Round 1: Richmond Vs Carlton

[Smokey]

Does anyone know if there's going to be a live telecast to Queensland?  So far, all I'm getting is a delayed telecast starting around 11pm

Couldn't find news of it anywhere Julz however.......................... I did get this email from the QRSC:

This Thursday Night @ 6:10pm @ the MCG
The game is Live in Brissy on Fox Sports Main Event  @ 6:00pm.
Come an join your fellow Richmond Supporters for some fun at the Hotel Broadway.
Cnr of Logan Rd. & Balaclava St., Woolloongabba.

It doesn't say this on the AFL site so your guess is as good as mine but Foxtel Ch518 usually does all the Fri night games into Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

[julzqld]

Thanks smokey.

[one-eyed]

Match Day Information - Round 1


Membership Marquee Locations on Match Day v Carlton:
Our Sales Marquees will be located at both Gate 3 and at Gate 5 and will be open from 4pm.
Our Collections Marquee will be located at Gate 3 and will also be open from 4pm.


Key Sign up Dates:
*All memberships purchased up until 9am Friday 19th March will receive their full membership package in the mail prior to Round 1. If you have not received your membership package in the mail by Thursday, Please contact Member and Supporter Services on 1300 RICHMOND (742 466).

*Members who have purchased their membership after 9am Friday 19th March and up until 11am Wednesday 24th March will have their membership card only available for collection on match day at Gate 3 from 4pm. Membership fulfillment items will be mailed separately.

*All members who purchase their membership after 11am Wednesday 24th March will need to collect a paper ticket from the Collections Marquee at Gate 3. Members who purchase their membership on game day will also receive a paper ticket at the time of their purchase. (Access Members Please note: General Admission tickets will not be available for pick up should the game be announced a sell out and you will be required to upgrade your membership to a reserved seat to guarantee entry).�


Important Ticket Information
Please take note of the following ticketing information for our Round 1 clash against Carlton on Thursday 25th March at 7.10pm.
Tickets are currently on sale through Ticketek: 132 849, www.ticketek.com, or via any Ticketek agency.
The Richmond Football Club recommends to all our 2010 Richmond members who do not have a season reserved seat to upgrade their membership and ensure themselves a prime seat to farewell Tiger Champion Matthew Richardson. Should the match be announced a sell out, Access (GA) members will be refused entry to the MCG.

There are two options to guarantee you entry into the match:
• Upgrade to a season reserved seat by calling 1300 RICHMOND (742 466)
• Upgrade your membership to a single reserve seat for our clash against Carlton, please contact Ticketek with your 12 digit barcode on hand which can be found on the back of your membership:     �


Social Club access Round 1
Please note the Social Club facilities for Round 1 Only will now be in the Harrison Room located behind the goals on level 2 of the Ponsford Stand, not the Yarra Park Room at the MCG as previously advertised.

Entry is free for all Social Club members by presenting their 2010 membership medallion or temporary pass. As the Social Club function for Round 1 is classified as a premium functions all Social Club members wishing to bring along a guest/s will be required to pay a fee of $20. Guest passes may be purchased by contacting Member and Supporter Services on 1300 RICHMOND (742 466).

Entry to the Harrison Room is subject to capacity.


Merchandise:
Exclusive Richo memorabilia will be available from Punt Rd Oval (Brunton avenue side). This is this only place you can purchase Richo memorabilia such as footballs, tees and sports prints. Official Richmond merchandise will also be available at Punt Rd Oval and inside Gate 4 outlet. Remember these are the only two Official Richmond outlets and all 100% of profits go straight back into your club!

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/season2010/matchdayinfo/tabid/15875/default.aspx

[wayne]

Round One Carlton Team
B. Thornton, Jamison, Joseph
HB. Bower, Waite, Russell
C. Houlihan, Murphy, Scotland
HF. Carrazzo, Henderson, Simpson
F. O’hAilpin, Kreuzer, Betts
R. Warnock, Gibbs, McLean
INT. Anderson, Robinson, Walker, Yarran

Emerg. Grigg, Jacobs, Lucas

[one-eyed]

Less fanfare, but season opener retains intrigue
JAKE NIALL
March 25, 2010
 
Instead of rock-star recruits, tonight's game is as much about who's not playing.

