What is Neil Balme thinking?

[year of the tiger]

Maybe there's a problem with culture, maybe not. Personally, didn't detect a lack of effort yesterday, just a lot of uncharacteristic fumbling and poor decision-making. A few times we created the outnumber in our forward line and couldn't capitalise.

Switched over to West Coast/Collingwood and the Eagles in particular displayed supreme ball handling, much like we've become accustomed to seeing from our team.

We're all disappointed that our much-vaunted "system" didn't enable replacements to simply pick up the thread from the injured players, and it's apparent there isn't going to be any minor premiership/McClelland trophy this year. But we've gone from being a mature, settled team to one of the youngest in the space of a fortnight, and have been beaten by mature, settled opposition.

Found it encouraging that we could make so many fixable errors and be only 4-5 goals down halfway through the last. The final 15 minutes was disappointing, but again, errors from Edwards, Graham and one other on the camera side wing led to the goals, and the skipper wasn't out there.

Can understand the disappointment of those who were making grand final plans in the pre-season, but it's a bit early to be pointing the finger at coaches and culture IMO.

Agree

 

[easy_tiger]

I reckon he'd be thinking

'Gold Coast and Brisbane in the top 4, the *smile* world has gone upside down'

 

[TigerForce]

Maybe that ugly beard is putting fear into the players.

 

[Scoop]

Balmey would be typical balmey - we have had a terrible start to the season, blokes poorly out of form, our injuries - diabolical.... yet we are 1-2 the same as fancied sides like Adelaide and Collingwood and the media’s love child essendon. Stack made a stellar debut and Lynch looks to be a huge recruit. I reckon he’d be thinking if we could be about 50/50 W/L around round 8 then we are a huge shot second half of the season.

Bingo. Can’t panic or judge a thing. And this won’t change for another 8 weeks.

 

[artball]

Balme will be calm

 

[kiwitiger]

Just come off our 2 best seasons in 30 plus years ,

3 games in , rocked by injuries and suspensions , and just played 2 very good sides that could go deep into finals while depleted , we have to ride this out and hang tough , adversity makes you stronger ,

Overreaction

 

[The Mole]

What a load of rubbish and *smile* post!m

X2
We have our entire leadership group out injured and our number 2 forward and backman out. Plus our two ball distributors off half back. Any wonder we looked a rabble yesterday? No team could function properly like that

 

[gazza49]

Just come off our 2 best seasons in 30 plus years ,

3 games in , rocked by injuries and suspensions , and just played 2 very good sides that could go deep into finals while depleted , we have to ride this out and hang tough , adversity makes you stronger ,

Overreaction
:clap :clap :clap

 

[Gazmatron]

I am rather worried about the Swans game as l can't see anyone in our team stopping Buddy from kicking a bag.

Agree Julius. Would have to be Grimes or Broad and that leaves a problem with matchups for Astbury and Garth. Bakey and presumably McCartin are to mobile and presumably tack goes to Heeney.

 

[Tigerdangerous]

This subject has got “over-reacting”, “take your best players out of any side through injury” and of course “best seasons in 30 years” etc. What is evident is the frail mindset of the Tiger players which is repetitive and cancerous among the group.

A demolition in the PL, a pre-season (or should it be called a summer of love) that lacked intensity and one wonders what was learnt from that PL demolition.

Maybe the coach’s need a bomb under their arses and Hardwick needs to let a few sparks fly in the changing room but I doubt he’s capable. Maybe it’s as Tim Notke said, “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” Because I don’t see our “talent” working hard enough or being held accountable for not doing much as shown by a first gamer against GWS who worked hard and tough and made an impact.

Can Balme make a difference? Time will tell.

 

[mad_tiggy911]

He would be thinking we got screwed on the Martin deal.

We can't even attract decent talent now he's on those dollars. Him performing well below par only makes things worse.

 

[BillyJean17]

The wheels are falling off the Richmond 2019 season one by one and while it is difficult to accept, the club must and put into action a very real plan that at the very least secures some decent draft picks come the end of the season.

