Alan Richardson should be judged by realistic expectations after horror summer, writes Jon Ralph
Luck has deserted Alan Richardson in what is effectively a contract year and we should reassess how we judge the St Kilda coach this season, writes JON RALPH.
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In some ways Dylan Roberton’s decision to step aside for the 2019 season is an intensely personal story.
Roberton’s comeback from a shocking collapse would have been one of football’s uplifting stories this season.
He hadn’t just slotted back into the St Kilda backline these past two JLT Series games, he was a dynamic and dominant presence.
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In a year where on-field leadership is more important than ever due to the runner reduction, St Kilda had already identified him as an extra on-field coach as well as a commanding rebounding presence.
Now his footballing fate is uncertain.
Just when he had shown he could marshal this backline with such force, his career is again in jeopardy.
If St Kilda fans will reflect upon his personal circumstances, they cannot help but consider the ramifications for the team and Alan Richardson.
St Kilda has lost its full-back in Jake Carlisle for months and its intercepting centre-half back in Roberton.
Its four-time best-and-fairest winner Jack Steven may not play in Round 1 and its high-priced recruit Dan Hannebery has no return date.
With No.1 pick Patrick McCartin out for Round 1 with his eighth concussion and potentially much longer.
Imagine Richmond without Alex Rance, David Astbury, Dustin Martin and Tom Lynch in Round 1.
Or Essendon without Cale Hooker, Michael Hurley, Dyson Heppell and Dylan Shiel.
Or West Coast without Jeremy McGovern, Tom Barrass, Luke Shuey and Andrew Gaff.
St Kilda will point to its strong JLT Series form and spout positive messages about the depth of its squad.
Yet, when Alan Richardson needed a slice of luck in what is effectively a contract year it has deserted him.
It is time to recalibrate our expectations of what Richardson can deliver this year in what is effectively an interview for his future employment.
Most pundits didn’t believe this rebuilding St Kilda list was capable of finals without the key absences anyway.
Judgment on Richardson has to be about the spirit this list plays with, the improvement from the up-and-coming kids.
Can he nurture Jade Gresham and develop him into the one of the game’s most dangerous mid-forwards?
Can his decision to turn Josh Battle into an intercept marking defender become one of the positional moves of the summer?
How does he develop Ben Long, Hunter Clark, Nick Coffield, Rowan Marshall and Blake Acres into elite players of the competition?
If Richardson can drag improvement from a significant core of those above players the Saints might be able to absorb the hellish early-season fixture and then come home strong.
Roberton at least has the comfort of a contract extension through to 2021 that will provide him with some financial security as he sits out the season.
Richardson’s job just got a lot harder, but the least we can do in his year of living dangerously is judge him by realistic expectations.
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