IN 2008, Chris Judd's first game in navy blue caused an avalanche of interest in the season opener, which drew more than 72,000 to a game between teams that had filled the bottom two spots on the ladder six months earlier.

Last year, the Richmond-Carlton balloon was further inflated, on the back of Ben Cousins joining the Tigers and the expectation - ridiculous as it now seems - that Carlton and Richmond might play finals. The match filled the MCG, bettered the Anzac Day attendance and delivered more than tidy ratings for Channel 10.

This year's first game hasn't had the fevered build up of the past two and certainly won't draw the same kind of numbers as 2009. Yet, it should still attract more than 60,000 to a game between the wooden spoon favourite and a team that, despite 13 wins last year, was picked for this year's final eight by just one AFL captain.

Carlton and Richmond have earned the right to keep the fixture for the forseeable future; they are creating an occasion that will withstand fluctuations in form and weather. Football needs events that transcend ladder position.

The previous two openers were about rock-star recruits (and one's rock-star lifestyle). This one is more noteworthy for who isn't playing. Carlton is temporarily without Judd and has traded Brendan Fevola with extreme prejudice. The Tigers will enter this season without their own outsized figure, Matthew Richardson.

Richo's absence arguably represents a greater challenge to the Tigers off the field than on it. For perhaps 15 of his 17 seasons at Punt Road, he was the club's premier player and his most crucial contribution to the club was to entertain and sustain supporter interest in dark times. Richmond has maintained a large following, in spite of a quarter-century of failure. Richo is as responsible for that achievement as anyone.

But replacing Richo is less of an issue for Damien Hardwick and his football department than Fevola's exit represents to Brett Ratten and the Blues. Richardson played only six games in 2009 and the Tigers have already learnt to live without their magnetic forward, who, in any case, played as a hybrid wingman/forward in 2008 when he nearly won the Brownlow.

Richmond started the process of forging a different forward structure, built around multiple options, such as Jack Riewoldt and Mitch Morton, some time ago. It has not succeeded without Richo, but it is more accustomed to kicking to others. The Blues, at this stage, do not have a forward even with Riewoldt's track record.

The widespread view that Carlton will find it difficult to maintain its position in the eight this year is based primarily on the loss of Fev and an unconvincing preseason. Even Jeanne Pratt, the club patron and widow of its great benefactor, asked how the club would replace a 90-goal full-forward when Fev was on the trading block. One doubts that Mrs Pratt would be questioning that call now.

Carlton is fielding a vastly different team to the one that was pipped by the Brisbane Lions in the finals. It has regained Jarrad Waite, best afield in this game last year, and Michael Jamison, while adding three seasoned recruits - Brock McLean, Robert Warnock and ex-Lion Lachie Henderson. Fevola's position in the goal square is likely to be filled tonight by Setanta O'hAilpin (who also didn't play in the Gabba final), with Henderson playing across half-forward.

The deployment of Waite, who is recovering from a knee reconstruction, is a major decision for Ratten; he was used in defence in training drills this week, but Carlton may be tempted to play him as a deep forward. The Carlton forward line will be somewhat experimental, and the Blues will rely heavily on a winning midfield to win this and indeed most games. The Tigers, thus, have struck Carlton at the right moment. That Judd is suspended and Marc Murphy underdone (due to a pre-season groin injury) should even up midfield contests that were horribly lopsided 12 months ago.

Jamison, as the best negating tall defender, is an underrated inclusion. Carlton would surely have beaten Brisbane last September had he been there (he missed the last eight matches). The Blues have confidence in their nascent back line, which inspires more confidence than the other end.

For Richmond, the most important question won't be individual players - though the Tigers have four fresh faces - so much as the collective system devised by Hardwick. The former Hawthorn assistant has inherited a team that finished 15th, lost several experienced players and stands to lose much from the draft picks reserved for Gold Coast and GWS. His dive into senior coaching has a high degree of difficulty.

