A Generic Whinge

[rodgerfox]

This Freeman 'non-selection' really bothers me.


As fans, we've been badly shut out of anything happening at Moorabbin recently.

I'm not talking about the patronising stuff like weekly 'pressers', and post-match videos to the members, or even scripted and rehearsed member events - I'm talking about some actual insight and transparency into WTF has gone so badly wrong, and why.

As a result, we are pointing fingers at everything from the coach, the CEO, the President, the players, assistant coaches, recruiters and player development.

But really, none of us have the faintest idea of WTF is going on down there. And this intentional PR strategy from the club unfortunately, does not protect anyone (which these PR strategies are always designed to do) - but in fact does the opposite. It's made every single person at the club appear inept, feeble and clueless about what they're trying to do, let alone how they're expecting to achieve it.

Whether the perception is accurate or not, we don't know. And that's sort of the problem. The club is putting on a 'nothing to see here, everything is awesome' PR approach that rather than appease the baying fans and public - it flares it up even more.

So this leads us to our current scapegoat - Player Development.

What does it even mean? Does it mean that players are taught off-field how to be better players by specialist coaches? Does it mean they develop on-field due to game day coaching and getting regular games? Does it mean that we take rubbish footballers, and are supposed to 'develop' them into good ones? Is that even possible?
Does it mean we simply 'develop' players to reach their potential? And therefore - how do measure if it's successful or not?
Are we thinking that we have some really good players, that are not reaching their potential, because of the way they are being taught to play football?

I was incredibly alarmed to hear Richardson state that Freeman basically isn't playing well enough to get a game. That he wouldn't improve or add anything to the team that runs out on Friday night. If I were Freeman, I'd be like "Dude, WTF? We have a team that has won 3 games (2 of them against bottom 4 teams) and we are decimated by injury - yet you don't think I can add anything??"

As a fan, I think the same thing.

And it naturally poses the question.....What is it that Richardson wants added to the team? What are Nathan Wright, and Lonie (just to pluck out two at random) etc. adding that Freeman couldn't? We know it's not pace. We know it's not skill. They've only played 80 games between the two of them - so you can't say it's experience. They're both averaging under 2 Tackles per game - so it can't be that.

All we hear is 'strong', 'pressure', 'significant', 'disappointing', 'butchered the ball' and 'incredibly' from the coach when he talks about how we play. We get zero insight into what it is we're trying to do on-field. What we do know though, is that it's not working. As per above - we've won 3 games FFS.


We need to be told why these guys get picked, and why others don't. We need to know why McCartin is used the way he is. We need to know what KPIs these guys are being set in order to play, and to keep their spot.

This is, in my opinion what Player Development is. It's not pointing the finger at Peta Searle etc. because they're listed as 'Development Coaches'. It's looking at what the Selection Committee and Coaches are asking players to do each week on the field in order to keep their spot. This is how guys are being developed.

Is asking a guy like McCartin, to play a role that he is clearly not suited to and almost certainly never will be - developing him as a footballer? He gets a game each week, and in interviews tells us that he's doing what is asked of him in his role - but is it actually going to make him a better player?


In my opinion, the biggest issue we have is whatever it is that is being asked of our players on a weekly basis. This is why we're losing, and also why we aren't seemingly 'developing' players.



Some insight is required for the fans. The club simply cannot expect people to blindly support them any longer.



/end rant.

[Scollop]

You could have just done a "+1" on a post saying 'sack the coach'

[rodgerfox]

But is it the coach? Would sacking him fix it?

We just don't know.

[Cairnsman]

Injuries have been a significant reason for destabilisation and inconsistency this year. So obvious. Why doesn't the clubs PR department acknowledge that.

It makes complete sense to me that if Feeeman isn't ready he doesn't get selected. With regards to all other selection options, sheez the cupboard is fairly bare at present so it's a case of damned if you do and damned if you don't for Richo and his selection options. He will never win with supporters that have put a fork in him.

[Impatient Sainter]

Good post Rogerfox. I have no doubt Richardson is not a great coach but it seems he is lessor of the issues that have evolved under the current board and CEO. Hopefully Simon Lethlean can sort out the mess?

[vacuous space]

What does [player development] even mean?

