Thoughts on Pre Season?

[Hard Roar Tiger]

Now that the pre season is over, what are your thoughts?
We played better than I expected - more system, intent and our tackling has certainly gone up a notch.
I see Prestia and the Nank as 2 huge pluses - their attack on the footy will really help. Caddy has been a bit meh for me, I can't see him being any better a recruit than either Houli or Grigg over a number of years but happy to be proven wrong.
On the downside, we went to water so quickly against the Pies which bothers me. Hurried kicks to a loose opposition defender won't stop momentum to the other team.
Team selection is another issue - Hunt, Houli, Ellis and co don't seem the first choice when we have KMac, Markov etc as younger capable options that have improvement to come. I felt a similar thing happened last year when the season was on the line mature, inferior talent was prioritised and we went young when the year was done and dusted. We're not doing this again?
Finally, my big bugbear is movement inside 50. Each year it's the same and it provides easy rebound 50's for the opposition from which they can score. Can't beat Bulldogs, Saints, Cats, Roos etc with this type of ball movement.
So I'm thinking somewhere between last year and the previous 3 years is our mark at this point.

[🏅Dooks]

Yesterday showed that despite the new game plan and centre clearance wins, the mentally challenged Richmond of last year (at its worst) is a very real proposition for 2017. No leadership no tackling no hard work and poor kicking. A cancerous combination which bleeds goals to the opposition.

It doesn't help when our fab 4 of Howli, Conkout, sHunt and Brangenerous de Ellen spray the ball to the opposition/OOTF if they have to kick over 30m.

How much we see of last years Richmond and when we first see it is the question. It could very well be there from round 1 and remain for a large part of the year, or it may come later and patches and/or whole games. But it will come. I suspect earlier rather than later and gee whiz I would be putting money on Carlton at $2.50.

Knowing that, I can't see us being a genuine top 8 or even thereabouts. Around 13th-16th for mine with 6-8 wins (9 at a push).

[YellowandBlackBlood]

If you are judging us on our preseason, why are you putting your money on Carlton?

[🏅Dooks]

If you are judging us on our preseason, why are you putting your money on Carlton?

If i was to judge us on our full preseason i would have us beating Carlton. I haven't missed a minute of each game albiet from the big screen. Just a bit of intuition after seeing old signs which havent been ironed out, addressed or implemented from last year.

If im wrong ill be the first to put my hand up 

[The Machine]

Yesterday showed that despite the new game plan and centre clearance wins, the mentally challenged Richmond of last year (at its worst) is a very real proposition for 2017. No leadership no tackling no hard work and poor kicking. A cancerous combination which bleeds goals to the opposition.

It doesn't help when our fab 4 of Howli, Conkout, sHunt and Brangenerous de Ellen spray the ball to the opposition/OOTF if they have to kick over 30m.

How much we see of last years Richmond and when we first see it is the question. It could very well be there from round 1 and remain for a large part of the year, or it may come later and patches and/or whole games. But it will come. I suspect earlier rather than later and gee whiz I would be putting money on Carlton at $2.50.

Knowing that, I can't see us being a genuine top 8 or even thereabouts. Around 13th-16th for mine with 6-8 wins (9 at a push).

Sometimes it only takes one person or single a act to infect the group both positive and negative. The negative for me yesterday was Houli's first touch of the ball. He went sideways/backwards which was not the style of the previous games played. His first instinct was this which is why he should not be played. His second touch was a hand pass again backwards that just missed Rance and puts the whole team under pressure. Fast attaching ball movement is required and again, Houli in my eyes is VFL level now. Playing someone like Markov in his position and you can see the difference in the players and given time, will improve his defensive work to be an attacking weapon. Menadue for Hunt is also a must.....and play Short!

[tony_montana]

Just got this feeling we will struggle.

This is how I categorise the league for 2017:

In the mix for finals:
GWS, syd, hawks, geelong, adel, wce, WB, saints, melb

Need everything to go perfectly right to have a shot at playing finals, but realistically not good enough:
richmond, port, pies, freo, dons, GC, norf

bottom 2:
Carl & Bris

[Jackstar 1960]

Thought yesterday we did not show our hand
There wasn't the fanatic charge to squeeze up as was seen in past 2 games and intra club and training drills
I have no doubt you will see s different team Thursday week
My motto , the more you put on
The more you will win
Top 6 for me this year

[The Machine]

Thought yesterday we did not show our hand
There wasn't the fanatic charge to squeeze up as was seen in past 2 games and intra club and training drills
I have no doubt you will see s different team Thursday week
My motto , the more you put on
The more you will win
Top 6 for me this year

 

[mat073]

Will be better than 2016

[Heart of Darkness]

Nank and Prestia will both be good additions. Prestia might take 4-6 weeks to get the pace though.

Caddy I'm not sure about. Forgotten till yesterday how painfully slow he was. Kind of like a taller/ better overhead version of Miles. Best 22 but won't ever be more than a c+/b- player imo.

Griffiths won't make it. Big problems with our 2nd key forward. I'd play Chol in that at least he could end up being AFL level.

Vlastuin and C Ellis disappointing. Didn't we draft C Ellis as an inside mid? Doesn't know how to find the ball on the outside.

Kmac and Markov have both been a bit disappointing but I still think have to play ahead of Houli and Hunt.

Prefer Castagna to Butler and would play him and Rioli (looks great) as the small forwards (with Titch a bit higher up).

[🏅Dooks]

Thought yesterday we did not show our hand
There wasn't the fanatic charge to squeeze up as was seen in past 2 games and intra club and training drills
I have no doubt you will see s different team Thursday week
My motto , the more you put on
The more you will win
Top 6 for me this year

Anyone with or on the cusp of a gambling problem, do not follow this advice (especially for Richmond)

[torch]

We will finish between 11th-18th.

Wins 6-9.

Midfield don't run hard forward.

Half Back line is full of "unconfident players" such as B Ellis, Houli, Hunt, Conca.

No second Key Forward. If Riewoldt goes down (touch wood NO) ... we will struggle.

We LEAK too many goals and don't understand WHEN to ZONE or go MAN-ON-MAN.

Want us to play the CUBS such as; C Ellis, Markov, Bulter, Bolton, Rioli etc.

Houli, Grigg, Hunt, Conca, B Ellis, Griffiths not going to influence WINS for us.

 

[Hard Roar Tiger]

Thought yesterday we did not show our hand
There wasn't the fanatic charge to squeeze up as was seen in past 2 games and intra club and training drills
I have no doubt you will see s different team Thursday week
My motto , the more you put on
The more you will win
Top 6 for me this year

I'm not sure why we would flirt with form, last year we tried to call the game off and never recovered. Even at our worst, lost the first qtr by 40 points to a middle road side was a concern.

[Jackstar 1960]

Thought yesterday we did not show our hand
There wasn't the fanatic charge to squeeze up as was seen in past 2 games and intra club and training drills
I have no doubt you will see s different team Thursday week
My motto , the more you put on
The more you will win
Top 6 for me this year

Anyone with or on the cusp of a gambling problem, do not follow this advice (especially for Richmond)

The $2.60 on offer 24 hours before the Port game last week was delicious 😋

[Damo]

You missed the 2.80?