At our best we have played some very attractive footy this year. Fast, flowing, attacking and enjoyable to watch.

At our worst we have been too easy to score against, embarrasingly so in some cases. And that stat of 14/22 games (I think it is now) of conceding 5 or more goals in a row under Teague is a concern.

It's understandable that we find the faults and focus on those. After the last 20 years or so there's been few highlights and we're used to discussing all the things that are wrong.

However, as that twitter stat via NBH shows, there are good things happening too. Way too patchy, but still good!

I don't know why someone like Samo, as one example, isn't getting decent midfield time, or why any number of our younger talented players aren't getting more opportunity under Teague.

But I do know that we are capable of playing awesome footy under Teague, in a way that we rarely saw (if at all) under Malthouse or Bolton.

The question, then, is how do we improve our consistency and remove the fade outs? How do we get better at stalling oppostion momentum?

And do we think Tegaue can do this? How much time is enough?

I don't have all of those answers, but anyone who thinks one season is enough for Teague to achieve his best is being incredibly harsh.

I know we all have good reason to be impatient when we can see a glimpse of being a contender again, but sadly, it's not as simple as flicking a switch and we are still going to need another season or two, I think, to reach a better level of consistency and to refine/improve our list some more.

And that's unlikely to change regardless of who is coaching us.

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We are not good at defensive tactics on an individual level.

You notice things the successful teams have done over the last 20 years and we still don't do them.

Taking the mark with intent and speed: to put pressure on space and back the kicker on the back foot to make space between man on mark and kick.
Creeping over the mark: instead of taaking space away we tend to give them an extra metre or 5
Coralling instead of tackling the hips: all the older players do it and its spreading.

Saw Jones attacking whoever on a chase to the ball. Jones was closing space.
As soon as the GWS player got hold of the ball, Jones stopped, like he was taking the mark and the GWS got an easy kick away.

Happens every quarter.

Gibbs use to do it a lot and then our thoughts of him being lazy was confirmed by Crows, and dont select him.

...and there plenty more examples, but Ive got to go out.

Coaches responsibility.

101 basics.
We don't do any of them well.

Hasn't changed under Teague's watch

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I just checked Damien Hardwick's Coaching career from the start...

2010. lost the 1st 9 games and ended up winning 6.
2011. won 8 and a draw
2012. won 10
2013. won 15 made finals and got beat by the Blues by 20pts
2014. won 11 but started the season with 3 wins and 10 loses before winning the last 9 straight. Got beat in 1st final by 57 pts.
2015. won 15 but again got beat in the 1st final by 17 pts. For the 3rd year in a row knocked out in 1st final.
2016. won 8 games finishing 13th.

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick has admitted he could “quite easily” have been sacked last year (2016), enduring his toughest season in coaching.

Hardwick revealed that he closed down from his players and coaches during an eight-win season, shutting himself off when he should have opened up.

Contracted for two more seasons, the club instead backed him to continue on and he has led the club to a 7-4 win-loss ratio at the bye.

But told SEN Radio it was a season of discovery after delving into his “darkest places”, thankful for the faith the club’s hierarchy showed him.

The rest is history on the back of Dusty.

Teague has Coached 25 games. Winning 12, so a winning percentage of just under 50%.

After 25 games Hardwick had won 6 and drawn 1.

Of the games lost in 2020, the Blues were well in the games against Port, Collingwood and GWS only to get run over.

Our best forward is arguably Charlie and Teague has had him playing for 2 games and 10 mins of a 3rd.

I think Teague deserves a pass at this time, if you are going to compare the when, where, why and how Teague got the job in 2019 and the season that has been 2020, so far.

We are not far off. I don't know if Teague is the man for the job but he is going okay in some very trying circumstances.

Regards Cazzesman

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Well said, Caz.

Surely no one wants to usher Teague out the door already, so the question is, rather, what did we expect for this season? If memory serves, not many tipped top 6; improvement rarely happens on a linear scale like it does in computer games. We got a short-term boost from last year's change, with players responding well to their newfound freedom after being locked into a dour gameplan for the last few years. And teams didn't know how to play us because we were radically different from the impotent mob they'd expected. But our form of late 2019 was always going to make opposition coaches take notice, and this year the more experienced coaches have figured us out to an extent.

I think most of us expected this, and for our improvement to plateau accordingly. So we tipped an approximate 50:50 W:L ratio and close to, but probably missing finals.

At this point, I think we'll finish 7-10, which will be a slight disappointment, or 8-9 which will be more or less a par score. Keep in mind that our extra 5 rounds in a 22 rounder would have included at least 3 crap sides. And our biggest problems are easy to identify, which at least gives us something to focus on. Plus we have at least 3 first choice players who've played less than a half of footy between them this year, returning in R1 2021, one would hope.

