One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => Richmond Rant => Topic started by: one-eyed on January 10, 2017, 04:12:28 AM
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Richmond best 22, team for 2017 AFL season: Dion Prestia, Josh Caddy, Brandon Ellis
Ben Waterworth
FOX SPORTS
10 January 2017
THE shoulders of five specific Richmond players must be tired and sore.
Over recent seasons, the Tigers’ so-called ‘fab five’ — which consists of Alex Rance, Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt and Brett Deledio — have been heavily relied upon. All of them are stars and would walk into any club’s best 22.
But as talented as they are, they can’t win games of footy off their own boots.
And with Deledio now at another club to chase premiership success, it’s imperative other Tigers step up this season, with the club — as much as coach Damien Hardwick wants to deny it — on the verge of a rebuild.
So who could replace Deledio in that elite five-man group? Ideally, which players can turn that five-man group into a club of seven or eight — or more?
On talent alone, Dion Prestia has the ability to slot straight into the Tigers’ top five players. Barring his injury-interrupted 2016 campaign, the former Sun had already established himself as one of the top contested ball and clearance players in the game, especially during his career-best 2015 season.
The Tigers gave up a significant amount — their first selection of the 2016 draft (Pick 7) and a future second-round pick — to secure Prestia, so they’ll hoping the on-baller can have an immediate impact.
Deledio’s departure opens the door for Caddy to play a similar role across both half-forward and on the ball. Playing predominantly in the forward 50 for the Cast last year, Caddy snagged 21 goals from 18 games while averaging 20 disposals — a season that seemingly went unheralded. While he doesn’t have the same explosiveness as Deledio, Caddy can certainly fill the positional chasm vacated.
Then there are the Tigers already at the club.
Shane Edwards has been on the brink of joining the Tigers’ A-Graders for a while. If he can up his scoreboard impact to around 1.5 goals per game while also racking up his 19 to 20 touches, he could join that elite group.
Nick Vlastuin has shown glimpses of his best, but still hasn’t had that breakout year Tigers fans are hoping for. Sam Lloyd, who took a major step forward in 2016 by booting 35 goals while averaging almost three tackles an outing, will be hoping to continue his improvement.
And then there’s Brandon Ellis, who should be among the Tigers’ elite but took a step backwards in 2016. More on him below.
With a large, impatient membership base, it’s crucial that some of these younger Tigers players grow in 2017.
Otherwise it could be a long, stressful year for Hardwick.
Over the next month, foxfooty.com.au will be previewing your team’s best 22.
As always, there will be some contentious decisions — and some unlucky omissions.
NB: These line ups don’t take into account current injuries or suspensions.
THE LOCK
Alex Rance — There mightn’t be a more certain lock in any position in any team around the league. An All-Australian in the past three consecutive seasons, Rance is clearly the best key defender in the game — both according to pundits and the AFL’s official number crunchers. His ability to beat opponents one-on-one then distribute the ball efficiently when rebounding out of defence is a major strength for the Tigers. While David Astbury is finally injury-free and Dylan Grimes is a much-improved player, Rance is undoubtedly the glue that holds not just the Tigers’ backline together, but the entire 22.
THE BUBBLE
Bachar Houli — As proficient as he has been at racking up the footy, Houli’s decision-making has frustrated Tigers fans over recent years. During the early stages of the 2016 season — before his wrist injury — more scores came from Houli’s turnovers than any other player in the competition, according to Champion Data. With a few emerging small defenders at the Tigers, it’s important for Houli, 28, to recapture his best form, where he finds a good balance between attack and defence, as well as using that left-foot kick effectively.
THE RISING STAR
Jayden Short — One of those youngsters keeping Houli accountable is Short, who enters his third season on Richmond’s list. After breaking into the Tigers’ best 22 as a small forward, Short returned towards the backend of the season as a rebounding defender — and impressed. In his 11 games as a defender, Short averaged 18.1 disposals at an impressive 79 per cent efficiency. One of the best kicks on Richmond’s list, expect the 20-year-old to play an important role in the Tigers’ 2017 campaign.
IT’S A BIG YEAR FOR …
Brandon Ellis — Besides skipper Trent Cotchin, Ellis was at the forefront of criticism aimed at the Tigers last year as they plummeted down the ladder. While his durability can’t be questioned, Ellis’ impact on games diminished compared to his previous two seasons, averaging just 85.4 Champion Data ranking points per match — 15 less than his 2015 output. The first-round draft pick was also ranked 24th for average uncontested possessions, which was well down on his 2014 (third) and 2015 (sixth) returns. Out of contract at the end of 2017, Ellis will be judged primarily on his workrate as an outside player — a workrate that must return to its peak this season.
