As a kid playing footy, you knew that you needed your stars to play well.
It’s a team game but the team is the stars. If the best players didn’t train, you raised an eyebrow but know that you needed that bloke on the weekend, so the coaches turned a blind eye because the sport is based around stars.
The AFL has been the same, the best have dominated over and over again and team play hasn’t really mattered.
The Sydney Swans were far inferior to the West Coast Eagles in the mid-2000s and they split the honours in two grand finals. Why was that the case? Some say coaching, there are probably some other reasons.
But the reality is that its all about the big dance. And being prepared for the moment. Sydney had way less talent but split two finals and they would take one flag, but as an Eagles fan you can’t help but respect them.
Respect. It’s a word thrown around but not always earned. What exactly is it? Is it being elite and delivering on that? Or is it being an average player and doing everything you can, all the time to win?
Richmond were a basket case until 2016. Damian Hardwick was a brilliant used-car salesman who was a terrible coach, but he kept his job for reasons unknown to the common man. Maybe it was a selling job on the worst car in the lot?
In any case, he entered 2017 knowing that he didn’t have much room to move. In 2017 they came third but decimated Geelong in the first week and then got lucky in the preliminary final. Lucky in that they played the kids in the Giants. Or maybe they were good?
Adelaide entered the big dance off a ten-goal win and kicked the first two goals of the main game, but Richmond pushed and pushed and won the flag. Fans were right in doubting what they saw.
In 2018 they were the best side but come the preliminary final they cracked. Collingwood smacked them in the chops early and Richmond couldn’t respond. A damn American owned them, as the most overrated player of our generation (Alex Rance, for those playing along at home) was made to look foolish – just because your dad captained a side doesn’t make you good.
But in any case, they responded in 2019 and smashed the kids. The Giants might have had talent, but they didn’t handle the day well. It was over early in the second quarter, and the scars have remained for the Giants.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Richmond are the ultimate ‘cog’ team; almost all of their players play a role and need everything to go right for them to be effective – Kane Lambert, Shane Edwards, Kamdyn McIntosh, David Astbury, Shai Bolton, Nathan Broad, Jason Castagna, Tom Lynch, Dan Rioli, Dylan Grimes, Jack Riewoldt and the recently retired Alex Rance.
Anyone referring to Rance as a star doesn’t watch footy and looks only at his surname. And I am happy to continue the conversation, but I digress. As juniors, you choose the fastest, the most skilled and the most athletic but maybe we are doing it wrong.
Richmond legitimately plug the gaps in a jigsaw puzzle. I’m not sure how it works, but geez it sure works. Is it Hardwick or the assistant coaches? Who knows, but three flags in four years is absolutely incredible for a team full of role players with exactly one generational player.
Gary Ablett is probably a top ten all-time player, but also the second-best player in his family. That is both bewildering and fair.
Patrick Dangerfield is a polarising figure; the head wobble is frustrating, and before today he was arguably the best player to have never played in a grand final. Now he is the best player to have never won a flag.
A Brownlow, three best and fairest award and by any measure one of the best three players in the competition. But the fact remains that before today he has never made a grand final and after today, he probably wishes he plays for Richmond. By any statistical measure, he is an all-time great but Broad, Rioli and Castagna have three more flags than him.
How that works is a modern marvel, but let that sink in as a win for structure and teamwork. And consider it a lesson for young players without the skill but who do that extra lap after training and toe the coaches’ line.
sven
Roar Rookie
well the author is a weagles man, a lot of them seem to think the sun shines out of their players rear entrances, hence he rates old man rance (who was a fair player for wc must be said) higher than his son who has been rated by many as one of the best defenders of his time, & he also rates the '05-6 swannies as much inferior to the west co*ke weagles at the time. not sure if his article isnt just a total p*iss take tbh
sven
Roar Rookie
man im hanging for it, whats going on jay , youve had almost a week !!
Tigers171920
Roar Rookie
His 2017 premiership article is seriously one of the best articles I've ever read!
Tigers171920
Roar Rookie
Exactly what I had to do Floyd! And then imagine writing that Alex Rance is the most over rated player of a generation. I think he meant a once in a generation player!
Murphy
Guest
Honestly I actually think the majority of people don’t even know his dad played football and a good portion of the ones that do don’t know much more about him than that. To actually think he’s only rated because of his last name is one of the most bizarre things I’ve ever read you’d think his last name was Ablett or something.....
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Totally agree. The anti-Rance rant I had to read at least twice to make sure I’d understood it. Simply bizarre.
