Saints stand by Richo

[saynta]

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/sai ... 4zvni.html


"St Kilda coach Alan Richardson won't be made a scapegoat for the club's disappointing AFL season, which hit another low with a 35-point loss to the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.

Club football boss Simon Lethlean threw his support behind the embattled coach the day after St Kilda slumped against the injury-depleted Dogs at Etihad Stadium

The Saints led by 28 points early in the second quarter but Richardson was left to rue his players' meek response when the Bulldogs piled on eight goals to none in the third quarter.

Richardson, contracted for another two seasons, has drawn sharp criticism this year after his team failed to live up to expectations of a return to finals.

But Lethlean is adamant the coach won't pay for the dire premiership campaign with his job.

We're going to support him, not look to blame him, and get the best people around him," Lethlean told 3AW radio.

"My view and the club's view is that 'Richo' is taking us forward and in order for him to take us forward we have to make him the best coach he can be.

"That requires new voices in the coaching areas to support and guide the program and we need our players to dig in and be more competitive and improve our list as well.

"That's our focus ... We're not looking to scapegoat Richo. We think he's the right guy."

Changes have already begun at the club, with assistant coaches Simon McPhee, Rohan Welsh and Lindsay Gilbee told they will not be offered new contracts.

Former Adelaide player James Gallagher has also been appointed to the role of list manager vacated by Tony Elshaug earlier this year.

While Lethlean pledged more support for Richardson, he put the heat on St Kilda's underperforming players.


"It's not all about the coaching. The players need to take responsibility," he said.

"They need to work harder and take a look at themselves and understand why it is that they can have great patches in games and really poor ones.

"The leadership needs to look at itself too and how it impacts those moments.

"We've got to show on-field leadership to turn things around when things aren't going well."

I don't see much wrong with these statements.

[st.byron]

Oh dear.... who is accountable then?

The right guy for what?

[Bowey Boy]

Oh well, nothing will change then. It seems Richo is the only one surprised each time we cop another flogging.

[thejiggingsaint]

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/sai ... 4zvni.html


"St Kilda coach Alan Richardson won't be made a scapegoat for the club's disappointing AFL season, which hit another low with a 35-point loss to the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.

Club football boss Simon Lethlean threw his support behind the embattled coach the day after St Kilda slumped against the injury-depleted Dogs at Etihad Stadium

The Saints led by 28 points early in the second quarter but Richardson was left to rue his players' meek response when the Bulldogs piled on eight goals to none in the third quarter.

Richardson, contracted for another two seasons, has drawn sharp criticism this year after his team failed to live up to expectations of a return to finals.

But Lethlean is adamant the coach won't pay for the dire premiership campaign with his job.

"That's our focus ... We're not looking to scapegoat Richo. We think he's the right guy."

Oh, then that’s okay then? I was speaking to a couple who have been sitting in their section of Etihad for over FIFTEEN years...... they’ve had that loyalty “rewarded” (?) by the club informing them that if they wish to retain their current seats it’s going to cost them an extra $400 (on top of whatever the membership price will be for next year) needless to say, they have decided not to renew! THIS is the level of “loyalty” shown by this bunch of pricks currently masquerading as an “administration” toward loyal supporters!

[Scollop]

On field leadership????????.?

The person who should be driving that is the head coach

Five f****** years ago when Richo was appointed why didn't he rotate the captaincy? There is perhaps a lack of f****** leadership because the head coach and the f****** footy department let it get that way!!!!!!!!,

[Greg T]

Oh dear.... who is accountable then?

The right guy for what?

Our next spoon! What a joke

[Linton Lodger]

I don't think we can really discern much from his comments, they're not going to say he's not the man for the job until they move him on. Also, doesn't a Club publicly backing their Coach, usually precede the Coach's sacking?

Aside from that his comments about our leaders and players are fair enough.

"They need to work harder and take a look at themselves and understand why it is that they can have great patches in games and really poor ones".

Too bloody right.

[parkeysainter]

Of course its not all Richo's fault, but parts of the horrid year and current state lies with him and his assistants. The players are the main culprit IMO.

[Teflon]

Nothing will change and for those looking for Lethlean to be the messiah ... prepare to be disappointed
Very sad that our finances and poor decision by our pathetic board mean we can’t get rid of a guy who after 5 years in the top job has failed on every measure - even if it was poor recruitment , poor development , not enough funds etc this guy has had ample time to push that internally and hasn’t been able too

This guy has also been complicit in telling us this list is top 4material

We are stuffed and a Robert Harvey assistant coach appointment won’t change that

[Cairnsman]

We don't have any players willing to make a statement when a team gets a run on against us. It's been a problem all season. It used to be Roo or Lenny you could expect to grit the teeth and go whack when needed.

We don't have anyone willing to roll up the sleeves and get dirty hands when the going gets tough.

The players are the problem at the moment. Just not willing to sacrifice for the cause. Even Alistair Clarkson as coach would change things.

