Richo-focused Tigers lashed
By Lyall Johnson
June 19 2003
Richmond players have been told to show more courage and discipline and not kick the ball to Matthew Richardson simply because the Tiger spearhead has led to space.
According to football manager Greg Hutchison, many of Richardson's teammates too often pass the ball to Richardson despite him not being the preferred option.
Richardson attracted the ire of coach Danny Frawley against Carlton last Saturday for leading wide to the open pockets, which did not allow the side's crumbers to get into the game.
"I think Danny had some issues about him leading wide, and that's not necessarily anyone's fault. If the space is there, Richo is going to lead there because one of the strengths of his game is his running ability - he runs people into the ground," Hutchison said.
"But we have to have players with enough discipline and enough courage not to kick the ball there all the time, but to kick the ball to the preferred position. That takes a lot of courage when you see a man who's six foot five running flat-out and very, very assertive in the way he presents himself.
"Sometimes it is very hard to see anyone else out on the field when you've got the ball and you're under pressure. You just see this quick movement of a big player. But they need to have a bit of poise and a bit of composure and make the right decision with the footy when they get it."
This also required other forwards to do the team things and move to the correct positions, he said.
The Tigers are using the bye weekend to give a number of out-of-form players the chance to find some touch in the VFL with the Coburg Tigers.
Rory Hilton and Adam Houlihan requested to play in the VFL while David Rodan is believed to have been told he must drop down to show he can play a more disciplined game.
Hutchison said the VFL gave the players an opportunity to enjoy more game time.
"It's pretty hard to get a kick still wherever you play footy, so there is no guarantees that you go back and you get a lot of the ball," he said.
"But what you do is go back and have your opportunity to get more of the footy and play more. They know they are going to be out there all of the time; they are not going to be taken off."
Hutchison said Hilton, who has been maligned by Tiger fans this season, had been struggling this year but suggested it was not entirely his fault.
"It's been a bit hard for him. He's found it a little bit difficult to find the position that he'd prefer to play in and I'm not sure which position that is," Hutchison said.
"Initially it was half-back, but Mark Chaffey has been in good form and Chris Newman's been in form and so has Ty Zantuck, so it has been pretty hard to find a position for him in the back line because those guys have been in good form. And as a result we're trying to do things with him that haven't helped him."
By Lyall Johnson
June 19 2003
Richmond players have been told to show more courage and discipline and not kick the ball to Matthew Richardson simply because the Tiger spearhead has led to space.
According to football manager Greg Hutchison, many of Richardson's teammates too often pass the ball to Richardson despite him not being the preferred option.
Richardson attracted the ire of coach Danny Frawley against Carlton last Saturday for leading wide to the open pockets, which did not allow the side's crumbers to get into the game.
"I think Danny had some issues about him leading wide, and that's not necessarily anyone's fault. If the space is there, Richo is going to lead there because one of the strengths of his game is his running ability - he runs people into the ground," Hutchison said.
"But we have to have players with enough discipline and enough courage not to kick the ball there all the time, but to kick the ball to the preferred position. That takes a lot of courage when you see a man who's six foot five running flat-out and very, very assertive in the way he presents himself.
"Sometimes it is very hard to see anyone else out on the field when you've got the ball and you're under pressure. You just see this quick movement of a big player. But they need to have a bit of poise and a bit of composure and make the right decision with the footy when they get it."
This also required other forwards to do the team things and move to the correct positions, he said.
The Tigers are using the bye weekend to give a number of out-of-form players the chance to find some touch in the VFL with the Coburg Tigers.
Rory Hilton and Adam Houlihan requested to play in the VFL while David Rodan is believed to have been told he must drop down to show he can play a more disciplined game.
Hutchison said the VFL gave the players an opportunity to enjoy more game time.
"It's pretty hard to get a kick still wherever you play footy, so there is no guarantees that you go back and you get a lot of the ball," he said.
"But what you do is go back and have your opportunity to get more of the footy and play more. They know they are going to be out there all of the time; they are not going to be taken off."
Hutchison said Hilton, who has been maligned by Tiger fans this season, had been struggling this year but suggested it was not entirely his fault.
"It's been a bit hard for him. He's found it a little bit difficult to find the position that he'd prefer to play in and I'm not sure which position that is," Hutchison said.
"Initially it was half-back, but Mark Chaffey has been in good form and Chris Newman's been in form and so has Ty Zantuck, so it has been pretty hard to find a position for him in the back line because those guys have been in good form. And as a result we're trying to do things with him that haven't helped him."
