How dumb is the Richmond Football Club?

[The Boss]

The mantra still applies draft the kids ....................... problem is the RFC has drafted a raft of duds.

Ive said it before the 04 draft -Meyer at 12, Pattison at 16 and Polo at 20, along with the 05 disaster of Jon, Hughes and Casserly has been nothing short of a calamity and a huge failure and a major factor as to why the club is still a laughing stock.

agree....the 2004 draft won the Hawks a premiership (Roughead, Franklin, Lewis etc) and gave us another 5 years of mediocrity.
5 picks in the top 20 was a great opportunity to draft some quality kids and we blew it.
We didn't learn our lesson the following year either as we stuffed that up also.......is it any wonder we are still crap in 2009??

 

[bullus_hit]

agree....the 2004 draft won the Hawks a premiership (Roughead, Franklin, Lewis etc) and gave us another 5 years of mediocrity.
5 picks in the top 20 was a great opportunity to draft some quality kids and we blew it.
We didn't learn our lesson the following year either as we stuffed that up also.......is it any wonder we are still crap in 2009??

Once again, people need to look at what was on offer in 2004 - it was a weak draft from pick 8 and despite missing out on Monfries and Wood, most of those guys have ended up on the football scrapheap. For all the criticism levelled at Polo, he's actually been one of the better players from that draft.

In the end, we have recruited two potential elites (Deledio & Tambling) 2 core players in Thursfield & McGuane and a handy depth player in Polo. If we managed to achieve that every year I bet there would be few complaints.

 

[IrockZ]

Once again, people need to look at what was on offer in 2004 - it was a weak draft from pick 8 and despite missing out on Monfries and Wood, most of those guys have ended up on the football scrapheap. For all the criticism levelled at Polo, he's actually been one of the better players from that draft.

In the end, we have recruited two potential elites (Deledio & Tambling) 2 core players in Thursfield & McGuane and a handy depth player in Polo. If we managed to achieve that every year I bet there would be few complaints.

Most around here were happy with Patto over Wood but I doubt they would still feel that way at the moment. The likes of Van Berlo, Le Cras and Prismall are hardly what I would call on the scrapheap.

The fact is no other club except for GC/WS will ever have 5 top 20 picks again and we had a real oppurtunity but failed. It is no good getting a C+ every draft when we are so far behind the rest, we need to be much better than that.

The only positive thing we did was have 7-8 picks so more chance of finding a player compared to 05,07,08 which were only 3 picks

 

[GoodOne]

Whilst we may have picked poorly here and there, the true problem is not our drafting. These kids are the best 70 odd kids in the country every year. Our problem is what we do with them when we get them. Our developement of the raw talent we get has been discraceful.

No our true problem has been our drafting. Sure development probably needs improving as well but you cant make diamonds out of dog doo (at least not that I know of)

 

[Massai]

Richmond have been DUMB for years when it comes to the recruitment and then more importantly the development of its young players.

Delidio is a case in point, if he was at Geelong, Carlton, Essendon, Collingwood, Weagles, PA, Adelaide, Brisbane or Sydney, I honestly believe he would be in the top 10 players of the AFL. He's not even close, only this year with the arrival of Ben Cousins and the input Cuz has given to Lid's have we seen an increase in his workrate etc. Wayne Campbell as Assistant Coach in charge of the midfield, I don't think he's done anything to contribute to Brett's player development.

Riewoldt is another that is showing clear signs of poor development notably physical development. He's got the talent, he can take a mark, he can lead. He can't kick the ball 50 metres and his build is still like it was when he arrived 3 years ago, he should have muscled up by at least 7-10Kg with no sacrifice in speed, to give him the chance to match it with more seasoned and hard bodied defenders.

Basically Richmond for decades has been totally and utterly *smile* poor when it came down to the development of the players its recruited. That is now changing but we are still in for a lot of pain over the next 3 years or so. Its critical that the Recruiting team get the right draft choices for the upcoming seasons, and its even more critical that the football department is cleaned out of the useless staff and replaced with people who know how to go about winning and what's required of the playing list to get that happening.

 

[bullus_hit]

Most around here were happy with Patto over Wood but I doubt they would still feel that way at the moment. The likes of Van Berlo, Le Cras and Prismall are hardly what I would call on the scrapheap.

The fact is no other club except for GC/WS will ever have 5 top 20 picks again and we had a real oppurtunity but failed. It is no good getting a C+ every draft when we are so far behind the rest, we need to be much better than that.

The only positive thing we did was have 7-8 picks so more chance of finding a player compared to 05,07,08 which were only 3 picks

Sure, Le Cras and Van Berlo are hits but how many misses before them? Adelaide picked up Meeson with their first pick - hardly astute recruiting wouldn't you say?
Prismall was is also at his second club and was up for trade last year, we could have had him if we wanted.

As for Hawthorn, beyond Lewis they picked up battlers, much like our own Patto.

I think it's fair to say we have done reasonbly well in getting the players we did, I've always been of the opinion that if you get 4-5 quality players each draft you have done well.

 

[Disco08]

Typical Richmond luck getting 5 picks in the top 20 when there were only 7 or 8 standouts in a weak draft. Having Miller running the show by himself probably didn't help much either.

 

[IrockZ]

Sure, Le Cras and Van Berlo are hits but how many misses before them? Adelaide picked up Meeson with their first pick - hardly astute recruiting wouldn't you say?
Prismall was is also at his second club and was up for trade last year, we could have had him if we wanted.