[st.byron]

Of course its not all Richo's fault, but parts of the horrid year and current state lies with him and his assistants. The players are the main culprit IMO.

So a bunch of young men living their dream, who are clearly talented, yet consistently unable to realise their talent, who are taken into the system at 18 years of age and guided into their career by senior leaders and coaches, they are to blame. OK....
Leadership starts at the apex of the triangle, not the bottom. It is mainly Richo’s fault, him and the board and CEO.

[Sanctorum]

We should not be at all surprised to hear that the club continues to back the senior coach, he has after all another two years left on his contract, furthermore, with a few exceptions, this is not the stage of the season where clubs move on their senior coach, it would make the club look like a bigger basket case than it already is, and besides, there is hardly anyone of note breaking down the doors as the next big thing in coaching.

It is quite clear to me in Lethlean's statement that the purging of the club's coaches has more to go, and would be dumbfounded if Danny Sexton remains as Director of Coaching next year - he is not an assistant coach so his employment status did not have to be clarified by August 1st. If Sexton does stay on, in any capacity, that will indicate to me that the club is not serious about their statement: "we're going to get the best people around him....to make him the best coach he can be". Clearly that means they will bring in experienced football personalities such as Blake Caracella - men who have had successful playing and coaching experience at the highest levels of AFL, not the "would-be's" that have been at the club for years...

[BringBackMadDog]

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/sai ... 4zvni.html


"St Kilda coach Alan Richardson won't be made a scapegoat for the club's disappointing AFL season, which hit another low with a 35-point loss to the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.

Club football boss Simon Lethlean threw his support behind the embattled coach the day after St Kilda slumped against the injury-depleted Dogs at Etihad Stadium

The Saints led by 28 points early in the second quarter but Richardson was left to rue his players' meek response when the Bulldogs piled on eight goals to none in the third quarter.

Richardson, contracted for another two seasons, has drawn sharp criticism this year after his team failed to live up to expectations of a return to finals.

But Lethlean is adamant the coach won't pay for the dire premiership campaign with his job.

"That's our focus ... We're not looking to scapegoat Richo. We think he's the right guy."

Oh, then that’s okay then? I was speaking to a couple who have been sitting in their section of Etihad for over FIFTEEN years...... they’ve had that loyalty “rewarded” (?) by the club informing them that if they wish to retain their current seats it’s going to cost them an extra $400 (on top of whatever the membership price will be for next year) needless to say, they have decided not to renew! THIS is the level of “loyalty” shown by this bunch of pricks currently masquerading as an “administration” toward loyal supporters!

Sorry, but they were talking complete and utter s***. membership and reserved seating prices have not been set for next year as yet. my entire family have been reserved seat members since we moved to the stadium and firstly, there has never been an increase anywhere near that much and secondly the new membership prices aren't even announced until season end. But hey, lets start a mad panic and get people reconsidering memberships because the will really help the club you apparently love (and bugger the rest)

[parkeysainter]

Of course its not all Richo's fault, but parts of the horrid year and current state lies with him and his assistants. The players are the main culprit IMO.

So a bunch of young men living their dream, who are clearly talented, yet consistently unable to realise their talent, who are taken into the system at 18 years of age and guided into their career by senior leaders and coaches, they are to blame. OK....
Leadership starts at the apex of the triangle, not the bottom. It is mainly Richo’s fault, him and the board and CEO.

Its everyone's fault at the club. To purely blame Richo and his assistants is ridiculous. The players are also mainly responsible for their own output at the end of the day.

The club isn't getting that extra 5-10% out of its players that should be and yes, that is a coaching problem of sorts.

[rodgerfox]

Why would a decent, sought after assistant coach come to the Saints to work for Richardson?

What on earth would they gain from it?

[BenLong#21]

The conspiracy theorist part of me wonders if Finnis and Lethlean have been sent from the AFL with a long term plan to drive the Saints in to oblivion.
This will give the AFL the option of merging the Saints with the Suns.
This will solve the Suns general identity problem and the AFLs fixturing problem with the need for a bye. A 17 team comp fixtures quite well.
Two birds. One stone.

[The_Dud]

Richos team has turned talented youngest into a bunch of B and C graders. With good development we’d have a handful of A graders running around by now. He’s had 5 years and has taken us nowhere. Waters, Thomas, and Alves were all sacked for less.

I’d rather a disinterested Blight than Richo right now...

[st.byron]

Of course its not all Richo's fault, but parts of the horrid year and current state lies with him and his assistants. The players are the main culprit IMO.

So a bunch of young men living their dream, who are clearly talented, yet consistently unable to realise their talent, who are taken into the system at 18 years of age and guided into their career by senior leaders and coaches, they are to blame. OK....
Leadership starts at the apex of the triangle, not the bottom. It is mainly Richo’s fault, him and the board and CEO.

Its everyone's fault at the club. To purely blame Richo and his assistants is ridiculous. The players are also mainly responsible for their own output at the end of the day.

