“Fortune favours the brave” are the words famously etched above the race at Punt Road. Yet the brave were few and far between in Richmond’s Round 1 loss to the Suns on the Gold Coast Saturday night.
While it would seem Andrew Demetriou’s expansion babies have finally delivered him a fleeting moment of glee four games in to the 2014 season, not so much glee can be found for Richmond heading into Round 2.
It’s not panic stations yet, but the demons of past failures must shine the spotlight on the coaching box.
Humidity, first round nerves, pressure to deliver and a few key players (Daniel Jackson and Ivan Maric) missing aside, Richmond performed woefully and need some serious changes.
As much as one can defend Damien Hardwick and his endeavour, his long-term plans and his demeanour, reality is he was once again outcoached and failed to make changes fast enough.
In Richmond’s disastrous finals appearance last year, after being in firm control of Carlton for the majority of the first half, they blew a substantial first-half lead to eventually be overrun by their arch rivals.
Alarm bells rang loud and clear when Carlton began laying on the goals quickly and in easy fashion in the second half, yet there appeared to be no significant changes to Richmond’s structure. Tigers players looked dumbfounded and, accordingly, played like a team with no idea how to atone for poor errors and ill decision-making under pressure.
While Richmond never controlled the match against Gold Coast, the same inability to switch up various match-ups and attempt to turn the tables when Gold Coast were two players down on rotations – after an injury to Jack Martin early in the game, followed by Charlie Dixon also playing no further part after he suffered concussion – was an alarming display from a supposed top four contender.
Hardwick failed to switch up the game style the Tigers went into the game with. There was a flurry of handballs at every stoppage, the majority of which were not executed, resulting in multiple turnovers most times the Tigers were in possession.
With the exception of skipper Trent Cotchin and consistent effort from Nick Vlastuin, the midfield couldn’t deliver fast enough into the forward line, whereas when Gold Coast gained possession they often took little time to convert, leaving the Tigers second-guessing every piece of play.
Richmond were fumbly, displayed poor skills, panicked when they had the ball and all-in-all looked like they were the new kids on the block who had little or no experience as a cohesive unit.
The Tigers finished the game with 32 more disposals, 13 more kicks, 19 more handballs, 17 more clearances, 13 more stoppages and 10 more inside 50s. How can one side be on top statistically in so many areas of the game and come out winless?
While the Suns capitalised early, were switched-on from the outset and were very deserving winners, the Tigers forwards gave the team no chance of winning the game.
Delivery to the forwards was poor but it’s a two way street and when one of your two tall forwards, Tyrone Vickery, was unfavourably caught behind at every ball coming into the Tigers’ forward 50, it makes everyone’s job that much harder. For all the hard work most notably Cotchin was doing to get some flow happening, Vickery appeared lazy and unapologetic for his dismal showing as a forward.
So with one frustrated and another underachieving forward clogging up the forward line and the team firing little to no shots against a tenacious and opportunistic Gold Coast side, Hardwick looked like he had no answers as clearly Plan A had failed.
Yet Plan A has failed on too many occasions. Little changes were made.
Out of desperation, Brett Deledio was thrown into the forward line when the game was unofficially out of reach for the Tigers. The most telling indication of the vice captain’s frustration came after a poorly-delivered kick from Vickery in the last quarter was spoiled and then kicked by Deledio after it had spilled out of play. It was an expression of pent-up frustration from another success-deprived leader of the club.
Although Shaun Hampson’s debut as number one ruckman for the Tigers while Maric is on the sidelines wasn’t an ideal scenario and Jackson’s absence was felt around the ground, ultimately the decision-making, poor skill execution and inability to take the game on and do the basic things right caused Richmond’s undoing in Round 1.
Hardwick needs to get the basics right as the dreaded encounter with their arch-rivals Carlton looms even closer. It will be the true test of whether the Tigers have an alternative to Plan A which can both be implemented and executed like a true top eight side.
It is far too soon to jump to crisis contingency plans after Round 1 but Richmond must begin to show greater tenacity than the preview of 2014 we received on Saturday night.
Hardwick needs to be brave himself and make decisions that will enforce a ruthless winning mentality into the minds of all Tigers players. And with Carlton seeking redemption for their substandard loss against Port on Sunday, Richmond cannot simply rely on rectifying past demons to get them over the line.
