Kevin Sheedy on Footy Classified

How good is Kevin Sheedy? Last night he was on Footy Classified with Garry Lyon, Craig Hutchison, Caroline Wilson and Grant Thomas in the “Footy Classified Hot Seat”.

This seat is mean to be the symbolic hot seat where the four hosts grill the person sitting in the chair, Kevin Sheedy looked so comfortable he could have been on is couch at home being interviewed by a fifth grader.

The interview covered a number of issues like the bounce of the ball and the Collingwood vs Essendon ANZAC day clash but the key part of the interview was about weather Kevin Sheedy would coach again.

Craig Hutchison the proclaimed best footy news breaker in the business was trying in vain to get Kevin to say something he could later use but the wiser Sheedy was far to calm and collected to bite into anything Hutchison dangled in front of him.

Kevin Sheedy by the end of the interview showed why he is regarded as one of the best in the industry and will probably go back into coaching “if the situation is right” as he said last night.

I guess the real question is “Is the Richmond job the right situation”. Of course Kevin is too smart to throw Terry under the bus after 5 games.

Mark Coughlans back so it the Yellow and Black!

The Tigers get their first win of the season over North Melbourne.

Richmond was lead to victory by young Jack Riewolt with three goals and providing a target up forward. Coughlan got through the game with no problems and finished with 16 touches and 5 marks but put on great pressure with 5 tackles which was the second only behind White who had 6.

Mark Coughlan is back, not so for Cotchin, Cousins & Raines

Richmond has confirmed Mark Coughlan will play his first game for the cub since 2006. This is great news for a guy who was Richmond's best player when he went down and has suffered set back after setback.

The Tigers have also said that Cotchin and Raines will play in the VFL for Coburg on Saturday as a part of their return to AFL football. Richmond are taking the safe path with Cousins giving him another week of rest before he has a hit out with Coburg.

The axe has thrown down at Hislop, Simmonds and Connors, Brown was also left out due to a groin problem but some people are claiming he was dropped.

Added for the weekend are Pattison, Tambling, Oakley-Nicholls and we already know about Coughlan. If you read my blog you know I am no fan of Tambling or Oakley-Nicholls but I guess we have to give them a run to justify dumping them at the end of the year.

The thing to watch this weekend will be to see if Pattison can give the Tigers mid-field first use of the ball.

Terry given until mid season…

The Richmond board looks like it will not bend to outside pressure and give Terry the opportunity to turn the Tigers season around.

What I don’t like is that they have given him until round 12 to do it. I see no point in giving Terry Wallace the boot mid-season, Richmond is famous for firing coaches during the season.

I really don’t like the message it send to the future coaches of the Richmond Football Club, why would the best coaches ever come to Richmond? There is going to be a coaching merry-go-round at the end of the 2009 season due to the fact of so many coaches coming to the end of their contracts.

We have to make the Richmond head coach roll look like the best job available in the AFL, because right now it looks like the worst. The best coach will take the best job which right now as much as I hate to say it looks like the Collingwood job if Mick is not back next season.

Richmond don’t fire Terry mid season give him a chance to coach! If he does not improve don’t give him a new contract at the end of the year, show him the same loyalty he has shown you over the past 4 years.

Please vote in my worst song in the AFL poll.

Push The Button!

Week 3 in Review

Here is my take on the weeks headlines

1. Richmond Tigers board challenge

RICHMOND faces a board battle this year on top of its on-field and coaching woes.

My Take : Wow there has never a board problem at Richmond before ;-)

2. Tigers stand behind coach Terry Wallace before D-Day game

AT FIRST, Richmond captain Chris Newman appeared to be in denial about the predicament of his footy club and coach. "We're three rounds in. I don't want to get carried away. I think everyone should just take a deep breath and just relax a little bit," Newman said.

My Take : I agree there is no need to lose our heads…. Unless we lose to Melbourne then you will see a stampede at punt road like a boxing day sale at MYER.

3. We're all to blame - Nathan Brown

RICHMOND star Nathan Brown said the Tiger players were behind embattled coach Terry Wallace and equally responsible for the side's poor start to the season. Brown also revealed he feared he would not play again after breaking his leg in 2005.

My Take : I agree again, you are all to blame but let’s not forget the scouting and recruitment departments they are to blame as well.

4. Tiger trio offers a spark of hope

Cousins, Cotchin, and defender Andrew Raines are all likely to play for Coburg in the VFL against Box Hill next week.

My Take : We really need these three back, they are all in the best 22.

5. Richmond v Melbourne

In: Collins, Connors, McMahon, Nahas, Oakley-Nicholls
Out: Jay Schulz, Richard Tambling

My Take : Look we drop one bust (Tambling) for another (Oakley-Nicholls). If Tambling did not play well last week because his mind was on other things (having a baby and lack of sleep) what is his problem this week? I am sure he got some sleep during the week.

6. Nathan Brown turns his hand to fashion

MOVE over Karl Lagerfeld. Fashion-designing footy player Nathan Brown has turned his attention to the girls.

My Take : I get to put a photo of cute girls on my blog and claim it is Richmond related, nice work Brownie.

Lindsay Lohan eHarmony spoof ad

At least Lindsay Lohan can still take the piss out of herself, this is really funny and if you are looking for love be sure to give Lindsay a call. :-) Lindsay is kinda like Richmond, her life is a train wreck as is the 2009 Tigers season.

