2024 Richmond Coach

[Nico]

Don’t know if it’s just me, but reckon there is too much coming from the players and the odd media pump up story, to suggest that the job is all but certain to go to Mini. Cotchy even dropped the ‘special’ word.

Agree, but I don't think it'll have any bearing on the final decision.

 

[HKTigerB]

I don't think it would be hard at all. Under Hardwick we have regularly implemented different styles. Think it was last year we played a block of games (and won them) with a massive increase in uncontested marks, a real kick-mark, kick-mark Collingwood Buckley style of play.

At the very least I would have liked to see some movement on what I think is our greatest weakness under Hardwick and the thing that is hurting us the most now, and that is developing an ability to play different modes with the ball.

What I mean by that is under Hardwick you win the ball and you go. The plus one stays deepest and everyone else has licence to kill. Doesn't matter if it was off a quick play or a slow play, if it is first minute of the game or the last 30 seconds of the quarter.

At our best we could get away with it because if we didn't win the ball forward (which was a rare if), we had Rance or Grimes or Vlastuin or Astbury that would provide a mighty defence if it bounced back.

As our ability to win those forward contests has declined, so has our ability to defend behind it just through natural attrition of those stars so we get caught a lot on what they call the turnover turnover. They give it up, we give it back and then they score. The type of goals that come when teams stream forward into a relatively open forward line.

I would have loved McQualter to address that like McRae has at Collingwood. Have modes where you win the ball and go slow, because you aren't set up defensively to charge. Basically it is defending when you have the ball. Or the other one we have never done which has cost us a lot of percentage over the years, take minutes out of the game when you are well up with slow ball use.

Really easy to implement, just a mindset change when you have the ball in your hand.

With respect, I would argue he has done all that you've stated in both this post and the previous. Having been privy to both a briefing from him and Xavier I am aware of the changes they're trying to implement. I can see that at least half of what the coaching team tried to implement is being achieved. The easiest way, imho, to assess is to see who and how we are scoring now as compared to early in the season and which "channels" we use to transition. Our transition game has some marked changes from when Dimma was there.

The Hawks identified a 'flaw/weakness/structural misfit" at centre stoppages and the Dee's and Bullies copied it. We haven't managed to get that back on level footing.

Mini does like throwing Kane under the bus about the struggling midfield. (All in jest.)

Just my 2c worth.

 

[K3]

Plenty of support coming from the players for Mini. Which is fine. Great that they respect him and support him. But that should only be one perspective and I would like the players to caveat their support with "but the club has a process and we will support whoever the club decides is the best candidate"

I would like them to not shout it at any media person going around... *big exaggeration but you know what I mean*

 

[Dev Tiger]

It's tough for the club as the players clearly love Mini and are pushing for him at every opportunity. He seems like a man of great character. That has to be balanced with what's best for the club.

With the season on the line last week we produced one of the worst quarters of football by any club this season. Bont and Libba were breaking tackles at will. I am not sure if it was the coaches instructions but we seemed to push two extra forwards up around the ball in the first quarter which left them with spares in the backline. Bailey Dale carved through us like a hot knife through butter when he was left on his own.

It's also hard to judge because we have some young players who clearly aren't AFL standard at the moment.

 

[The Big Richo]

With respect, I would argue he has done all that you've stated in both this post and the previous. Having been privy to both a briefing from him and Xavier I am aware of the changes they're trying to implement. I can see that at least half of what the coaching team tried to implement is being achieved. The easiest way, imho, to assess is to see who and how we are scoring now as compared to early in the season and which "channels" we use to transition. Our transition game has some marked changes from when Dimma was there.

The Hawks identified a 'flaw/weakness/structural misfit" at centre stoppages and the Dee's and Bullies copied it. We haven't managed to get that back on level footing.

Mini does like throwing Kane under the bus about the struggling midfield. (All in jest.)

Just my 2c worth.

As I said I'm coming from a poor place to form opinions as I've only watched on TV and you really only get 10% of the game that way but I don't see it.

To me our increased scoring is just coming off the back of a decline in our defensive rigour.

 

[Cooper O'Reilly]

I don’t really care if the players love Mini, the footy club is first and foremost their place of employment and not a social club.

I’m confident the club will employ a quality person as its next senior coach, one who the players will quickly learn to respect.

I do wonder what the players hope to gain by publicly endorsing Mini. If the club wants their opinion they’d ask them privately not through the media. Any assumption by the players that they should have a say on who is the next coach is misguided and smacks of hubris on their part

 

[Smoking Aces]

I don’t really care if the players love Mini, the footy club is first and foremost their place of employment and not a social club.

I’m confident the club will employ a quality person as its next senior coach, one who the players will quickly learn to respect.

I do wonder what the players hope to gain by publicly endorsing Mini. If the club wants their opinion they’d ask them privately not through the media. Any assumption by the players that they should have a say on who is the next coach is misguided and smacks of hubris on their part

In most cases the players have been asked the question on their thoughts on Mini. What did you want them to say? Nah he is *smile* bloke and can’t coach?