After all, fortune favours the brave, and only the brave are left standing in September.
Carole Monty
Guest
Disappointing second half to say the least. Cotchy should not have played- you could tell he was struggling. Time for Hardwick to move out of the streak give someone else a go at the helm. Basha. Has found his form again. Dimma you need to work on what is going right ( first half) not what is going wrong.
Madeleine P
Guest
Really dont rate the tigs this year. Definitely not top 8 contenders. Jack Reiwoldt is sublime though
SUNS member (& long time Tigers supporter)
Guest
Maric will always be missed but Hampson dominated the hitouts (37). That certainly wasn't where the Tigers were lacking. Posted a comment in early February about this game and take the liberty of reiterating my thoughts on the Tigers at the time .... "The Tigers’ performance in the Round 1 clash with the SUNS is pivotal to their season mentally. And while it will be no easy task to win that game in the SUNS’ fortress, to be considered as final’s contenders, the Tigers simply have to win it. Yes it’s only Round 1 and there are a multitude of factors affecting all teams including the extent of their injury list throughout the season but think the Round 1 win is crucial to the Tigers’ chances of playing finals footy. Do so & they could finish top 5; lose and they’ll be just another team fighting for a finals berth. Time will tell." Yes it will and given that they lost it, we'll see if the Tigers can not only find the 'game' they need but also the mental strength required to go forward. And they will win games as rank outsiders and yet fall over to others as favourites. [Footnote: Not just as a Suns member but for all AFL fans; disappointed for Jack Martin as we may not get to see him on the field in top grade again this season ... he should not have had to dive for a poorly directed ball given there was little pressure on the Suns' kicker at the time. His time will come.]
LX
Guest
Vickery was toxic on Saturday night, a severe liability. I've been a defender of his for some time as well, but I'm starting to rather have Aaron Edwards up front. There were also some awful clangers and decisions made by McDonogh and Astbury in the first quarter - when Coast broke away to their four goal lead. These two people I don't consider to be in our best 22 and would replace them with Batchelor and Grimes at earliest convenience.
macca
Guest
I must say Slane when I turned it on about 1/2 way through the last quarter and saw the Suns all over the Tiges I thought about you comments about Grigg and Houli - and thought "he might just be on to something here".
Slane
Guest
I'd say with Maric playing It's close to a 50-50 game. With no Maric The Tigers will be in a heap of trouble.
macca
Guest
Yeah Judd was a key int the last couple of games last year but I am telling myself that the blues have a pretty good winning record without him over the past couple of years so given they lost last week they should win this week - statistically!
Milo
Guest
Yep too right, im sure a few journos are salivating at the thought. Even just write the same article and edit_replace as necessary! :-) Apart from matchups mentioned, (and critically Maric's absence again which will lead to Kruezer & Warnock dominating) Im just hoping on the flip side Judd's absence may give the Tigers some sort of mental boost. His very presence seems to lift the blues and spook the tigers each time they meet regardless of where his form's at.
macca
Guest
Milo - I also thought the Tiges was a worse loss (in the context of the season) than Carlton for the same reasons - plus most people predicted Richmond to finish higher than Carlton - but as a Carlton supporter I might just of been trying to convince myself things weren't that bad. It will be an interesting game between the TIges and the blues - I thnk Carlton get a bit of an advantage with Warnock and Kreuzer in the ruck, Touhy seems to match up well on Martin and Jamison held Riewoldt reasonably well the last couple of times out - if Curnow can keep Cotchin under some sort of control and they can exploit the Astbury/Henderson match up things might go the blues way but this is just another of many games that could fall either way. I can tell you right now though there are plenty of journalist writing two articles already proclaiming the end of the losers finals chances - of course it is complete rubbish but it won't stop them.
Milo
Guest
All good points macca and all valid. Probably means that more than ever especially given the importance Tiges needed to approach the game a little bit differently with a plan B, C and D as well. But we didnt, got beaten and arguably much worse loss than Carlton which was playing a finals side from last year that advanced to the second week, and Collingwood which had a few injured and were playing a grand finalist and potential premiership favorite for this year. Worse and your point 3) is valid here too, I cant see the Tigers beating Blues next Thursday either!!
