Utterly disagree with this.rodgerfox wrote: ↑Fri 31 Aug 2018 12:19pmI respectfully disagree.
We recruited Savage, Longer, Hockey, Bruce, Steele, Brown, Roberton, Carlisle, Freeman...and maybe others that I've missed.
That's fairly specific. Two ruckmen, key forward, CHB, FB, two specialist 'running backs' an inside mid and an outside mid.
Savage is no good, but his long kicking is excellent. Most of the time it's the wrong option to kick long - but that's his 'role'.
Bruce has done exactly what the coach asks him to do, as has Brown.
Steele is excellent, and Roberton is good.
The rucks are no good and Freeman clearly a bust.
The elite stuff I mentioned regarding the U18s, we're the official ratings for those guys.
They were labelled elite in those areas by the experts leading into the draft.
But under Richo - they're rubbish in those same areas.
Neeld wrecked young players, and most have never recovered. That's the danger of allowing such poor coaching philosophy to linger at the club for too long.
None of these players had elite skills to begin with, and it would be false to claim that they did.
Also, players don't just lose the ability to kick due to a coach... that's garbage. I've played footy my whole life... and there are some with 'natural' prowess, regardless of coaching.
The problem with our club is that the recruiters either couldn't identify, or simply ignored the elite skilled players...like Burgoyne.
If this recruiting philosophy doesn't change, neither will the results.