As for Hawthorn, beyond Lewis they picked up battlers, much like our own Patto.

I think it's fair to say we have done reasonbly well in getting the players we did, I've always been of the opinion that if you get 4-5 quality players each draft you have done well.

Prismall left for salary cap reasons not cause the cats didnt want to keep him. If he didnt do his knee he would of cost much more than what Essendon got him for.

Who are these 4-5 quality players you speak of? Deledio + Tambling equals 2 by my calculations. Polo, McGuane, and Thursfield are just players.

 

[Disco08]

That may be true, but looking at that draft it was very low on quality after the top 5. There's a lot of misses by clubs considered to be very shrewd recruiters between the few decent players taken after that.

 

[bullus_hit]

Prismall left for salary cap reasons not cause the cats didnt want to keep him. If he didnt do his knee he would of cost much more than what Essendon got him for.

Who are these 4-5 quality players you speak of? Deledio + Tambling equals 2 by my calculations. Polo, McGuane, and Thursfield are just players.

however you rate Prismall, he's hardly the difference between Richmond being a great club or a cellar dweller. In fact, no player in 2004 (beyond Franklin ) would have made much difference to our current plight, as many have stated, it was a weak draft with a handful of quality players between pick 6 and 60.

Having secured Morton a few drafts later, I would say we, along with Hawthorn have been the only clubs to really benefit from the class of 2004. Granted, there have been some good picks along the way, but these have been the exception and not the norm.

 

[Scoop]

Excuse making. Unreal.

 

[bullus_hit]

Excuse making. Unreal.

fair suck of the sauce bottle Pooper, no excuses for the 2005 draft but those blaming 2004 for our predicament are way off the mark. Our problems go back many years before this draft, sure we could have done better but any Harry Hindsight could tell you that.

For the record, which club apart from Hawthorn scooped the pool that year?

 

[Disco08]

Excuse making. Unreal.

What do you disagree with?

 

[Ridley]

I think it's fair to say we have done reasonbly well in getting the players we did, I've always been of the opinion that if you get 4-5 quality players each draft you have done well.

What?? We don't even have 4-5 picks in most drafts let alone get 4-5 quality players. 4-5 lemons would be more like it.

 

[In the Blood]

No our true problem has been our drafting. Sure development probably needs improving as well but you cant make diamonds out of dog doo (at least not that I know of)

Disagree. Plenty of players that look like dog doo at other clubs seem to develop a lot better than at Richmond (look at half of Collingwood's list). Also, a lot of players that look the goods when they are drafted to Richmond don't develop (look at half our list as evidence).

 

[craig]

Agree that 2005 was a disaster but 2004 hasn't sent the club back in the same way. We also picked up Thursfield and McGuane with later picks so the ledger has been balanced somewhat.

I wouldnt call McGuane quality- deficient too light on, poor footskills.

RFC needs to better than the likes of McGUane.

Look at Post in his first year and Tayte Pears and Michael Hurley also..... natural footballers who look likely from the get go. Mcguane is a plodder a battler, not top level KPD and as such needs to be moved on.

Hes at the very top of my list of players to be offered to GC17 along with Raines

 

[the claw]

fair suck of the sauce bottle Pooper, no excuses for the 2005 draft but those blaming 2004 for our predicament are way off the mark. Our problems go back many years before this draft, sure we could have done better but any Harry Hindsight could tell you that.

For the record, which club apart from Hawthorn scooped the pool that year?

go and have a look at claws selections for 2004 just a dumb arse nincompoop from the burbs. mate they butchered that draft no buts no bones about it.
they butchered 2005 and 2006 was ordinary. 2007 take cotchin out a pick 2 (oh but thats right we dont need such early picks we get em wrong anyway) and what is left. 2008 bloody hell vickery and post decent players i think but what else. you wont grow the list and catch up to other clubs with two players each yr.

 

[the claw]

Excuse making. Unreal.

here here it never stops. unfortunately the club is just like em they deserve each other.

 

[the claw]

fair suck of the sauce bottle Pooper, no excuses for the 2005 draft but those blaming 2004 for our predicament are way off the mark. Our problems go back many years before this draft, sure we could have done better but any Harry Hindsight could tell you that.

For the record, which club apart from Hawthorn scooped the pool that year?

hindsight now thats a bit rich.theres some who speak it at the time and still its labelled hindsight.

 

[tigertough]

The draft and salary cap have been in existence for so many years and it appears that we have only discovered this year with the March presidency that the keys for long term success lies in areas that are not subject to AFL intervention.

With all clubs able to spend the same amount on players, "the better clubs" can only improve by focusing on the other areas and throwing $$$$$ on
(a) recruiting/list management. Ensuring that the best possible players are taken at the draft and the list is properly managed to ensure that the jigsaw of players, short and tall, young and old, well paid and lowly paid is properly set and maintained.
(b) player development. With the players available as "young apprentices" we need to be able to educate train and develope them into mature players.
(c) player maintenance. This relates to ensuring that the players are fitter than the opposition and able to stay on the paddock and not succumb to injuries. The very best medical science people are needed to minimise injuries and rehabilitate quicker and better.
(d) facilities. This will help with player development and player maintenance.

(hopefully)
Overall, it will be amatter of $$$$$ providing resources for the club to make the improvements needed. Unfortunately others (especially Eddie and the Madpies) discovered this well before RFC. I am confident that March understands this and it will be a matter of time when we are a financial powerhouse and able to properly compete