So things are looking okay. Not great, but nor is there any reason to drastically change course again. My only slight concern is that we seem to have lost the art of overturning big deficits like we did on a routine basis in 2019. That may be largely down to our talisman being hobbled by injury and/or personal issues most of the year. Hopefully it does not mean that Teague has become rigid and lost his instinctive side now that he's had time to implement a plan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2ojJ4sqjqA
Watch this from the 22 minute nark for a while.

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Yes agree rarely disagree with your analysis Cazz
Measured and thoughtful as always

Very interesting and and a great read.
What I would like to know, is did Hardwick show he could adjust through the game and did he show signs of tactics while in these bad years but it just never came off. And was he developing the running game plan that they can execute so well and while it was in its infancy these were the results of their teething issues.
My concern with Teague is, he has really shown nothing other than playing seniors over kids. I'm sure we have someone on here that has analysed his game plan with a fine tooth comb and can shed some more light. This is the only way we will know that a plan is in place and we just need time and upgraded players to complete it. The best I've seen the team this year is when we are up and running transfer the ball from end to end with loose players, then the moment the pressure is put on, the plays and players start to crumble. And then that's the way it stays for our regulatory 30pt swing.
Another concern is, even when we have the run of the play we can't put teams away. e.g. GCS game.
But the most concerting issue is the inability to get the best out of our kids that have been in the system for a few years now and were all developing prior to this year.
I don't like the idea of changing coaches, but I also don't like the idea of having to wait another 6 years to make it to a GF.

And/or Dean Solomon

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If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

Yes it is harsh...but it's not harsh to see improvement in one or two areas; a) 5+ goal swings and b) mid-fwd transition (inefficiency going fwd-lots of I50s for lots of f%^& ups)...there seems to be no amelioration in either of those two key areas...stats might prove me wrong but I'm happy to go with what I see

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If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

Linked to the higlighted bit above, we rarely bee-line the next player who will receive the ball with a straight charge and tackle...we often stop for half a second to see where that player will go to next...here's an idea...the shortest distance between two points is a straight line...dont hesitate...go straight AT the player will full momentum, open your arms just prior to tackling and then use the momentum of your arms clasping to give you more force and effectiveness in the tackle
Watch Richmond...no hesitation...beeline for whoever has the ball and open arms just prior

PS. Some simple maths...even if you ran at 4 m/s, a half second hesitation (which also increases your chances of being flat-footed) gives you 2m of closing down on your opponent

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If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

I think we need to be clear that Teague isn't the concern, it's the people around him. A review will happen of our coaching dept anyway due to COVID, but serious questions need to be asked regardless.

Those who should stay

Of the current coaching group, only Dale Amos seems to have made improvements to the areas he's been in charge of. He's got the defence running well, and has done well when in other roles. Should definitely stay on.

I don't know much about Stanton as a coach, but (despite the fact he's a drug cheat...grrr) if he's responsible for our counter-attacking strategies in the "transition" part of his role, he should stay on. We look our best when playing like this. On the flipside though, if he's also in charge of what we do going the other way, then it becomes iffy.

Luke Power has only been in the job a short time, but has a good track record in development and understands what it takes to win. His is one of the most important jobs in the club, and he needs to stay.

O'Keefe is still pretty fresh and not had a great opportunity to do what he was hired to do. Too early to tell IMO.

Rocca, Fraser, McIntosh and Playfair have departed due to the job cuts, which have left (clear, in Rocca's case) voids in those areas, which somehow need to be filled in whatever restructure is required.


Those who should be replaced

1) John Barker
No surprise here, but he's been at the club a long time, and the area he's in charge of always seems to be where we fall down (I remember Hawks and Saints fans celebrating his departure for similar reasons). Has previously been in charge of forwards and defence, when we were dogshit in those areas. Right now it's stoppages, where we continually get killed after the ball gets out, or when we do win the ball our delivery forward of centre is deplorable. He may actually be really good at what he does and be great with players, but he's had enough time to get it right, is a product of darker days and a fresh start is needed by both parties.

2) Cameron Bruce
Our forward setups are shocking at the moment, as is our kicking for goal. Sure, Rocca's absence and key personnel being in/out hasn't helped, but if you're a forwards coach you're responsible for forward patterns and strategies, and ensuring goals are kicked. This is a major failing.

3) Jason Davenport
As above. Our forwards aren't developing as we've hoped and he's been in the job for three seasons. Again, inconsistent personnel fitness and lack of Rocca hasn't helped, so may get a pass, but if cuts are needed he should be one of them.

Who to replace them with?

I can't speak about coaching abilities, as great players don't necessarily make great coaches, and vice versa.