 

[Leysy Days]

In most cases the players have been asked the question on their thoughts on Mini. What did you want them to say? Nah he is *smile* bloke and can’t coach?

Reckon they can easily respond better Smokin. Something like:

"We're enjoying playing under Mini, and will continue to do our best with him, but at the end of the day we're just players. The club have put an excellent committee together to choose the next coach of this great club and they'll no doubt make the right choice. We can't wait to get stuck into pre-season under whoever that may be".

 

[shawry]

Reckon they can easily respond better Smokin. Something like:

"We're enjoying playing under Mini, and will continue to do our best with him, but at the end of the day we're just players. The club have put an excellent committee together to choose the next coach of this great club and they'll no doubt make the right choice. We can't wait to get stuck into pre-season under whoever that may be".

I just can't imagine a player saying that unless they really don't like the bloke but they clearly do.

 

[waiting]

I don’t really care if the players love Mini, the footy club is first and foremost their place of employment and not a social club.

I’m confident the club will employ a quality person as its next senior coach, one who the players will quickly learn to respect.

I do wonder what the players hope to gain by publicly endorsing Mini. If the club wants their opinion they’d ask them privately not through the media. Any assumption by the players that they should have a say on who is the next coach is misguided and smacks of hubris on their part

I think because the question gets asked by the media what else can the players say?

 

[Smoking Aces]

Reckon they can easily respond better Smokin. Something like:

"We're enjoying playing under Mini, and will continue to do our best with him, but at the end of the day we're just players. The club have put an excellent committee together to choose the next coach of this great club and they'll no doubt make the right choice. We can't wait to get stuck into pre-season under whoever that may be".

I agree Leysy. But at the end of the day these guys are footy players who speak on emotion and have zero business acumen.

Maybe the club should have told them to tow the party line. But doing that would be going back to 2016. We ain’t that club.

Needless to say I think the likes of Gale and co are smart enough to see through that. They definitely won’t be picking a coach on emotion.

 

[daniel30]

I just hope the club don’t take the easy solution and get fooled by Mini he aren't the answer.

 

[tigerdell]

Reckon they can easily respond better Smokin. Something like:

"We're enjoying playing under Mini, and will continue to do our best with him, but at the end of the day we're just players. The club have put an excellent committee together to choose the next coach of this great club and they'll no doubt make the right choice. We can't wait to get stuck into pre-season under whoever that may be".

Yeah nah.
I doubt anyone involved has any concern with the players answering media questions, or at risk of being swayed by it.
The only ones discussing it are nervous nellies i mean richmond fans.

Better to keep it simple for people. Say the simple truth. Yes i like playing for Mini.
No getting tongue tied or twisted.

Then when/if the club picks another coach Benny G simply says we followed the process and think he is the best for the job.
Mini was an outstanding candidate and we wish him well.
Simple no fuss and no media outrage

 

[WesternTiger]

I agree Leysy. But at the end of the day these guys are footy players who speak on emotion and have zero business acumen.

Maybe the club should have told them to tow the party line. But doing that would be going back to 2016. We ain’t that club.

Needless to say I think the likes of Gale and co are smart enough to see through that. They definitely won’t be picking a coach on emotion.

Yep. Find me a player who hasnt endorsed an interim coach in the past. For good clubs with good processes its just noise.

 

[Dustintime]

Who cares if they like him or not

Chris Scott isnt exactly a bloke youd want to spend Friday night at the pub with but a good coach

 

[seven]

Who cares if they like him or not

Chris Scott isnt exactly a bloke youd want to spend Friday night at the pub with but a good coach

As they say.
A hard coach will lift the good players and the lazy ones will leave.

 

[HKTigerB]

......

To me our increased scoring is just coming off the back of a decline in our defensive rigour.

Categorically not so. We have changed our entry to forward 50, changed our transition avenues and who we hit up to and how. I've had it explained to me and watched the training drills and then closely watched during a game and see it being executed.

 

[jb03]

Reckon they can easily respond better Smokin. Something like:

"We're enjoying playing under Mini, and will continue to do our best with him, but at the end of the day we're just players. The club have put an excellent committee together to choose the next coach of this great club and they'll no doubt make the right choice. We can't wait to get stuck into pre-season under whoever that may be".

A player saying that is as fanciful as one of your horses winning.

 

[Tony Braxton-Hicks]

With the heavy rider I've seen most of his work via a mobile phone strapped to bike handlebars while I hauled my fat arse around the Tour De France course

Naked and backwards?

 

[Merveille]

We have the perfect player Mansell tuff , hard and a pest , but we play him as a forward there's your player. We just refuse to lock down a player the week before Ward of gws took him out of the game.

Mansell has the application but not the athleticism to go with Bont - Bont would destroy him in the air, just roll forward. The best taggers could compete in the air - Ling, Crowley