The illogical drop

[hougie]

Round 22 2008, we defeated Melbourne by 80 points.

Since that time we have lost 7 out of 8 most notably against the same mob we flattened in the last round of last year. Considering the nature of our list, this drop is as believable as a leprechaun riding a unicorn in Atlantis. I say this because young players either improve or at the very worst level off - they very rarely back pedal. To say the 15 odd under-22's playing in round 22 last year have gone backwards is outrageous.

But you can't be up shit creek without an explanation (or a paddle). So I will pop in my two cents and see where it leads. A lack of form is where all problems have arisen. Sounds obvious and it is. Often we go searching in the far reaches of the universe for answers to questions with simple answers, and this could well be one of them.

Wallace can most certainly coach, March seems to be doing a perfectly adequate job, and yet the finger pointing continues if only to ease the pain of the supporter so blood-thirsty Dracula would be scratching his head. All it comes back to is form of the players, I'm not sure why we were so diabolically useless in round 1 but all the fan-hitting shit that has gone down since then is purely because of a hopelessly poor game and it's all grown from there.

We have been mentally weak not to be able to recuperate from the round 1 drubbing but the events of this week provide us the opportunity to galvanize the group. Some time soon the players will trigger that they don't want the club to be laughed at and they will pull a Geelong-Richmond-Round-6-2007 out of the bag. It may not lead to a flag, but it will happen (assuming the media hyperbole is all a bunch of feces as it presumably is). We tried to galvanize in round 2, we had a think about two in a row in round 6 but let's hope like **** things can change soon if not tonight.

We will go on to win at least 8 games this year and most probably come 9th to 12th. May not be an appealing conclusion, but if this reasoning for the illogical drop is roughly correct, we'll be home in mediocrity-land before the season is out.

In short, the sooner the players grow some goolies, the better.

 

[folester41]

it really is dissapointing that we havent made any progress on last year. but then again what do we expect when we hold onto players who either arent going to get any better or are never going to be any good. keeping players that arent a part of our future is what is holding us back from progressing.

 

[TigerCleavage]

I blame the work experience kid.

 

[hougie]

it really is dissapointing that we havent made any progress on last year. but then again what do we expect when we hold onto players who either arent going to get any better or are never going to be any good. keeping players that arent a part of our future is what is holding us back from progressing.

Don't mean we come whirling backwards either.

Another missed chance to galvanize as a football club tonight. Mentally weak.

 

[tigerz18]

it dont mean that we are going backwards. levelling off is as bad as going backwards. everyone has lifted x amount of levels, but richmond are still the same as last year, means that teams pass them by.

 

[Spluff]

It is our mental weakness that is letting us down. As soon as the game starts to turn against us something within our players snaps and they give up.

When we have got our team together, playing team footy, we look like we can hold it with even the best sides in the competition, but then players loose confidence, start chipping backwards and stop playing for the team.

 

[ize_]

It's that "oh that's right, we suck" mentality. We'll be flying and kicking goals but as soon as the other team steadies and kicks a few it's like the players remember that they're crap and we go back into our shells.

 

[PHX]

I blame the work experience kid.

And Terry's magnet man. Didn't return in shape.

 

[TigerCleavage]

And Terry's magnet man. Didn't return in shape.

Round is a shape.

 

[hougie]

It is our mental weakness that is letting us down. As soon as the game starts to turn against us something within our players snaps and they give up.

When we have got our team together, playing team footy, we look like we can hold it with even the best sides in the competition, but then players loose confidence, start chipping backwards and stop playing for the team.

Agree.

When we start playing well, we are far more irresistible than a rebuilding genuine bottom four club like Melbourne. And they should acknowledge that. The Dees are just far more resistant psychologically. Between the ears is where our problem lies.

I had an idea that ran through my mind as Essendon rampaged past us, why not go all out and see what happens - bring in every and any Richmond premiership player who can come down to training on a specific day. There might be 50 or more that turn up. Get all of those hard asses standing opposite our current mob and tell 'em where its at. Our youngsters just need to know how to get a job done - how to be mentally tough.

Something needs to spark this team. The trigger could be absolutely anything, we just need to find what it is.

 

[Spagman]

bring in every and any Richmond premiership player who can come down to training on a specific day. There might be 50 or more that turn up.

Sounds like a plan. Get 3 dozen of the greatest, and hardest Tiger players from 1960 through to 1985 and put them in a room to draw up a critique of our players based on their efforts so far this year.

Then walk out to the middle of Punt Road Oval together and let this 'brains trust' deliver their message personally to the players. One player at a time.

If any start crying, drop them for the rest of the year. If any start plotting the sacking of anyone, fire them from the club. If any don't acknowledge the boneheaded decisions they're making on the field, the lack of accountability and the piss poor, piss weak efforts we're seeing like with Simmonds tonight for what they are, they dump the lot.

 

[hougie]

Didn't see the game but does what St.Kilda did to Brisbane seem to point out our flaws?

Brisbane kick four on the trot, what does a good team do; keep in touch, whittle down their momentum, go on and win. We have been presented with this opportunity at least three times this year (possibly five including Sydney and Port), and have folded every time.

Bring in the premiership players!