Intra-club practice match this Friday

[Captain__Blood]

Great read!

--->

• Richo dominated. Lets hope he has 5 years left in him. Post-Richo is going to leave a big hole. Moore, McGaune are crap.
• Rodan BOG. Looked great in the guts. The big question - against a proper AFL team with a proper midfeild will he be anywhere as good or only get a 1/3the pill as he did today? ie Rodan 2004?
• Lids solid. Always a class above. Really good football brain.
• Tambling quiet. Good defensive presure & pace.
• Schultz = Really poor. Im really sad to say this. I watched him closly today as it is so important for the club for Jay to make it. Terry played him CHB and he got schitted apon by Limbach and then later Stafford. Doesn't seem to read the ball well and didn't put his body on the line.
  
  
• Limbach impressive.
• Hall average.
• Pettifer & Patrick Bowden were both good. Again, its hard to say as they were playing against inferior opponts but they did look solid. Hopfully decent/above average AFL standards HFF. Krakouer was also good (great hands) but he was often loose with little pressure.
• Joel Bowden, Tuck, Johnson didn't get heaps.
• White impressive.
• Stafford is very hard to match up on. Huge man.
• Simmonds will be the no.1 ruck. I guess: 75%, 25% forward line.
• Jackson is a schit forward.
• Humm looks run of the mill - pretty hard at it though
• Pattison has a really load voice. Angry young man.
• Graham is really tall, lanky, skilly - woeful kick
• Hughes looks like he is going to fill out into a great size

Thats about it. Overall pretty average standard, poor skills - very scrappy. Happy with both Limbach and White; promising.

Vic Park is a hole, Collingwood is a crap place.

Had a chat to Brown, reckons the "leg is good mate". Bit more a proper talk to young JON. Nice lad, ditto his family.

[Captain__Blood]

I hope we can settle Hughes and McGuane somewhere in the line-up by r22.

Limbach looked good.
Hughes did little, looks a good body size.
McGaune was crap.

[Fishfinger]

Pretty tough on Schulz there Bents.
He played back pocket and I thought he was very solid. The ball didn't get down his end much but when it did he cleaned up most times. Stafford changed teams and was moved onto him in the second half and was a tricky opponent with his height but Schulz took some strong marks and, I reckon, won the battle.

Gaspar was on Limbach when he kicked his goals. Joel Bowden was CHB and didn't give Hughes a sniff. Hughes was moved to CHB later but still didn't get a sniff. Not too easy when he was on the team getting smashed though.

[Tiger Spirit]

Rodan ridin' high for Tigers
5:36:01 PM Fri 17 February, 2006
Jennifer Witham
Sportal for afl.com.au

Richmond has made it through its second pre-season hitout virtually unscathed after the "probables" took on the "possibles" at Victoria Park on Friday.

David Rodan was one to shine in his first game since he underwent a knee reconstruction in last year's preseason with the 22-year-old looking ominous in the first and last quarters.

Rodan ended the day with three goals for the "probables" who, for the record, triumphed 25.20 (170) to 6.5 (41), while a sluggish-looking Matthew Richardson top-scored with four.

Brent Hartigan and Brett Deledio were others to shine in what was a fairly even performance while Shane Tuck and Andrew Krakouer excelled in the final term.

A corked calf for captain Kane Johnson – who is still expected to line up in next week's NAB Cup round one - was the only thing to dampen the afternoon which was designed mainly for team bonding.

Richmond assistant coach Brian Royal said the decision to play a senior side against a reserve side was made so the first 22 could bond together before the preseason officially commences next week.

"Terry does this every year and it's a motivation for the players to work hard in the pre-season to get in the main side," Royal said.

"It's a great opportunity for our team to actually play together. We can't just go into the NAB Cup round one with players not playing (with each other)."

While Royal said Mark Coughlan – who was on the sidelines today – was the only one on the injured list who looked likely to play next week, the side will be almost at full strength in time for the season proper.