Dave
Guest
Hardwick is too blame for the loss but not for the reasons mentioned above. Why is Dusty playing off the half back get him back in the midfield/forward 2 times Coleman medallist playing high up the ground Jack needs to be back in the goalsquare Newman is a half back get him back there delivers the ball nicely Why is Petterd playing? Cannot believe the treatment Foley is getting back him in play him every game with in 4-5 games he will be back to his 30+ every week And why there not playing Aaron Edwards is bizarre gives so much around the 50m arc
macca
Guest
For mine this result wasn't unexpected although once the Suns lost 2 players to injury you would probably have expected the Tiges to prevail. The key reasons I am unsurprised by the Tigers losing are; 1) The Suns are a pretty handy side these days 2) It was being played at Metricon where the Suns will have a distinct advantage (I am very glad Carlton don't travel there this year) especially at night when it seems to get very greasy. 3) The Tigers don't have a great record against the Suns which would give Gold Coast a mental boost 4) Finally the most important point is they didn't have Maric - without him in the rcuk (even when he is resting) they struggle.
Milo
Guest
A comment from the other day: One point that always comes up is the hundreds of coaches that Richmond has supposedly sacked. Richmond is purportedly the worst of all the clubs .Well maybe the 80s wasnt so great (TJ, Bourke, Patterson, Sproule victims) , but since Bartlett was told rightly to resign in 1991 i dont think theyve done any worse than any other club (and better than quite a few). Jeans left of his own accord, Northey insisted on a longer contract than what he’d been given previously, held the club to ransom then eventually went to Brisbane. Walls was sacked, Geishen resigned off his own accord, Spud served out his 5 year contract whereupon he was told it wouldnt be renewed (thank god), Wallace likewise his 5 years term when both club and he parted ways happily (make no mistakes the suntan kid was happy to move on), and now we have Dimma. Arguably 1 sacking in 23 seasons. Hardwick now should become the longest serving coach since Tommy as long as he coaches at the start of next year. But he should be under no illusions. the coaching job is tough at any club and there is rightfuly a limit as to how long you can coach without the ultimate success. So in Hardwick’s case thats likely to come in three years. I know all tiger fans hope he can do it, but otherwise it will be time for someone else to have a go
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
Being a Richmond Coach eh? Do they give him an office, or just partition off a little space next to the exit?
mpalm
Roar Rookie
As a Richmond fan myself there is no doubt the players performed poorly and deserve a large amount of criticism. While I understand Hardwick isn't solely to blame I think it has become apparent he isn't quick enough to make decisions when the momentum is heavily in the opposition's favour e.g why didn't he drag Vickery or sub him off in the 3rd quarter when virtually everyone else could see he was practically useless out there ? Why does he insist on moving Riewoldt up the ground when he is at his best front and square in the forward line ?
Milo
Guest
AzzaM dont you think turning up to play is the coach's responsibiity? And the dragging of players from the field? I agree that you definitely cant lay all the blame on Dimma and the players must take responsibility for their execution of his plans. But there are some things that he must be responsibile for as well like dragging players and ensuring they are as prepared as possible (come to play).
slane
Guest
Thankfully after reading your previous predictions I've learnt you have no idea what you are talking about.
Cat
Roar Guru
Vickery needs to get his hands out in front and stop letting easy marks bounce off his chest.
AzzaM
Guest
I don't think Dimma was to blame for the Tigers pathetic showing first up - it was the majority of the players. Most of them played like it was a practice game. From what I understand Dimma was equally frustrated at the lack of ball movement and lack of energy. Vickery should have been dragged after the first quarter and should be dropped for Round 2. We have the depth to drop players who don't perform and he should be the first to go. I would drop 1/3 of the team after that lack of effort. The Tigers have constantly improved under Dimma and it was not a poor coaching performance...it was a lack of following the coaches instructions that cost them. Well that and the fact half of them didn't turn up to play. If the Tigers don't show a massive improvement against the Blues there will be a lot more abuse shouted at my television screen (sorry neighbors).
TomC
Roar Guru
It didn't occur to me to blame Hardwick for Saturday's performance. It seemed to often be the case that the Suns were able to move the ball under little pressure, and mostly I put that down to the players not covering their defensive side. I suppose it's possible it was poor strategy, but I think I'll wait to see a few more Richmond games this season to make that judgement. I must say it was disappointing as a neutral. This Richmond side is so talented, and they need to learn to be ruthless.