BEST 22
B: Nick Vlastuin, Alex Rance, Dylan Grimes
HB: Brandon Ellis, David Astbury, Bachar Houli
C: Josh Caddy, Dustin Martin, Shaun Grigg
HF: Daniel Rioli, Jack Riewoldt, Shane Edwards
F: Sam Lloyd, Ben Griffiths, Toby Nankervis
R: Shaun Hampson, Trent Cotchin, Dion Prestia
I/C: Jayden Short, Corey Ellis, Oleg Markov, Anthony Miles
EMG: Reece Conca, Kamdyn McIntosh, Kane Lambert
Jake Batchelor, Shai Bolton, Nathan Broad, Dan Butler, Nathan Drummond, Todd Elton, Ryan Garthwaite, Jack Graham, Taylor Hunt, Ben Lennon, Ivan Maric, Connor Menadue, Steven Morris, Jacob Townsend
ROOKIES: Jason Castagna, Mabior Chol, Callum Moore, Ivan Soldo, Tyson Stengle
http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/best-22-the-richmond-players-who-must-step-up-and-join-elite-category/news-story/fc2a786be92a8c5cb178bd96c240fce7
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Bloody hell, look at that half back line:-
HB: Brandon Ellis, David Astbury, Bachar Houli
We are going to be in big trouble peoples.
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I'd put Oleg there, he seemed pretty composed last year
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Lol.
Not this rubbish again. Hahaha
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Bloody hell, look at that half back line:-
HB: Brandon Ellis, David Astbury, Bachar Houli
We are going to be in big trouble peoples.
Slowcoach & The Squibs aka The Merchants of Panic.... :gotigers
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Bloody hell, look at that half back line:-
HB: Brandon Ellis, David Astbury, Bachar Houli
We are going to be in big trouble peoples.
Slowcoach & The Squibs aka The Merchants of Panic.... :gotigers
There should be a new stat category set for Corralling:-
The panicked Corrall
The double arm wave over head Corrall
The laconic 5 goals down Corrall
We'd kick behind!
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The afl fail to acknowledge how well the Tiges "sit off" the ball
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Bloody hell, look at that half back line:-
HB: Brandon Ellis, David Astbury, Bachar Houli
We are going to be in big trouble peoples.
Slowcoach & The Squibs aka The Merchants of Panic.... :gotigers
Pretty well summed up.
I hate Ellis (as a player)
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It screams of improvement.
The same one as the last 8 years.
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Bloody hell, look at that half back line:-
HB: Brandon Ellis, David Astbury, Bachar Houli
We are going to be in big trouble peoples.
Slowcoach & The Squibs aka The Merchants of Panic.... :gotigers
Pretty well summed up.
I hate Ellis (as a player)
BT
I still hold out hope for Ellis, I think if the dynamics around the team change he could be good. I seem to recall he had a pretty good set of games 2 seasons ago 2014 or am I being deluded?
I just don't know what the hell our coaches do to players but I think whatever it is they have done it to B Ellis.
I recall a golf psychologist coaching a group of golfers several years ago.
He pretty well turned them into a babbling mess.
Maybe he is also at RFC??
So I am hoping for the best for Brandon and hope you can find a tiny twinkle of hope in your heart for him as well?? :whistle
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In the real world, a,bus full of retards don't just, one summer, jump off the bus and run
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Brandon Ellis. One of the most frustrating and as such disappointing players currently on the list. Broke out in his third season but stagnated/went backwards. I hope somehow he is coached to be more attacking because his 5 goals in 2016 is pretty pee poor for someone who gets as lot of uncontested ball in the midfield
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I thought markov and macintosh played half back. And Taylor hunt too if I remember right.
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With a large, impatient membership base, it’s crucial that some of these younger Tigers players grow in 2017.
Da fuq? 35 years with no success and yet still have a large membership base, I don't think you can really deem us as "impatient"
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Brandon Ellis. One of the most frustrating and as such disappointing players currently on the list. Broke out in his third season but stagnated/went backwards. I hope somehow he is coached to be more attacking because his 5 goals in 2016 is pretty pee poor for someone who gets as lot of uncontested ball in the midfield
Broke out nothing.
He needs to come out.
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With a large, impatient membership base, it’s crucial that some of these younger Tigers players grow in 2017.
Da fuq? 35 years with no success and yet still have a large membership base, I don't think you can really deem us as "impatient"
Dan Richardson said so though.
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Bloody hell, look at that half back line:-
HB: Brandon Ellis, David Astbury, Bachar Houli
We are going to be in big trouble peoples.
