Summary
* Discussing Richmond is always an emotive discussion because he was a former coach just out of the club.
* Disastrous start to last year but it wouldn't have worried Hardwick as he was experimenting with the list in the first 8-10 rounds before deciding which of these guys will take them forward and they played some good footy in the second half of last year.
* Over the past 3 years cleared out all of the older guys. They had six 28-32 year old's who are now gone. So now have a list of young guys to come through together.
* Too many errors at the top end of the draft. Alright with late picks and rookies but from the 2005-06 drafts (sic - he meant 04-05) his first two years only one player remains from 6 first round picks. Yep it was his first two years there and he's spoken previously about undermanned resources so not going to go over old ground but you can't afford to get those selections wrong because it hurts your footy club for a long time. It's taken away from their depth.
* Midfield - good band of inside mids; top 2-3 in the comp. at stoppages which belies their ladder position; Cotchin and Martin are the stars; Foley's return is so important as you can't tag them all; Tuck and Jackson add grunt while Grigg will add endeavour to the that group as well; Edwards is the big improver from last year.
* Rucks - is a problem and depends on how quickly they can develop. Graham took some steps last year but at 24 years old needs to grab that first ruck spot as Vickery and Browne are still only 20. Vickery is another first round selection and although he's only 20 and tall guys take longer he's still has to step up and start showing something. Tohttp://oneeyed-richmond.com/forum/index.php?action=post;board=2.0ny asked if too much slack is given to young rucks when by that argument a 20 year old ruck should compete well against another 20 year old ruckman. Plough agreed and said it's interesting a young ruck who is a top pick is given slack but not a rookie pick who has had to bite and claw his way to the top. Vickery has got to stand up as he is a very important player to that list.
* Backline - good run and carry - Newy, Lids and Connors. They only have one Deledio but like with Hodge did Hardwick has identified having Lids behind the ball and structured up that way is the way to go and it was a really good move. He's a whisker of All-Australian. He took that step last year. They are missing a big key defender and they don't grow on trees. They are going to play Astbury. If you've got Supercoach choose Astbury as he'll play every game and he's the player Richmond want to develop back there. 195cm but only 19 so you can't expect him to do it on his own. Rance is another at 194cm who went reasonably high in the draft is another one important to their list; got a body on him like Glass; needs to be able to take that step otherwise you go back to Moore. Tony questioned Rance's disposal - not technically wrong but sloppy? Terry said it's his decision making more than disposal; making the right effort and decision rather than execution is the issue. He's got the body to play that KP role because if you go back to Moore, McGuane and Thursfield they are nice honest types but really half-back flank/back pocket types - they don't have the physicality and size to take on the key forwards.
* Forwards - Jack is the standout and that's not telling anyone anything new but apart from that they lack class otherwise. They'll put time into Griffiths and give him every opportunity at 198cm but he's still a baby. Tony said that's the problem - the Tigers have all babies in Griffiths, Vickery (I think he said Collins as well unless he meant Connors ??? ) and they need time on the ground to develop but for Richmond to remain competitive you can't have all three in the same 22 to make them develop. Plough responded with they are going to play them; if that takes a bit of extra time for them to come through them so be it.
* Morton - they played him further up the ground in the midfield late last year but he doesn't believe with our lack of class up forward we can avoid to have a known goalkicker out of the area. Tony said well you'll have to scrounge them out from elsewhere and Plough replied do they have anyone to scrounge from. No Eddie Betts, Yarran, Garletts or anyone of that class; they are playing Nahas, King and Nason there instead and really of them only Nahas has that spark to his game. Tony asked if he's a bit little. Plough said probably but worth taking a risk on him.
* Assessment is one of a developing list. They have the inside mids to remain competitive but they're lack of big bodies in the ruck and down the spine is going be the difference between stepping up or not. Really their aim should be first to move out of the bottom 4. If they can do that and get games into Griffiths and guys like that they'll be comfortable with that. If the rucks come on; get games into Griffiths, Astbury and they can bounce out of the top (sic) bottom 4 and be a good step for them. Young teams if you get it right you don't know how quick they can go forward. That's their opportunity but the middle of the ground is where they are strong.
* Tony asked with the older guys gone do they have enough experience; Lids is now one of the oldest and Newy is a wonderful skipper but you need those older bodies. Plough responded with we know they have a missing generation - had a age gap in their list and then mistakes in a couple of drafts over a couple of years has robbed them of say another 5 players who would be now have those 5-6 years of experience. Missing generation plus missing at the draft is the reason why they have that missing age bracket.
* Tony said you'll cop have those 14 losses a year with a young side but as long as you don't have those 100 point hidings. You'll cop a season of loses around that 4 goal mark and it'll be a sign of improvement. Plough agreed and said Hardwick with his structures can even with a young side prevent those 100 point floggings. In Plough's experience those 100 point thrashings result from your older players mentally going "here we go again". Younger blokes will do it better than the older blokes.