I'd say player development is the process of turning prospects into players. Richo was supposed to be good at it, which was why we went for a coach who didn't have a lot of success in terms of wins in his time as an assistant. For me, the frustration with Richo isn't as much that we haven't progressed as much as we'd have liked as it is the lack of opportunities afforded to young players.

Case in point is Richo's handling of the midfield. We've now lost the clearances 11 times in 15 games. You'd think, with that kind of record, Richo would be open to trying out a few new things. Instead, it's been largely the same group week after week. Dunstan was dropped for the first two games; Armo got exiled from the midfield for an extended period; Steele got dropped for a game. Other than that it's been the same guys, over and over, as long as they're fit, regardless of performance.

Dunstan and Steele combined for 15 turnovers against Port. I expect both will be lining up against Carlton. Richo's good at complaining about ball use. He's bad at actually doing anything about it. He's got first round talent that he refuses to use in the centre: Acres - 0 centre clearances; Billings - 0 centre clearances; Freeman - 0 games. He could run more numbers through the middle like a lot of other clubs are doing. There's no shortage of things Richo could try, but he doesn't, on a 3.5 win team with no chance of finals. It looks a lot more like self-preservation than doing what's best for the club.

My worry is that young players will get frustrated and leave. The nightmare scenario is the kind of exodus that Brisbane saw under Voss. I worry that the next guy will take over after another full year of this rubbish with less resources than Richo has had to work with. All I want to see is progress but, with Richo, there's so little of it. Just pleasing positive yeah nah. Over it.

/end rant

[rodgerfox]

"Richo's good at complaining about ball use. He's bad at actually doing anything about it."

Spot on!

[Bowey Boy]

We are in generic trouble.

[Tommyj]

Yep same boring turnover midfield week in week out ffs maybe he is like his post match pressers same old same old ffs try something new give yourself something to lay your hat on and give us something to look at

[stkfc1]

What does [player development] even mean?

I'd say player development is the process of turning prospects into players. Richo was supposed to be good at it, which was why we went for a coach who didn't have a lot of success in terms of wins in his time as an assistant. For me, the frustration with Richo isn't as much that we haven't progressed as much as we'd have liked as it is the lack of opportunities afforded to young players.

Case in point is Richo's handling of the midfield. We've now lost the clearances 11 times in 15 games. You'd think, with that kind of record, Richo would be open to trying out a few new things. Instead, it's been largely the same group week after week. Dunstan was dropped for the first two games; Armo got exiled from the midfield for an extended period; Steele got dropped for a game. Other than that it's been the same guys, over and over, as long as they're fit, regardless of performance.

Dunstan and Steele combined for 15 turnovers against Port. I expect both will be lining up against Carlton. Richo's good at complaining about ball use. He's bad at actually doing anything about it. He's got first round talent that he refuses to use in the centre: Acres - 0 centre clearances; Billings - 0 centre clearances; Freeman - 0 games. He could run more numbers through the middle like a lot of other clubs are doing. There's no shortage of things Richo could try, but he doesn't, on a 3.5 win team with no chance of finals. It looks a lot more like self-preservation than doing what's best for the club.

My worry is that young players will get frustrated and leave. The nightmare scenario is the kind of exodus that Brisbane saw under Voss. I worry that the next guy will take over after another full year of this rubbish with less resources than Richo has had to work with. All I want to see is progress but, with Richo, there's so little of it. Just pleasing positive yeah nah. Over it.

/end rant

+1

Its the old saying " Definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result" If Richo is in self preservation mode, he's not doing himself any favours by going with the same set up in the middle every week. Maybe its a glaring sign he really does have NFI and the sooner he's gone, the better.

[Cairnsman]

It's complete and utter crap that Richo isn't trying things. How many players have debuted this year and what is our age profile, isn't it one of the youngest?

The cupboard is fairly bare with regards to players suitable for selection, all the mean while trying to get a balance of structure, experience and developing new players.

Injuries. And injuries to a very young and experienced team. Even the clubs in the 8 would be struggling if they lost as many key structural players as we have, and they are. Eagles lost two key forwards and immediately started losing.

[vacuous space]

If Richo is in self preservation mode, he's not doing himself any favours by going with the same set up in the middle every week.

With Richo's contract, he just needs to not get thumped to make it to next year. Then the people who gave him his extension can delude themselves into believing he'll be the next Hardwick or Buckley.

