The Right Decision on Alan Richardson

On Friday, Alan Richardson’s coaching contract with St Kilda was extended for further two years. He is contracted with Saints until the end of the 2020 season.

 

It’s the right decision for St Kilda and the delighting news for me.

 

Richardson has been rebuilding the club since 2014 after Ross Lyon’s imbalanced play list (not blooding kids) and having been coached by the inexperienced coach (Scott Watters).

 

Developing young players and picking young players who were delisted at other clubs are what he has been offering for the mighty Saints. And he builds the strong young leadership group, even if Nick Riewoldt and Leigh Montagna helped a lot too.

 

This year’s ladder has been slipped from the ninth last year to the 11th. But we had tough fixtures and David Armitage was injured, Paddy McCartin didn’t breakout this year. So no one can blame the coach for finishing at the eleventh.

 

The loss margins of the interstate games narrowed and we missed the close game against Port Adelaide. Plus we won in Launceston and Perth. We are improving.

 

Then why not sticking with this great man?

 

Our strength is loyalty that I have been saying for years here on the Almanac. Loyalty is not only what individuals show towards organisation but also in the other way. The footy club expressed loyalty to the coach with trusts.

 

I can’t find any reason why David Schwarz thinks the decision was made too early and unnecessary.

 

Here are other reflecting the back reasons why I against the Ox.

 

1. See what Richmond have done.

 

Their coach Damian Hardwick had lost all final matches until this year. Even in 2013, they lost to the ninth finished Carlton who gained the right because of the punishment to Essendon.

 

Even Richmond finished the 13th last year. His Tigers had been going back and forth since his services had started in 2010.

 

Richmond were patient and won the premiership less than two weeks ago.

 

The Saints should be patient with Richo and will win the flag in a few years (hopefully next year).

 

2. See what Carlton have done.

 

Carlton were not kind to their favourite son, Brett Ratten. He started coaching the Blues in the mid 2007 season as a caretaker and then became a senior coach.

 

Ratten ended the seven-year finals drought in 2009 and his Blues played finals until 2011. They won over Essendon in the final footy in 2011.

 

Missing the expected top four in the following year, Carlton sacked Ratten.

 

Then they appointed the experienced coach, Mick Malthouse to replace Ratten.

 

But he couldn’t lead the Blues to the top four and was sacked in May 2015.

 

Do we want to have such Blues dramas at St Kilda? Nah!!

 

3. Learn from our past mistake.

 

In 2011, then our coach Ross Lyon asked the Saints to extend his contract. It took three months for St Kilda to approve.

 

Meanwhile he hired his lawyer to seek another opportunity to coach. Fremantle offered Lyon a position in three weeks.

 

Inpatient Lyon took the Freo’s offer and left St Kilda abruptly. Meanwhile Fremantle sacked Mark Harvey.

 

Even if it’s good not to have Lyon at St Kilda, securing Richardson is wise.

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. Jennifer Muirden says

    Hey there fellow Sainter Yoshi!

    I couldn’t agree more with your sentiments. Richo’s appointment to StKilda FC four years ago was one of the better decisions the club has made over the years. Unfortunately, Ross Lyon chose to abruptly leave us after coaching the Saints for four successful years including two Grand Final appearances (well actually three thanks to that silly 2010 drawn game necessitating a rematch the following week!!) and that was a huge blow. I have every confidence in Alan Richardson and feel the Saints future is extremely bright. Go Saints!

    PS Look forward to finally meeting you at the North Fitzroy Arms on Friday 27th October.

  2. Hi the fellow Sainter Jennifer,

    Thanks for your comment and appointing our Richo four years ago was a good news for us.

    Richardson makes good changes and moves year by year. The same as you, I believe he would be a premiership coach soon.

    I also look forward to seeing you at North Fitzroy Arms on 24th October. See you then.

    Go the mighty Saints!

    Yoshi

  3. Saints were stiff not to be playing Finals this year Yoshi. Inconsistency can kill a season You need to get that out of your game.

  4. Jennifer Muirden says

    You’re spot on Mr Wrap! Funnily enough for many years the Tigers followed that inconsistency trend, but somehow got it right when it mattered most. Now they have finally broken their Premiership drought and, as a masochistic Saints supporter, I feel incredibly envious. Maybe our 51 year drought will be broken at long last in 2018?!

  5. Phillip Dimitriadis says

    Good defence, Yoshi. I think it’s the right call, but the Saints would want to make the finals next year to justify it. You can have Nathan Buckley if things don’t work out.

  6. Good call, but just a rumour, you don’t want to lose Jack Steven to North..

  7. Hi guys

    Thanks for your comments!

    The Wrap – Inaccurate kicks killed so many games. Then we hired Ben Dixon as a part time goalkicking coach. So I hope our kicking skills are improving.

    Jennifer – I understand how you feel. Let’s get the successes made by the Western Bulldogs and Richmond for our Saints.

    Phil – I express my honest opinions here positively. I hope next year the Ox regrets what he says. Haha, I just hope Richo is doing the right job for us.

    Paul – Haha. Where is the source of the rumour? Is Titus O’Reily talking about our Jack at the Sports Writers Festival on the 29th?

    Cheers

    Yoshi

  8. Nothing wrong wirth you kicking skills the first time you played Richmond this year, Yoshi.

  9. Well, this unnecessary extension was ill advised. [this sentence has been removed]. St Kilda has shot itself in the foot again financial and set itself back 5 years.

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