Agree, many of their stars have gone backwards. Not sure it's the case with Kosi, as we've known this for a number of years...seemed to go backwards after he sustained a head injury from the Gia hit. Riewoldt's kicking is not good enough, too many times in matches when there's a crunch time and he needs to kick a captain's goal, but fails to deliver. Not a very big game player either. Hayes is a great player but will take a while to get back into the swing of things at AFL level...and he doesn't have youth on his side either. With a new coach implementing a new plan, and an inevitable list turnover, I'm not so sure he'd fit into those plans. They don't look too bad on the surface, with the likes of Schneider, Milne, McEvoy, Montagna, Goddard...but they have no depth whatsoever. Dawson has been servicable for them but his days are numbered in the AFL...there's a reason Hawthorn cut him and look where they are now. Ross Lyon saw the writing on the wall, took the team as far as he could, milked every ounce out of them, but to no avail. Should have at the very least a flag each from the Grant Thomas and Ross Lyon eras. Richardson has the credentials to be a great coach, only, does he want to be part of another side rebuilding? What attracts so many personnel to our club is the upside the list has...we finished a close 5th this season, one kick away from a preliminary final at the G against a team we match up well with. Plenty of players to come back into the team, and improvement to be had throughout. Seems too good to leave and join a club bound for struggling in the next 3-5 years as opposed to a team playing regular finals and pushing for a flag in the next couple of seasons. There's a distinction to make when talking about teams rebuilding and developing. A club like Melbourne would have been a good fit for Richo as they have an exciting young list to work with. He'll stay put until there's a good fit for him...leaving us for St.Kilda wouldn't happen when comparing the lists.
_________________ Premierships: 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1887, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995. "GIBBS."
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