His game style will be heavily influenced by his most recent employer and perhaps Port. Richmond, on pre-season sneak previews, does not have the kicking skills to execute it with consistency. Snap judgments, thus, should be withheld and we should try to imagine how Hardwick's plan would function with better stock.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/less-fanfare-but-season-opener-retains-intrigue-20100324-qwpd.html

[one-eyed]

Carlton Blues and Richmond Tigers looking to turn the page

  * Stephen Rielly
  * The Australian
  * March 25, 2010


THE AFL season opens tonight with a match at the MCG between two sides hoping, in different ways, to put the recent past behind them.

One, Carlton, will mercifully begin life without Brendan Fevola. The other, Richmond, has turned yet another page and with a new coach, Damien Hardwick, and a style of game that may move football back into the trenches, is looking to finally stand for something.

This idea was given expression last night by selection of the teams. Both coaches selected a clutch of newcomers for the encounter.

Carlton, rid of "Fev", without captain Chris Judd for three matches and the retired Nick Stevens, named Lachie Henderson, Robert Warnock and Brock McLean for their first matches in navy blue.

Richmond chose Dustin Martin, Relton Roberts, Ben Nason and Mitch Farmer in its 22, a squad that, incidentally, includes Ben Cousins.

Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
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The former Demon McLean aside, there is only 39 games of experience between the other six, three of whom (Martin, Roberts and Nason) will play their first AFL games.

What this intention to start over also does, though, is pit a side unsure about how it will function in Fevola's absence - a state of mind basically understood by asking how 80-goal-a-season full-forwards are seamlessly replaced - against another determined to forge a reputation for closing the opposition down.

A team hard of scoring, perhaps, against one that, in the name of laying a foundation for the years ahead, intends to be above all hard to score against. Nil-all draw, anyone?

Other than Visy Park being a quieter and less distracted place these days, Carlton simply doesn't know yet how it might replace its former spearhead's goals.

"We don't exactly know, but what we do know is that we are a lot less predictable," was Carlton assistant coach Brett Montgomery's take on the situation yesterday.

The Blues scored at will in last year's fateful season opener between the teams, with little more than a two-goal contribution from Fevola. But Richmond was then still kidding itself that the mediocre and frequently horrible first four years of Terry Wallace's five year scheme were, as the Victorian government likes to say, all part of the plan.

The Tigers never made the finals under Wallace, but did win 10 or more games in three of his seasons, something like fools silver that disguised the fact that the side not once fought through a winter and emerged with a percentage better than 100.

Percentages don't lie. New-Age statistics in football are given more attention than the Hubble space telescope can bring to a star but the basic percentage is still the most reliable snapshot assessment of how well a side scores and defends. Wallace's Richmond never defended well. Hardwick's Richmond intends to.

"We've put a big emphasis, a huge emphasis, on our defensive structures throughout the summer," Tiger captain Chris Newman said yesterday. "It was an area where we needed to improve on. We all knew that."

Hardwick was an artfully brutal defender as a player. As a two-time premiership player, he was also a successful one. Later, as an assistant coach, he was involved with Hawthorn when its grid-like defensive zone was created, in 2008.

Hardwick sacked or, in the case of Matthew Richardson lost, a dozen players and went straight to the draft for teenage replacements. Players of tomorrow, not today. He opted for surgery instead of a couple of Panadol and a good lie down.

Having done so, tonight isn't as important to him or Richmond as it was to Wallace and the club last year. It is the start, not the end, of an odyssey. One that, clearly will be guided by two simple principles: defence and constancy.

"Our game plan will stay the same throughout the year. With a young group, if you swap and change it they lose confidence," Hardwick said.

"We've got to instil in them the belief that this is a game plan that will take us to where we need to go. That it will stand up to the rigours of an AFL final, which is what we're out to achieve.

"We won't waver."

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/blues-tigers-looking-to-turn-the-page/story-e6frg7mf-1225844968570

[cub]

Today 'Finally' ! I am a lttle excited.
Know it's going to be a long year and a victory tonight will not necessarily be the light at the end of the tunnel, but it would be as sweet as any win to get one up on the tankers tonight.