"It was good to see the guys gel together and a lot of stuff we had been practicing over the pre-season they put into practice today, given they were playing our reserves side," he said.

"I think we had about eight guys missing from today's line up and we'll get the majority of them back before round one."

http://afl.com.au/?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=246309

[one-eyed]

Intra-club practice match report: Richmond.
By Lyall Johnson
The Age
February 18, 2006

RICHMOND staged a spirited practice match at Victoria Park yesterday, pitting a team of "possibles" against a team of "probables".

The "possibles" was a combination of Richmond youngsters and those on the fringe of senior selection including Thomas Roach, Danny Meyer and Dean Polo, and players from affiliate club the Coburg Tigers, while the "probables" included those likely to be in the best 22, including David Rodan, Matthew Richardson, Adam Pattison and Joel Bowden.

A number of the regular Tigers were rested, including Mark Coughlan, Trent Knobel, Mark Chaffey, Will Thursfield and Nathan Brown.

The club's No. 1 draft choice in the 2005, Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls, was absent for his second practice match in a row with groin soreness. Football manager Paul Armstrong said the injury is not serious.

The match proved to be totally one-sided, with the talent-heavy "probables" winning 25.20 (170) to 6.5 (41).

Despite his four goals, spearhead Matthew Richardson looked sluggish in the heat and full-back Darren Gaspar was the pick of the defenders, Kane Johnson spent three quarters of the game on the sidelines after receiving a minor corked calf in the first quarter.

Continuing on from his spectacular 2005 form, Shane Tuck was the stand-out midfielder. Last year's NAB Rising Star winner Brett Deledio also looked sharp and seems to have put on some muscle over the summer.

David Rodan continued his recovery from a knee reconstruction, and while not hugely effective was energetic through the midfield.

A number of youngsters were pitted against each other, including Adam Pattison and rookie ruckman Angus Graham, while former Bulldogs player Patrick Bowden acquitted himself well across half-forward and kicked four goals. The new kick-in rule had players shouting "man up" as a player was kicking for goal.

A number of obvious issues emerged from the rule. If a team missed a shot on the run the result became similar to a turnover where the opposition got the opportunity to run it out quickly.

Time and again it was highly disadvantageous to the attacking team.

Players were at times enthusiastic in bringing the ball back in, beating the goal umpires' signal and causing the ball to be brought back for another kick-in.

Assistant coach Brian Royal said he was pleased with the way the match went. "It was good to see the guys gel together and a lot of the stuff we've been practicing over the pre-season, they seemed to put it into practice today," Royal said.

Royal said the majority of players missing from the game would be available for round one of the season.

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/02/17/1140151817076.html

[one-eyed]

Richmond result always probable
18 February 2006   
Herald Sun
Mark Robinson

AS EXPECTED, a Richmond team of probables smashed a Richmond line-up of possibles, kicking 25 goals to seven at Victoria Park yesterday.

In what was a training run for the senior line-up, Matthew Richardson and Patrick Bowden booted four goals, Troy Simmonds three and David Rodan three in a nine-goal final quarter.

Rodan, who is returning from a knee injury, would have pleased coach Terry Wallace as would the form of three running backmen -- Brent Hartigan, Chris Newman and Andrew Raines.

The first two vied for best-afield, while Raines may have found a new position as a small in defence.

"It was really pleasing to see his (Raines') attack from half-back. Brent Hartigan we were really pleased with. His run but also his use of the footy of which we've probably been a little critical," assistant coach Brian Royal said.

Andrew Krakouer played in the midfield and dominated -- but then again, who didn't -- and will have increased time there this year.

A little disappointing was highly credentialled Richard Tambling. He barely touched the ball playing as wingman, midfielder and then deep in the forward line in the first half.

He fared only slightly better in the second. But his pressure on the man was first rate.