But anyone that we bring in needs to have the following attributes:
1) Ruthlessness. Someone who demands excellence and maximum effort from players at all times, and can communicate this.
2) An understanding of how to win through experience. Power is the only one on our panel who has won an AFL flag, which is a worry. I'm sure if you looked at other teams, you'll see premiership players galore.
3) Knowledge of the craft. Goes without saying, but they need to actually be good at the area they're coaching.

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A good post Don. I think COVID will expedite a review of the assistant and development coaches which should occur regardless.

It has already been said but I’d look to bring in a Luke Hodge ruthless type as a part time leadership consultant. Call the role whatever you want but the aim of it is to make the whole football department more ruthless.

Bring him in for a week or two of pre-season training to see who works hard enough and who doesn’t.
Let him deliver the speech on what it takes to win premierships and get the most out of your career.
Give him input into selecting the leadership group so we end up with genuine leaders rather than winners of a popularity contest.
Contract him to sit in on the weekly leadership meetings to give his view on how to deal with situations.
Let him be a resource for all our players to bounce ideas off.
Have him attend a couple of games to determine who is or is not working hard and working smart out there.
Bring him in to have the tough conversations with those that need them.
Let the recruiters bounce ideas off him after watching footage of draftees and sit in on interviews to get his view on whether they have the mongrel and inner drive to make it.
Basically just use him to make the club more ruthless in whatever way he can.

St Kilda did this with Roughead and it certainly hasn’t hurt them. We should do the same. Get winners into this organisation at all costs.

You want unstructured footy.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I watched the whole show.

@#$%&! I love it.

Even developed a form of respect for Sheeds, who I saw a bit in that period in '83.

He knows Carltonians didnt like him.
It was another era.

Back to your reference to this site, Do you want Teague to be coached by aboriginals? or to use them as Gifted Counsel?

That story about Long kicking into space 2 mins b4 half time...get the white fellas to chase it

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Hardwick didn’t play a young Cotchin in the backline, he gave him every possible opportunity to develop as a mid.

As Cotchin developed as a mid (by playing in the midfield), Richmond started to make meaningful progress.

We're not far off.

I love the twitter link from Navy Blue Horse earlier. Take out every team's worst quarter from every game and we are on top of the ladder.

Teague's has got the band together.
He's got them committed to running for team defence, as did Bolton, but its different; they're happy with that part of the game. They give it all. They stay in the game for longer.

Posters are just outside views of an area we are not privy to: Carlton FC.
With all the information at his disposal and of his making Teague is doing what he thinks he has to. We have given him the keys gratefully.

This year, without Charlie Curnow, Marchbank, Kreuzer and Newman, heaps of my mates who, some dislike Carlton, call me to acknowledge Teague's game plan, along with Saints is really exciting, and they can see we are going places, of Teague's straight bat interviews.

All we do in this forum is look at things, and we find the shortfalls and the highlights, and give our opinions on what we would do, and we have admired.
I'm sure these Footy Professionals (Teague & Co) have uncovered every stone and touched on nearly every scenario we have put forward.

I'm sure there are times when some of the things Teague and us posters see and have the same opinion in mind. Some. Things don't come to fruition all the time, but Teague will know of other factors that come to play we are not privy to. I hope every poster realises we are in fantasy land addicted to an icon of footy.

Us investors/ punters/ fans are emotionally invested, welded on to this club, ride the ups, frustrated with the lows, but with only good intentions with our opinions...anything to get this club back on top.

3 rounds to go, and I will give him my score at the end of the season. I expected about 8 wins, maybe finals with the way he had moved hearts and minds. Lets see what course he takes. He better not...

I am actually loving this season despite the near misses. We are not that far. Kids are brewing in the background. Players to come back. Trades to make.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I'm thinking along the same lines...as Assistants.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Highlighted seems to be the biggest area of angst with the club with anyone you speak with, and highlighted in the media this last week with trade period and drafts coming up.

Teague isn't the Development Coach. He can only tell players missing a game what they have to work on. With whom? Barker etc...more question marks.

Teague needs all his team doing their job and feeding him players via Development, FA, Trade or Draft; Teague is the Head Coach

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Teague's work with the Crows forwardline, with Eddie, in their successful years suggest he knows the Forwardline game.
He also would know what it takes for mids to work with forwards.

Teague is such an important resource.

Maybe, and usually it is that cae, we might not have the right cattle....yet.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I think you have the mental desire, drive, and intensity to get involved physically that is Cotchin, confused with the player that is SPS. SPS has none of the above.

SPS is a skillful player but he is not the player who will win you a hard fought, contested possession, in the heat of battle, in the centre square, when it counts. That's probably why he is not playing there.

I would have Fisher in the centre square rotations long before SPS.

Regards Cazzesman

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