Taylor Hunt to Tigerland. I was overseas when I heard the news and boy was I ecstatic. Why would you be ecstatic over a delisted free agent whose played 63 games in eight seasons I hear you say?
Well, here is why.
The Richmond Tigers have done particularly well in recruitment since the ‘Tambling era’. The evolution of football has allowed loyalty to be somewhat thrown out the window – and how good is that!
Players are doing more for themselves and greater for the clubs they end up at. Both parties are winning – oh the fans, forget them for the minute, you can’t please everyone. The Tigers have brought in the likes of Bachar Houli, Shaun Grigg and Troy Chaplin from other AFL clubs in recent years.
These three have settled into the Tigers’ line-up better than expected. However, despite being good footballers they lack one aspect of the game that I dearly miss. Courage.
You can teach athletes to position themselves to receive a handball, or lob a 55-metre pass into clear space for a forward to lead into. You can’t teach courage. You can’t teach the ability to put your body on the line. You can’t teach bravery.
Steve Morris, Nick Vlaustin and Trent Cotchin are Tigers that put their body on the line, that perpetuate the word courage. We need more of that. Taylor can deliver.
Now, the next bit won’t shock you – Taylor needs to be more dynamic. With Daniel Jackson gone, Taylor Hunt needs to fill his role as a tagger. However, courage and the ability to tag won’t keep you in AFL circles too long. Just like genuine full forwards are expiring, so are built-in taggers.
During Taylor’s final years at Geelong he has big roles on some quality opposition including Marc Murphy and Stephen Hill. He did well; he negated their influence on the game while collecting some of the football himself – but with how much damage? Not a lot to put it simply. Three goals playing on Marc Murphy was a highlight, but how easy is it to find one major highlight in a 63-game career.
His courage will shine through at Tigerland, I am sure of that. A player from a successful background who had to work for his spot every week at the Cattery will blossom with Tiger cubs around him. Will he do a great job tagging? Yes, we think so. Will he thrive without selection pressure? Let’s wait and see.
Jay Himat
Roar Rookie
Thanks Milo. Maybe my use of words were faulty. 'Courage' seems to be getting on some peoples nerves. I didn't think it was some crime to say some players lack courage more than others.
Jay Himat
Roar Rookie
Wow Olivia. You've really taken this to heart. My apologies. If I were to ask Grigg, Houli & Chaplin if they display the same courage as Taylor Hunt on the football field, just out of interest, what do you think there response would be?
Jay Himat
Roar Rookie
Olivia. Thank you for the comments. I'm just beginning my writing here at roar, so any sort of feedback is helpful! However, personal attacks on the author is not on. Do you know what I've been going through the last few days? Maybe I've been sitting on the couch doing nothing with my time. Maybe I've been studying hard for my final uni exams.. Either way, I don't need you to sit there and talk about 'decency' & how 'saddened' you are. In regards to the article. Please show me where I wrote the word 'coward.' I never ever said that anybody is a coward. Thats a word you've come up with to describe somebody who I stated 'lacked courage.' Big difference. Unfortunately, I'm quite young and the names of players you've listed went over my head. However, and maybe in my naivety I didn't express myself too well. Regardless, I'm going to stand up and say Richmond lack courageous players. The no fear players. The Joel Selwoods, Steve Morriss' & Jonothan Browns! And yes, I do believe the players mentioned lack the courage I think Richmond need to go one better each year. They are outside players, long ball kickers & good ball users. The team needs that. Taylor Hunt definitely doesn't deliver what a great ball user does. Does this mean a man who has played 63 AFL games lacks talent and basic skills? Of-course not! He lacks what others have. I think Richmond lack courageous players. Simple. Also, you stated 'they may not be hard ball in and under players.' I could not agree more. Richmond needs more of that. Cowards? Please. No athlete is a coward. Nor would I have the 'courage' to call somebody a 'coward.' Interesting hey?
Milo
Guest
Yep there have been some duds alright and Bachar Houli hasnt been one of them. I look forward to the day where recruiting the right player for the role is a matter of course (refer Hawthorn, Sydney etc) at Richmond rather than an exception. To that end we seem to have turned the corner over the last couple of years so lets hope we keep that up. Not sure about Hampson yet but could see the logic there, even if the reality hasnt turned out so well so far...
