How your club fared in NAB Challenge and is shaping up for round 1 (Age & H-Sun)

[one-eyed]

How your club fared in the NAB Challenge

   Matt Murnane
     The Age
    March 3, 2014


RICHMOND

v Melbourne, lost by 14 pts

v  Collingwood, won by 48 points

What they achieved Those wanting to draw too much from the loss against Melbourne would have then had a hard time reconciling the Tigers big win over the Pies. It matters little to Damien Hardwick, although what the coach does care about is the loss of key ruckman Ivan Maric, considering his spiritual value to the team and his workhorse effort in the ruck. The recruitment of Shaun Hampson has already been validated as a worthy back-up selection.

Who looks good Trent Cotchin looks free of the injury that kept his form just below his absolute best last year, which we know is elite. He had 34 disposals, 11 marks and four goals against the Pies.  There is nothing wrong with Brett Deledio and Dustin Martin, either, as they showed with flashes of brilliance in both matches. The absence of Jack Riewoldt allowed Ty Vickery to take centre stage in a different forward set up and he delivered with four goals against the Pies and three against the Demons.

Injury list

Jake Batchelor (calf) 1 week

Matt Dea (ankle) 1-2 weeks

Ben Lennon (knee) 3-4 weeks

Ivan Maric (ankle) 6-8 weeks

Chris Newman (knee) 1-2 weeks

Jack Riewoldt (quad) Test

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/how-your-club-fared-in-the-nab-challenge-20140302-33u3b.html

[one-eyed]

NAB Challenge Barometer: How the 18 clubs are shaping up ahead of Round 1

    Mark Hayes
    From: Herald Sun
    March 03, 2014

WITH Round 1 just two weeks away, we look at how all 18 teams are shaping up after the NAB Challenge.

Richmond

Flattened late by Melbourne; impressive against the Pies. It’s hard to run a line over the Tigers. Chris Newman’s jarred knee has him in doubt for Round 1, while the loss of Ivan Maric to ankle surgery for up to two months is a huge blow. The ruck mantle will sit heavily on Blues recruit Shaun Hampson early, with Ben Griffiths given another chance to push his case. Decisions on two vacant rookie upgrade slots will come soon with Matt Thomas and Anthony Miles pressing, but Orren Stephenson might be a bolter with the ruck issues. Dustin Martin looks set for key exit role across half-back.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/nab-challenge-barometer-how-the-18-clubs-are-shaping-up-ahead-of-round-1/story-fnelctok-1226843084927

[the claw]

NAB Challenge Barometer: How the 18 clubs are shaping up ahead of Round 1

    Mark Hayes
    From: Herald Sun
    March 03, 2014

WITH Round 1 just two weeks away, we look at how all 18 teams are shaping up after the NAB Challenge.

Richmond

Flattened late by Melbourne; impressive against the Pies. It’s hard to run a line over the Tigers. Chris Newman’s jarred knee has him in doubt for Round 1, while the loss of Ivan Maric to ankle surgery for up to two months is a huge blow. The ruck mantle will sit heavily on Blues recruit Shaun Hampson early, with Ben Griffiths given another chance to push his case. Decisions on two vacant rookie upgrade slots will come soon with Matt Thomas and Anthony Miles pressing, but Orren Stephenson might be a bolter with the ruck issues. Dustin Martin looks set for key exit role across half-back.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/nab-challenge-barometer-how-the-18-clubs-are-shaping-up-ahead-of-round-1/story-fnelctok-1226843084927

cmon the hampster. justify your recruiting. i think the horse is a little in front of the horse here.  hampsons recruitment can only be justified if he works out. that doesnt apply to just the hampster it applies to all recruits.

personally i like the idea of stephenson playing and big sean being the third tall/ruck option. the original idea which had merit  was to play both maric and hampson. with ivan out why not change it to big o and the hampster.

[tigs2011]

Probably because the Big O moves more and more like a demented old donkey. I reckon Griff will get first crack and if he spuds it up again then Big O gets his chance.

[Stripes]

In the games he's played the coaches have tried to keep him away from the forward line because he is ordinary at best there. Griffiths is a much better option as long as he doesn't get out muscled by the larger bodied rucks of the competition.