Our lack of Indigenous players is embarrassing.

[inxs88]

A controversial issue but needs to be highlighted. The dearth in this area was once again highlighted today with Richmond winning another Premiership. With:

* Shane Edwards
* Daniel Rioli
* Marlion Pickett
* Shai Bolton
* Sydney Stack (didn't play)

featuring prominently this season, it's alarming to note that Travis Varcoe/Dan Wells (mature aged recruits aside), we not only have zero indigenous players drafted on our list, we actually have only recruited Kayle Kirby since:

* Kirk Ugle 2012 (late pick)
* Peter Yagmoor 2012 (late pick)
* Sharrod Wellingham: 2008 (rookie pick)
* Brad Dick 2007: (mid range pick)
* Shannon Cox: (rookie pick)
* Chris Egan 2005 (1st round pick)

Notwithstanding recycled players like Tony Armstrong (2014), Andrew Krakouer (2011) and Anthony Corrie (2009). It's well documented during his time at The Crows that Matt Rendell was less than enthused about the risk:reward ratio of recruiting indigenous players and he is a pivotal part of Ned Guy's Recruitment Team. When compared with our propensity to target Category B International or Alternate sports pathways, it seems bizarre that this latter strategy is fraught with SO MUCH MORE risk. Remember these names:


* David Fanning: Basketball = fail
* Kevin Dyas: Ireland = fail
* Caolan Mooney: Ireland = fail
* Darrean Wyatt: Basketball = fail
* Shae McNamarra: USA = fail
* Marty Clarke: Ireland X 2 = initial success then fail
* Mason Cox: Basketball = success
* Anton Tohill: Ireland = ?
* Mark Keane: Ireland = ?
* Tom Wilson: Basketball = ?
* Jack Madgen: Basketball = imminent failure

So cannot help but feel that the millions of dollars invested in trying to convert people's skills to fit our code would have been far wiser invested into off-field welfare and support services directed at the indigenous talent to whom already have all of the natural skills necessary to succeed.

[Piesnchess]

Yes, we do need a couple of fast, pacy, aboriginals, like that Tippnen wody, not sure how u spell his name, but two players like him, with his flair, would be ideal, just what we need really.

[burnsy17]

100% agree.

There are a stack of Marlion Pickett’s out there in the state leagues.

We have to stop piss farting around with blokes from other countries and start putting some faith in local, indigenous talent.

[inxs88]

Yep, interesting to see how many overseas and alternate sports recruits they have on their current list. ZERO

[Kill for Collingwood]

Pick players on availability, attitude, character and ability; not race.

[slangman]

I’d rather take a punt on a couple of dynamic indigenous players instead of international rookies.

We’ve had no success in developing superstar international converts.

Cox is just ok and Clarke was serviceable.

[inxs88]

[Cuthbert Collingwood]

Dusty and Swanny would be two out of four on the above prerequisites

[thesoretoothsayer]

[Cuthbert Collingwood]

I don't think it's a deliberate thing, it's just when you pick according to a defined set of traits you're going to miss out on the diversity in your list. We've been caught up way too much by the potential for scandal in the last few years that we may have missed some opportunities because they didn't tick all those boxes.

[inxs88]

Yes but irrespective of categories, there is a finite amount of coaching staff given the soft cap so surely a more efficient use of resources would be balancing off the two strategies.

[Skids]

Embarrassing??

[thesoretoothsayer]

[think positive]

[thesoretoothsayer]

Yeah, this must've been what Luke Beveridge was thinking in 2016.
"Gee, it's nice to win a premiership after 50-odd years but, &%%&, it's so embarrassing to have few (if any) indigenous players".