In defence, Jay Schulz played full-back beside Darren Gaspar and will get the nod in the NAB Cup.

"Jay played on Richo last week in a practice match and Richo kicked six goals on him and he was caught out a couple of times today on (Greg) Stafford, but he's going to be a quality player for us," Royal said.

"We expect him, in time, to hold down one of those two key positions, whether that's going to be this year, well, we're certainly going to give him an opportunity."

After a willing contest, in which two fights broke out, Royal defended the lopsided selection policy.

"It was good to see the guys jell together and a lot of the stuff we've been practising over the pre-season they seem to put into practice today," Royal said. "It was a great opportunity for our team to play together.

"It was fantastic for (Patrick) Bowden today to play with guys who he will play with next week."

Eight players missed yesterday's hitout, including Nathan Brown, Mark Coughlan, Mark Chaffey, Trent Knobel and first-round draftee Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls. Brown will increase his workload in the coming weeks, eyeing a Round 1 return.

The Tigers would select their best team against Hawthorn next Saturday in the NAB Cup, Royal said.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,18183338%255E19742,00.html

[one-eyed]

Getty Images' pics from the Intra club game yesterday:

http://editorial.gettyimages.com/source/search/FrameSet.aspx?s=ImagesSearchState%7c0%7c-1%7c28%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c1%7c%7c%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c7%7crichmond+inter-club%7c-8193%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0&p=7&tag=8

[Moi]

I can't see the point in having a probs v poss.  Wouldn't it be a more competitive and willing match if both teams were balanced experience-wise?  Especially, if spots are up for grabs next week, just as easy to see the standouts in both sides.  The older ones can help the younger ones etc.  This is the only time of the year when they can play the kids with the seniors to see how they go, so i'm a bit disappointed they chose this format.

[mightytiges]

I remember seeing a post asking about Raines' kicking and whether they were reaonably low and flat or were they looped up in the air, but I can't find it now. Anyway Raines' kicking appears to have improved in that regard of trying to kick the ball low and flat.  

Geisch was sitting right behind me and was impressed at our speed out.

Eade and Daniher were watching us too. Mark Graham was also there.

[mightytiges]

I can't see the point in having a probs v poss.  Wouldn't it be a more competitive and willing match if both teams were balanced experience-wise?  Especially, if spots are up for grabs next week, just as easy to see the standouts in both sides.  The older ones can help the younger ones etc.  This is the only time of the year when they can play the kids with the seniors to see how they go, so i'm a bit disappointed they chose this format.

Agree Moi. I would have more even teams too. While a young kid in the strong side may benefit by getting plenty of footy against weak opposition and build-up confidence, I don't see how say a Meyer can really show what he's capable of  while playing in a weak team that is getting smashed all over the park ???.

[Moi]

Also doesn't give you a real feel for how the seniors are going - it was a monty they would smash 'em.

[PuntRdRoar]

young talented kids (meyer hughes etc) should not be put in teams like the possibles. its not good for them or there confidence. i dont agree with these types of matches. it was a mistake and it shouldnt be repeated.

[Moi]

Listening to 3AW at the moment and they're talking about the St Kilda practice match, and the umpiring in marking contests.  That if you take a mark and you're tackled for a second, they were paying 50 metre penalties.  Really ridiculous penalties.  Was it like that yesterday anyone know?

[Fishfinger]

Happened once Moi. Can't remember who but I think it was Simmo or Jackson took the mark about 70m out, got 50m for being grabbed then kicked a point from 20m out directly in front. 

[Moi]

Happened once Moi. Can't remember who but I think it was Simmo or Jackson took the mark about 70m out, got 50m for being grabbed then kicked a point from 20m out directly in front. 

Good when it happens in our favour, but very frustrating when it's against.  The umps are ruining the game and i don't want to be listening to MMM during the footy season - just imagine Sam going off his head.  Never listen to them anyway if he's on lol.  Such a whining miserable man