Shane
Guest
Scrub, good description for this opinion piece writer, has a problem with Richmond gives little credit for their recent achievements. Is under the delusion, Murray Rance was a better footballer than his son, a 5 time All Australian, one time All Australian Captain. Made a note not to bother reading any of his opinion pieces in the future, I don't need to read the opinions of someone trolling for a reaction. 3 premierships speaks for itself.
Murphy
Guest
First off, the title is disrespectful. Secondly, did this guy just list Tom Lynch, Dylan’s Grimes, Shane Edwards, Jack Riewoldt and Alex Rance as role-players???? Geez I know we are getting praised for our system but those are absolute superstars he’s thrown in with our role players and in grimes, edwards, jacks and rances case (lynch may yet join them) absolute champions on the RFC.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
No doubt you've had many free agents and mature age recruits. No question. That's the basis of my argument. They often get in the way of developing your youngsters. The success of Myers, Parfitt and Henry demonstrates this all too well. Myers and Parfitt have become regulars sure, whether they'll take you forwards is another question. Henry seemed to consolidate his spot this year. Appreciate that Clark in particular, Fogarty and Simpson have potential. Why on earth would you bring blokes like Dalhaus, Rohan and Steven into the club and play them in front of your young talent. Yep, Geelong will play more finals but I think you're going to the wrong well too often.
sven
Roar Rookie
no offense to any of those players pete not sure any of those players u mention would be walk up starts for the tiges, not knocking their ability but would they be a good fit for the way we play ? ... love what caddy has done for us, unfortunately atm he is just out of the best 22, maybe too slow for the size he is & too small for the type of player he is
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yes.
sven
Roar Rookie
u sayin he's not one too?
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
hahahahahaha nah we've actually always had good key defenders over the time Dawson has been playing.
sven
Roar Rookie
woulda gone good at essendon u reckon ?
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
yeah but Zac Dawson man.
Pedro_Riccardi
Roar Rookie
We’ve played plenty of youth and new recruits. Myers, Parfitt and Henry have all become key players the last two seasons. Fogarty and Simpson have been in and out with injury and unfortunately for them, they are a similar size and type. Brad Close was good coming in for Ablett this year. Jordan Clark is concerning, he had a great debut year and then did his shoulder before finals. It’s a shame he hasn’t got back in the side and there are rumours he wants out. Charlie Constable had a good first half of the season (I think last year) and he has struggled to get a game. Generally I am concerned about the rumours of some of our key young talent seeking opportunities elsewhere and some of our mature recruiting has been mixed but top draft picks are not guaranteed success. Our highest pick in recent years Nakia Cockatoo has struggled with injury. Billie Smedts, Jackson Thurlow? Free Agency requires a blend of using draft picks well but also remaining a destination that Free Agents will want to move to, Wellsy and Co will have been planning for Cameron years ago. Free Agents that have gone well, Jared Rivers, Lachie Henderson, Zac Tuohy, Luke Dalhaus and obviously Dangerfield. Those with questions Josh Caddy, I love seeing Gary Rohan play well but he divisive amongst fans, Jack Stevens, Rhys Stanley (mainly due to injury). Those that went not so well Hamish McIntosh, Mitch Clark, Zac Smith and possibly some in that middle category might later be seen as failures. We’ve made a habit of mature age recruits which is a lot less risky Tim Kelly, Tom Stewart, Sam Menegola, Tom Atkins and experimental stuff like Blics and Mark O Connor. This mixture of recruiting is why we have remained competitive - time will tell whether it works and bring in more finals and hopefully flags but the team has been written as being on the edge of a precipice since 2010.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
You'd have to hate being drafted to Geelong as a young fella knowing in all likelihood they won't play you. Where is their youth? They'd rather ready made recycled players to 'Stay in the window'. A team of stars really is a stretch.
sven
Roar Rookie
plenty of champs unfortunate enough to not play for teams that were good enough to contend for flags, plenty of role players good enough to get a game for teams good enough to win flags. then theres great players who get the chance but dont perform in a granny & whose team doesnt salute ...... its unfair & harsh but players do get judged on whether or not they do achieve the holy grail ..... spud dawson was prob lucky ross the boss liked him but he never won a flag though
Steven Paice
Roar Guru
No I haven’t but it makes sense given the way they play that they follow that mantra. Their ability to deliver on a bold vision has been incredible
RT
Roar Rookie
Yes Caddy has 2