AFL Round 14 – St Kilda v Brisbane: Open Letter to Alan Richardson – Helping the club for better performances

 

Having put my chest down in the previous match report, I woke up to a brand new day. I realised that I should suggest the beloved St Kilda Football Club perform better on the field rather than blasting the coach for not having a game plan.

 

Then my thoughts came to me while having a shower before riding a bike and doing my own morning footy session.

 

Here is the open letter to our senior coach Alan Richardson.

 

 

Dear Richo,

 

As a mad St Kilda supporter, I was very disappointed with the heavy loss to Brisbane Lions on Saturday. And watching the game live through the AFL App was extremely painful so I had no choice but disconnecting in the third quarter.

 

Many fans are frustrated with poor performances and I have seen some fans’ comments blaming you for not having a game plan.

 

How to play footy needs flexibility sometimes, I think. Players have to act differently depending on ball users. As a player at the Osaka Dingoes AFL club in Japan, I see it.

 

But why not create a basic game plan?

 

Our young ruckman Rowen Marshall does a great job in hitting out, and the midfielders kick and handball brilliantly.

 

Let’s keep wonderful ball users in the midfield. But we should not drop the hand-passes or marks. Calling for the ball is essential as I have been instructed by my mentor Matt at the Dingoes.

 

Running faster than opponents is essential to win contests. It does apply not only in the midfield but also in the forward line and back pocket.

 

Once the footy reaches the forward pocket, we cannot waste it. I have seen too much wastage in the previous matches.

 

Tricking the opponents and creating open spaces is the key to winning contests and to exit congestions.

 

Once we win the contests, the winning players are required to kick goals accurately.

 

That is my game plan to help with attacking footy. What I want to advise is that forward players need better ball users to maximise the midfielder’s great work.

 

In any case that the opponents take turn overs, I would place Jack Billings and Shane Savage in positions to lay tackles against opponents to get the footy back.

 

Also placing good defenders such as Callum Wilkie, Jake Carlisle and Jimmy Webster to trick the opponents and take intercept marks would be good to bounce back.

 

Once we get the ball back in the defence line, take to the wing to deliver ball towards the forward line. Follow the midfield-forward game plan.

 

We have good players but young ones need more advice and improvements.

 

I understand you need more support to do the top job, but please take my advice and take responsibility to lead the footy club.

 

And I want our boys to know I take extra time to improve my footy skills. I am 46 and have been playing footy only for a year and half. Having never played any relevant sport before, I hit a local park early in the morning running, kicking and bouncing the footy.

 

I am a hungry player wanting to score more goals. Hopefully our boys have such efforts and we start winning more games.

 

Go Saints!

 

Yoshi

 

 

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About Yoshihiro Imagawa

Love, passion and pride are seen on the footy that is the biggest part of my life. 1. St Kilda Club member: I am a passionate and crazy Sainter. Just hope we will win the second flag soon, especially after Dogs and Tigers having ended long premiership draughts. 2. The Osaka Dingoes Player and Public Relations Officer: Player number 44 that I chose to honour Stephen Milne with my wish being like a small forward like him. Lenny Hayes' hardworking attitudes are adopted on my trainings and practices. Nick Riewoldt's great plays are in my player audiobook too. 3. Writing: Here on the Almanac and also on the World Footy News. My skills utilise on great footy websites.

Comments

  1. Neil Anderson says

    Hi Yoshi. I’ve been thinking of you with St Kilda struggling at the moment. I find it amusing how the media pounces on various clubs and coaches after a bad loss. It was the Saints and Bombers turn to be in the gun this week. The Saints after a bad quarter of football and the Bombers losing against West Coast in Perth.
    Both these teams are higher on the ladder than the Bulldogs but we are are getting a free pass for some reason. Critics of the Bulldogs are puzzled rather than condemning about their performances this year. Against the Magpies they won in most areas except on the scoreboard. We had three or four players with over thirty possessions but they had one dominant ruckman who kicked goals and was probably best on ground. So fantastic commitment all over the ground by the Bulldogs but they still lost.
    The final kick in the guts was Buckley saying the Magpies played one of their worst games.
    So I’m frustrated about my club for different reasons than you Yoshi. When the bigger clubs find a way to win when they should have lost it brings back memories when both our clubs spent years on the bottom of the ladder.

  2. Hi Neil. It’s good to have your comment on my articles. Thanks a lot!

    I watched the Bulldogs versus Collingwood on Sunday until third quarter (I had to leave because of my work), and saw the similar situations in first quarter to what I had seen at third quarter a day before. Giving away opportunities to the opponents is so stressed, isn’t it?

    I think Bevo hasn’t been media’s attention of being sacked or not because he is s premiership coach. Media always find someone to brash out. It’s so sad.

    Speculation spreads now that Brad Scott had agreed with crossing to St Kilda before he left Kangaroos. I prefer Richo to Scott so please don’t make it happen. If Richo has to go, I want Brett Ratten to coach us.

    Cheers

    Yoshi

  3. Yvette Wroby says

    Hi Yoshi,
    thanks for your article. I have not enjoyed watching St Kilda all year, and I hate the coversations around bad losses. And I don’t want Brad Scott either. I find little joy and pleasure in their games this year, the turn over of players, the speed at which we give the ball to the other team, the losses that could have been closer or wins…its so hard being a Saints mens supporter.

    On the other hand, the Southern Saints VFLW team are second on the ladder, and I have found more pleasure in watching their results and a few games than I have in the Saints boys this year. It’s been a long few years for supporters, when we were expecting to rise, rather than fall yet again.

    And yet, I will head to Maddies Match with family which is the main reason I keep on trucking. Keep up the writing and practice Yoshi. Thanks for the regular reports too.

  4. Hi Yvette

    Thanks for your comment and good advice. I will keep writing and training indeed. The next exciting stuff for me is participating in AFL Asia Championship in August.

    I understand how you feel on St Kilda men’s team. Just hope we keep rising and not going downwards.

    It’s good to hear Southern Saints VFLW team. How often do you go to women’s game? I hope St Kilda AFLW team are doing so well in 2020.

    Enjoy the Maddie’s Match tomorrow and please cheer boys loud for me!

    Thanks

    Yoshi

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