If only we could look away.

So much for all out attack….

The Tigers are a mess, no identity no intensity.

Terry Wallace must be wondering if his players like him or not due to the effort his players are putting in each week. Yesterday’s loss was due to shocking decisions and disgraceful hand and foot skills, I lost count how many goals were conceded to poor disposals across the face of goal.

Players who now must be on notice:

Richard Tambling did nothing but jog backward and forward between the 50s and got the Bronx cheer when he finally got a kick, the hardest he ran all day was to the bench during the third quarter.

Brett Deledio seems to be unable to break a tag this season, if this is the case move him forward or down back where he might be of some use.

Jake King looks like he has the biggest heart in the Richmond team but struggles to hit the broad side of a barn by hand or foot.

I could keep going but I would have to list most of the team. To show I am not a complete Negative Nancy let’s take a little look at who is playing well.

Second gamer Alex Rance who looks like he is playing for his life every time he is in the action did well, maybe some other players could take a leaf out of the Rance book. Richo was good after quarter time and Newman was good early but faded in the second half.

Now watch me put a colourful spin on the season so far.

The Tiger’s three opponents, whom we have lost to, have combined records of 8-1 and of course are all in the 8 and will probably stay there for the rest of the season.

Our next three opponents are Melbourne, North Melbourne and Sydney have a combined record of 2-7 and none of them are in the eight. But we would want to win at least two of these.

All Out Attack... we will wait and see

In today's Herald Sun the Tigers have pledged All Out Attack for today’s game.

For mine I will wait and see, Richmond are the Kings of going sideways and backwards to avoid turning the ball over, I just can see them changing over night and going forward and direct. As soon as we are down by 12 or more points we will fall into old habits and start kicking sideways.

The Dogs are huge favourites for today’s game but I give us a chance to get our first win of the season, we will have to be at our best if we want a win today and the boys have had all weekend to think about it.

I would much rather see a win today than have all the pressure on us against Melbourne next week looking for the first win of the year.

Should Coughlan be playing this weekend?

There had been a number of stories about Mark Coughlan over the past few days in a number of media outlets about how good an outing he had for Coburg last weekend.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25305815-19771,00.html

As good as this outing was it was still for Coburg in a practice game. Terry Wallace has named Coughlan in the extended bench for Easter Monday game against the Bulldogs. Do we really need to rush Coughlan back? The Bulldogs have looked good this season and were one of the best teams going around last season, even with a fully healthy Mark Coughlan I don’t know if Richmond can get it’s first win of the year. Our best option will be to give another game for Coburg this weekend and then bring him in for the Melbourne match in Round 4.

Betting Markets for the weekend: The Tigers are paying $3.30 for the win.

Week in Review

OK a Quick look at some of the Richmond Headlines from the week.

1. Tiger trio give Casey ultimatum

Richmond stars Nathan Brown, Matthew Richardson and Kane Johnson have told Casey they will take him to court next month if he fails to meet their demands that total at least $300,000, and could be much higher.

My Take : Casey, pay them the money this is bad press.

2. Umpires got it wrong

THE AFL umpiring department has conceded Richmond copped a raw deal with the contentious 50m penalty against Daniel Jackson on Saturday.

My Take : Makes no difference now, also the umpires did not cost Richmond the game last weekend.

3. Tigers need a win – Foley

NATHAN Foley says no defeat is "honourable" and Richmond is desperate to notch its first victory of the year.

My Take : Foley your right, go and get that win!

4. Tiger Mark Coughlan back from wilderness

MARK Coughlan, has roared back into contention for a senior call-up after a 41-possession, 10-tackle display for Coburg.

My Take : Lets hold the 2003 best and fairest for another week.

Lauren Poulter re-visit

Thanks to my readers who sent me through these two Lauren Poulter photos that had got under my radar. Chris Newman may not be off to the best start as Richmond captain but it must be nice to go home to this.

So where too from here?

The performance the Tigers but up against the Cats down at Skilled Stadium will keep the media and fans at bay for a week but have the Tigers really improved or was this just a blip on the radar.

Leading the Cats at three quarter time even if it was by only a point was a huge achievement, normally the Tigers are down by over 50 points at three quarter time against the Cats but we did fade in final term.

Let’s look a little deeper into the game before we get all excited and start buying our finals tickets. The Tigers still only laid 51 tackles which was 3 less than the week before against Carlton, Richmond simply don’t apply enough pressure to their opponents. Let also that a look at scoring shots, Geelong had 30 scoring shots (15.15) and Richmond had only had 20 (13.7) the score line could have been much larger.

It may seem that I am just bashing on my Tigers but I just don’t know if we have really come that far in a week. All the good work from the Geelong game can be undone with a loss to the Bulldogs on Monday who got over the top of the Kangaroos on Sunday. The Tigers can still finish up 0-3 with a loss this weekend and all the pressure will be back on Terry and his crew.

On a brighter note Daniel Jackson had another good day while tagging Geelong danger man Joel Selwood. I would also like to welcome back Brett Deledio to the AFL thanks for joining us this weekend.

My last note from the Geelong game, I really think we need to move Matthew Richardson to the half forward line and keep him there, the team structure just looked so much better in the second half with him there. It will also provide a tall target for our running back men to hit up coming out of the back half and his opponents will not be able to drag him down back which is where he is not as comfortable.