Richmond's midfield is the best in the AFL: Watters

[one-eyed]

St Kilda coach Scott Watters says Richmond midfield is the best in the AFL

    Rebecca Williams
    From: Herald Sun
    May 31, 2012 11:27AM

ST KILDA will have to combat what coach Scott Watters has rated as the best midfield in the AFL in tomorrow night's blockbuster against a resurgent Richmond.

Asked today to rate the Tigers' improvement this season, Watters said their midfield was a standout in the competition.

"Their midfield is arguably the best midfield in the AFL,'' Watters said today before Saints training at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.

"We have had many people say that throughout the week.

"Have a look at the depth - (Trent) Cotchin, (Dustin) Martin, (Brett) Deledio, (Nathan) Foley, the list goes on and on.

"I think if it's not the best midfield, it's certainly close.''

Watters said the Saints, who have experienced their own form resurgence to sit seventh with a 5-4 record, were primed for the challenge against a "red-hot'' Richmond at Etihad Stadium.

"It's a huge challenge,'' Watters said.

"Obviously, we have seen a lot of the vision this week, they were very impressive against a quality side in the Hawks.

"Our guys are just relishing the challenge...in-form Richmond side, Tiger Army on the march, it's fantastic.''

Watters confirmed midfielder Jarryn Geary had been ruled out of the Tigers clash after suffering a minor facial fracture in last week's match against Sydney.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/st-kilda-coach-scott-watters-says-richmond-midfield-is-the-best-in-the-afl/story-e6frf9jf-1226376219073

[Eat_em_Alive]

What a wanker... Please Scott, no need for your dribble
Dimmas response was accurate " richmond the inform club in the league?" " Well we have won one in a row, sit 12th on ladder and have a current record of 4-5"

That's was audio from SEN earlier today..

Now they've rattled my cage, I hope we smash these aints

[Dubstep Dookie]

Time to get arrogant   

[Coach]

Time to get arrogant   

Yeah, that will take us to the promise land.....

[Mr Magic]

Dimmas response was accurate " richmond the inform club in the league?" " Well we have won one in a row, sit 12th on ladder and have a current record of 4-5"

That's was audio from SEN earlier today..

Haha. He's getting good at this.

True though. I'm not sure yet just how good the Hawks win was despite them being touted as pre season premiers by many.

Aints will be tough to beat. We've got to come to play.

[Stripes]

Great response from Dimma. Just mind games trying to rattle our young midfield and inspire theirs. We will have our work cut out across the ground though they are a little stretched down back. I'm predicting Cotchin will play more forward due to Jones influence and kick a nice little bag 

The Saints experienced players are used to smashing us and have no respect for our players or club. You can almost hear it in Goddard's grab earlier. My biggest concern is their forwards - I think they are hard to all contain and Griff will struggle to contain either tall. As always, our greatest defense will come from our midfield. A lot of pressure on the center. 

[one-eyed]

DAMIEN Hardwick has laughed off suggestions his Richmond midfield is the best in the AFL.

A day before the clubs clash in a fast-burning blockbuster at Etihad Stadium, St Kilda coach Scott Watters this morning began the mind games with claims the Tigers have the pick of the centre-square bunch.

But Hardwick, who cracked a broad smile when told of his opposite number's comments, said Richmond had a long way to go to reach that mantle.

"It's a big call, especially after (we've won) one in a row (and are) sitting 12th on the ladder with only four wins,'' he said.

"We've got a hell of a long way to go. Our guys are inexperienced but they're improving, we grant that.

"But (the Saints) are a side that's delivered on the big stage over the course of the past six years and we're a long way behind in that category.''

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/tigers-still-have-a-long-way-to-go-says-coach-damien-hardwick/story-e6frf9jf-1226376452723

[Eat_em_Alive]

Thanks OE 

So really, we should come out and say...
jees whoa, I mean whoa.... 
1. They played in 3 GRAND FINALS in the last 4 years...
2. Have an excellent win/loss record
3. we have not beaten them for 9 bloody years
4. Have the some of the most elite players in the comp..
5. their spiritual leader is back and kicking behind
6. Their goal sneak  foward is an alleged ...

the list goes on

Edit: We can't refer to any legal case even in jest as it puts OER at risk.

[Coach]

Thanks OE 

So really, we should come out and say...
jees whoa, I mean whoa.... 
1. They played in 3 GRAND FINALS in the last 4 years...
2. Have an excellent win/loss record
3. we have not beaten them for 9 bloody years
4. Have the some of the most elite players in the comp..
5. their spiritual leader is back and kicking behind
6. Their inform foward is an alleged ...

the list goes on

Edit: We can't refer to any legal case even in jest as it puts OER at risk.

[Penelope]

..that we know of



Edit: We can't refer to any legal cases even in jest as it puts OER at risk.

[Stripes]

If our midfield is the best then why are we the 16th ranked side in the competition for clearances   

This surprises me tremendously. I thought we would be near the top 

[JVT]

If our midfield is the best then why are we the 16th ranked side in the competition for clearances   

This surprises me tremendously. I thought we would be near the top 

According to Mark Robinson in 'the tackle' we are 3rd for clearances:

Try these numbers:

The Tigers have won 18 more centre clearances than their opposition this season, and are ranked third in the league. Last year, the team won 80 less centre clearances than their opposition and was ranked dead last.