[Scollop]

"Richo's good at complaining about ball use. He's bad at actually doing anything about it."

Spot on!

You just answered the question in the post you made, third down in this thread

[Scollop]

If Richo is in self preservation mode, he's not doing himself any favours by going with the same set up in the middle every week.

With Richo's contract, he just needs to not get thumped to make it to next year. Then the people who gave him his extension can delude themselves into believing he'll be the next Hardwick or Buckley.

Deluded alright. The coach, CEO and footy department thought we would be finalists in 2107/2018. That's one of the reasons why they brought in Nathan Brown

We aren't any where near Richmond. ...we don't have A graders' and All australians like Rance/Martin/Cothchin/Reiwoldt etc. Plus...Con Gorra has repeatedly posted how Dimma's team made finals several years in a row and also had some really solid years prior to 2017. They didn't just produce a brilliant year out of the blue

With Collingwood...it is not because of Buckley...it's because they have A grade proven mids SideBottom/Pendlebury/Hoskin-Elliot/Treloar/Adams and a few classy back ups in Daniel Wells/Trav Varcoe/Jordan DeGoey etc...

[ace]

I think you got it right without realising it.

"Everything from the coach, the CEO, the President, the players, assistant coaches, recruiters and player development."
Those are the problems.

[Zed]

This whole “pick Freeman” whinging is starting to sound like the “pick Tommy Walsh” noise.
I bet 90% of the people calling for Freeman to play have never seen him play apart from a few video highlights.

When his performances warrant it, they will pick him.
Right now, my money is on him being a fizzer.

[rodgerfox]

This whole “pick Freeman” whinging is starting to sound like the “pick Tommy Walsh” noise.
I bet 90% of the people calling for Freeman to play have never seen him play apart from a few video highlights.

When his performances warrant it, they will pick him.
Right now, my money is on him being a fizzer.

You've missed the point.

We are s***. Absolutely woeful. And we are decimated by injury.

Yet the same guys get picked.

And we keep getting the same results.

It's not so much that I want Freeman to play, it's the fact that apparently he's not good enough to get a game!

Saying that Freeman isn't ready to play in the current St Kilda team is just absurd. You could slot an Auskick kid into the team and we'd be no worse off.

I can't understand this "when his performance warrants it, he'll get a game" thing - when we have legitimately poor footballers getting picked in losing teams week after week.

What are the coaches defining as 'warrants selection'?

It's a complete mystery. And mind boggling considering the same guys get picked, and we keep getting flogged.

[saintadamski]

If Richo is in self preservation mode, he's not doing himself any favours by going with the same set up in the middle every week.

With Richo's contract, he just needs to not get thumped to make it to next year. Then the people who gave him his extension can delude themselves into believing he'll be the next Hardwick or Buckley.

Deluded alright. The coach, CEO and footy department thought we would be finalists in 2107/2018. That's one of the reasons why they brought in Nathan Brown

We aren't any where near Richmond. ...we don't have A graders' and All australians like Rance/Martin/Cothchin/Reiwoldt etc. Plus...Con Gorra has repeatedly posted how Dimma's team made finals several years in a row and also had some really solid years prior to 2017. They didn't just produce a brilliant year out of the blue

With Collingwood...it is not because of Buckley...it's because they have A grade proven mids SideBottom/Pendlebury/Hoskin-Elliot/Treloar/Adams and a few classy back ups in Daniel Wells/Trav Varcoe/Jordan DeGoey etc...

You nailed it in one... we don't have the talent
Our top players are Webster , Carlisle and Gresham... that's it.
Newnes, Savage, Billings, Steele, Sinclair, Lonie, Weller etc etc will never have the capacity to take this team anywhere near a flag...period... and don't get me started on expecting a type 1 diabetic to run up and down the ground like Riewoldt.

I am hoping we finish as low as possible this year for draft picks, followed by a cleanout of dud players and eventually the coach.

Only way forward in my opinion.

[barneyboyz]

I was incredibly alarmed to hear Richardson state that Freeman basically isn't playing well enough to get a game. That he wouldn't improve or add anything to the team that runs out on Friday night. If I were Freeman, I'd be like "Dude, WTF? We have a team that has won 3 games (2 of them against bottom 4 teams) and we are decimated by injury - yet you don't think I can add anything??"