[one-eyed]

Preview: Richmond v Carlton
WILL BRODIE
March 25, 2010
 

Carlton v Richmond
MCG tonight, 7.10pm
(Matthew Richardson tribute before the game)

LAST TIME Rd 15, 2009, Carlton 16.13 (109) d Richmond 12.17 (89) at the MCG
PAST FIVE: Carlton 4, Richmond 1
PAST TEN: Carlton 6, Richmond 4
RECORD OVERALL Richmond 84, Carlton 117, drawn 2
AT THIS GROUND Richmond 36, Carlton 27
IN THE 2000s Richmond 6, Carlton 10
COACHES Hardwick 0, Ratten 0
BETTING Richmond $2.90, Carlton $1.40
UMPIRES 8 Rosebury, 14 H Ryan, 25 S Ryan
TV Channel Ten, 7.30pm RADIO 3AW, Triple M, 774 ABC, SEN
PRO-TIPPING PERCENTAGES:
Crowd: Richmond 14%, Carlton 86%
Experts: Richmond 10%, Carlton 90%

Why Richmond will win: will play with freedom because of low expectations; Blues forward woes, absence of Blue midfield ace Chris Judd; exciting young kids; strong midfield.

Why Carlton will win: better overall skill levels; wider spread of goalkicking options; underrated defence; deeper, more experienced midfield.

What we think: Carlton by 15 points


The footy world remembers round one last year, when they pumped-up Tigers were humiliated by 83 points in front of 87,043 fans at the MCG, and boom Tiger recruit Ben Cousins hurt his hamstring.

But for clues to the outcome of tonight’s match, we might be better advised to revisit the last time these two teams played. On that occasion, round 15, 2009, the Blues won by only 20 points, and their best two players were Chris Judd (29 possessions, three Brownlow Medal votes) and Brendan Fevola (nine goals, two Brownlow Medal votes).

Fevola is now with Brisbane, and Judd is out suspended.

Richmond have lost few players of note from that round 15 line-up, (they were already without veterans Bowden, Richardson, Johnson and Brown) and they have added exciting midfield draftee Dustin Martin, speedy flanker Ben Nason, livewire forward Relton, and former Port Adelaide defender Mitch Farmer.

Carlton is busy trying to construct a new, multi-pronged forward line, and has promised a more patient style of play, leaving it less open to counter-attacks.

Richmond is aiming to rebuild their team from its current ground zero, with a defence-first mentality.

These works-in-progress may make tonight’s match a dour affair, with both teams trying to retain possession with switching of play across the ground, until a gilt-edged attacking opportunity presents itself for two smallish, inexperienced attacks.

Richmond appears to be following the model Hawthorn used to reconstruct their list from the bottom of the ladder. (Tiger coach Damien Hardwick worked at Hawthorn for the four years prior to taking up the clipboard at Punt Road).

The problem with such rebuilding campaigns is that coaches require players to execute their skills with a precision that often does not emerge for a couple of years – the Hawks were ridiculed in the first years of the Alistair Clarkson regime, when they often looked chaotic as they imprinted a finnicky zone defence. They won five games the first year, 2005, and nine in 2006, but there were some ungainly moments early on.

Both teams have question marks over their forward lines. If anything the Tigers appear to have more goalkicking potential, with Riewoldt, Morton and Nahas amongst their first-picked players. Inexperienced Blues Yarran, Robinson and O’hAilpin have yet to prove they can combine to good effect.

But the match is likely to be decided by two factors further up the ground. Firstly, the team which wins the midfield battle, providing the easiest scoring opportunities for their forwards, will grab the ascendancy.

But given the potentially grungy style of the match, the game-breaker should be skill execution.

Simply put, the team which commits the fewest turnovers will win.

The midfield competition could be very close, with Richmond’s Deledio, Cotchin, Cousins, Martin, Tambling and Jackson leading the charge against Carlton’s Gibbs, Murphy, McLean, Carazzo, Simpson and Joseph.

But on what we have seen in pre-season, the cohesion, confidence and decision-making of the Tiger lesser lights is not up to that of the Blues. In what should be a tight match, Richmond seems more likely to 'win' the clanger count, and give Carlton the counter-attacking opportunities to fashion a winning score.

By round 20, when these two teams again meet at the MCG, things might be different, the Tigers more able to carry out their coach’s wishes and less prone to disastrous turnovers. But tonight, the more settled and seasoned Blues should just prevail.

