St Kilda parts ways with coach Alan Richardson: report

Remove this Banner Ad

Apr 18, 2005
30,892
26,644
AFL Club
Melbourne
St Kilda made the GF in 2009 and 2010 and then finished 7th after finals in 2011. Carlton finished 7th, 8th, 5th those seasons.

The failure of both clubs was not recognising where their lists were really at. Bit rich to blame the expansion drafts. Carlton and Melbourne should have been good in the 2010s having picked the eyes out of the draft before GC and GWS came in.

St Kilda drafted well in 2007 picking up Steven and McEvoy (since traded). 2008 Lynch (traded) and Stanley (traded). 2009 traded for Lovett. 2010 Cripps (traded). 2011 Ross, Newnes, Webster. 2012 nothing after losing Goddard and trading for Lee and Hickey. It's a disaster of a list management era and it was no surprise they stank from 2013 onward.
Absolutely. It’s the list management.
 

Log in to remove this ad.

Ron The Bear

Up yer arse, AFL
30k Posts 10k Posts
Jul 4, 2006
35,845
36,723
Melbourne
AFL Club
Richmond
with the right ... trade period I think they can respond and get into the 8 next year.

That's a large caveat. These are the most prolific new players at St.Kilda 2009-2019:

ArrivedPlayerGmsAge
2012Newnes, Jack15026y142d
2009Ray, Farren130
2012Ross, Sebastian11826y70d
2014Billings, Jack10123y332d
2014Savage, Shane10128y192d
2014Dunstan, Luke9724y168d
2014Bruce, Josh9327y38d
2012Webster, Jimmy9326y18d
2013Roberton, Dylan9128y25d
2014Weller, Maverick89
2015Membrey, Tim8525y51d
2015Sinclair, Jack8024y154d
2016Gresham, Jade7821y326d
2014Acres, Blake7023y282d
2013Hickey, Tom E.67
2009Dawson, Zac63
2009Stanley, Rhys58
2014Longer, Billy5726y65d
2015Lonie, Jack5722y337d
2017Steele, Jack5523y215d

There are a number of players in there you'd genuinely call "handy". Sure, a few of the other 58 players with < 50 games show promise, but it's not a lot to show for more than a decade of recruiting, especially given the post-Lyon era should've been a period of re-generation.

They need to add to Carlisle/McCartin (?)/McKenzie/Battle/Long/Paton/Clark/Coffield.

Think they should go to the draft with their first two picks while trying to attract decent free agents. Cop another year in the bottom six and look to rise in 2021.
 
Last edited:
Apr 18, 2005
30,892
26,644
AFL Club
Melbourne
Deluded to the bitter end.

Uses an injury to Paddy McCartin as an excuse.
This is a player who has never shown anything at AFL level.

Meanwhile The Eagles won a flag without genuine guns - NicNat, Gaff and Sheppard.
He has been concussed 8 times and probably won’t play again. Think the call that he ‘has never shown anything’ is unwarranted.
 

TheEnsign

Club Legend
Zombie Lover A Star Wars Fan
Jun 24, 2014
2,303
5,063
AFL Club
St Kilda
Similar to Bolton at Carlton, I think Richardson was ultimately done in by poor drafting and development in the years prior to him arriving. Just not enough (what would now be) senior quality coming from the 2009-2013 draft periods.

This is my view as well. Our 2010 & 2012 drafting in particular (and subsequent trade decisions from those draft years) was absolutely rank.
 
Jul 14, 2005
18,723
29,560
AFL Club
Carlton
Other Teams
Chelsea FC
Not many would have got much more out of that list, and I think on the whole they've been hamstrung their trading and drafting early on (Tom Hickey and Tom Lee traded in for early picks for eg) and losing the centrepiece of their rebuild in McCartin. They also seem to have a stack of one-paced inside mids, a few classy players and then a shitload of dour role players who can do one or two things adequately but are low ceiling types who will just fill a role. Necessary, but far too abundant.

Bringing in Hannebury was just a packicked and pointless move. Had to show the supporters they were being vigilant (or trying to be) about bringing in players, but he was never going to produce given his injuries and the lack of balance in St Kilda's lineup.

I doubt many would have done much better, but Richo was not inspiring in the slightest. Ken Hinkley-lite - preached effort, and was respected by the players, but just not a particularly amazing coach, and was subservient almost to a fault.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

mattwa

Club Legend
Jun 10, 2007
2,524
4,773
wa
AFL Club
Western Bulldogs
I think they have overachieved this year with that list and considering they probably are missing there best mid (even though he isnt an elite mid). Richo whilst he had to go was never given a chance to succeed reading the drafting and list management. Looks like they got a few the last cpl of years so use those as the building blocks with blokes like Geary and Ross teaching them the standards of how to train to make it at an elite footy level
 

TheEnsign

Club Legend
Zombie Lover A Star Wars Fan
Jun 24, 2014
2,303
5,063
AFL Club
St Kilda
In reality or in their minds?