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
I wouldn't go that far Olivia, but I do agree with a lot of what you've been saying. Particularly in regard to Bachar Houli. He's definitely no coward. He was recruited for his outside running & kicking skills. Some of my fellow RFC supporters seem to have conveniently forgotten the number of duds recruited to the club over the past 3 decades who have been much worse in all areas. And yes, it does take a certain amount of courage to be the AFL's first Muslim player as well.
brian
Guest
Why is he not entitled to an opinion. I wouldnt want to tell a bloke from isis there might not be a god in front of his face but it doesnt make me wrong. Do you not think jonathon brown or joel selwood show moure courage then say jack watts
Olivia Watts
Roar Guru
Milo, I agree they aren't in your potential best 22, but Mr Himat was categoric; "However, despite being really good players they lack one aspect of the game that I really miss. Courage." He came on here and stated that three men, who he named, lacked courage. That is beyond the pale and beyond excuse for me. If I were Richmond FC I would check their membership records and, if he is a member, invite him to come and repeat that comment to their faces. I think he would decline the offer though. I would then decline his membership in turn, as no club needs members like that. If he has misspoken himself, let him come here and say so and unreservedly apologise to the players in question.
slane
Guest
Just to put it out there, don't we all run risks everyday? Aren't I courageous for stepping outside my front door today? Thousands of people won't even survive their journey out the front door and I'm doing it with a smile! What do you think the injury rate of AFL players would look like compared to school sports injury levels? I reckon children playing would get injured fairly often. Those courageous little tykes! I'm a Tigers supporter and agree whole-heartedly with the Author. Houli, Grigg and Chaplin are not courageous players. Stop deifying AFL players and take it a little easier on the hyperbole Olivia.
Milo
Guest
I think I understand where the author was coming from although agree he may have worded better in hindsight. No supporter seriously doubts the courage of AFL players and footballers generally of all codes who take the field. However the players named from a Richmond pov are not in and under types who will step up to replace a Dan Jackson for example. That I agree with. Being a Richmond supporter Id go further and say that in 2015 the three could be better served in the VFL giving advice and experience to the younger players. All were recruited to do a job and they have done well generally in performing that job. Now its time for the players they sheltered who were developing, to step in and take the reigns. Astbury (no more injuries please!!) should finally be able to replace Chaplin and a back six that includes he, Alex Rance and Dylan Grimes is starting to look strong & solid. In the middle/half back/half forward next year could we see young blokes like Lennon, Dea, McDonough, Arnot (has just been delisted but will be redrafted as rookie) as well as Hunt be rotated thru there. Throw in Lids, Cotchin, Miles, Martin, Maric, Vlastuin, Conca & co and the list is looking a tad better. If we're serious on development then I really cant see Grigg, Houli and Chaplin playing in a team as well as those mentioned. And that may just be what the article was getting at, (not that Im trying to put words in the author's mouth). If so, I agree.
Penster
Guest
She's "Reddy" for The Roar!
Olivia Watts
Roar Guru
I'm saddened that Mr Himat has not had the decency to respond to any of the comments made regarding his article. Unlike his unfair characterisation of Grigg, Chaplin and Houli though, I will give him the benefit of the doubt that it may be simple circumstances and not cowardice which has led him to make no reply. And Penster; if I go to the kitchen may I please wear shoes? I'm way past the whole barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen time of my life but I promise to have dinner on the table waiting. :-P. It all came about because I saw Footscray play once and was 'Libba-rated '
John Hamilton
Roar Pro
Add Blake Caracella to that list
Neil
Roar Rookie
I am not sure what Jay Himat's background is but he displays no understanding of what it takes to run onto the field in an AFL. game. Olivia is absolutely correct. In 60 years of observing, I have never seen an AFL player who does not possess unbelievable courage. Some players are insanely courageous (eg Glenn Archer) - but ALL are courageous to a degree I cannot imagine. To even suggest that Houli, Grigg or Chaplin are not courageous is both totally wrong and totally insulting to those players.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Agree Oli, that's the ultimate insult.
Olivia Watts
Roar Guru
I am not a tiger fan by any means but I take exception at the author so blithely dismissing Houli, Chaplin and Griggs as players without courage. They may not be hard ball in and under players but that does not make them cowards. I don't believe anyone who has ever run onto a VFL/AFL field has been a coward. Every moment out there brings you the risk of something dire happening to you - I think of players like Neil Sasche, Maurice Boyce, John Greening, Jonathan Brown, Gareth John, Jason Snell, Sam Newman, Tom Lonergan, Jamie Lawson, Peter Caven - most of these men were not superstars although a few went on to be. Most were not the players we think of as hard nuts or tough men, though a few certainly were. ALL of them suffered injuries which were horrendous, sickening to see, career ending in many cases and life threatening in a few. Jay, I understand what you were trying to say in your article but you effectively just branded three senior AFL players, who take these risks every week, as cowards. That is not only wrong of you, it is reprehensible and I hope you yourself will now show some courage and apologise unreservedly to those men for passing what is possibly the greatest insult which can be levelled at a senior footballer.