Richardson a Swan?

[motorace_182]

We do still have a youth policy dont we???? Bugger him. If he is free, why not, if not NO

[Ruda Wakening]

Originally posted by DST
Mature big blokes who have proven they can play in the big time and drag down contested markes don't grow on trees, if he is available then we need to talk to him.

Personally, I think he'll end up staying at Richmond, but ' IF '
the Swans are talking to him, then its quite obvious they're thinking along the same lines as DST .

The guy's huge, he can highjump his own height, he has good hands, and can kick, plus he's experienced, those things are all that should matter .

I think personal reputations are sometimes best left at the front door. The hissy fits and theatrics that go with him, are mostly due to frustration. Given his ability, and the circumstances at Richmond, i don't think he's acted too out of the ordinary. I think Paul Roos would get the best out of him for sure .

Maybe he'd be like Barry, the change would do him the world of good, and we'd be repaid for the ' gamble ' .

So long as he didn't end up costing too much, I can't see why he wouldn't be an asset .

[Rob-bloods]

Look I know all the downsides, but just for a moment think of the 'run' in Richo as 6' 6" guy-outstanding, then think of Goodes alternating with him, then add Kenneally and Barry and think of the mobility coming from the back half plus the ruck.

Then think of throwing Richo forward when we are not kicking goals, think of Schneider running off him, and Micky. Then consider how well Roos?ey has reinvented our own players.

Then weigh up he is 29, he is not a defensive minded player yet, has had a few injuries, may not come cheap.

Then consider we will NEVER sign him IMO anyway, but the positives noted above sounded alright for a while!

[DST]

Originally posted by lizz
Surely the future answer to the defence has got to come from the likes of Powell, LRT, Hunt, Dempster, James. They won't all make it but there are some decent options there. And if none is up to it, lets find another long term option via drafting and patience, even if it takes some time. Or at least through a more astute trade than for a 29 yo with no track record of playing as a key defender and with a tendency towards histrionics.

I'd rather have that year down the bottom, if that's what it takes, while the youngsters find their way, than settle for more years of mid-table mediocrity.

I don't disagree with you lizz that out of that lot we will get at least two players to fill the KP backman role in the future.

But being a realist, none of those (with the exception of James and we all know the risks with him) look likely to fill the role within the next two years. Maybe as the third or fourth tall only in the interim.

Richo has played a little in the KP CHB role before and I can remember attending a game where he stood Carey and did a good job. I would be surprised if one of the best CHB in the last 100 years and our coach could not at least get him to play at that end of the ground.

As for the hissey fits, who would not get frustrated trying to play at CHF with the game plan Richmond has played with under the last two coach's they have had (the Geisch and Frawley).

All I am trying to say is that, getting someone like Richo (at a good price) does not mean the end of our youth policy or rebuilding phase. It will not even stop the development of our younger guys but aid it, as they get to train, test and play with someone of his stature.

It does not even need to be Richo, but at present our one glaring hole is a big strong defender who can take a key forward who is on fire and beat him at the contest.

Richo suits that bill.

DST

[robbieando]

Originally posted by Chubby Muffler
Ruck for sure, Goodes does a supreme job but he is more effective elsewhere.

You have to be kidding. Goodes has played his best football in the ruck or on the ball. His best 2 seasons were in the ruck. To say he is more effective else where is silly.

[Ryan Bomford]

Richo, a Swan? It won't happen. I thought we left behind the days when we thought we were one key 'experienced' player away from a championship. The tight confines of the SCG don't suit Richo's style of play and if the defensive gamble doesn't work out, do we throw him forward to kick four behinds?

Maybe they were talking to him to find out how bad things really are at Punt Road or to check out if Holland is worth a gamble.

[Chubby Muffler]

I mean he should not be our major man in the ruck. He is better not being confined to one position.

[DST]

Originally posted by Ryan Bomford
Richo, a Swan? It won't happen. I thought we left behind the days when we thought we were one key 'experienced' player away from a championship. The tight confines of the SCG don't suit Richo's style of play and if the defensive gamble doesn't work out, do we throw him forward to kick four behinds?

Maybe they were talking to him to find out how bad things really are at Punt Road or to check out if Holland is worth a gamble.

