Richmond were a rabble on Sunday.
Yes, the Tigers were playing the now second-placed GWS but that is hardly an excuse for the inept performance that it put up.
An eight goal to nil opening quarter helped lead to a final score of 3.5.23 – the club’s lowest since 1958.
Sadly, for the members and supporters it was the nadir in a year that has given them little.
Prior to the start of the season, there were many who had Richmond in their top eight – albeit in the bottom half of it.
For the Tigers, this season has been a major step backwards after three straight finals appearances.
The club placed fifth, eighth and fifth at the end of the past three home-and-away seasons, albeit being eliminated in the first week of the finals each time.
It was hoped that 2016 would produce the club’s first finals win since 2001.
With four rounds remaining, the club finds itself in 13th position with just seven wins from 18 starts.
The last month of the season will bring games against Collingwood, Western Bulldogs, St Kilda and Sydney.
Safe to say the Tigers are going to fall way short of their 15 wins from last year.
So, what is the future?
Just prior to the season the club re-signed Damien Hardwick for a further two years, predicated no doubt on the fifth-place finish last year.
CEO Brendan Gale declared Hardwick’s position safe for 2017 in the wake of Sunday’s debacle.
Yesterday, skipper Trent Cotchin threw his weight behind the coach too.
But is keeping Hardwick the way forward?
Of the top-48 longest serving coaches in the competition’s history, Hardwick – who comes in at number 41 with 153 games under his belt – is the only one to have never won a final.
It is interesting to compare Hardwick’s reign with that of Brad Scott, who also started coaching in senior ranks in 2010.
In 2009, the Kangaroos finished 13th while the Tigers were 15th.
North since then has also had three finals campaigns however they have produced a win-loss of 4-3 and two preliminary finals.
Both Hardwick and Scott have had seven drafts to build a playing group that could seriously challenge a grand final berth.
Clearly, one man and one club, has done better than the other.
Cotchin said yesterday that, “The reality is we need to do better as a playing group. We’re doing everything we can”.
That did it appear evident on Sunday at Manuka Oval.
It can be argued that Hardwick has maintained the faith in too many of his charges.
Perhaps there needed to be a ruthlessness at the trade table in recent times.
Come the post-season Hardwick and his list management team needs to do some serious work.
The club would be well served in not ruling out anyone as a potential trade if it can go some way to turning the on-field fortunes around.
The club needs to trade its way to some productive draft picks.
It would be fascinating to be a fly in the wall of the Richmond boardroom.
Surely, given the way the season has unfolded – and the fact that the club’s injury toll has not been excessive – there must be second thoughts about Hardwick’s two-year contract extension.
The club has four weeks left in season 2016.
It cannot redeem itself. What it can do however is implode.
Another one or two insipid performances like Sunday’s and surely the coach’s position has to come under scrutiny, contract or not.
Too many times this season Hardwick has spoken about a lack of endeavour and intensity from his team.
It is up to the coach to drive that work ethic.
There is always the question of who will do a better job?
Recent history would indicate that there are always men worth taking a punt on.
Not that long ago, Adam Simpson and Luke Beveridge were identified by their current clubs as worth a go – they have both proven to be sound choices.
Likewise, Brendan Bolton in his maiden year at the Blues has shown he is taking the club in the right direction.
While Cotchin described Hardwick yesterday as a “fantastic person”, sentimentality cannot be the driving force behind maintaining the status quo.
Richmond has gone backwards this season at an alarming rate.
The sad thing for the fans is that it has done so on the back of mediocre performances in recent years.
Damien Hardwick and his lieutenants have had seven years to try and get it right.
Collectively, they have failed.
The club has to now seriously consider whether he is the right man to start the rebuilding process again.
History would indicate it is highly questionable.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
Using that point - even given Hardwick's culpability for the bad list (which is true as per JamesH) - IMO the question is, is he a good coach. I think yes. So, culpabale or not for the list versus the List Mgr, he could stay as coach if the Club goes for a deep rebuild of the list. That decision (the rebuild) is a Club decision, not a Coach decision, where that person is one voice amongst ever so many.
Swift foetus
Guest
G Mitch loves a good sacking
Birdman
Guest
The question for me is who are the likely successors if Dimma is shown the door. Ratten and Dew look obvious candidates - anyone else?
garlee10
Guest
The question now turns to upside. What are the prospects for 2017? Matthew Lloyd optioned that even Essendon have brighter prospects for 2017. They lose Rance,Martin and Riewoldt through injury/trade and they're legitimate wooden spoon candidates. There is no potential there and if they continue with Hardwick it is going to get a lot worse. Back them for the wooden Ladle and watch it all unravel before our eyes. And please Jack quit talking the talk on 360. It's the same diatribe well after week.
