End of an Era

[craig]

Funny Part is even if we miss the 8 we will still likely get a harder draw than those that finish in it and play off in the GF.

Bookmark it.

 

[Berwick boy]

This is a good point. We are trying to play a game style that doesn’t suit our personnel. The genesis of our dynasty probably began around 2014-2015 when put a heavy emphasis on running ability over kicking skills. By 2017 Hardwick and co had put together a list that could force turnovers with pressure and punish opponents on the rebound. This went against what the rest of the comp was doing which was high possession, keepings off style and it proved brutally effective, particularly in finals.

Now largely due to rule changes the balance has shifted back towards possession heavy game plans that emphasize precision footskills. Outside of maybe Martin, Short and Riewoldt there isn’t another player on our list I’d consider even close to elite by foot. Nearly every advantage we have built through recruiting and development has disappeared. We now have a list that is designed to play football one way, but the competition is demanding it be played the opposite.

This can’t be fixed in a single week or even one off-season. We’ll need something closer to a rebuild more than a refresh to genuinely compete again.

The most accurate post I’ve seen on explaining our dilemma Imo…well done TF.

 

[Coburgtiger]

bookmarked that Coburg would like a rebuild in June 2021.

six months after winning our third flag and with finals still on the cards.

You could also read what I said, mate, instead of sensationalist Murdochian level headlining. I reckon we will be rebuilding next year, and refreshing this year. And not in a 'Trade away all the stars and reset from scratch' way.

As I said, we should not currently be playing players with no future who are right now out of form. That's as far as the action taken this year needs to go.

Some will have noticed we've already started a little refresh. Our tall/small structure is different, slightly, but we've markedly changed our game plan over the last few weeks. Suddenly kicking inside on the 45's where we used to handball and run. Suddenly going backwards and into the long switch instead of the chaos long ball forward. We've even switched our focus to a more man on man defence.

This is Hardwick's half a step back to go a couple of steps forward, 2016 style. The club knows what they're doing and a refresh is already happening.

 

[Coburgtiger]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Last nights was definately number 1, but number 2 and 3 were the Hawthorn and St K losses last season, when we won the flag. The Hawthorn one in particular was woeful, terrible, abysmal, didn't fire a shot, wandered around like we'd all had a few valiums.

Analysis is all very well, and yours is OK, but you have to come from a solid premise.

All this hang-dog sooking over one bad loss is hard to take. Bad losses happen, even to good sides, even to top sides. We've had an amazing run, 3 flags and could/ should have been 4 considering our most dominant year was '18, I think that amazing run has skewed a few people's perspectives. My own view is we'll fire a few more shots this season but won't win it, you can't win the flag every year. Then signs, (ageing players, young players, draft posi, Dusty plenty left), point to a mini-rebuild and go again.

This is not hang dog sooking over one bad loss.

As mentioned, I've posted my concerns earlier this year.

FWIW, I have this St Kilda game, the Sydney game, the Melbourne game, and the Geelong game this year as the worst performances I've seen from us since 2016. There is no precedent in our dynasty for so many completely non competitive losses. Yes the opposition may have been better than that Hawthorn loss, they completely and utterly dismantled us.

We are not the side of previous years. I no longer have faith that we will rally in game, or stand up when the heat rises. I haven't been confident going into any game.

I told my boss (another Richmond nut) at the bye last year. 'I don't know if we'll win the flag, but we'll be there. We are the best side in it.' He said to me a week ago 'St Kilda are no chance, we're the best side in it.' I looked at him and said, 'Sorry mate, but if we win it this year, it'll be through a bit of luck and the stars standing up at the right time.'

There are currently at least 5 sides better than us in the comp. And on top of that, we've been smashed by injuries.

 

[Bunnerz]

25000 couldve gone last night less then 15000 turned up.
Footy isn't in great shape and its not people's number 1 priority anymore.

Agree, i could have gone.
im mad Richmond, but na.
S.Hocking has stuffed it.
Weak as *smile*.
TBH, we got the weak as free kick last nights (2 kicking in dangers where Saints barley touched us)

The game is in trouble.

 

[zippadeee]

On our list, why is it that every other club seems to have some elder statesmen that appear to be playing their best footy, but most of ours appear to just completely fall off a cliff when they reach the age around 29-30?

Looking at a few examples, Hawkins (33) and Selwood (33) seem to be playing back to their best footy and showing little signs of slowing down (add to that guys like Smith, Higgins, Duncan all 30+ and still their best players).
Then we have others like Mundy (almost 36), Boak (almost 33), Pendlebury (33), Sidebottom (30) still the best players in their respective clubs week after week.

I could go on and on.

Which is why it's staggering we sign guys in their late 20s huge long term contracts. e.g. We signed Presita for 4 more years as a 29 yo. Do we honestly think he will be producing numbers similar to his current output as a 33 yo?

