Friday night will reveal whether Richmond or West Coast are the real deal David King
Herald-Sun
June 18, 2015 8:00PMTWO teams are classic cases of unknown identities, the league’s equivalents of John Doe. Who are they? Where do they reside in the AFL landscape? No one knows.
The 2015 West Coast Eagles are a four-goal better outfit than last season, two offensively and two defensively, but still they receive little kudos.
Consistently they’re asked who they’ve beaten, but seven of their eight victories are by a minimum of 50 points. Surely that stacks up.
Only two teams have topped the 1100 points-for mark after 10 rounds — Hawthorn and the now potent Eagles. That should place them in premiership contention but, curiously, it has not.
And it’s easier to work out Rubik’s Cube than the mindset of the Richmond players over the past two or three seasons. Damien Hardwick’s troops have matured ... haven’t they?
The cold, hard facts are that Richmond can beat anyone on their day but, conversely, also can be beaten by anyone.
Wins over Collingwood, Port Adelaide and Fremantle in Perth in the past four weeks should have the Tigers in the top four conversation again, but apparently they are not.
Shock losses to Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs in the first month of the season highlight why we have trust issues.
Adam Simpson’s Eagles are one of the toughest outfits in the competition, averaging almost nine contested possessions more than direct opponents.
That is their most critical asset. It dictates whether they win or lose.
They have lost the contested ball battle only three times this season but it’s no coincidence that, each time, they did not come away with the four points.
Nic Naitanui still polarises opinion, averaging only 11 possessions and only one mark. The constant conversation concentrates on what he doesn’t do, but what he does is simply unstoppable.
If the West Coast is the real deal, just imagine his importance and focus in the big games late in September. I guarantee the knockers will change their tune.
Richmond doesn’t have a Naitanui, but it has a fast maturing leadership group that has recognised and employed a team-first mentality at the expense of personal glory.
Jack Riewoldt’s form mirrors the fortunes of the Tigers. Jack’s never looked more content with his football and has never worked as hard as he does now.
Richmond’s recent success has been the result of patient ball movement, maintaining time in possession while still moving the ball forward.
There’s much more north-south ball movement in the past month, rather than lateral and backward kicking employed early in 2015.
It will be strength versus strength at the MCG on Friday night.
West Coast is intent on locking the ball in its forward half and, when it wins, averages more than 13 minutes more than their opposition.
Richmond’s slower, methodical ball movement will be challenged exiting its defensive end and we know this has been the Tigers’ achilles heel.
The West Coast is dangerous off the back of the hit-out domination provided by Naitanui and the ever-improving Cam Sinclair.
The Tigers must be on their game at defensive 50 stoppages, because the Eagles have scored significantly more than any other team at forward 50 stoppages.
Jonathon Brown rates the West Coast forward six as the best in the league. Only Hawthorn has greater offensive productivity than the Eagles, who average 106 points a game.
The most daunting match-up for Richmond is Mark Le Cras. Alex Rance will go to Josh Kennedy — and both have been in stellar form — but the Tigers lack a gun small defender.
Dylan Grimes must stand up and assume this mantle after a solid Perth trip against Michael Walters, but Le Cras is slippery.
West Coast and Richmond each has match-winning individuals but the method of play will come into sharp focus under the Friday night lights.
I get the feeling the Eagles acknowledge the importance of performing at the MCG because they’ve won only three of their past 16 games there — all against the struggling Melbourne.
Both teams play strong brands of football that are in good order, but tonight’s result will answer just who these two teams are — muddling, mid-table drifters or top four challengers this year with the vision to premiership contention in the next two or three seasons.
It’s the classic two teams enter, one team leaves. On Friday night we learn the identity of these two great clubs.
http://www.news.com.au/national/friday-night-will-reveal-whether-richmond-or-west-coast-are-the-real-deal/story-e6frfkp9-1227404305351
