Mark Robinson: St Kilda coach Alan Richardson knew the end was near

It was an ugly end for Saints coach Alan Richardson, who was always going to be up against it this season and he could see the writing on the wall after discussions with club leaders in recent weeks.

Alan Richardson, coach of St Kilda.

It’s a brutal world this football caper.

Alan Richardson has gone. Yet another St Kilda scalping in the merry-go-round search for its next premiership coach.

It was supposed to be Richo.

It was supposed to be Scotty Watters before him.

And Ross Lyon. And Grant Thomas. And Malcolm Blight. And Tim Watson. And Stan Alves. And Ken Sheldon. Even Doc Baldock.

Some came close, others didn’t give a yelp, and now it’s back to square one.

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“Here we go again,” Thomas said on social media. “Please, please get it right.”

Press conferences for departing coaches have to be done better.

One moment Richardson was almost in tears as he spoke about his family, his players and his six-year commitment to the Saints. Then he was ushered out.

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The next moment, the Saints were excitedly announcing the new era.

It was like they had danced on Richo’s grave and then, with a gin and tonic in hand, they began dancing on the podium.

“We’ve got a very appealing role to be filled in the coming weeks,’’ chief executive Matt Finnis said.

That said, Carlton spoke about their future after sacking Brendon Bolton — and Bolton was still in the room.

An emotional Alan Richardson after announcing the end of his coaching tenure at St Kilda. Picture: Getty Images

Perhaps there’s no perfect way to say goodbye and be enthusiastic about the future in the same press conference.

Finnis and Richardson are close and Finnis almost started crying.

That’s a first in these awkward situations.

When a coach is moved on, they almost always say that he was a “good man” and “well respected” and that he “left his mark on the footy club”.

It’s not always true, but it keeps the peace.

No fabrications were needed for Richardson.

He is honourable and respectful and shows tremendous warmth to people involved in football.

He was asked whether he could’ve been a tougher coach.

“As a coach you’ve got to be who you are. I don’t feel any sense of unease about being a good person,” Richardson said.

That’s not say he wasn’t part psycho behind closed doors, as all coaches can be, but certainly there was a high level of dignity, integrity and calmness about Richo.

His six-year tenure will be viewed as a failure.

A win-loss record of 43-81, two draws and not a single final from the club’s second-longest serving coach made it easy for the Saints to draw the curtain.

Clearly, 2019 was make or break and Richardson had a target on his back from Round 1.

He won four of the first five games before the season fell part on the back of injuries to key players.

There are no excuses in footy, but there are reasons.

Injuries to skipper Jarryn Geary, Paddy McCartin and Dylan Roberton and the illness to Jack Steven rocked the core of the group.

Unfortunately for Richardson, he was besieged by bad luck at the worst possible time and as each loss accumulated, the target on his back and speculation became bigger.

The beginning of the end came after the 56-point loss to Brisbane at Marvel Stadium in Round 14.

St Kilda head of football Simon Lethlean told 3AW: “When you perform that way the scrutiny comes. We won’t shy away from answering the questions. Unfortunately, it’s the coach who bears the brunt of it all.

“Alan is our coach and if we keep improving, Alan will remain our coach.”

Richardson was said to be surprised and disappointed with the comments, mainly because he and the club were under siege.

Instead of circling the wagons, Lethlean invited savage speculation.

Rightly or wrongly, Lethlean has been regarded as part villain in all this.

Richardson coaching what would be his last game for the Saints last Saturday night. Picture: Getty Images

But club president Andrew Bassat told the Herald Sun from Greece on Tuesday night that no one at St Kilda had blood on their hands.

Two weeks after Lethlean’s comments and after losing to North Melbourne in Tasmania, Finnis told Richardson it was unlikely he would coach in 2020.

The loss to Geelong at the weekend prompted talks on Monday, which included a conversation with Bassat from Greece, and then Richardson pulled the pin.

The board had intended to discuss Richardson’s future next week.

Now the lead agenda item will the coaching selection group, which will include Bassat, Finnis and Lethlean.

Speculation the Saints already have a replacement were emphatically dismissed by Finnis and the Saints president yesterday.

Which means the conspiracy theory that Brad Scott already has the job is just that, a conspiracy.

If Scott is appointed coach, it will be a political bomb.

In the meantime, Brett Ratten takes charge for his second stint as interim coach and he’s as good a shot as any to become the full-time coach.

St Kilda head of football Simon Lethlean at the press conference. Picture: Getty Images

Name your man and he will be on the list: Scott, Ratten, Luke Beveridge, Michael Voss, Paul Roos, Robert Harvey, Sam Mitchell, Matthew Scarlett, Rhyce Shaw (if North Melbourne doesn’t sign him), David Teague (if Carlton doesn’t sign him) and Lenny Hayes.

And there’s no list without Alastair Clarkson’s name on it.

To the end, Richardson put his players and the club before himself.

In recent weeks, he was sitting in list management and trade meetings knowing he probably wouldn’t be at the club next year.

“It was a challenge to be the coach I needed to be,” Richardson said.

As the walls closed in, not once did Richardson publicly bemoan his position.

It wasn’t about him, as he has said from early in the pre-season, it was all about the team.

“It’s time to get some clear air for the group to end the year strongly,” he said.

“I’ve had my crack at it, it hasn’t worked, it’s time for someone else to have a go.”

Originally published as Mark Robinson: St Kilda coach Alan Richardson knew the end was near