Slowcoach & The Squibs aka The Merchants of Panic.... :gotigers
Pretty well summed up.
I hate Ellis (as a player)
BT
I still hold out hope for Ellis, I think if the dynamics around the team change he could be good. I seem to recall he had a pretty good set of games 2 seasons ago 2014 or am I being deluded?
I just don't know what the hell our coaches do to players but I think whatever it is they have done it to B Ellis.
I recall a golf psychologist coaching a group of golfers several years ago.
He pretty well turned them into a babbling mess.
Maybe he is also at RFC??
So I am hoping for the best for Brandon and hope you can find a tiny twinkle of hope in your heart for him as well?? :whistle
Hey Mint, I hope all our poo players prove me wrong but imo BEllis never really impressed me. I've said this before but I've never seen a player at Tigerland so scared to make a mistake when he has the footy. He gets plenty of it too which makes it even worse. He is at the point where he doesn't even look to kick the footy forward. He hurts us much more than he helps us. The poo he does just snowballs and makes it hard for every other of our players on the field. His slow sideways backwards kicks puts extra pressure on everyone. We as a side don't handle pressure but when added pressure is applied due to our own, we are going nowhere.
Some like to blame Halfwit for the way Ellis has turned out but you cannot tell me anyone with even half a brain would coach a kid to play this scared.
I would have given him away during the trade period and just enjoyed playing against him.
I hate Ellis (as a player of course)
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Bloody hell, look at that half back line:-
HB: Brandon Ellis, David Astbury, Bachar Houli
We are going to be in big trouble peoples.
Slowcoach & The Squibs aka The Merchants of Panic.... :gotigers
Pretty well summed up.
I hate Ellis (as a player)
BT
I still hold out hope for Ellis, I think if the dynamics around the team change he could be good. I seem to recall he had a pretty good set of games 2 seasons ago 2014 or am I being deluded?
I just don't know what the hell our coaches do to players but I think whatever it is they have done it to B Ellis.
I recall a golf psychologist coaching a group of golfers several years ago.
He pretty well turned them into a babbling mess.
Maybe he is also at RFC??
So I am hoping for the best for Brandon and hope you can find a tiny twinkle of hope in your heart for him as well?? :whistle
Hey Mint, I hope all our poo players prove me wrong but imo BEllis never really impressed me. I've said this before but I've never seen a player at Tigerland so scared to make a mistake when he has the footy. He gets plenty of it too which makes it even worse. He is at the point where he doesn't even look to kick the footy forward. He hurts us much more than he helps us. The poo he does just snowballs and makes it hard for every other of our players on the field. His slow sideways backwards kicks puts extra pressure on everyone. We as a side don't handle pressure but when added pressure is applied due to our own, we are going nowhere.
Some like to blame Halfwit for the way Ellis has turned out but you cannot tell me anyone with even half a brain would coach a kid to play this scared.
I would have given him away during the trade period and just enjoyed playing against him.
I hate Ellis (as a player of course)
Hate to say it BT, but thete is a lot in what you say.
However I think it must have been coached into him or he wouldn't be getting games......would he?
Whichever way you look its a disaster but that is RFC
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has to go something like this with a few a real wishful thinking selections.
FB: Grimes - Astbury - Castagna. Grimes if he plays plays tall. Castagna has not done a lot wrong we are screaming out for pace run and attack on oppo players.
HB: Markov - Rance - McIntosh. McIntosh as a tall running back who can also help out in the air. Markov sheesh id like to see him on a wing but fmd he showed plenty at hb last yr.
C:: Menadue - Martin - Grigg. yep i know Grigg is contentious for most on this site.Would like to pick Markov here but hey ya cant have it all.
HF: Lloyd - Riewoldt - Bolton. Wanted to pick Lennon but Lloyd has earnt his spot and both are not super quick and imo we cant play too many slow sml/med fwd hence ive thrown Bolton in.
FF: Rioli - Griffiths - Moore/Chol. Man we need to find a viable third tall who is not a dinosaur thrown in the deepend either Chol or Moore.Really like Moores attributes for the game. Chol if he bulks could give us a badly needed stuff
R:: Hampson - Cotchin - Prestia. Now i know Hamspud is not a great choice but fmd Nankervis is no where near the level atm and is very much a development player.even so im tempted to pick him.
I/C: Caddy - Miles - Vlastuin - C Ellis/Graham. It probably lacks a quick skillful outside running player but who?
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It probably lacks a quick skillful outside running player but who?
Batchelor?
But in seriousness you could probably fit Short in there
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Batch will be in the selected 22 come round one.