Key players, Richmond:

Jack Riewoldt is the key to the forward line. No man-mountain, he is nonetheless a powerful figure in the making, fast for a tall forward and capable of taking a big mark. He needs to do just that to give the Tiger forward line some structure.

Kelvin Moore looked like becoming an elite backman until his disappointing 2009 season. Agile, possessing good judgement and courageous, he must become a rebounding force to ensure Richmond’s back half is creative, as well as defensive.

Brett Deledio is a great player to watch – fast, aware, a lovely kick. But now he must become an imposing force. Young fellow on-ballers Cotchin and Martin have great skills and attitudes, but their bodies are not ready for the constant battering of the AFL midfield. Deledio, only 22, but a veteran of 106 games, must demand a tagger, then remain effective once one is assigned.

Key Players, Carlton:

Paul Bower is a quiet achiever, but Carlton know just how effective this half-back has become after only 45 games. If he can become an attacking force running from defence, the nippy Tigers flankers will be forced further from goal and more pressure will fall to young target Tiger Riewoldt.

Bryce Gibbs. In the absence of Chris Judd, and with Marc Murphy coming off an interrupted pre-season, the classy midfielder must lead the Blues running brigade and give them the ascendancy at the stoppages.

Eddie Betts. In career-best form and fitness following a club suspension during pre-season, Betts, already a fine small forward, must continue to demand more of himself. He has the capacity to use his pace to be a leading option, as well as a crumber, and he should be setting his sights on kicking a minimum of two goals per game.

http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/preview-richmond-v-carlton-20100325-qxzr.html

[mat073]

I am so @#$% pumped for tonights game.

Had trouble sleeping last night I was so pumped.

[wayne]

Had trouble sleeping last night I was so pumped.

 

I slept ok mat, but I dreamt about footy.

We won 40 - 22. We kicked a goal after the siren.

[WA Tiger]

Actually even though I have to wait until 7.30pmWST for the game I am very excited too, can't wait infact.

One thing I would like to put to the forum though is this. Why have I see all the footy shows, read all the acticles, read the forums and continually heard most saying that this is the best chance of us beating Carlton because they are undermanned.. .

Honestly WTF, Judd is out THAT IS IT, they can't keep saying Fev is out otherwise we could chirp in with wel Richo, Brown, Bowden... and so on. We also have Foley out, what gives I am sick of hearing how undermanned they are. They have a full strength side bar Judd FFS enough.

[cub]

Actually even though I have to wait until 7.30pmWST for the game I am very excited too, can't wait infact.

One thing I would like to put to the forum though is this. Why have I see all the footy shows, read all the acticles, read the forums and continually heard most saying that this is the best chance of us beating Carlton because they are undermanned.. .

Honestly WTF, Judd is out THAT IS IT, they can't keep saying Fev is out otherwise we could chirp in with wel Richo, Brown, Bowden... and so on. We also have Foley out, what gives I am sick of hearing how undermanned they are. They have a full strength side bar Judd FFS enough.

Forgot someone else who usually runs riot against us - Nick Stevens

[WA Tiger]

Actually even though I have to wait until 7.30pmWST for the game I am very excited too, can't wait infact.

One thing I would like to put to the forum though is this. Why have I see all the footy shows, read all the acticles, read the forums and continually heard most saying that this is the best chance of us beating Carlton because they are undermanned.. .

Honestly WTF, Judd is out THAT IS IT, they can't keep saying Fev is out otherwise we could chirp in with wel Richo, Brown, Bowden... and so on. We also have Foley out, what gives I am sick of hearing how undermanned they are. They have a full strength side bar Judd FFS enough.

Forgot someone else who usually runs riot against us - Nick Stevens

But he is gone so they are still full strength.

[Owl]

That was actually a pretty well considered article for a change.   

[WA Tiger]

Well this is my last post before the game as I am turning off all communication devices as I do not want to know the score until I watch it at 7.30pmWST. Good luck boys all the best and lets hope we can have a win first up as I believe you are more than capable of it. If we do happen to lose though, please do it with dignity...

GO TIGES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!