That is a coach who is desperate for wins. I can't blame him, but you would have thought that this week was the best opportunity for Freeman to play.

On the other hand, why should he be romantic about it? At least by sticking to his guns he can only blame himself if he goes bust.

FWIW, I would have loved to see Freeman play tonight

[degruch]

FWIW, I would have loved to see Freeman play tonight

Personally, I would have thought his selection would be a genuine morale boost to the team, if not a structural improvement. Not only that, it would have generated some positive press and punter interest in what may be our last Friday night game for the next decade. Instead, we've got (once again) confused fans, mixed messages from the coach and the usual raft of negative press. FFS, wouldn't the guy would have been playing out of his skin knowing it may be his only chance, especially with a contract/delisting looming? And he could have got a win...what better opportunity have we got this season?

On his side, the bloke has paid for his own treatment and delayed surgery in the hope he won't miss that chance...this must be a bit of a kick in the guts, as Roger states, to see the same plodders selected ahead of him with 3.5 wins for the season.

IMO, not even close to Tommy Walsh situation...I can't remember a report of Tommy Walsh ever turning in a above average VFL game, a key forward who struggled to kick! Where's his 20+ possession, 5 tackles, multiple score assist stats? Whether Freeman was truly setting the world on fire at VFL level may not be as relevant as giving everyone, from the player to the crowd, an optimistic story in a completely wasted season when we had nothing to lose.

[saintadamski]

FWIW, I would have loved to see Freeman play tonight

Personally, I would have thought his selection would be a genuine morale boost to the team, if not a structural improvement. Not only that, it would have generated some positive press and punter interest in what may be our last Friday night game for the next decade. Instead, we've got (once again) confused fans, mixed messages from the coach and the usual raft of negative press. FFS, wouldn't the guy would have been playing out of his skin knowing it may be his only chance, especially with a contract/delisting looming? And he could have got a win...what better opportunity have we got this season?

On his side, the bloke has paid for his own treatment and delayed surgery in the hope he won't miss that chance...this must be a bit of a kick in the guts, as Roger states, to see the same plodders selected ahead of him with 3.5 wins for the season.

IMO, not even close to Tommy Walsh situation...I can't remember a report of Tommy Walsh ever turning in a above average VFL game, a key forward who struggled to kick! Where's his 20+ possession, 5 tackles, multiple score assist stats? Whether Freeman was truly setting the world on fire at VFL level may not be as relevant as giving everyone, from the player to the crowd, an optimistic story in a completely wasted season when we had nothing to lose.

One of the best posts for the season... thank you!!
It was a pleasure to read, and I think it should be sent as an open letter to Richo and the club!

[6621104]

There is a point here - The reason Freeman is yet to debut may be that he has yet to truly get up to top speed. The pace of AFL is much greater than the two's, perhaps a few games where he comes off knowing he has hit his straps will give those hammies a true test. I don't know, we don't know and if this is the reason it would be simple to say. So the point - I agree with the OP that communication in a year that has been so disappointing needs to be more comprehensive. you can get away with sentence structures that just rearrange the same words when the team is flying, not when you sit wth three wins.

[DJ Higgins]

This whole “pick Freeman” whinging is starting to sound like the “pick Tommy Walsh” noise.
I bet 90% of the people calling for Freeman to play have never seen him play apart from a few video highlights.

When his performances warrant it, they will pick him.
Right now, my money is on him being a fizzer.

I have seen him play and from that I agree that he should not be selected yet. He isn't anything special at VFL level and he is no better than any of our current mids, in fact he is worse. He no longer has his speed which was his weapon so now he is just another inside mid. He will play this year as a thanks for your efforts in a doesn't matter if we lose game but Richo can't lose tonight, if we get pumped the call for his head will be massive especially if we get pumped and if Gilbo marks Curnow it could very well happen.

[chico2001]

You cannot pick a player to play at the top level if he is not good enough. The spot has to be earned. I have never seen him play but no doubt plenty of posters on here have and the general opinion seems to be a bit divided but that he should get a game based on the "romantic" situation of him overcoming injury. Imagine how other players would feel if he got a game ahead of them and his selection was not based on his actual ball winning ability in the VFL side.

[rodgerfox]

You cannot pick a player to play at the top level if he is not good enough.

Seriously? Have you seen our team this year?