Posted on June 12, 2009 | Category: Discussions
Big ins and outs this week, with Jade Rawlings making it clear that he had no intention of marking time. 5 changes is a big deal in and of itself, but the changes are in many ways the changes that have needed to happen for a while.
Vickery for Simmonds
Exciting to see our number eight draft pick out on the field. With three ruckmen picked (Graham, Pattison and Vickery), it’s fair to suggest that we’re hoping for one of the resting ruckmen to make an impact up forward. Tyrone Vickery – welcome to the big time. Troy Simmonds needed the message that he’s no longer the number one ruckman, and could well slip below number two if Vickery and Pattison do well. Without some fire in his belly, Troy is just about done.
Edwards for McMahon
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I would be quite happy if Jordan McMahon never pulled on a Richmond jumper again. His constantly poor decision making costs us turnovers, and costs us any momentum we have with the ball. In his press conference Jade Rawlings said “I want to reward people who are playing the right way.” Jordan McMahon does not. Shane Edwards is no superstar, and this season could almost be his last chance to prove that he’s going to become a footballer, but he’s a better option than McMahon.
Nahas for Pettifer
Robin Nahas works hard, chases and puts his body on the line for his teammates. Kayne Pettifer? Not so much. Nahas was only out through injury, and you felt that Pettifer was only there to make up numbers. Pettifer is unlikely to have a spot on the list next year. Robin Nahas is more likely to win the best and fairest next year than get de-listed.
Graham for Bowden
This one does seem a tough call, and I can’t see Bowden remaining out of the side for long. But I think it is an acceptance that the Richmond backline in the next year or two will be structured without the presence of Joel Bowden. Joel has probably got at least a year left in him, but that will depend a lot on the mindset of an incoming coach. And he did have an ordinary game against the dogs. Angus Graham was another who was only out through injury, and at the moment looks a lot like the best ruckman in the team. Only query with Graham is around fitness.
Hislop for Coughlan
Mark Coughlan is the feel good story of the year, but for one thing. He still is yet to have adjusted to the pace of the highest level. His foot-speed, decision-making and disposals are all too slow. The worst part is that he’ll go back to the VFL and put in some best-on-ground performances, but that won’t necessarily change the underlying problem. Hopefully something clicks soon, because it would be an absolute tragedy for Coughlan to never return to the player we saw three years ago. Tom Hislop I haven’t seen, but I’m really hoping he’s worth what we paid for him. I don’t think I could handle another poor recruiting decision.
So overall, well done Jade Rawlings. Let’s just hope these boys can step up and start the season anew.
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June 12th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
What’s Thomson doing wrong/not doing?
June 12th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
No idea. Haven’t seen him play at all, but that in itself isn’t a great sign. Not a good sign if Shane Edwards is ahead of you.
June 12th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Agree that they where good moves.
Think the reason to me why Bowden got dropped is that like Pettifer, he does not put his body on the line enough.
Which 30+ year olds do you think will be on the list next year?
Bowden – yes
Cousins – yes
Rich – yes
Brown – no
Simmonds – no
June 12th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
I would agree with your list: can’t see Brown or Simmonds getting another year unless they do something amazing between now and then. Bowden is touch and go – he can’t afford to get dropped again. Richo and Cuz will both depend purely on fitness: neither can afford another big injury between now and the end of the year, especially not Richo. But I actually think the bigger interest will be in how the slightly younger fringe players go: Pettifer, McMahon, Jake King, etc.
June 12th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Thing I simply cannot understand (even with countless convo’s on hear and Kick2Kick) is how McMahon’s skills can go from very good to crap from the Dogs to the Tigers.
I think Brown & Simmonds are good but if the coach wants to start all over again, they are just dead wood. So I think a lot depends on the new coach, if that makes sense…
June 12th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
I think the problem with McMahon is that his skills aren’t actually that bad, but his decision making is deplorable. The scary part is that most of the time the ball comes nicely off his boot, and looks like it’s going where he means it to go. It’s just that he doesn’t see the opposition players surrounding the guy he tries to kick it to.
(Or sometimes that the guy he’s trying to kick it to is in the 12th row of the grandstand)