to support them and hope that one day, the tide will turn and I will get a chance to go to the "G" on that last Saturday in Sept and hug every last one of you. And I can tell you, I will be crying!
 

oxx

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Oct 23, 2003
Posts
8,748
Likes
13
Location
Here.
AFL Club
Richmond
Other Teams
())(())(())(())(())(())((
#5
Sounds like every thread on BIG FOOTY.

Being a journo is a piece of **** with Message boards like this one.

Message is the same.

Why dont these journos just say it straight.
Frawley is a dud and he's turned our former good players
into duds.

Read between the lines SPUD-U SUCK.
 
Joined
Apr 12, 2004
Posts
681
Likes
1
#7
Chaffey and Kellaway have been overated in Sheahans piece. They are capable but only just. You cant win flags with defenders like them. The rest of the judgements are fine. The truth is our list is rubbish. We need a cleanout. We need to finish on the Bottom. We need to finish on the bottom with less than 5 wins. We need to keep all the picks we get in the top 40. We need to get our good father and son selections over the line. We need to delist all the crap of our list. We need a super coach- Sheedy. We need to sack all the current assistants. We need a new board and a new president. Only then can our great club find a path to a better future coz whats happening now is crap!
 

Crumden

Premiership Player
Joined
Oct 18, 2002
Posts
4,075
Likes
3
Location
Canberra
AFL Club
Richmond
Other Teams
Richmond
#9
Originally posted by cairo tiger
truth hurts eh?
Hey Cairo, I think Mike Sheahan has just copied your good cattle-poor cattle thread and moved Bowden from poor cattle to good cattle to make it look like his own work. :p

Brad Ottens should be, but there seems to be something missing in the big bloke. Perhaps it's urgency; maybe it's a touch of "mongrel".

While he ranked with Brown and Matthew Richardson as Richmond's best in the opening round against Collingwood, he has struggled in the past two games.

He is yet to rise to the level where he simply takes control of a game in dispute, and he has the equipment to do just that.

...

Players in 2004 pre-season top 50: B. Ottens (15),
A week is a long time in footy, three weeks a lifetime in the fickle world of Mike Sheahan. From 15th most important player in the league to someone who has yet to rise to the level in only 3 weeks.
 
Top Bottom