The Tigers have won 24 more hitouts to advantage than their opposition this season, and is ranked fourth. Last year, the team had 81 less hitouts to advantage than their opposition and was ranked second last

The Tigers have won 43 more hardball gets than their opposition, ranked fifth. Last year, the team had two less hardball gets than their opposition and was ranked 11th.

Big Ivan has taken five contested marks and is ranked third amongst genuine ruckmen behind Cox and Sandilands.

In effect, he is another midfielder, a la Cox. He has attended 84.5 per cent of Richmond's center bounces, the second highest percentage of any player in the comp behind Adelaide's Scott Thompson (87.2 per cent).

He is second to Cox in possessions won by a ruckman and second to Cox in uncontested possessions.

The midfield supplies balance of contested and uncontested possession.

The Tigers have 11 players ranked in the top 100 players for uncontested possessions.

They are Grigg (1), Deledio (5), Bachar Houli off a bank flank (15), Martin (32), Cotchin (35), defender Alex Rance (57) and Tuck, Foley and the skipper Chris Newman (T67) the next best.

If Maric is the goliath big man, Tuck is the evergreen midfielder.

He is 10th for contested possessions and heads Foley, Cotchin and Deledio ranked in the top 50.

They are the numbers which support the eyes. The Tigers play fierce, quick, continuous football and if the forward group had functioned better than it has, it's not inconceivable the Tigers could be sitting in the top four.

Richmond's problem is playing to expectations.

It's a different kind of pressure, and something the young group will learn over the next couple of months.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/expert-opinion/dale-thomas-the-tank-engine/story-fn5937w8-1226368656428

Ivan Maric MVP anyone?? 

[Stripes]

Interesting on this analysis on Sportal with Robert Walls they state that we are ranked 16th. Perhaps Robinson is talking Center Clearances as opposed to overall/across the ground clearances ???

TSI - 'Like the Tigers of Old'
http://www.sportal.com.au/tsi
(at the 1.50 mark)

So you have Walls or Robinson so choose from 

Great stats though JVT -  Easy to see why Maric is so important to us. 

[the claw]

If our midfield is the best then why are we the 16th ranked side in the competition for clearances   

This surprises me tremendously. I thought we would be near the top 

According to Mark Robinson in 'the tackle' we are 3rd for clearances:

Try these numbers:

The Tigers have won 18 more centre clearances than their opposition this season, and are ranked third in the league. Last year, the team won 80 less centre clearances than their opposition and was ranked dead last.

The Tigers have won 24 more hitouts to advantage than their opposition this season, and is ranked fourth. Last year, the team had 81 less hitouts to advantage than their opposition and was ranked second last

The Tigers have won 43 more hardball gets than their opposition, ranked fifth. Last year, the team had two less hardball gets than their opposition and was ranked 11th.

Big Ivan has taken five contested marks and is ranked third amongst genuine ruckmen behind Cox and Sandilands.

In effect, he is another midfielder, a la Cox. He has attended 84.5 per cent of Richmond's center bounces, the second highest percentage of any player in the comp behind Adelaide's Scott Thompson (87.2 per cent).

He is second to Cox in possessions won by a ruckman and second to Cox in uncontested possessions.

The midfield supplies balance of contested and uncontested possession.

The Tigers have 11 players ranked in the top 100 players for uncontested possessions.

They are Grigg (1), Deledio (5), Bachar Houli off a bank flank (15), Martin (32), Cotchin (35), defender Alex Rance (57) and Tuck, Foley and the skipper Chris Newman (T67) the next best.

If Maric is the goliath big man, Tuck is the evergreen midfielder.

He is 10th for contested possessions and heads Foley, Cotchin and Deledio ranked in the top 50.

They are the numbers which support the eyes. The Tigers play fierce, quick, continuous football and if the forward group had functioned better than it has, it's not inconceivable the Tigers could be sitting in the top four.

Richmond's problem is playing to expectations.

It's a different kind of pressure, and something the young group will learn over the next couple of months.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/expert-opinion/dale-thomas-the-tank-engine/story-fn5937w8-1226368656428

Ivan Maric MVP anyone?? 

thats a good post. id go so far as to say our top 5 or 6 mids including big ivan are the equal of any other group. its after that 6 or so where we fail. we also fail up forward.
one who doesnt get a mantion is morris we dont get savaged by the small forwards any more.

without doubt we have improved and the stats back that up but without doubt we have so much more to do. again i ask just how far off do we drop if we lose 5 or so of those in our consistent top 14 or 15 players.  the job is only half done a lot of signs are good but we have an opportunity to build something really special if we just bite the bullit and do what must be done.

[Loui Tufga]

the job is only half done a lot of signs are good but we have an opportunity to build something really special if we just bite the bullit and do what must be done.

Claw FFS get a grip!!!!! Have we not been biting the Bullet over the last 3 years?? Why do you all of a sudden think we are not going bother showing up to the draft this year??
You keep banging on about it like the 2012 draft day has been and gone! FFS man relax to the season ends then get all worked up about it!! The way your going though you will have a stroke before Draft day even gets here!