The club isn't getting that extra 5-10% out of its players that should be and yes, that is a coaching problem of sorts.

Ever worked for a company where the boss is useless? Uninspiring. Known by all employees to be gutless and unwilling to have difficult conversations or make hard calls. A boss whom all the employees know isn’t up to the task and whom they don’t trust in their guts. Ever worked in an environment like that? That’s what we have at STKFC.

And if you mainly blame the players, I’m curious as to what exactly they should be doing different?
And are they fundamentally not good enough or are they talented but not realising their talents?

[BenLong#21]

I give Richo 0% chance of turning his coaching career around from where he is now.

The honeymoon is well and truly over.

[Yorkeys]

And AR sang: when the sky that we look upon, Should crumble and fall And the mountain should crumble to the sea I won't be afraid, I won't shed a tear Just as long as you stand, stand by me . When the floggings is come and the stadium is dark And the season end is the only light we'll see I won't be afraid, I won't be afraid Just as long as you stand by me.

If Lethlean means what he says publicly then abandon all hope. The players agents will be giving him a call telling him the facts of life including lay off the public floggings or else, and giving the players and supporters opinions of their man. The only certainty is AR as coach is not sustainable but the damage he doing as coach is going to grow exponentially each week he is kept on. How long is a slow moving train crash! Who is going to want to link their professional careers with his and a delusional management? No one that could get us out of this mess, that's who. Sob. The only hope if there is any is that Lethlean is lying, what a straw to have to grasp.

[Waltzing St Kilda]

Why would a decent, sought after assistant coach come to the Saints to work for Richardson?

What on earth would they gain from it?

Especially since Richo will very likely be sacked within twelve months leaving their jobs in limbo
(because the incoming coach might want his own handpicked assistants).

All round incompetence.

[chico2001]

Of course its not all Richo's fault, but parts of the horrid year and current state lies with him and his assistants. The players are the main culprit IMO.

So a bunch of young men living their dream, who are clearly talented, yet consistently unable to realise their talent, who are taken into the system at 18 years of age and guided into their career by senior leaders and coaches, they are to blame. OK....
Leadership starts at the apex of the triangle, not the bottom. It is mainly Richo’s fault, him and the board and CEO.

Its everyone's fault at the club. To purely blame Richo and his assistants is ridiculous. The players are also mainly responsible for their own output at the end of the day.

The club isn't getting that extra 5-10% out of its players that should be and yes, that is a coaching problem of sorts.

Ever worked for a company where the boss is useless? Uninspiring. Known by all employees to be gutless and unwilling to have difficult conversations or make hard calls. A boss whom all the employees know isn’t up to the task and whom they don’t trust in their guts. Ever worked in an environment like that? That’s what we have at STKFC.

And if you mainly blame the players, I’m curious as to what exactly they should be doing different?
And are they fundamentally not good enough or are they talented but not realising their talents?

A good post but the bottom question is the key. Despite people praising 75% of this list up to the max, quoting stats like 20 possessions a game so therefore they are good. The list is a team that sits 15th, at their very best they might win 7/8 games but that is it. 3 or 4 would get a game with a top 8 club. The CEO/board are to blame for this mess and the shite rolls downhill. Richardson and co just have'nt got the ability to do it, even with a full list. The only hope is that every player in 2019 get super fit, play out of their skin and hopefully avoids serious injury. Add some recruits into the mix. Cant see Richardson guiding this club to any great heights. Lethlean will bowl over the low hanging fruit and things will roll on.

[dragit]

Trout could have brought in tim Kelly, but they would have made him earn his stripes in the 2's... maybe give him a game or two towards the end of the year while they stuck by their seasoned warriors like mav and sav.

[older saint]

So are we to believe McPhee Welsh and gilbee are the reason why we didn't tag JJ, Why we refuse to play Acres in the guts more, why Weller /Newness/Savage get games week in week out without performing, Why Armitage at the age of 30 and lacking pace is being played a forward, Why we have been unable to determine for multiple years now who our best ruckman actually is, why for 3/4 of the year the players first reaction was to handball backwards when they received the ball, Why at selection tough decisions are not made on under performing player - regardless of age, reputation .

What a load of BS. While you dont need to have had a baby to be a gynaecologist what basis has this clown got to be talking about player performances any more than any one of us on the forum? Secondly if these guys are performing this bad as a bottom 4 team who would want them - as someone said you cant trade with the VFL.SANFL.WAFL!

12 more months of this will see the debt spiral due to 46,000 members becoming 42000, reserved seat sales drop , no friday night games , many Sunday arvo games , but at least we will have a guy coaching who we dont have to pay out - due to other non accountable people- surrounded by great Assistants ( perhaps our next coach) and half empty stadiums.

Free agents of quality will not want to come no matter how much $$$$ we offer .

I get the push the party line rhetoric , but sometimes you are better saying nothing

[SaintPav]

What happened to the supposed 3 month notice clause in Richo’s contract or is it a myth?