I don't beleive and no one else on this board thinks we are one expeirenced "player' away from a premiership.

But we are at least one KP backman short before we can comfortably say that we can mix it with the likes of Collingwood, Port or Essendon in the heat of a final (I have left Brisbane out becuase no one can claim to have their measure).

We only play 10 games a year at the SCG so to argue not to go after him on that is pointless when he could be suited to 12 other games plus finals. Also if we were to get him and use him as KP CHB his current style of play would have nothing to do with whether he could work as a stong marking defender.

To build a great team you need to look outside the square, see whats on offer, adapt it and use it to your advantage.

No one has put a pluasible arguement yet as to why Rich would not work for us as a defender!!!!!!!!1

DST

[sharpie]

Originally posted by DST
No one has put a pluasible arguement yet as to why Rich would not work for us as a defender!!!!!!!!1

DST

Here's two:

1) He has never really played there before, so it is as much speculation saying that he would be good as a defender as it is saying that one of our own young guys will step up and make it. Does anyone know for sure if he can play accountable football? It's a whole different ball game in defense, where he has to focus as much on the player as on the ball.

2) He's 29. He is perhaps 1 serious injury away from retirement at that age. If he stays fit, he has perhaps 2-3 years of good football left in him.

What does all this mean? I would be more than happy to give him a go, as long as it doesn't cost us too much to get him, in terms of developing a strong list of young players. A 2nd round draft pick would be about the most we'd want to give up for him, I reckon.

[liz]

Originally posted by DST
I don't beleive and no one else on this board thinks we are one expeirenced "player' away from a premiership.

But we are at least one KP backman short before we can comfortably say that we can mix it with the likes of Collingwood, Port or Essendon in the heat of a final (I have left Brisbane out becuase no one can claim to have their measure).

We matched it comfortably with Port in a final this year. We matched it comfortably with Brisbane for 2 and 3/4 games this year and I don't think we were blown away in that final quarter because of a lack of tall defender. We were blown away because we didn't have a ruckman who could lend Goodes a hand and/or some centremen who could get their hands on the ball.

No one has put a pluasible arguement yet as to why Rich would not work for us as a defender!!!!!!!!1

No real evidence to suggest he would work in that position. How often has he done it for Richmond? And if he were a viable option, do you not think Richmond would have already tried him there, particularly when he was struggling up forward? He's not the most accountable player running around.

No doubt he would have some role to play in the team. There's even an outside chance we might be a better team.

But Richmond won't be giving him away so he'll be a pricey option. And we have higher priorities, IMO.

[CureTheSane]

Firstly, I don't think this has a hope in hell of happening.

Secondly, I don't think anyone at the Swans would entertain this idea unless in the context of a joke.
Signing Richo would seem to be the complete opposite of the road the Swans want to travel.

Thirdly, hahahaha, this thread is funny.
Richo is a huge underachiever
He is NOT a backman


Tell you what?
If we can pick up Richo cheap, and for a third round draft pick, I'd take him.
Giving anything more than that would be just plain wrong....

[Jeffers1984]

If Richardson was to leave Tigerland, i have a feeling he would be involved in a trade for Nathan Brown considering the Dogs lack quality talls

[NMWBloods]

I agree with CtS that there is no way this will happen!!

Therefore I can speculate as much as I like!!

If you could get him for a good price (define 'good'!!) then I think he could be worthwhile for the team.

I reckon he has the potential to be an outstanding backman. He would only have to do so for us for about 3 years, giving our younger, inexperienced and slighter backmen some time to come up to standard.

As for comments that he is not a team player, I would disagree with that. He is, but he wears his heart on his sleeve and gets very frustrated when the ball is not delivered to him. If he was not a team player then he wouldn't pass off as frequently as he does. In the backline he would be less dependent on others delivering the ball to him and I think you would see him realise that potential he has promised for many years.

I think our two main priorities remain a second ruckman and a gun midfielder.

However, although I think our backline did a great job this year, I still believe we need a large, strong and agile key position backman if we are to be a serious challenger.

[Glenn]

Just been reading from foxsports via www.news.com.au it seems Richo won't be going anywhere

[taurus]

It won't happen.

He owns a restaurant which he apparaently actively manages...

Then again Nick Daffy..