You mention new game plan.
The first 3 quarters were kick short and kick wide.
If thats the game plan, we wont be competitive for the entire year I am afraid.
Yep, new game plan. Every single Richmond official and player has mentioned it since last season - it's not news Jack. Did it work for us? Not tonight, no. Does it have a long term future? Way way too early to tell. Was there differences from last year's? Absolutely. We were forced wide and kicked short largely because we came up against one of the best drilled and most disciplined sides going around in recent times. Samson and Goliath stuff. Did we revert to the stop, prop, look around, panic that we have all become accustomed to in recent years? Rarely, if at all. So let's indulge the coaching group and our very young squad just a tad more than hanging them on 3/4 of their first game together.
Hawthorn eased up in the last quarter.
Meh. I don't buy that crap at anytime. At any point in a game of football you only play as well as the opposition lets you. We allowed them to play well early on and we tightened up (or loosened up) later on - it all depends on whether your cup is half empty or half full.
Clarkson was smiling and joking at the three quarter time huddle
He was doing that before the game Jack.
Very bad night for the RFC , its effects membership sales but more importantly players dropped there head once they got behind, the mark to Roughhead in the 3rd quarter when 5 of our players were spectators and watched said it all, THEY AINT LEARNT ANYTHING in the past 16 weeks.
I disagree that they dropped their heads. I think they lacked the knowledge and confidence to turn the game around or at least stem the flow, but what more do you want from this team of absolute babies? I didn't see them drop off in intensity at the tackle (even if the execution wasn't perfect) for 4 quarters and that tells me a lot about the character of the group and the change in attitude.
Might also add a mate who works for an AFL Club and watches all clubs thought that we were the worst club training at the present., After tonight, he is correct.
What do you mean by that Jack? Worst in attitude, worst in method, worst in output, or just worst in I want to bag the club and this is a throwaway line I can chuck in?
Do you think Adelaide is going to be a 10 goal worse side than Port Adelaide over the course of this season?
God rebutt Smokey.
Jack your a smart guy but you continue to sound like a 50 year old women who never gets to climax.
You start looking at everything negatively.
Richmond lost a NAB cup game in the same fashion as last, year a few little changes were noticeable and fingers crossed more click over the course o the year. Plenty of positives:
- Graham and Vickory looked 100 times more competitive in the ruck than last year. I actually thought they won the ruck battles but clearances suggest they wouldn't have.
- Post held Doughead to minimal shots on goal and when the ball hit the ground he won 100% of the time.
- Gourdis was not at sea against Franklin, soured my expectations of him
- Riewoldt was welcomed to Richos nightmare.. I don't think he was given a kick to advantage till the last qtr, but popped up in the 4th and showed improvement. Some will say downhill skier but many game slast ear when he didn't get a kick early his game was finished.
- Connors showed he has had a good pre season, long way to go for mine, but others like him.
- Dustin Martin
- Cotchin played didn't look hampered by any injury broke away with speed from a pack and kicked a 50m pass. Injury concerned finished. Big posistive.
- Astbury looks lively.
- Edwards was ok.