I believe the focus now falls on the Football Manager Neil Balme who has the experience and integrity to make some hard calls. I think he needs to put some heat on the coaching staff and in particular “tramtracks” Hardwick.

If supporters in the stands can see such playing flaws as certain players “pulling out” of contests but still get selected, that falls on the coaching staff. If supporters can see players repeating the same mistakes, game after game, deemed as fundamentals of the game like vision and kicking to a teammate; that falls on the coaching staff.

Selecting serial underperformers falls on the coaching staff and selection committee. Persisting with Martin in his current state is a gamble that is not paying off; that falls on the coaching staff and Balme needs to speak from the hip to his staff while sniffing around the club and during training sessions to get a sniff of the mind state of the group.

Injuries aside, and they do hurt, Balme needs to look at the commitment of the group and certain individuals that take to the field to play for the Tigers. They have been indulged with a lot of “soft” love over the last few seasons; it’s time for some hard love from the club and that goes for all the coaches as well.

I wouldn’t think that would be necessary for a coach in 10th year . At R3 it was reasonable that the coaches expected a decent response after a poor r2 . Patterns are now emerging with several players not looking likely to arrest woefully poor form . If Hardwick needed someone to tell him that then he’s not half the coach. The fortunate part is we have 6-8 quite talented youngsters at vfl , we should look to introduce 4-5 ASAP

 

[Sintiger]

Just come off our 2 best seasons in 30 plus years ,

3 games in , rocked by injuries and suspensions , and just played 2 very good sides that could go deep into finals while depleted , we have to ride this out and hang tough , adversity makes you stronger ,

Overreaction

X 2

 

[nswtiger]

X3

 

[TigerPort]

Balme would be thinking - as any sensible tigers would be thinking - that the season is still alive.

Last year Collingwood was 1 and 3 after 3 rounds and 3 and 3 after 6 rounds with a stack of injury concerns.

 

[Disco]

If we can get to 3-3, I think the season is well and truly alive. Lose to either Syd or Melb and the path of getting games into the future would be the best course of action.

 

[MD Jazz]

The wheels are falling off the Richmond 2019 season one by one and while it is difficult to accept, the club must and put into action a very real plan that at the very least secures some decent draft picks come the end of the season.

I believe the focus now falls on the Football Manager Neil Balme who has the experience and integrity to make some hard calls. I think he needs to put some heat on the coaching staff and in particular “tramtracks” Hardwick.

If supporters in the stands can see such playing flaws as certain players “pulling out” of contests but still get selected, that falls on the coaching staff. If supporters can see players repeating the same mistakes, game after game, deemed as fundamentals of the game like vision and kicking to a teammate; that falls on the coaching staff.

Selecting serial underperformers falls on the coaching staff and selection committee. Persisting with Martin in his current state is a gamble that is not paying off; that falls on the coaching staff and Balme needs to speak from the hip to his staff while sniffing around the club and during training sessions to get a sniff of the mind state of the group.

Injuries aside, and they do hurt, Balme needs to look at the commitment of the group and certain individuals that take to the field to play for the Tigers. They have been indulged with a lot of “soft” love over the last few seasons; it’s time for some hard love from the club and that goes for all the coaches as well.

I'm sure Neil doesn't waste his time with garbage like this. Unbelievable some of the tripe coming out 3 games in. We had half a VFL side out there against a very good side away from home. We got beat by last years GF in a tough encounter with crucial injuries.

I suppose one benefit of winning a flag is it has raised expectation.

 

[Tigers of Old]

Monte Carlos

 

[tigertime2]

We can still win the flag!

 

[DjJazzyPete]

Just come off our 2 best seasons in 30 plus years ,

3 games in , rocked by injuries and suspensions , and just played 2 very good sides that could go deep into finals while depleted , we have to ride this out and hang tough , adversity makes you stronger ,

Overreaction

Yep , its going to be a challenging 6 weeks but its an opportunity to try a few of the youngsters like Stack and Balta yesterday . We were going to see which young players stand up to the challenge . Could be a blessing in desguise in the long run .