Big difference.

They dont have a single player in the AFL top 50.

Saints fans will tell you they have injuries to 'stars' like Paddy McCartin. A bloke who can play in only one position and is poor at that position. 34 goals in his entire career...

Two posts in a few minutes; Jesus you really want to injury troll McCartin don't you?
 
Sep 20, 2009
9,661
28,084
NSW
AFL Club
St Kilda
In reality or in their minds?

Big difference.

They dont have a single player in the AFL top 50.

Saints fans will tell you they have injuries to 'stars' like Paddy McCartin. A bloke who can play in only one position and is poor at that position. 34 goals in his entire career...


You are right about Paddy. But the injuries to Carlisle, Webster, Roberton, Steven, Hannebery and Geary for a large chunk of the year were crippling. They’re all best 22 at any team in the competition (maybe not Geary) so when you try and suggest that the injury of one player who isn’t a star (you are right) isn’t that big a deal just shows either a lack of knowledge, or more likely - total (deliberate) ignorance.
 

TheEnsign

Club Legend
Zombie Lover A Star Wars Fan
Jun 24, 2014
2,303
5,063
AFL Club
St Kilda
Who are the saints top 5 players?

Right now - Billings, Marshall, Steele are the clear top 3 imo. Then probably Ross and Steven based on the last ~18 months of form.

Josh Battle was really building well until his injury, Gresham is having a bit of an off year as he gets to grips transitioning to the midfield minutes.

We certainly don't have a world beating list at the moment, but our age profile is cause for some optimism, we've fielded a very young team for most of this year.
 
Aug 13, 2018
13,735
19,301
South Melbourne
AFL Club
Sydney
Right now - Billings, Marshall, Steele are the clear top 3 imo. Then probably Ross and Steven based on the last ~18 months of form.

Josh Battle was really building well until his injury, Gresham is having a bit of an off year as he gets to grips transitioning to the midfield minutes.

We certainly don't have a world beating list at the moment, but our age profile is cause for some optimism, we've fielded a very young team for most of this year.

You have fielded a young team for 6 years....
 
Feb 5, 2018
13,939
33,327
AFL Club
Hawthorn
Other Teams
Chicago Blackhawks Melb Renegades
Who are the saints top 5 players?

From being a casual observer without the supporter glasses on, i'd say Billings, Greshem, Marshall, Ross and Steele would be walk up starts to ANY club in the AFL. Not sure where it goes after that though. Bruce and Membery aren't a bad forward duo on their day either.
 
Jul 14, 2005
18,723
29,560
AFL Club
Carlton
Other Teams
Chelsea FC
You are right about Paddy. But the injuries to Carlisle, Webster, Roberton, Steven, Hannebery and Geary for a large chunk of the year were crippling. They’re all best 22 at any team in the competition (maybe not Geary) so when you try and suggest that the injury of one player who isn’t a star (you are right) isn’t that big a deal just shows either a lack of knowledge, or more likely - total (deliberate) ignorance.

These guys wouldn't make the best 22's in most reasonable teams IMO. Webster and Geary are OK role players, and Hannebury is cooked.
 

Ron The Bear

Up yer arse, AFL
30k Posts 10k Posts
Jul 4, 2006
35,845
36,723
Melbourne
AFL Club
Richmond
What's the record for most coaches 'stepping down' in a season?

Seven of the twelve clubs changed coaches in 1980.

Mike Patterson (St) - sacked for Jezza (c-c)
Barry Davis (Es) - replaced by Sheedy
Carl Ditterich (Me) - replaced by Barassi
David Parkin (Ha) - replaced by Jeans
Bill Stephen (Fi) - repalced by Walls
Ron Barassi (NM) - replaced by Blight (c-c)
Percy Jones (Ca) - replaced by Parkin

Can't recall how many of the departures were acrimonious.
 

mattwa

Club Legend
Jun 10, 2007
2,524
4,773
wa
AFL Club
Western Bulldogs
From being a casual observer without the supporter glasses on, i'd say Billings, Greshem, Marshall, Ross and Steele would be walk up starts to ANY club in the AFL. Not sure where it goes after that though. Bruce and Membery aren't a bad forward duo on their day either.
Agree with all of this. They suffer from having too many plodders and not enough class. Those mentioned are good players with only Billings being a potential A- grader and the rest whilst walk up starts wouldnt make the top 5 of most clubs (other than GC)
 
Last edited:

TheEnsign

Club Legend
Zombie Lover A Star Wars Fan
Jun 24, 2014
2,303
5,063
AFL Club
St Kilda
You have fielded a young team for 6 years....

Whatever. Our 2017 list included Roo & Joey; in 2018 we had players like Sam Gilbert and Armitage as regulars where their games played were high despite them being ~bottom 6 players at that time.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Back