From the Herald-Sun website:Leppitsch said the players enjoyed the experience of playing the new game, as did the coaches, who were content there were fewer collisions, which meant no injuries across their two matches.
“When you are putting your players up and handing them to the AFL for experiments, you want to make sure they come back in one piece,” he said.
He said there was always room for further improvements with AFLX, and joked that the field could even be carved up a bit more like a dart board, for extra scoring opportunities.
X-FACTORJason Castagna
Leaving aside Mitch Robinson’s matchwinning Zooper goal, Castagna turned in the best passage of the day with his brilliant goal against the Lions. Twice he tapped the ball around the boundary, and then launched with a flying soccer kick for goal.
TIME TO SHINEReece Conca
A fully-fit Conca would be a bonus for the Tigers headed into their premiership defence. The injury-prone runner wasted no time staking his claim with the first Zooper goal of the opening game and showed enough in both matches to suggest that if his body holds out, his speed and penetrating kicking will again be an asset.
STEPPING UPJayden Short
Short was stiff to lose his spot late last year and looked just as stiff when he was “disallowed” a Zooper goal during the first game. Thankfully, sanity prevailed, and the mistake was corrected. Looked sharp as he worked to regain his position in the side.
NEW FACESNoah Balta
This kid might be the ‘bolter’ from the blue. The athletic 18-year-old key-position Tiger, who was pick 25 in last year’s draft, took a couple of strong grabs and hit the scoreboard. Looked a nice prospect who could be used at either end.
LOOK WHO’S BACKNathan Broad
The Tigers gave their premiership defender plenty of game time in both matches, mindful of his club-imposed three-game suspension. He did plenty of running from the back half.
SUPERCOACH WATCHJack Higgins ($130,800 mid/fwd)
The Tigers’ first draft pick (No. 17 overall) only had limited game time in the first game, but showed glimpses of his talent. It’s impossible to leave him out of your SuperCoach team at the price. May not be picked for Round 1 but shouldn’t have to wait long for his opportunity. Looks as good a cash cow as the Sunrise version.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/richmond-plans-to-implement-the-same-manic-pressure-that-won-the-premiership-in-2018/news-story/fc56a353d72022fe8740e09665ca757e