Good list but don't include Sidebottom and Higgins
Both are finished

 

[tigertime2]

Where's Townsend when you need him!!

 

[seven]

2004 Brisbane played and lost the grand final
2005 they finished 11th

 

[Tony Braxton-Hicks]

The only end of an era is for Hardwick's mountaineering metaphors. Mt Baw Baw hasn't cut it this year.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

The only end of an era is for Hardwick's mountaineering metaphors. Mt Baw Baw hasn't cut it this year.

Stuck in lockdown and couldn't get to base camp.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

Round 15 of Steve Hocking's ****ball is current tracking to be the lowest scoring Round 15 since 1968.

 

[AngryAnt]

The myth that Hocking revolutionised the game and improved scoring will no doubt persist however.

 

[DavidSSS]

The media have been quiet on the massive improvements they touted for about the first 3 rounds . . . until it all turned to s***.

DS

 

[KnightersRevenge]

One serious issue I've noticed this year absolutely can be fixed. We've stopped hunting the ball. The exceptions are Cotch and, usually, Aarts. We are getting opened up when the ball is in dispute (especially in our forward half) often because we have a lot of players lagging off and waiting for it to pop out. Other than Cotch and Aarts (though not this week) and Bakes in the back half, there isn't that desire to get in and force it to our advantage. Our opposition seem more willing to get dirty and it is making it easier for sides to get and keep possession. I think it is a big part of side's ability to "open us up". I'm sure there are better analysts on these boards than me and they might have other ideas about why when the wheels fall of this year they really *smile* fall off. But as an uneducated footy fan, the thing I notice most is that missing endeavour at the coal face.

 

[snags]

Round 15 of Steve Hocking's ****ball is current tracking to be the lowest scoring Round 15 since 1968.

It's horrible to watch. Scores have slumped. Even we have jumped on the chip chip bandwagon. SHocking has likely sabotaged the game so he can introduce zones next year. The code is in trouble.

 

[Stig]

We lost to St Kilda in 17 and yet we won.
We looked to be trying to be a bit clever.
Our experienced players are rusty.
We need to settle.
Emma Murray is needed more than ever.
Trust in our leadership.
I continue to be immensely proud of what we have achieved, not just on the field.
As supporters we have had a great ride that will continue.

I didn’t know Emma Murray was involved with game plans

 

[TigerMasochist]

You could also read what I said, mate, instead of sensationalist Murdochian level headlining. I reckon we will be rebuilding next year, and refreshing this year. And not in a 'Trade away all the stars and reset from scratch' way.

As I said, we should not currently be playing players with no future who are right now out of form. That's as far as the action taken this year needs to go.

Some will have noticed we've already started a little refresh. Our tall/small structure is different, slightly, but we've markedly changed our game plan over the last few weeks. Suddenly kicking inside on the 45's where we used to handball and run. Suddenly going backwards and into the long switch instead of the chaos long ball forward. We've even switched our focus to a more man on man defence.

This is Hardwick's half a step back to go a couple of steps forward, 2016 style. The club knows what they're doing and a refresh is already happening.

This reads simply as an adjustment to game plan to suit the new rule changes rather than a refresh or rebuild which has more to do with changing the playing list. Only refreshing of players we've done this year is trying to cover our horror injury run.

 

[Smoking Aces]

Rob Innes.
Strength and conditioning

The reduction of the soft cap royally *smile* us. What’s the point of being the biggest club in the land if you can’t flex your authority by keeping and getting the best in the business.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

The reduction of the soft cap royally *smile* us. What’s the point of being the biggest club in the land if you can’t flex your authority by keeping and getting the best in the business.

Football socialism at work. You can’t buy a new car because your neighbour can’t afford one.

 

[year of the tiger]

I just posted this on another thread about mental / culture issues but it perhaps better sits here - apologies if you read it twice.


I don’t think you can underestimate that we were one of the few clubs that went into a mini hub prior to the bye with 2 back to back trips to Perth from Sydney and our home game against Adelaide moved to Sydney the week before those games.

Add our injuries to key players, a shortened pre season and the lack of motivation you have from climbing the mountain 3 times in 4 years I sort of get it.

Just look at what happened to the Eagles and Doggies after their flags and the Pies, Giants and Crows for just getting there. The cost mentally and physically to a group is just enormous.

At the end of the day, this squad has delivered way more than I ever thought or dreamed of and your right, they may just be out of petrol tickets.

The quality is certainly there in our youth, and if we bottom out this year and still play finals I will take that in a heart beat. It wasn’t that long ago, I would spend hours trying to work out how the tigers could just get into the 8, we have such a long way it’s can be hard to appreciate it for what it is.

And remember, we are still in this season despite Friday’s debacle.