David C
Guest
I thought the list manager built the list.
JamesH
Roar Guru
They need some fresh cattle, yes, but this is Hardwick's list. He put it together, warts and all. He made the decisions to trade in second hand players instead of continuing to invest in youth. He needs to wear those calls.
mds1970
Roar Guru
A couple of pedantic points - Richmond's loss to GWS Giants was on Saturday not Sunday, and Richmond's score was their lowest since 1961 not 1958. But overall it's a tough one. At the time when Richmond re-signed Hardwick, they had been in the finals for the last three seasons in a row. After just two finals appearances in the 30 years before that, it was an improvement on what has been before. But they haven't gone on with it, and you were right to describe them as a rabble against the Giants. I went down to Canberra for that game - as a Giants fan, it was great to get the win; but the Tigers just didn't put up any resistance whatsoever. What happens from here is anyone's guess. Already two assistants are to be let go, and there's likely to be more to come. And everyone on their list except Riewoldt and Rance have to be on the trade table for the right offer.
KingKongBundy
Guest
Woops wrong arlicle my bad
KingKongBundy
Guest
Surely in his contract it would have said he must at least make the finals or we can get rid of you?you are all assuming this isn't the case,seems pretty stupid that he could get financially rewarded for being a bad coach plus a holiday
Birdman
Guest
Yup - strong leadership never loses currency regardless of generational change so I'd elevate Jack in the leadership group over Trent. Maybe not a co-incidence that Jack alluded to Hawthorn as a model for Richmond a few years ago before he was (regrettably IMHO) put back in his box - I reckon he has good instincts for this leadership caper but it hasn't been fostered.
Brian S
Guest
The headline says will Richmond improve under Damien Hardwick? in reality i don't think they have in the last 5 or so years SO why will it change in 1 year?!! why they kept renewing his contract ha got me stumped! they have to make the call & sack him otherwise it will cost them on & off the field!!!
Tom M
Guest
Gold Coast list is far stronger than Richmond's its just they cant get their players on the park
Milo
Roar Rookie
I think that optics point has merit Don. But hopefully now its a fading memory as its been a long time since the Tigers sacked a coach - Robbie Walls in 97 and before that KB's contract expired and wasn't renewed after 1988-91. Also the point about soft treatment is something Ive been saying for a while. And it stems from the leaders both on and off field. Rather than a Hodge giving you a mouthful when you stuff up, Cotchin gives you a pat on the bum and says its ok. If that's whats happening off field as well, no wonder they don't have the discipline to execute a winning game plan. I too would put Cotchin on the table but not Jack. I think hes one of the true leaders who doesn't mind dishing out a mouthful when its required and he's certainly matured a lot in the last few years.
rusty
Roar Rookie
You have nailed it Don.
Milo
Roar Rookie
Thanks Glenn, minor point the tigers only managed 0.8 against StKilda in 1961 but its clearly an unacceptable score on a bright sunny day. I think that he's on his last legs but as a final show of faith they will give him what he wants (a fresh set of assistants and hopefully an aggressive trade & draft period) and see how 2017 shapes up. Regardless, 2017 will be the make or break year. And by make I don't necessarily mean W's but they way they play and whether they play to a potentially winning game plan.
Don
Roar Rookie
I think RFC are more concerned with the "optics" of sacking Hardwick and reigniting that remaining ember of the reputation the club had for sacking coaches. Previously the club sacked coaches with records far supierior to Hardwick's. Now they have hung on to one for too long. They need to make the call on him and bring in a new coach. But who? Also, I'd speculate that a respected and "hard nosed" type of coach (or football manager in support) could upset some of those "stars" who may be a bit too comfortable at the Tigers without having to really bust a gut every weekend. A new coach by his second year would take a couple of long term stars to the trade table. I suspect Jack Riewoldt or even Trent Cochin might be in the trade mix should that happen.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
It was a bad week for RFC. They are better than that. However the problem is not the coach, it's the playing cattle. About a week or so ago, someone by the name AR I think it was - AR said they have a top 5 or 6 as good as any in the comp. my comment to that then is the same now, NO. Just one guy is consistently a top liner, Rance. The rest have one good game in 6 or a good qtr or two here and there. RFC outperforms their very poor list and cannot blame injuries. They are no better than a 2016 Freo, Melb, GCFC or one or two other bottom 6 teams in terms of their list. And many of those comparable clubs have seriously long/deep injury lists. Rebuild.